Oddly resonant G-string

[kiat]

Yes, something else crossed my mind when I just read that 😁.

 

 

The problem at hand is that I just detuned my 5-string down to Bb for a cool transcription that @ChrisDev shared and I noticed that the G-string sounded markedly different, as though it had a separate effect on it. Observing it being plucked showed an odd resonance (a slow vibration or modulation atop the regular string vibration when plugged) that I've not seen in my basses before. This is reproducible and it's spoiling the overall bass sound, because it's the only string with this "feature".

 

It's this just physics? A combo of free string length, tension, etc? 

 

Ideas to ameliorate or solve it?

 

 

[ghostwheel]

Stratitis maybe?

[Elfrasho]

To close to the pickup poles? that's a total guess by the way, no technical know-how to back it up!

[jonno1981]

I’d slacken it right down and reseat it at the nut and bridge. It might be sitting awkward or twisted. If that doesn’t fix it and you can’t live with it then you might have a string that needs replacing.

 

 

[kiat]

58 minutes ago, ghostwheel said:

Stratitis maybe?

 

Wondered for a sec if that was an illness   Found some articles on stratitis (one from over the pond) and this seems to be exactly it. Slightly raised the g-string, lowered the pickups and it's almost gone.  Will see how this plays before adjusting further.

 

 

53 minutes ago, Elfrasho said:

To close to the pickup poles? that's a total guess by the way, no technical know-how to back it up!

 

Yes, you're right, this was part of the problem - magnetism!

 

2 minutes ago, jonno1981 said:

I’d slacken it right down and reseat it at the nut and bridge. It might be sitting awkward or twisted. If that doesn’t fix it and you can’t live with it then you might have a string that needs replacing.

It wasn't that, these are new strings and they'd been fine on standard tuning (or at least, I hadn't noticed) but when lowering all the strings a half step the problem raised its head.  A few tweaks were necessary though to get back to consistent sounds.

 

Sorted now, thanks @ghostwheel, @Elfrasho and @jonno1981 for the tips. Learnt a new bass word too!

 

[jonno1981]

Cool! I guess the lower tension dropped the string too close to the pickup. Glad you’re sorted.