Author Topic: String Voodoo  (Read 3823 times)

patman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1344
    • View Profile
String Voodoo
« on: November 20, 2017, 06:16:50 AM »
Wasn't happy with the B String from a set of Labella "Low Tension Flexible Flats"...

The intonation was all over the place...to get frets 1-5 to intonate, the rest of the string  (higher notes) were out of tune...it sounded dead and was a general mess...just did not "ring" properly.

Put on a round wound B string I had around the house...it sounded terrible...

Got frustrated, and re-mounted the flat wound B string, and it sounded fine. No intonation problems, and it rang true...WTF?

Granny Gremlin

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2942
    • View Profile
    • Granny Gremlin home page
Re: String Voodoo
« Reply #1 on: November 20, 2017, 07:10:46 AM »
Was the round also new?

Possibly a combination of hasty post wrap and some stretching going on (bigger issue with bigger strings, such a a low B).
Robert Plant and Jimmy Page (drummer and bassist of Deep Purple, Jake!)

patman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1344
    • View Profile
Re: String Voodoo
« Reply #2 on: November 20, 2017, 08:14:41 AM »
Round was new...

Just don't understand how I could re-mount the flatwound, and have it sound fine.

Can strings get twisted, or something in installation?

Granny Gremlin

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2942
    • View Profile
    • Granny Gremlin home page
Re: String Voodoo
« Reply #3 on: November 20, 2017, 10:41:44 AM »
If the wrap around the post isn't tight (or too many winds - 4 max, ideally 3) and/or  the string is new you will get stretching as the string settles on the post and  the metal stretches under tension for the first time - slowly gives up slack until it reaches a stable homeostasis vs tension.  I never intonate until the next day after changing strings (tune up 1/2 to full step overnight after a careful mount job and manual stretching before bringing up to pitch). 

When you removed the flat B it was under tension for a bit so the metal may have stretched out, and when remounted you may have done a good job on the post and so it didn't stretch any more and was stable.

Maybe, just the first thought that came to mind.
Robert Plant and Jimmy Page (drummer and bassist of Deep Purple, Jake!)

clankenstein

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 992
  • Never Gutless!
    • View Profile
Re: String Voodoo
« Reply #4 on: November 20, 2017, 01:30:34 PM »
It's possessed! Seriously , it could be the angle of the string over the  bridge saddle settling down, that can make a difference to intonation .
Louder bass!.

Alanko

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1633
    • View Profile
Re: String Voodoo
« Reply #5 on: November 20, 2017, 01:34:36 PM »
Restringing the B might have unintentionally set the witness point correctly over the nut, as this point would be slightly weaker on the string from the first stringing?

Pilgrim

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9958
    • View Profile
    • YouTube channel
Re: String Voodoo
« Reply #6 on: November 20, 2017, 03:06:09 PM »
String was probably twisted and the re-installation allowed it to lie correctly.
"A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any other invention with the possible exceptions of handguns and tequila."

doombass

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1130
    • View Profile
Re: String Voodoo
« Reply #7 on: November 21, 2017, 06:04:52 AM »
I've never bothered waiting overnight no matter if it's about trussrod adjustment or string change. I've sometimes changed strings before soundcheck when gigging (but only when changing to the same type strings). I always help the string by hand to form the correct angle over the bridge saddle. I never wind the string by hand around the tuner post (ie not using the tuner key) unless I can hook up the ball end afterwards (like Gibson 3-point bridges). Otherwise the string gets twisted in the length direction. Then tune to pitch and stretch and repeat that several times.

Granny Gremlin

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2942
    • View Profile
    • Granny Gremlin home page
Re: String Voodoo
« Reply #8 on: November 21, 2017, 08:32:46 AM »
The last time I changed strings the day of a gig, I had to retune after every song.  It's actually a generally accepted best practise to not do that.  Even touring 'pros' (mostly guitar vs bass) who change strings for every gig don't do it right before the gig (but rather after the last gig).  They are also very good with the manual stretching (jope y'all know what I mean by that).
Robert Plant and Jimmy Page (drummer and bassist of Deep Purple, Jake!)

Pilgrim

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9958
    • View Profile
    • YouTube channel
Re: String Voodoo
« Reply #9 on: November 21, 2017, 08:52:45 AM »
I have the simple solution: play flats, install once, use them for the life of the bass.
"A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any other invention with the possible exceptions of handguns and tequila."

patman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1344
    • View Profile
Re: String Voodoo
« Reply #10 on: November 21, 2017, 09:14:08 AM »
What I am trying to do now. Very satisfied with the Labella Low Tension Flexible flats. Especially now that the B string sounds better.

Hope they hang in there a couple years.

Pilgrim

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9958
    • View Profile
    • YouTube channel
Re: String Voodoo
« Reply #11 on: November 21, 2017, 10:28:32 AM »
What I am trying to do now. Very satisfied with the Labella Low Tension Flexible flats. Especially now that the B string sounds better.

Hope they hang in there a couple years.

I'll be very surprised if they don't still sound good 10+ years from now.
"A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any other invention with the possible exceptions of handguns and tequila."

patman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1344
    • View Profile
Re: String Voodoo
« Reply #12 on: November 27, 2017, 06:45:32 AM »
Took some time and checked every fret on my tuner...just because you get the twelfth fret in doesn't mean the rest of the speaking length rings true.

The intonation was still pretty wacky...I just ordered a standard Labella 128 for the B string. Hopefully it will ring truer.

patman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1344
    • View Profile
Re: String Voodoo
« Reply #13 on: November 27, 2017, 01:16:52 PM »
Labella is sending a new string...pretty awesome customer service

patman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1344
    • View Profile
Re: String Voodoo
« Reply #14 on: November 28, 2017, 06:13:17 AM »
Figured it out-

Idiot operator error...

Pickups were too close to strings...strings are supple and very magnetic...pickups have huge very powerful magnets...

Cranked them down almost all the way and weird overtones and intonation issues go away...

Boy I feel stupid