String Tension Issue - Fender Mustang

[Stopmakingsense]

Hey all

I'm a beginner bass player and was given a pawn shop fender mustang bass a few months ago. I have played 10+ live shows with it and have had no issues until I've come to recording.

Because the string tension is so little they tend to clank around and it is very audible. It's especially bad on the E and A strings. I've tried raising the action a little but it's still not enough to counter this. I think when combined with the humbucker in this thing it ends up really noisy.
As an example of how loose they feel Its only when I tune the E string all the way up to an A that it feels normal.


The loose strings also lead to barely any sustain - for example if I play a note note on the g string it's duration is almost twice as long as on the E string.


I believe the strings are just the factory ones and I was wondering if anyone had any solutions or string recommendations to solve this? I understand this is symptomatic of a short scale bass but I really don't think it should be this bad. Any other tips on recording with this bass would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[boynamedsuse]

My impression is that a lot of new players have this problem. Your goal should be to lighten your touch so you don't move the strings as much and turn up the amplification so your amp does the work not your fingers.

Regarding stiffer strings, I have a regular Mustang and use flats on it. The LaBella Mustang flats have higher stiffness than the factory strings did.

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[Stopmakingsense]

Hey thanks for the reply!
Will try that out next time I'm in the studio. I don't think it's the touch however, a more experienced friend of mine tried the bass and had similar issues. It's more when you release your finger off a fret the string is so slack it rattles, which is why I initially thought raising the action would help.

As I mentioned earlier if I tune the e string up a few steps all problems dissappear, but of course I can't play like that!

Any ideas?

Thanks again guys.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Bump up your gauges. You might like it, you might not, but I believe it's worth trying. Or look for stiffer strings which feel tighter (whether or not the tauter feel is also due to an actual increase in scientific tension, let's say neck pull.)
(Read the whole thread for differing opinions.)

 

[iiipopes]

+1 on the La Bella Mustang Flats. Raise the action a little bit as well, which might require re-intonating the saddles.

 

[Pier_]

I don't think it's the touch however,

on the Mustang I use the Thomastik JR324, roundcore (lighter tension than hex core) in 42-56-69-93 gauge. I have no issues with them feeling floppy, or with fret rattle.

is the bass setup good? the neck has the right relief to let the string vibrate? are you already used to that bass? changes like this, going from a 34" to a 30" can take time to get the player used to the new feeling, exactly how it would take getting used to lighter or heavier strings.

which strings have you on? the Fender 40-95 stock? change them, they are terrible...

 

[Dewdman42]

I just got my first JMJ and I agree the string tension is really loose...and damn the strings are clanky as hell. this bass came direct from Fender and probably needs to be properly setup in terms of action, truss rod, intonation, etc..so that will be done soon, but while I'm at it, I'm wondering if there is anything to the idea of using slightly heavier gauge strings...what did the OP end up doing?

I'm sure some of it is technique as I am a new bass player (experience guitarist), but honestly I have been trying really hard to use a light touch, etc, but the strings just clank all over the place and it kind of feels like maybe its from loose tension, but I don't really know, is this looser then a 34" typical bass would be? I've heard people say so, but I'm not really sure...

 

[michael_t]

I just got my first JMJ and I agree the string tension is really loose...and damn the strings are clanky as hell. this bass came direct from Fender and probably needs to be properly setup in terms of action, truss rod, intonation, etc..so that will be done soon, but while I'm at it, I'm wondering if there is anything to the idea of using slightly heavier gauge strings...what did the OP end up doing?

I'm sure some of it is technique as I am a new bass player (experience guitarist), but honestly I have been trying really hard to use a light touch, etc, but the strings just clank all over the place and it kind of feels like maybe its from loose tension, but I don't really know, is this looser then a 34" typical bass would be? I've heard people say so, but I'm not really sure...

JMJ Mustang direct from Fender... Does this mean it has Fender 9050 Flats (the ones with green silk) on it right now?

 

[Dewdman42]

yes I think so.

 

[michael_t]

yes I think so.

So, do you prefer flats over rounds?

 

[Dewdman42]

I have no idea. New bass player starting today. I keep hearing flats are better on short scale and the JMJ comes with flats, so I guess I would probably start with that for now

 

[michael_t]

I have no idea. New bass player starting today. I keep hearing flats are better on short scale and the JMJ comes with flats, so I guess I would probably start with that for now

Considering it's a brand new bass direct from Fender, it would probably be a good idea to have it set up properly.

La Bella offers a set of flats specifically designed for the thru-body Mustang. They would be slightly stiffer in feel than the Fender 9050L (45-60-80-100) that come on it, which are not even the proper length as the 9050L only come in "long scale".

I don't own a Mustang, but I know a lot of Mustang players like the La Bella set.

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[Dewdman42]

yes definitely it's to be setup. I am going to try to do that myself, I have done my fender guitars in the past. But might try a good shop fro the first setup.

So if I understand you correctly that La Bella Flat set has a thicker E string and a thinner G string... which theoretically would mean the E string will have more tension then what I have now from these factory strings...and that is really the main floppy string. So perhaps I will give that set a try.

 

[michael_t]

So if I understand you correctly that La Bella Flat set has a thicker E string and a thinner G string... which theoretically would mean the E string will have more tension then what I have now from these factory strings...and that is really the main floppy string. So perhaps I will give that set a try.

Yes, a thicker E string will help. Plus, La Bella flats are naturally on the stiff side the way they're constructed with a very tightly-wound outer ribbon wire.

 

[HaphAsSard]

I just got my first JMJ and I agree the string tension is really loose...and damn the strings are clanky as hell. this bass came direct from Fender and probably needs to be properly setup in terms of action, truss rod, intonation, etc..so that will be done soon, but while I'm at it, I'm wondering if there is anything to the idea of using slightly heavier gauge strings...what did the OP end up doing?

I'm sure some of it is technique as I am a new bass player (experience guitarist), but honestly I have been trying really hard to use a light touch, etc, but the strings just clank all over the place and it kind of feels like maybe its from loose tension, but I don't really know, is this looser then a 34" typical bass would be? I've heard people say so, but I'm not really sure...

Look into a proper setup with the stock strings, then give them a little time: in my experience, they start sounding a lot better after the first month or so. After that, you'll have given them a fair chance and, based on tension or tone, you'll have a better idea of what you feel they're lacking, if any.

 

[HelpImaRock]

I have no idea. New bass player starting today. I keep hearing flats are better on short scale and the JMJ comes with flats, so I guess I would probably start with that for now

Personally, I like flats better on all basses. I have medium scale LaBella Low Tension Flats on my Mustang. The Deep Talkin Flats for Mustang will be a little stiffer.

 

[KenB]

One thing to consider...

You said you've been playing live shows, and apparently didn't have a problem. You didn't notice the string noise until listening to your recordings.

Even the pros get a LOT more buzz, clank and rattle than you'd think when you're listening to their recordings or live shows.

Go to YouTube and do a search for "isolated bass".

You will find a TON of bass tracks extracted from classic and recent songs. You will be AMAZED by the amount of fret buzz, clank, flubbed notes, timing errors, etc.

Check out Chris Squire on Roundabout:


You don't notice the flaws when you listen to the final mix.

AND keep in mind that these tracks have been compressed and polished during mastering!