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G string issues


dcr

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I've noticed on some basses (especially my Fender Jazz) that my G string often sounds a bit different from the other strings. In particular, it often has a "lighter" or "brighter" or, I guess, "twangier" sound. Why would that be? Bridge? Nut? Technique? Sheer insanity?
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My La Bella "Deep Talkin'" flats are pretty smooth B-G on my 6-string; only my C-string is a bit "twangy". With my old TI Jazz Flats, I had the pickups closer to the high strings to get even volume; when I put on the La Bella's, I had to even-out the spacing between strings and pups (high strings were too loud).

 

Still the high-C is "twangy". I'm assuming this is because my La Bellas are only a couple of weeks old, and they need to age for a year or two (not joking).

 

Anyway, with pickup/string height set, my Gs have always been fine (Elixir round, TI & La Bella flats) on Ibanez 6-string active, w/cheap bridge/nut.

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Along with the "lighter" or "brighter" or, I guess, "twangier" sound does it also maybe seem a bit quieter than the other strings? I've had similar problems and always seem to resolve them by changing the angle of the pickups a bit and/or adjusting the saddle height of that string at the bridge. My G and D strings always are a bit closer to the pickups than the A and E (and B on the 5-er).

 

My jazz basses are especially prone to this as the seasons change - more moisture and colder in general during the fall/winter and less moisture and hotter during the spring/summer.

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Funny this came up, I was talking to a very knwledgable builder (guess who :D ) and we got to talking about idosyncrancies of certain designs and instruments, and he was saying that whenever you play a strat the G string is always a bit louder than the other strings no matter how you try to balance the string to string volume.
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I have noticed this as well. And I've struggled sometimes with the volume issue (Bumpcity). Volume was addressed by adjusting pickup height so that the pickup is higher on the G string side and lower on the B. That really helped balance things.

 

I always assumed that the thinner string was going to have more twangier characteristics.

 

Tom

www.stoneflyrocks.com

Acoustic Color

 

Be practical as well as generous in your ideals. Keep your eyes on the stars and keep your feet on the ground. - Theodore Roosevelt

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