Members Orph Posted May 23, 2009 Members Share Posted May 23, 2009 I broke my e-string today, and went down to my local musicstore to buy a new one. I got a replacement 100-gauge string, and mounted it. Now I've got a really nasty metallic sound when I'm plucking the string which is ruining my sound Is this normal, or should I go back with it and explain what's going on, and maybe get a new one ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassman1956 Posted May 23, 2009 Members Share Posted May 23, 2009 Was it a brand-type-gage match? If not, could be just set-up issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members moogieotter Posted May 23, 2009 Members Share Posted May 23, 2009 Um, using both hands press the first and last frets on that new string with it in tune and look at the 7th fret, is there any airspace? If it is touching the fret you dont have enough neck relief. 100 is light for an E on a 4 banger. It might not be giving enough tension. Was the broken string a 100? You might be best off at this point getting a setup and a whole set. Do you know any veteran bassist who can teach you how to do your own setup? There is a great Thread in the Bass FAQ on Setups. Good Luck. moogieotter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Orph Posted May 23, 2009 Author Members Share Posted May 23, 2009 Nope, it was just a generic string they had lying around. Originally I had a 105-gauge (I suspect). So I should try to experiment with bridgeheight and the truss-rod, then ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NeonVomit Posted May 23, 2009 Members Share Posted May 23, 2009 Have you ever changed your strings before? Brand new strings sound VERY metallic and sharp and take a few days to settle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassman1956 Posted May 23, 2009 Members Share Posted May 23, 2009 Try Kindness'ss'ss Bass Set-up Thread. Could be the string doesn't fit the nut right, or different tension changed the feel of the action, etc. Maybe the new string is not as stiff, so it feels flappier when you play, and you get more noise. I don't really know, these are just some rambling thoughts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Orph Posted May 23, 2009 Author Members Share Posted May 23, 2009 Um, using both hands press the first and last frets on that new string with it in tune and look at the 7th fret, is there any airspace? If it is touching the fret you dont have enough neck relief. 100 is light for an E on a 4 banger. It might not be giving enough tension. Was the broken string a 100? You might be best off at this point getting a setup and a whole set. Do you know any veteran bassist who can teach you how to do your own setup?There is a great Thread in the Bass FAQ on Setups. Good Luck.moogieotter I did that. There's some play at the 7th fret, a little less than a creditcard worth of space. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Kindness Posted May 23, 2009 Moderators Share Posted May 23, 2009 How old were the previous strings?! It sounds like you will be happier when your new string breaks in and mellows out a bit. Maybe you can speed up the process by coating it with chicken grease. Here's the good news. Some of us love that nasty metallic sound and have to spend money to keep fresh strings on the bass. Your preferences are cheaper! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members moogieotter Posted May 23, 2009 Members Share Posted May 23, 2009 Ya. Get a bucket of KFC and turn on some CroBar and eat and play along on that new string until the bucket is empty. Then install a kill switch and get like 15 pedals and put that empty bucket on your head - then become a bass phenom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Orph Posted May 23, 2009 Author Members Share Posted May 23, 2009 How old were the previous strings?! It sounds like you will be happier when your new string breaks in and mellows out a bit. Maybe you can speed up the process by coating it with chicken grease. Here's the good news. Some of us love that nasty metallic sound and have to spend money to keep fresh strings on the bass. Your preferences are cheaper! Two months. The old ones never sounded like that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Kindness Posted May 23, 2009 Moderators Share Posted May 23, 2009 Wow. It sounded to me like you replaced a dead string and didn't know what new strings sound like. I was wrong. Without seeing/hearing the bass I don't have any suggestion other than trying another string. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Orph Posted May 23, 2009 Author Members Share Posted May 23, 2009 Wow. It sounded to me like you replaced a dead string and didn't know what new strings sound like. I was wrong. Without seeing/hearing the bass I don't have any suggestion other than trying another string. New new one seems a lot stiffer than the previous one if that helps ? And it seems like they are made for longer scale basses, since the metal bit of the string touches the tuningpeg. Is this normal ? It seems like this could result in quite a bit of resonnance. i don't know, though. Input ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NeonVomit Posted May 23, 2009 Members Share Posted May 23, 2009 New new one seems a lot stiffer than the previous one if that helps ? And it seems like they are made for longer scale basses, since the metal bit of the string touches the tuningpeg. Is this normal ? It seems like this could result in quite a bit of resonnance. i don't know, though. Input ? Well do you know if it's a different kind of string from the rest of the ones you have on? Worth examining. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members countrybass Posted May 23, 2009 Members Share Posted May 23, 2009 Nope, it was just a generic string they had lying around. Originally I had a 105-gauge (I suspect). So I should try to experiment with bridgeheight and the truss-rod, then ? Honestly, and by no means am I being a weiner, but if something as basic as this is a problem for you, DON'T, experiment with your trussrod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Orph Posted May 23, 2009 Author Members Share Posted May 23, 2009 Honestly, and by no means am I being a weiner, but if something as basic as this is a problem for you, DON'T, experiment with your trussrod. I see your point. Thing is, I'm used to playing my bass, not fiddling around with it. You've gotta start someplace. I perfectly well understand the basics of it all (from a mechanical point of view at least), but the weird sound threw me off something fierce. I'll ride it out, and see if the string settles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassesofalessergod Posted May 23, 2009 Members Share Posted May 23, 2009 raise the bridge saddle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kingmaker Posted May 23, 2009 Members Share Posted May 23, 2009 Run some grease on the new string. It will help kill brightness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cpt. Spliff Posted May 23, 2009 Members Share Posted May 23, 2009 F... it and burn it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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