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Trouble bending strings

powerslave12r

powerslave12r

Jan 1, 2010
83
32
#1
I recently acquired a new SR505 and I have two questions.

1. I'm having trouble bending the D string, for example the bend in Sabbath NIB, on fret 7 (bent to 9th) no matter what. I'm seeing similar things on the A, D, G string. I can't bend more than 1 fret up. In fact, I can't even bend all the way 1 fret up.

While I can bend two frets up on B and E strings.

Is this a fixed behavior for this gauge strings? The strings are the Elixirs that the Ibanez ships with.


2. The fretboard seems a little 'light' and I'm wondering if it's possible it is dried out? I have seen other basses and the rosewood fretboard on them seems rather dark.

Is this something that needs to be addressed? Or are some rosewood fretboards just light? I have seen other SR505s and it seemed darker on those.

Should I mess around with lemon oil or wait it out until the next string change, or do nothing at all for a while.


Thanks!
 
#2
Hi.

#1, get lighter gauge strings. All things being equal, that will reduce the tension (and change the tone/harmonics).

#2 The lightness or darkness by itself of any wood isn't an indication of the dryness, wood is an organic material, it comes with all the possible variations.
Some manufacturers choose the materials more precisely, some will let the "charcter" of that said material to show in order to increase visual appearance, and some will dye the crap out of everything so that "It MUST be Ebony, it is so dark" Fb can in the end be any hardwood underneath the coats of polished dye.

Oiling or not oiling rosewood is a personal preference, but save for a few cases where I've had to remove a decade worth of various bodily residues from the FB with alcohol (and removed the oils from the rosewood in the process as well), I have never oiled any oily wood FB.

It will look nicer, or at least shinier when oiled and polished, but it IME does nether harm nor good.

Regards
Sam
 
#3
Thanks :) Both of those answers help.

Just thought about it, for better bending, would I not prefer lighter gauge? I wonder how much of the sound changes going down a few sizes down.

I'm not sure what gauge the Elixirs on the SR505 are. Could you suggest what is a good gauge for bending at least up to a note up (up to two frets)?

Thanks again :)
 
#7
The issue is that I can force the string to bend as far as it can seemingly go without breaking but the note doesn't seem to sound even a semitone higher. I know it's not finger strength because the heavier B and E strings do just fine.

The A, D, G just seem too tightly strung. My question is, is this expected? I've seen people bending notes on other basses much easily.
 
#8
The instrument is fine.

Three experiments:

  1. Bend until you hear the note in tune. Don't worry about breaking the string.
  2. Bend the A string toward the D string and vice versa.
  3. Try lighter gauge strings.
 
#10
Here are some pictures of the fretboard for reference (click through a couple of times for the largest size)

cgbtKyZl.jpg


vxliPqpl.jpg
 
#16
202dy said:
No. Color is meaningless. Unless you see a crack there is nothing wrong with the fingerboard.
Click to expand...

There are no cracks or anything whatsoever. It's pristine, and smooth to the touch as well.

rtav said:
I'd suggest looking into some low tension strings like DR Hi-Beams. To me they move too much - I prefer the higher tension Lo-Riders, but if bending is what you're after, the Hi-Beams will probably help a lot.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll keep that name in mind.
 

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