Dead sounding low E string

[Mr_GoodBomb]

I've been playing bass in a band lately, using my Rickenbacker 4001 ('64) and the singer's Fender Bass Ten amp.

 

The bass had been borrowed by a friend for a while, and he said that the low E sounded very dull and muted. I told him it was probably the old strings. He changed the strings and returned it to me recently so I could use it.

 

I use a bass overdrive, so when you give the string a decent pluck, it gets a good rumbling overdriven sound... except for the low E string. Anything above the 5th fret I just play elsewhere, because it sounds so much better... but that means four very prominent notes sound flat and unappealing by comparison to the best of the bass.

 

Here's what I had considered, but that aren't likely to be the case:

 

- the controls are all at 10 on the bass itself (one exception, see below)

- I use the bridge pickup and the neck pickup is on 0 so the switch mutes everything between songs. I tried adjusting the bridge pickup's bass side more towards the string. Very little difference.

- the bridge itself is new, it's a retrofit Hipshots, so it's not the bridge (unless the saddle would need raising, would be drastically increase the already somewhat tough action)

- the nut doesn't appear to have any issues?

- the strings were, before the switch, very cheap bulk strings, but now they're perfectly good and new, and it didn't improve the problem

 

Any ideas? This isn't some anal little issue, it's quite noticeable.

[jasper383]

The E string issue has been reported on and off with Rics for a long time. Kind of like the Stingray and the "weak G string", some claim it as a real issue, some claim it's nonsense.

 

Here's a link to the Ric Forum where the E string problem is discussed:

http://www.rickenbacker.com/forum_view_thread.asp?thread_id=6756&forum=Just_Basses&thread_name=crazy%20thought%20%28whimpy%20E%20string%29

[Apendecto]

How powerful is the amp?

 

Yo.