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My strings are wrong.

#23
And in case you didn't know: there is no such thing as "regular normal bass string". There are LOTS of different strings with different tensions, different windings, different coatings - and most importantly DIFFERENT THICKNESSES. The sets they sell at music stores are just 4 (or more) similar strings that have different thicknesses according to what tune they are designed for. In normal 4 string setup the G string is the thinnest and E string the thickest and the thickness changes steadily from G to E.

E.g. normal .045 - .105 set (you're in Norway so I think you read millimeters better than inches):
G - .045" = 1.1mm
D - .065" = 1.7mm
A - .085" = 2.2mm
E - .105" = 2.7mm
 
#24
TommyH said:
It sits naturally when tuned to the D,(talking about the one which should've been A,) The A is so low down that it's too loose when I tune it that way.
Click to expand...

You need a set up. whether you attempt it yourself with the info in the sticky, or take it somewhere. Raising the A string saddle height and adjusting for intonation isn't hard once you get the hang of it.
 
#25
Alright... I understand raising the saddle will most likely allow me to tune the string to A, (making it tighter.) should I do something about the intonation? Could anyone explain the term closer? (I'll google it anyways.)


Please do not assume anything but what I've written. I see my friends tune all kinds of guitars every week, I'm familiar with the tones, I'm not blind, I can reckognize the thickness of the strings. And I've touched a Bass before.

But thanks for the others who have made constructive replies.

UPDATE:

Alright, so I raised the saddle alot... and managed to get the A correct... But it rattles still... Is it any way to adjust this without raising the saddle? Umm, like the neck? Is it supposed to run even all the way? Because mine is like a wave :P

This is turning into a fix me thread that should be in setup...

Anyways, is it safe to adjust the neck abit without breaking the whole bass? I'm not sure, and this is kinda my only shot at having one : /.
 
#26
Just for confirmation - are you tuning according to a piano or a tuner that can give you a correct reference pitch? I mean do you tune the A to an A (55Hz)? To me, if the other strings are rattling it sounds like they are tuned too low and the A string is tuned up to pitch. It could also be that the bass might need a setup by someone who knows ho to set up a bass. Maybe ask a more experienced bassist?
 
#27
I'm tuning according the piano, the E, and then I use 5th fret + piano to tune the others.... I don't tune after pitch, just the tone.

With some fiddling I managed to fix the rattling on the A (which is now an A, hurray), but placing a piece of plastic under the white supporter thingie at the end of the neck. The D still rattles abit, but it's not serious... I am going to have it checked though, when I have time, but atleast I have a temporary fix for my next practice :P
 
#28
Couple of more questions: Have you tried adjusting the string height at the bridge? How much relief is there on the neck when all strings are tuned up pitch? Does the string(s) rattle over the whole neck or just in one end of the fretboard?
 
#29
That's exactly what I've done you see... The A string stands much taller than the other strings. I have to tighten the A-saddle (raise it) to make it make the A sound.

I'm not sure about all the relief stuffs. But I'm sure my neck is all wrong, umm, the two middle strings rattles when I pick in a particular way, if I pick very gently, they don't rattle that much. And, they rattle near the head, near the end of the neck, on the opposite side of the bridge.
 
#30
TommyH said:
That's exactly what I've done you see... The A string stands much taller than the other strings. I have to tighten the A-saddle (raise it) to make it make the A sound.

I'm not sure about all the relief stuffs. But I'm sure my neck is all wrong, umm, the two middle strings rattles when I pick in a particular way, if I pick very gently, they don't rattle that much. And, they rattle near the head, near the end of the neck, on the opposite side of the bridge.
Click to expand...

just take it to get set-up before you break something

seriously, you dont seem capable of doing this yourself
 
#32
It can take a few minutes to tune a guitar up to not rattle. Let me explain some things really quickly to you:
-The strings are tuned EADG, the thick string is the E
-The top string is thicker than the one UNDER it
-Get a good set of strings-These are DR brand, Rotosound brand, Fender brand, D'adario, or any string in its price range
After that, look at this guide to install bass strings Invalid Link Removed
 
#37
lemur821 said:
No, it won't. It will just make the string further from the frets.
Click to expand...

Well, I did, and they it does make an A-sound correctly now, but as you're saying, the string is further away from the frets.

(I don't want to sound angry, but it's abit hopeless that people keep assuming things when I've clearly said what's the matter.)

About getting strings, it's not exactly in my budget, but when I get enough money, I will get a pair of decent ones.

I'm going to take it to the place where I bought the bass at my first oppurtunity, however, I thought I would check if there were any way to fix it somehow, but it sounds like this is has never happened before to anyone at all. :hmm:
 
#40
I think I get it. The A is too low and rattles, and you have found that by tuning it up to the next pitch, it stops rattling.
The problem is that the A is too close to the neck. You can adjust the bridge(raise it up) to fix this. Never tune the A string to D. Adjust the bridge instead.
 

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