Just one string going out

[leftiebass]

Hi -
Had a bass stored for a few months. (in closet). (while I played another one).
Tomastik flat wound strings on a Jack Casady.
I notice that the E string does not want to stay in tune, while the others do.
Strings are a few years old. Does this mean it is time to change them? Not trying to
be dense - I notice that Carol Kaye says that she keeps hers on a really long time and Danny
Mo Morris has a set on his bass for over 15 years!
Any thoughts on why just one string is going out? Practical things to check?
thanks

 

[bholder]

See if the tuning key adjustment screw needs to be tightened.

 

[Linnin]

Any thoughts on why just one string is going out? Practical things to check?

Check this: Tune string to pitch. Check intonation on 12th fret and adjust as necessary. Check B on 7th fret. Is it on the money or is it out? If out, change strings. If it is still out with a new string you have a bass issue.

 

[9mmMike]

Simple obvious question but are you always tuning "up"? I have a friend with a Musicmaster that was always going out of tune - E-string mostly. The machines on that bass are not especially nice and have a lot of backlash/slop.
His trouble was that he would tune passed E and then back off. It would hold for a little bit but then the slop in the machine would allow it to slip flat. Once he started only tuning up to the E and never down, the problem went away.
Sorry if that is too "tuning 101".

 

[Linnin]

only tuning up to the E and never down

Correctamundo! Always tune up. Pretend you are DeeDee Ramone and pick the heck out of the E for a good three minutes. Is it flat? Do you hear it going flat as you play? Time for a new tuner if yours aren't adjustable/rebuildable.