No matter what I do, one dead string. HELP!!

[Lo end PUNCH]

Hello TB friends, I have a serious perplexing issue, I bought a Sire V3 5 jazz brand new on line. Everything about the bass was in excellent condition as far as I could tell...until I plugged it up. For some reason the E string isn’t vibrating and ringing as pure or loud as th B,A,D and G...now, I’ve tried new strings, bridge and action adjustments and even tap tested the pickups to see if the poles weren’t working properly....they do. Are there ANY suggestions on what the problem could be here? Thanks in advance

 

[Slater]

Inspect the bridge saddle and nut for any potential problems. You can also try installing the A-string in the E-string position temporarily, just to see if the problem persists with a string that you know works well on that bass.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Local gigging player was having this trouble.
He was even considering buying a new neck.

Local luthier showed him how to wrap the string down to the bottom of the machine-head capstan, for the right break angle from the nut, and the problem was solved.

 

[Slater]

I believe Sire 5-strings have a bar-type string retainer for all 5 strings just beyond the nut.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

looks that way:

but is it adjusted low enough?

 

[safikex]

A little bit of revival to this post, but i have a similar problem with my Sire V3 4 string.
It was set up by a luthier, so i trust him pretty much. After that, tried it on a rehearsal - and i thought that i have a hearing problem: the E string ( open note ) is completely dull. Next notes on the E string ( F or G e.t.c ) sound awesome, a lot of growl and low''s. Tried to adjust the BASS knob on active preamp - no changes at all. The open E still sounds dull... Changing from active to passive doesn't solve anything...

Maybe it was a string problem, i thought, and replaced the original strings with D''addarios. And... it still sounds dull. Witness points are set, neck is almost straight, intonation set, everything is pretty much awesome. Except that badly sounding open E... The 12th fret on the E string also sounds dull.

Maybe all of the V3 Sires have this problem? Or we are the lucky ones?

 

[Kerem Koseoglu]

Local gigging player was having this trouble.
He was even considering buying a new neck.

Local luthier showed him how to wrap the string down to the bottom of the machine-head capstan, for the right break angle from the nut, and the problem was solved.

That was my personal experience as well. Setting the string position on the machine-head correctly can make a significant difference.

 

[Turnaround]

A little bit of revival to this post, but i have a similar problem with my Sire V3 4 string.
It was set up by a luthier, so i trust him pretty much. After that, tried it on a rehearsal - and i thought that i have a hearing problem: the E string ( open note ) is completely dull. Next notes on the E string ( F or G e.t.c ) sound awesome, a lot of growl and low''s. Tried to adjust the BASS knob on active preamp - no changes at all. The open E still sounds dull... Changing from active to passive doesn't solve anything...

Maybe it was a string problem, i thought, and replaced the original strings with D''addarios. And... it still sounds dull. Witness points are set, neck is almost straight, intonation set, everything is pretty much awesome. Except that badly sounding open E... The 12th fret on the E string also sounds dull.

Maybe all of the V3 Sires have this problem? Or we are the lucky ones?

If there is a decent break angle over the nut and the open string still sounds dull compared to when it is fretted, then I would look for the problem in the nut. Be sure that the nut slot is tilted slightly downward toward the headstock, and that there isn't side-to-side movement of the string in the slot.

 

[safikex]

If there is a decent break angle over the nut and the open string still sounds dull compared to when it is fretted, then I would look for the problem in the nut. Be sure that the nut slot is tilted slightly downward toward the headstock, and that there isn't side-to-side movement of the string in the slot.

Thank you for an advice! I will check it this evening, i hope that there IS a problem, so i can fix it..

 

[safikex]

If there is a decent break angle over the nut and the open string still sounds dull compared to when it is fretted, then I would look for the problem in the nut. Be sure that the nut slot is tilted slightly downward toward the headstock, and that there isn't side-to-side movement of the string in the slot.

A little bit of update to my problem:

I ordered new string set ( GHS boomers Flea signature ).
After that, i checked the break angle over the nut. Well, the couple of things that i noticed: I had almost half of string wind on the E string tuner ( i mean, 0.5 wind. it was not even winded properly! ). I dont know how i missed that important point. Well, you learn something new everyday!
Also, there was almost NO angle from the nut to tuner, since the string was not winded properly. Also, i filed the nut slot a little bit to the tuner side.
Installed new strings: now i have 3-4 winds on E string, and at least 3 winds on A,D ang G strings. The angle is very smooth, at least, you can see it now
The rattle and buzz from the nut is gone! ( yeah, i didnt mention the buzz in previous post, as i thought it was combined problem with the dull - sounding E string.)
Also, the open E string and 12th fret on E string sounds as good, as any other fret and note - the problem is solved!

P.S: taking off the old strings, i noticed that they are not straight at all, when hanged in the air - the strings wind themselves in spiral from start to bottom. My guess that they were also twisted...