BrunoBass Posted June 10, 2017 Share Posted June 10, 2017 I acquired a cheapo £100 Jazz bass copy the other day, which for the money is an amazing instrument. The E string when played open however has a strange 'ringing' sound which resembles a phase or chorus effect, very odd. Something somewhere is vibrating I suppose, and I think it's coming from the bridge. It only occurs on the open E string, not on any other strings or and not on any fretted notes on the E. The weird modulating tone is there when played both amplified and unplugged. It's no biggie as the strings and the bridge will be amongst the first things I plan to replace, which should remedy it. I am interested though to see if anyone else has ever experienced this type of thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted June 10, 2017 Share Posted June 10, 2017 Have you checked the nut slot for the E to see if that might be a little too wide for the current string gauge? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 (edited) It's the string most likely - not wound properly. That 'oscillating' sound is why I don't buy rotosound strings anymore as I had A number of sets like that a couple of years ago (although the last few sets I've heard/played didn't do this) Edited June 11, 2017 by AndyTravis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hrnn1234 Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 [quote name='AndyTravis' timestamp='1497145563' post='3316151'] It's the string most likely - not wound properly. That 'oscillating' sound is why I don't buy rotosound strings anymore as I had A number of sets like that a couple of years ago (although the last few sets I've heard/played didn't do this) [/quote] Could this also be the reason for a super wobbly E string? It also sounds much more prominent than the others and it's not the PU height as I tinkered with it already and the problem persisted on three different bass guitars. I started to think it was the gauge and I'm about to try a thinner one for that string alone. So far I've used d'addarios and a set of fender strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 What's the break angle like at the nut end? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamfist Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 My first guess would be a dodgy string - most likely. THen, as others have advised, check that you have an appropriate nut slot width and a good nut break angle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbyrne Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 Dodgy string maybe - but before you try a replacement, take it off & put it back on making sure there isn't a twist in it. I've had this effect from a string put on at the tail and head then looped round the post, imparting a twist in the string. Removal & replacement making sure it's straight sorted it out. G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twincam Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 Easy test is too place your finger down hard on the e string behind the nut, between the nut and the machine head. And play the open e. If the sound is no longer there either the nut slot is too big, in which case the solution is a larger gauge string set. Or new nut. Or the break angle between nut and tunning peg is to shallow. Solution is too have more windings (at least three/four) going down the peg. If the sound is still there during the test. Its either a knackered string. Or the string or bridge saddle is not seated properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 Happened to me a few times. It was the string. Once it was fixed by removing the string and winding it again... maybe it was twisted? The other times I ended up installing another string to cure it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted June 12, 2017 Author Share Posted June 12, 2017 Useful, thanks all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 [quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1497179014' post='3316293'] Easy test is too place your finger down hard on the e string behind the nut, between the nut and the machine head. [/quote] I agree with Twincam with this as a first check. 6 string electrics suffer from something like this quite a lot - makes it sound like a sitar - and is usually that the nut has been cut parallel to the fretboard rather than with a slight downward angle (the break angle the others talk about) and the string vibrates along the length of the nut slot itself. If it is that, probably best to get a tech to correct it. Will only take a tech a couple of minutes but, unless youve done it before, wrongly done can leave you needing a new nut. Personally I've not had issues even if the slot is cut a touch too wide as long as that angle is right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted June 14, 2017 Author Share Posted June 14, 2017 (edited) Right, I finally got round to setting up El Cheapo tonight, and whilst I was at it I loosened off the E and pushed the ball end away from the bridge to release any twist that might have occurred. The ball end righted itself immediately and upon tuning back to pitch the weird oscillating sound was gone. Thanks for the advice. The nut incidentally is one of the things that impresses me the most about this budget bass. The material is undoubtably low quality but the cut (both height and width) and the angle is spot on. I still can't believe how good this bass is for £109... Edited June 15, 2017 by PaulGibsonBass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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