Okay, I recorded the bass straight into the interface, and the ringing was still present.

Tom Wanderer wrote: Tue Jan 18, 2022 2:23 pm

tommy wrote: Another thought: Could it be the bridge saddle tension springs?

Look into this. From the pic of your bridge it looks like your saddle on the G string is almost all the way forward and that spring is not compressing at all between the saddle and the bridge plate. Might be the same on the D, too. Those springs might just be jangling away down there.

Just double checked this and I think it might in fact be the culprit. At the very least, the G string spring is not even that compressed, if at all--it's just kind of sitting there. The D string is somewhat compressed, but not much compared to the A and E. I did put some insulation among them last night, while "experimenting," but that might have had a lot less bearing than putting more pressure on the springs would.

My question, then, is...since this was just set up for intonation, what would the tech at the guitar shop do exactly, if slack springs in the saddle are indeed the culprit? Trying to think of what sort of leeway there might be, in terms of getting that spring compressed more without losing proper intonation. Am all ears here.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong here, but if those springs aren't compressing at all, I think you could just try removing them and seeing if that fixes your problem. Make a mark of where the saddle is, loosen the strings, thread the screw out of the saddle, ditch the springs on the D and G saddle screws, thread the saddles back on and give it a go?

That would be a 5 minute experiment to figure out if they're the source of your pain!

You could source some longer springs if you want to get something back in there. I think the main reason they are there is just to keep tension on the saddle parts to...keep things from vibrating and ringing.

I don't have headphones at work, so I can't exactly hear the sound in your clip, but I will say that it sounds very pingy. Could be the new strings, could be that ringing just being perceived by me as a bright overtone or something.

DaveA wrote: Tue Jan 18, 2022 1:47 pm And here's the bridge for reference:

Yeah, that G-string spring might very well be your culprit.

Tbh, I don't hear anything in that clip except for the extra brightness and kinda of chorusy "sheen" (for lack of a better word) that comes from new strings.

Tom Wanderer wrote: Tue Jan 18, 2022 3:14 pm Someone correct me if I'm wrong here, but if those springs aren't compressing at all, I think you could just try removing them and seeing if that fixes your problem. Make a mark of where the saddle is, loosen the strings, thread the screw out of the saddle, ditch the springs on the D and G saddle screws, thread the saddles back on and give it a go?

That would be a 5 minute experiment to figure out if they're the source of your pain!

Hmmm. Something to do in the coming days, perhaps. Noticed a thread on Talk Bass addressing with this very thing.

....but I will say that it sounds very pingy. Could be the new strings, could be that ringing just being perceived by me as a bright overtone or something.

Pingy, yeah. It's possible the strings are too bright, or need to be broken in a bit.

tallchris wrote: Tbh, I don't hear anything in that clip except for the extra brightness and kinda of chorusy "sheen" (for lack of a better word) that comes from new strings.

Have you tried headphones. It's definitely less noticeable on one of my computer's speakers than on the other.


At any rate, this isn't a complete non-starter/dealbreaker, meaning that push come to shove, I could probably live with it as a tinge of sorts. But it'd be nice to neutralize it, or least have the option.

tallchris wrote: Tue Jan 18, 2022 3:22 pm Tbh, I don't hear anything in that clip except for the extra brightness and kinda of chorusy "sheen" (for lack of a better word) that comes from new strings.

I didn't hear anything either with Airpod Pros. I kinda sorta hear it with the built in speaker of a laptop. But that is probably the low end crapping out that speaker.

DaveA wrote: Tue Jan 18, 2022 3:26 pm

tallchris wrote: Tbh, I don't hear anything in that clip except for the extra brightness and kinda of chorusy "sheen" (for lack of a better word) that comes from new strings.

Have you tried headphones. It's definitely less noticeable on one of my computer's speakers than on the other.

Was listening w/ Shure e215 in-ears FWIW.

An update of sorts...After logging off yesterday I removed the G string's un-scrunched saddle spring, tuned it back up, and noticed no difference. The bass rang just the same.

I think the issue here might just be the strings, them being new, or stainless steel/coated/more metallic than may be the norm, or some combination thereof. That the bridge is a chrome vintage-style sort (pretty old technology really) might somehow accentuate this, I dunno.


Ordered some nickel D'addario round wounds and will report back in several days if there's anything worth reporting. *tips hat*

You could try a set of Half Rounds.

numberthirty wrote: Wed Jan 19, 2022 6:29 pm You could try a set of Half Rounds.

Lotta potential options. Not rushing to judgement yet. The past month has been quite the crash course in all this but it may be a while before I settle on something. There's the initial impression and then how well things hold up after weeks/months of use. So, a fair number of variables.