Overtones from E string

[GabrielPbass]

Your recording sounds fantastic to me.

It's true that thicker strings have partials that aren't exactly harmonic. Ideally they'd be exact multiples of the fundamental frequency, but they actually end up a little sharper than that, and that difference is bigger the stiffer the string. You hear about this more with pianos (google "piano stretch tuning") which have a huge range (the lowest note is the same as the low A on a drop-tuned 5-string) and have very stiff bass strings. The bass strings on a piano are tuned so that they're a little flat; my understanding is that otherwise if you played left-hand octaves, for example, they'd clash with themselves. I wonder if "stretch tuning" would make any sense on a bass? If you tune the E string down a bit, does it make those octaves sound better to you?

I'm not hearing it on your recording, but I probably don't know how to listen for string inharmonicity. I wonder whether maybe you just need some time to get used to the sound of the new strings?

Yeah, It's only been 4 days since I installed it on my bass, I guess I'll have to get used to it, it might drive me nuts a bit

 

[BassFalcon]

Try lowering your pickup height under the E that may help a bit. I used those strings for years. They are monsters that cause a lot of setup problems. I had much better results when I actually tuned them down a 4th from EADG to BEAD, only then did I really start to enjoy them.

 

[g-dude]

How is your neck? Did you adjust the truss rod?

Reason I ask is that if you didn't, then you're going to have other issues. The way your saddle looks, it doesn't seem like you have any more room to intonate. If you neck has a forward bend, it makes it easier to run out of saddle travel like you have.

 

[Bassamatic]

It is possible that the string is bad. The larger strings can have several layers of wraps and one could be defective. Replacing the bad string IS a pain. I had a bad B string from T.I. It just sounded weird - kind of "boingy". I contacted the local office, and they passed me to the office in Germany. They were amazing and mailed me a new string and also an envelope to return the defective one so they could analyze it. LaBella may do the same for you.

 

[DJFonzi]

I put a set of tapered D'addarios on my new (to me) Peavey bass last week. The E sounded like it was running through a fuzz box. I'd actually dig the sound, if I could turn it off. I tried everything, too. D'addario is replacing the string, and afterwards, I found the culprit. Dig the E string, right at the top of the pickup surround.

 

[mellowgerman]

Somebody may have mentioned this already, but brand new flatwound strings take a while to break in. You may find that as this happens over the next couple of weeks (if you can deal with it for that long) the string's tone will darken (seasoned flats players know all about the lengthy break-in period) and then your harmonics may have settled a bit to where the issue isn't noticeable anymore.

 

[GabrielPbass]

Try lowering your pickup height under the E that may help a bit. I used those strings for years. They are monsters that cause a lot of setup problems. I had much better results when I actually tuned them down a 4th from EADG to BEAD, only then did I really start to enjoy them.

The pickup is already adjusted, but I lowered it more just to see, didn't work and sound quieter.

It is possible that the string is bad. The larger strings can have several layers of wraps and one could be defective. Replacing the bad string IS a pain. I had a bad B string from T.I. It just sounded weird - kind of "boingy". I contacted the local office, and they passed me to the office in Germany. They were amazing and mailed me a new string and also an envelope to return the defective one so they could analyze it. LaBella may do the same for you.

I just did that! Let's see what they'll say, if they reply me.

 

[GabrielPbass]

How is your neck? Did you adjust the truss rod?

Reason I ask is that if you didn't, then you're going to have other issues. The way your saddle looks, it doesn't seem like you have any more room to intonate. If you neck has a forward bend, it makes it easier to run out of saddle travel like you have.

Before I installed the strings I have give the truss rod a 1/4 clockwise turn, there's 0.13 gap between the E string and the 8th fret, you know when you put a capo on the 1st fret and press down the last fret, at least that's the way I do. Now I'm not good seeing if the neck is bow or straight, it looks pretty straight to me, I know it normally should have just a little bow, but to me it looks straight, I could be wrong.

 

[Wasnex]

THIS!!! ^ Here is the thread discussing inharmonicity with Dr. Kemp of St. Andrews University, Scotland, who has researched inharmonicity, and showing my application of wraps with golfer's lead tape to duplicate his experiments and findings in the manner of his Lump bass strings; post #21 is the dialog with Dr. Kemp:
Physicists develop bass string theory | TalkBass.com

I hear a very noticeable difference with the "lumped" string in this video from post #2 Physicists develop bass string theory



The lumped string actually sounds flat, but if you listen carefully, I think the fundamental sounds the same as the other strings, and only the harmonics are flatter.

The tone is pretty awful in this video but there is a reason. The strings were plucked very close to the bridge to ensure strong harmonics.

 

[iiipopes]

I hear a very noticeable difference with the "lumped" string in this video from post #2 Physicists develop bass string theory



The lumped string actually sounds flat, but if you listen carefully, I think the fundamental sounds the same as the other strings, and only the harmonics are flatter.

The tone is pretty awful in this video but there is a reason. The strings were plucked very close to the bridge to ensure strong harmonics.

Yes, your ears are hearing what is being demonstrated, except for one item: the harmonics are not flat in the lumped string samples. They are actually closer to being in tune, as opposed to being sharp. When an ear hears a pitch that is sharper than it should be, the ear latches on to that sharp pitch as the reference. Piano tuners actually on purpose have to tune the upper octaves sharp to what is mathematically "in tune," and the lowest octave flat as to what is mathematically "in tune" because of this and the inharmonicity concepts. Actually, it was technical treatises on piano tuning that addressed the inharmonicity issues first years ago due to the extended range of the piano across seven octaves.

 

[g-dude]

Before I installed the strings I have give the truss rod a 1/4 clockwise turn, there's 0.13 gap between the E string and the 8th fret, you know when you put a capo on the 1st fret and press down the last fret, at least that's the way I do. Now I'm not good seeing if the neck is bow or straight, it looks pretty straight to me, I know it normally should have just a little bow, but to me it looks straight, I could be wrong.

Sighting down the side of the neck (rotate the bass sideways so that you're looking at the edge) is often a good way to test. Also, sometimes the neck may need subsequent adjustment - I usually come back to it after a day or two.

One other thing to look at is how the string is with regards to the nut, and the saddle height. The higher the saddle height is relative to where the string sits on the nut, the longer the string is, and that impacts where you need to have the saddles forwards/backwards on the bridge. It's why any time you adjust the truss rod, or the action, your intonation will need tweaking.

I've played strings that are similar to what you have, and honestly I could NEVER get the bass setup to where I liked it. Ultimately, I decided to go with different strings and was happier for it.

Only you can decide the right strings for you, but sometimes it's good to evaluate what it is you're hoping to achieve, and to analyze who you are in order to come to the right answer. The strings that work for some folks can be absolutely the wrong string for other people, and it's all a game of compromises.

 

[Wasnex]

Yes, your ears are hearing what is being demonstrated, except for one item: the harmonics are not flat in the lumped string samples.

I think you misunderstood what I meant .

From my last post with italicized comment added for clarification.:

The lumped string actually sounds flat (in relation to the other two strings), but if you listen carefully, I think the fundamental sounds the same as the other strings, and only the harmonics are flatter.

Would it be better if I said less sharp?

Sorry...not intentionally trying to be snarky...this is a difficult subject to discuss with technical accuracy.

 

[iiipopes]

I think you misunderstood what I meant .

From my last post with italicized comment added for clarification.:


Would it be better if I said less sharp?

Sorry...not intentionally trying to be snarky...this is a difficult subject to discuss with technical accuracy.

And, unfortunately, you misread my post where I said exactly that: less sharp. Rock on!