What might be causing this, and how can I fix it?

[jpmcbride]

I wonder if spraying some electronics cleaner on the pickup might help?

No, this won't help. Contact cleaner is for cleaning moving parts like pots and switches. It won't do anything for a pickup.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

I wonder if spraying some electronics cleaner on the pickup might help?

How would that help?

 

[jpmcbride]

I've had short scales with tone issues on the low E, but not lower volume. Maybe do a TB search for someone else with the same bass so you can see if they have any issues with the E string?

Have you checked the bridge saddle? Maybe an issue there?

 

[hennessybass]

My thought was it might be an amplification thing. Sometimes a amp or cab - or combo of - can have frequencies that are +/-.

 

[shodan]

I'd second (triple?) checking the nut and the saddle. I'd say that more than half of the time a single string issue is on one of these.

 

[CryingBass]

Take 2 more pickups and call me in the morning.

 

[Kerem Koseoglu]

Did you check the string angle between the nut & the tuner? Basically; in its final position, the string-tuner contact point should be much lower than the string-nut contact point.

 

[Thumpin6string]

I had the same thing on my 5 string fretless when I switched to Bartolini Jazz pickups. The bridge pickup had practically nothing from the E string. The bridge I used had 18mm spacing. When I switched to a bridge with narrower string spacing it was fine. Basically the E string was not sitting correctly over the pickup. So maybe it's the string alignment over the pickups?

 

[Ric5]

I have a 3 pickup Huntngton, and the output on the E string has lower output than the other 3 strings.

---I've changed the strings. Still the same.

---I changed the pots (because of the taper), so I know it wasn't anything electronic.

---I raised the pickups on the low end, THAT raised the volume on the A string proportionally to the E string, so it didn't help.

---I singled out each pickup, and the E string is lower in volume on all 3.

I'm baffled.

I've owned lots of basses. Never experienced this before.

Any thoughts?

is the problem acoustic or electric?

If it is only electric then try isolating the middle or bridge pickup and see what happens

 

[craigie]

I have one jazz pickup that’s much quieter on the E string and it’s because those magnets became weaker somehow. I can tell by touching them with a screwdriver. Since you say it’s all three pickups that’s likely not the cause.
Maybe rotate the pickups 180?

 

[stringthrough]

Had that once on the E string of a 5 string J bass I loved. Nothing fixed the problem. Thinking back, the only thing that comes to mind is that there was a higher or lower density area in the neck under the nut where the E string lays, maybe even a tiny crack at that spot. Yup it's a long shot but nothing else comes to mind.

 

[thewildest]

Abother theory: I assume you have this issue when playing open notes; i.e: if you play an open A, it generates higher output than the E. What does it happen when you play on the 12th/15th fret?

1) if you have the same problem, is a pickup issue; there is no enough capacity (may be the shape/position) in that pickup to (no pun intended) pickup the vibration; like having 5 string pickups on a 6 string bass.
2) if you don’t it could be the capacity of your cicuitry to pickuo low frequencies; or your action is high, abd you bring the string closer to the pickup and is only then that the magic happens

I hope this helps

 

[TobyTheBass]

pickups not exactly inline with the bridge maybe?

 

[cnltb]

I have a 3 pickup Huntngton, and the output on the E string has lower output than the other 3 strings.

---I've changed the strings. Still the same.

---I changed the pots (because of the taper), so I know it wasn't anything electronic.

---I raised the pickups on the low end, THAT raised the volume on the A string proportionally to the E string, so it didn't help.

---I singled out each pickup, and the E string is lower in volume on all 3.

I'm baffled.

I've owned lots of basses. Never experienced this before.

Any thoughts?

Sell the bass...sorted.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Witness point at the nut. And we’re not talking about the output from the piezo, right?

I’d also check the pole piece alignment with something like this:

CMS MAGNETICS 4" x 6" Green Magnetic Field Viewing Film, Fun! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000UV6ZPS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_YurbCbANYKEVG

 

[Oberst]

How would that help?

I don’t know it would. Electronic things can be funky and sometimes cleaning does help but, at least, it would not hurt.

 

[nilorius]

I think the problem is in pickups. Try to get kind of the same pickup you got right now and reinstall it with the new one, if that doesn't help - get it to master.

 

[rtslinger]

I had a similar situation. The pole itself in the pickup on my G string on my jazz went, it was barely audible. All the rest of the string were strong
I had to buy another pickup. Not sure this is your problem? I had never had this happen to any other bass, so I too was baffled as well. hope this help Joe
Rob

 

[Richard Martin]

What are you using to measure the output?

 

[Spidey2112]

Joe, if you can, a top view of the E string as it sits in the nut slot, and an exposed view of the E string saddle...

... a mocha latte, with a twist of peppermint would be nice, too...