alhbass Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 (edited) Hello. Here's a pic of the bridge of my lovely, newly acquired 80s Pbass (thanks 2x18): As you can see, now that I've put my preferred strings on it (Rotosound Trubass), there's a problem with the silk on the A and E strings sitting on the bridge saddles. Maybe it's my imagination, but it seems to make these strings sound a little duller than the other two. The saddles are correctly adjusted for action and intonation, so I cant just move them. Is it ok/advisable to scrape the silk back a bit? Or might that damage the string (they're pretty new, and not cheap!)? Any other ideas welcome... Thanks. Edited February 27, 2011 by alhbass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lettsguitars Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 it will affect the sound quite dramatically. i wouldn't recommend 'scraping' the silk back. try and find a thick washer to push the ball ends back a bit. unfortunately, some strings are not always suitable for certain basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Herbie Flowers has the same problem (if it is a problem) on his 1959 Jazz: It didn't stop him recording with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ou7shined Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 [quote name='lettsguitars' post='1143104' date='Feb 27 2011, 10:40 AM']it will affect the sound quite dramatically. i wouldn't recommend 'scraping' the silk back.....[/quote] Nah, it wouldn't be wrong to push them back a few mil (in fact it would almost certainly balance them out with the others) - besides, he's using nylon flats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lettsguitars Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 funny you should ask really. i just had to move/redesign a bridge for a customer with the same problem at the nut. he'd tried scraping but it looked quite messy. sorted it though. you might struggle on the e string as it's pretty lumpy. i'd try and find another solution if it was me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ou7shined Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Haha me too. I had to push back the silks but I "gelled" them back down with a wee spot of Vaseline to make them all tidy again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lettsguitars Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 [quote name='Ou7shined' post='1143309' date='Feb 27 2011, 01:54 PM']Haha me too. I had to push back the silks but I "gelled" them back down with a wee spot of Vaseline to make them all tidy again. [/quote] top tip of the day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alhbass Posted February 27, 2011 Author Share Posted February 27, 2011 [quote name='Ou7shined' post='1143293' date='Feb 27 2011, 01:40 PM']- besides, he's using nylon flats.[/quote] My Rotosounds are nylon flats! And but the look of the binding, possibly the same brand... I'm not sure how much it affects the sound really - I mean, I'm far from confident that I'd be able to tell the difference in a controlled experiment. But thanks to everyone for their advice so far. Think I might try out the washer idea before attacking the silk bindings... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 (edited) [quote name='alhbass' post='1143407' date='Feb 27 2011, 03:24 PM']My Rotosounds are nylon flats! And but the look of the binding, possibly the same brand... I'm not sure how much it affects the sound really - I mean, I'm far from confident that I'd be able to tell the difference in a controlled experiment. But thanks to everyone for their advice so far. Think I might try out the washer idea before attacking the silk bindings...[/quote] Herbie Flowers' strings are Roto Trubass like yours and it's said they've been on the bass for thirty years or more. I doubt whether it makes much diufference at all to sound. However when I had a similar problem I did carefully cut back the silk. Edited February 28, 2011 by EssentialTension Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 A lighter flame will sort the scruffy poking out threads after a cutting. Correct application of fire and sharp things will correct most problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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