Possible set up issue. Need help, please!

[hentor2112]

Two of my lower-end basses, a Squier Precision and a Squier Vintage Modified 70's Jazz, both have a similar problem: the A string on the Precision and the E string on the Jazz both when playing an open string kind of sounds like there's a chorus effect on it, like slightly modulated. I was trying to see if anyone had any ideas... the only thing I could think of was the string not sitting properly in the nut? Thanks for any help and suggestions!

 

[macmanlou]

Can you post some photos of the headstock and nut - and the bridge as well (just for good measure)?

 

[MK1]

Are your pickups too high? The magnets on the poles could be making the strings warble.

 

[sharkbait130]

The A string on the precision should have at least 3 wraps around the tuning peg. A lot of times the A string will do funny things if the wraps don't pull the string down. If the string is not pulled down , it might not seat on the nut very well causing problems. The D and G strings have a holder to pull them down and the E string is close enough to the nut for this not to be a problem. Always seems to be the A string on a P. Some P players put an additional hold down on the A string. There is also a bar you can install that holds all 3 strings down. This has solved the problem for a couple of P players I know. Three wraps around the tuning peg has always done the trick for me though. Could also be pickups too high as MK1 said.
Haven't had my hands on a jazz in years so I can't be of any help there. Don't know if Jazzes have the same problems with string hold downs but I know the necks are similar and the string hold down problem has never been a problem on a P neck as far as I know on an E string.
Another possibility is that the nut slot is not correctly cut. They have to be angled back toward the head stock a bit. If they are flat , it can cause some weird vibration problems. Don't know specifically if it causes your kind of problem but I am thinking that it might. Hope this helps.

 

[Maxdusty]

I've have had it happen to me a couple of times. Once on the E string, the other the A string on different basses. Not necessarily the problem and solution that applies to your basses as there could be other reasons as mentioned above by others.

First off let me ask you if these problems were always there or could they have started when you changed strings?
If it's the latter, try this... loosen the string completely, let it untwist itself, then re-tighten correctly letting it wind itself around the tuner. If the string is wound up incorrectly it'll either cause the string to sound "dead" or it'll give that weird chorus effect sound. There's a thread here somewhere which provided me this solution and it answered my problems, I'll see if I can find it. ....
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/weird-problem-chorus-y-sound-from-dr-fatbeams.460905/

 

[Malak the Mad]

Don't know if Jazzes have the same problems with string hold downs but I know the necks are similar and the string hold down problem has never been a problem on a P neck as far as I know on an E string.

Yeah, A-String-thing has happened on my Jazzes. Then I read about the extra-winding solution here on TB and it's much better now. However, I'm still very cautious when winding up an A-string. Keeping the tension on that extra wrap takes a good bit o' downward force.

 

[hentor2112]

Thanks very much to you all for the help. I'll make these adjustments and post how it turns out. The Jazz is brand new and I restrung it first thing right out of the box... And had a "dead" E string. So restrung the E and got the chorus. So appears this should be an easy fix. Anyway - thanks very much again!