Sire U5 - odd tuning instability on E string (video)

[slowTwitch]

I've just bought a Sire U5 shorty and I'm seeing some weird tuning instability on the E string, where it veers wildly flat & sharp. A, D & G are all perfect.

What's going on here then?!

 

Cheers,

Rich

Edited July 24 by slowTwitch

[RichT]

It seems to me like the E string has a very bright and 'chorusy' sound compared to the others, lots of warbling harmonic information but not so much fundamental. As a result, the tuner is slightly struggling to track it. It'd probably give you a more accurate reading if you try it only through the neck pickup with the tone rolled back. 

 

May possibly be due to the strings it came with. Don't know if you're usually a short scale player, but (IME) harmonics on the lower notes of the E string can often be weird with bright strings on short scale basses. I mostly use Ernie Ball strings now because they seem to suppress those weird harmonics well while keeping the rest of the tone intact.

 

Also check how high the pickup is under the E string. Only time I've really had strings sound quite that unintentionally chorusy is when the pickup is set too high. 

[paul_5]

This ^ pickup being too close to the string is the most likely culprit.

[jonno1981]

I’d adjust the pickups, test it, then swap the string, test it. 

[slowTwitch]

Cheers fellas, I'll give that a try.

[slowTwitch]

Quick update:
I tried adjusting the pickups to no effect.

Didn't want to get into swapping stings as it was a brand new guitar.
Did a return/exchange and the replacement is fine.

Cheers,

Rich

[ezbass]

1 hour ago, slowTwitch said:

Did a return/exchange and the replacement is fine.

Smart move, good outcome. 👍

[itu]

Picking the string hard may move the whole string a bit away from the actual tuning. If you do the same with a harmonic and softer touch, the frequency should be exact all the time. 

 

This may happen also when the tuning post has lots of random rounds and the saddle is slightly sticky. Graphite may help as well as the right way to tune the strings. But if the whole bass is like a spring, toss it. 

[Stub Mandrel]

On 24/07/2025 at 17:45, paul_5 said:

This ^ pickup being too close to the string is the most likely culprit.

 

This was my immediate reaction to the sound on the video.