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Metallic ringing with rounds

berlihe

berlihe

Jan 16, 2014
132
169
#1
I have a basic question about rounds, based on a problem I've had with them on any bass (right now I have them on a CIJ Jaguar). Basically, especially on the E string, I always hear a metallic ringing above the fundamental of the note and whatever texture (growl, punch, whatever) the strings/pickups are producing. I don't have this problem with flats, and I don't hear this on recordings/live performances where the bass player is using rounds. I've tried rolling off the treble on the bass/amp, but I still hear the ringing, the note just loses clarity.

Basically, when I hear other people playing rounds, unless they're intentionally going for a trebly/grindy tone, the main thing I heard is the fundamental note. But when I play rounds, finger style or with a pick, especially on the E string, I hear this metallic ringing and it ruins it for me. Am I doing something wrong? Is this just something that gets EQ'd out? At this point, my current strings are neither brand new nor very old.
 
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#5
"I used to spin the first couple of turns onto the peg by hand. I thought that if the ball end were free to rotate no twist would build up. But no, that wasn't right. Some twist gets built up there at the peg.
I think that that twist can gradually creep out (trying to unwind itself) away from the post, toward the nut, and over the nut, and after that cause an audible problem."
If so, then a finger right at the side of the post (not a pinch several inches down the string) while winding, is hopefully better.

So, one problem is caused by spinning the string onto the post for the first one or several turns, which we are tempted to do.
The second problem, maybe less thought about, is that analogy with the garden hose I made in the above threads.

And lastly, the pickups being set too close to the strings.

Good luck.
 
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#6
berlihe said:
I have a basic question about rounds, based on a problem I've had with them on any bass (right now I have them on a CIJ Jaguar). Basically, especially on the E string, I always hear a metallic ringing above the fundamental of the note and whatever texture (growl, punch, whatever) the strings/pickups are producing. I don't have this problem with flats, and I don't hear this on recordings/live performances where the bass player is using rounds. I've tried rolling off the treble on the bass/amp, but I still hear the ringing, the note just loses clarity.
Click to expand...

Are you talking about hearing this "metallic ringing" in a band mix, or when the bass is played all on its own? I ask because I used to be annoyed by the extraneous noise roundwound strings made when I was playing my bass quietly through my home practice rig, but I have since learned a lot of the extra noise is a non-issue in a band mix.

Some roundwound strings, depending on the brand and the type, are more susceptible to this "metallic ringing" than others. Also, a lot of the annoyance can subside as the strings are played in and lose their newness.
 
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#9
There's some good suggestions already, but I wanted to throw one more possible suspect into the pool of consideration. I have a Ray 4 that has an annoying metallic overtone-like ring on any string. After a lot of head scratching and investigation, I chased it down to the springs under the pickup. I found it by tapping on the pickup cover with a pick and noticing that it would really bring the ring out through the amp, and you can even hear it audibly when acoustic. I've also gotten similar, but very faint, ringing from bridge saddle springs that coil up just right and resonate to other parts which helps amplify the noise from there. Since this is just one string, I doubt that's the case, but something to rule out nonetheless if you're going through the troubleshooting steps already. Good luck with the fix though and be sure to post the results/outcome for posterity. It's always rewarding to finally resolve an annoyance like that.
 
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#14
Chrisk-K said:
You are hearing overtones. They are more prominent especially on the E string. You always hear some overtones when hearing a note unless a note is a pure sine wave.
Click to expand...
That's what I thought it was too -- but how come I never hear these on recordings or at live performances? Are they just drowned out in the context of a full-band performance? For example, besides going to live shows (where it's too noisy to hear something like this), I never hear these overtones on the bass in KEXP's live youtube videos, though I hear the bass itself quite clearly in the mix.

Anyway, thanks for your replies, everyone! I don't have a recording set up right now, but I'm going to try a few things (especially lowering the neck pickup on the bass side, since the E string is where I hear the overtones most prominently), and I'll let you know how it goes. To answer another question that came up in the thread, I've always had this problem with rounds, on other basses as well.
 
#16
berlihe said:
I have a basic question about rounds, based on a problem I've had with them on any bass (right now I have them on a CIJ Jaguar). Basically, especially on the E string, I always hear a metallic ringing above the fundamental of the note and whatever texture (growl, punch, whatever) the strings/pickups are producing. I don't have this problem with flats, and I don't hear this on recordings/live performances where the bass player is using rounds. I've tried rolling off the treble on the bass/amp, but I still hear the ringing, the note just loses clarity.

Basically, when I hear other people playing rounds, unless they're intentionally going for a trebly/grindy tone, the main thing I heard is the fundamental note. But when I play rounds, finger style or with a pick, especially on the E string, I hear this metallic ringing and it ruins it for me. Am I doing something wrong? Is this just something that gets EQ'd out? At this point, my current strings are neither brand new nor very old.
Click to expand...
Maybe you have Fret buzz or a very not well set up instrument
 
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#19
Poor intonation? Fretbuzz caused by worn frets or a poor setup? Pickups too close to the strings, creating weird overtones? Wrong kind of strings for the tone you need? Wrong eq/tone control settings for the kind of tone you need? A problem with the nut? A problem with the bridge saddles? Faulty strings? Sympathetic vibrations that cause rattling/buzzing noises somewhere else on the bass? Or in the room (unless you're experiencing the same thing in different rooms of course). It could even be your playing style/technique.

Based on your description here could be LOTS of reasons. It's impossible to give any specific advice without hearing a recording of the problem. If there even is a problem. Maybe you just don't like the tone of roundwounds.

If you can post a DI'd recording (not a mic in the room) with the tone control on the bass at various settings you will get much better answers.
 
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#20
@berlihe,
You should listen to S.F.Sorrow and provide a recording. Just let the notes ring so we can hear them.
Another thing not mentioned yet is how pickup self-resonance can exaggerate the highs of rounds. Need to hear it.
 
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