Hello everyone, new here, but I have a question. On my E string (low E) , the tone gets too muddy as I play past the 7th fret. It’s not a clean tone like all other frets and strings. What is causing this. It sounds terrible. Also I am tuned to drop D . Thanks
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Notes on E string bad sound.
- Thread starter Johnny Lambert
- Start date
So many questions. Which bass? What amp? Which strings? Fingerstyle or a pick? What is your volume and tone set at? What style of music?
Dead or dying strings maybe? Try some different EQ on your amp? Personally, for anything rock, I avoid playing much above the 7th fret on the E string anyways. I'll grab those notes on the A string. I used to play the E string a lot more until I started watching live clips of rock and punk bands I like. Notes I would play on the E string and then realized they were playing them on the A string live. You rarely see many riding the E string, just not a good sound usually as it doesnt punch thru a band setting in a live mix well IMO.
Last edited:
Welcome to TalkBass 
I suspect that you’re hearing what you’ll inevitably get as you play in the higher positions: more low end, less high end. You can try boosting high end, but that will boost the high end regardless of where you play on the neck, i.e. more “clank” as you play down toward the nut.
I suspect that you’re hearing what you’ll inevitably get as you play in the higher positions: more low end, less high end. You can try boosting high end, but that will boost the high end regardless of where you play on the neck, i.e. more “clank” as you play down toward the nut.
If you're always tuned to drop D, one of the issues you may be facing is that your E string (which is a D string) is too skinny. Most E strings, tuned to standard pitch, are already the loosest string. D-tuning just makes that worse.
Part of your issue may also be the cabinet - playing high on the e/D string gives you more fundamental than playing the same notes on the A string - it's how things work with typical pickup positions. If the cabinet can't handle the extra fundamental, you'd hear it more on the E/D string, and depending on various factors, having it show up on higher frets makes sense.
Part of your issue may also be the cabinet - playing high on the e/D string gives you more fundamental than playing the same notes on the A string - it's how things work with typical pickup positions. If the cabinet can't handle the extra fundamental, you'd hear it more on the E/D string, and depending on various factors, having it show up on higher frets makes sense.
Unless I specifically want that tubby sound that comes from playing up the neck, I also generally avoid it. Some heavy bands like Kyuss used that sound to great effect, but they also went for a tubby bass sound overall.
EXL170 = 45-65-80-100. The 100E might be a bit too light for drop D. When there is not enough tension on it, it can sound wonky up the neck. I would suggest you try the EXL170BT (Balanced Tension), 45-60-80-107. The 107E would hold its tension better when dropped down to D.
Yeah I get that my drop D Ric but it's not terrible. Really it's difficult to diagnose without actually being there. It be one thing or a combination of things. Could be a setup issue, could be a string issue, or an EQ issue on your amp. Literally a dozen things that could be working against you.
I'm not familiar with that specific model, but one of the little secrets about bass guitar cabinets is there is a tradeoff made between size, efficiency, and low frequency extension - you get to pick 2, the other one is what it is (which means it suffers some). Since everyone likes something that fits in their car, and they want it loud, low frequency extension on almost all bass guitar cabinets (Acme's are the one exception I know of) is what suffers - it's not sufficient to reproduce the lowest fundamentals on the E string. Even the venerable Ampeg 810 fridge cabinets have this tradeoff.
As a result of this, what you describe makes sense - low on the E/D string, things aren't muddy - the cabinet is not reproducing the fundamentals, so it sounds "OK". As you go up the string the cabinet starts to actually work well, and you hear fundamentals - if done well, it's OK, if not (could be the gear, could be the room) then you get what you describe.
In some instances, playing the deep strings up high gets you raw percussion that fretting it lower on an alternate string won't. It's all in the playing expressively and what, at that moment one is going for.
Then again, there ain't necessarily a rule that can't be broken in the pursuit of playing music.
Then again, there ain't necessarily a rule that can't be broken in the pursuit of playing music.
Just checked. That cabinet is specified as working from 48 Hz to 6 kHz. As there are no limits in the spec, what that means is....not very well defined, but usually when someone does that, they're being "optimistic" - the thing is probably pretty far down even at 48 Hz. Your lowest note is 37 Hz - your cabinet isn't reproducing the fundamentals down there. 49 Hz (closest note to 48 Hz) is G, the 5th fret on your lowest string, if you're D tuned. So, a couple frets above that you start getting strong fundamentals, so things change sonically - yeah, that makes sense.
Set the bass up to factory spec and then work from there. If the bass is set to factory specs and the issue persists, pleas let us know.
Maybe a HPF if the strings and setup aren't an issue. I love my HPF on my Berg head and use it judiciously because my cabinet is a Henry 8X8 which doesn't go real low without suffering some consequences. Punchy as all hell though.
Heavier gauge, shorter wave. That contributes but probably also due to the strings and amp settings. Does it sound that way unplugged? Then you can rule out electronics.
