Sound level is lower for D string, what is wrong?

[CptanPanic]

Hello,
I have a P-Bass clone, that I have started playing with, and it seems that the D string is lower in volume than the other 3 strings. I adjusted the pickups so that they are all 3.5mm from strings, but do I need to raise up even more for the pickup side that is under the D string? Could it be something else, bad string, broken pickup, etc?
Thanks,
CP

 

[Stealth]

I wouldn't say the pickup's broken - string volume and sustain have plenty to do with the endpoints of the string itself - in other words, the nut and the bridge saddles. Check those first and see if the string is slipping, doesn't fit well or just isn't taut enough.

 

[Johnny Mack]

could be a dead string

 

[mikezimmerman]

Each string naturally has a different mass, a different range of vibration, etc., and those things affect the output. So, I would not start by setting the pickup so that it's the same distance from each of the strings.

If the output of the D string is too low, try raising the pickup under that string, or lower the pickup under the other strings (3.5mm is pretty close...). One if the nice things about split P pickups is that you have more ability to adjust the height for each string than you do with a one-piece J or soapbar...

Mike