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Re: Bb sustain problem

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Posted by MC Bass on November 13, 2001 at 13:11:43:

In Reply to: Re: Bb sustain problem posted by Dave Rawlings on November 13, 2001 at 12:46:12:

Thank you Dave for your info below:

It seem like on my Fender and Fernandes basses, the sustain problem only happens on the Bb note on the 6th fret of E string. All the other notes on the E strings seem to be fine, including the B note on 7th fret as well as the A note on the 5th fret.

Thanks again,

Martin

: : I have a Fender American Standard P-Bass also a Fernandes PJ Bass, both 4 string basses.

: :

: : On both of these basses when I play the Bb (B Flat) note on the E string 6th fret, the sustain does not seem to be as long as the other notes.

: :

: : If I play Bb on the A string 1st fret, I do not have this problem.

: :

: : This does not happen on my hollow body Danelectro 4 string nor my neck through 5 string basses.

: :

: : Is this a common problem with bolt on 4 string basses?

: :

: : Does changing the nut to brass help? I ask because on the basses which I don't have this problem, they have brass nuts.

: :

: : Any input would be appreciated.

: :

: : Thanks and God Bless,

: :

: : Martin

: Martin,

: There's probably nothing wrong with any of your basses; I have the same problem. It doesn't seem to matter whether it is a bolt-on, neck-through, a 4, 5 or 6-string. Or even if it is hollow (as in my Carvin AC-50F). It has more to do with physics. At certain lengths, some strings do not resonate very well. With me, it dosn't matter whether the strings are old or brand new. Playing a B or Bb on the E string is nowhere as sustained as on the A string. The combination of length and mass of the A string makes a better sustained note than the combination of length and mass of the E string. I have found however, that the longer the scale is, the better the note on the E string. I built a fanned fret (fretless) 6-string with a scale length for the E string at about 36-1/2" and the B sounded much better than on a 4-string. I think it's something we may just have to put up with. There may be certain basses that do sing well on the E string, but it may be a combination of electronics and woods.

: Dave

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Re: Bb sustain problem Stefan 11:50:25 11/14/01 (0)

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Comments:
: Thank you Dave for your info below: : It seem like on my Fender and Fernandes basses, the sustain problem only happens on the Bb note on the 6th fret of E string. All the other notes on the E strings seem to be fine, including the B note on 7th fret as well as the A note on the 5th fret. : Thanks again, : Martin : : : : I have a Fender American Standard P-Bass also a Fernandes PJ Bass, both 4 string basses. : : : : : : On both of these basses when I play the Bb (B Flat) note on the E string 6th fret, the sustain does not seem to be as long as the other notes. : : : : : : If I play Bb on the A string 1st fret, I do not have this problem. : : : : : : This does not happen on my hollow body Danelectro 4 string nor my neck through 5 string basses. : : : : : : Is this a common problem with bolt on 4 string basses? : : : : : : Does changing the nut to brass help? I ask because on the basses which I don't have this problem, they have brass nuts. : : : : : : Any input would be appreciated. : : : : : : Thanks and God Bless, : : : : : : Martin : : Martin, : : There's probably nothing wrong with any of your basses; I have the same problem. It doesn't seem to matter whether it is a bolt-on, neck-through, a 4, 5 or 6-string. Or even if it is hollow (as in my Carvin AC-50F). It has more to do with physics. At certain lengths, some strings do not resonate very well. With me, it dosn't matter whether the strings are old or brand new. Playing a B or Bb on the E string is nowhere as sustained as on the A string. The combination of length and mass of the A string makes a better sustained note than the combination of length and mass of the E string. I have found however, that the longer the scale is, the better the note on the E string. I built a fanned fret (fretless) 6-string with a scale length for the E string at about 36-1/2" and the B sounded much better than on a 4-string. I think it's something we may just have to put up with. There may be certain basses that do sing well on the E string, but it may be a combination of electronics and woods. : : Dave

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