TL;DR Version: Why do you think my bass is ringing, and what should I do to remedy this? Or should I just learn to live with it?


To be clear here, we're not talking about fret buzz, or unplayed/open strings getting knocked around unintentionally or otherwise somehow resonating.

Instead, we're talking about a faint, but detectable enough, somewhat "metallic"/high-pitched ringing of sorts that occurs when playing notes with a pick, mostly on the G and D strings, though possibly others. I've searched around the web for answers to this, but haven't found anything conclusive yet.


Long Version: As you may know, I came into possession of my first bass (a Fender P-Bass) several weeks back. There's been a gradual piecing together of various items (the bass itself, an amp, some pedals and a board, new pickups, new strings) and getting it all set up (the pickups being installed, intonation/action adjustments made by a professional in town, new strings put on, working out the (graphic) EQing and compression and all for getting an ideal tone coming out of the amp). These things have been occurring at different points over the last several weeks, at different rates--it wasn't until this Saturday that Voltron effectively came together.

So...the other day I attempted my first proper, quasi-professional recording of the new thud staff, to see how it would sound in playback. Using a combination of Mid-Side mic'ing and a direct input from the back of the amp into the interface, after mixing them together, rolling off a little muddiness, etc., I got a more than presentable sound.

The only problem was...the ringing...which I'd never noticed before. At first I thought it was my speakers (which aren't top of the line), or some transient artifacts from one of the mics, or the mixing/EQing in post. So I plugged in the bass and played it with the pick, with all of the pedals on, and sure enough, there it was. Not super noticeable, but the ringing was definitely present coming out of the amp.

I then turned off the ten-band EQ pedal in the signal chain, figuring that was maybe the culprit, but it was still there. With all of the pedals off in fact, the ringing, though less present (what with the overall sound being duller) was there.

I then got some packing material and stuffed it close to the nut on the headstock, on the side of the nut closest to the machine heads..no change. I then shimmied some of the same material into the "string tree" on the headstock...no difference. Also tried putting stuffing some near the saddle....that also didn't do much.

Have heard some people posit that this can sometimes be due to "torque," the bass strings being a little twisted in their alignment.

Part of the inconclusiveness here is that I don't have a control. The strings on the bass are new Elixir .045-.105s, the stainless steel ones with "Nanoweb" coating, etc. Prior to this I only ever used the ones that came with the bass (likely some cheap round wounds) and most of the aforementioned items/adjustments weren't in place then to get an accurate assessment of the sound, which I also never bothered to record.

So is it just the strings, is this a case of, "I don't know why I have some heartburn after eating seven enchiladas and downing those margaritas"?

The bass has only been played in its current configuration for about 1.5 to maybe 3 hours tops. Will the ringing go away if I play it some more? I mostly like these strings otherwise, and got them because they're expected to last long. Would switching to the nickel-plated Elixirs of the same sort alleviate this sound? Or this an issue with their stuff across the board and should I instead just find some other brand? Haven't done lots of trial and error with different strings yet. Recommendations there are welcome. Cheers.

I had a post in the old forum about something very similar. Sort of a ringing overtone when playing certain strings. I wish I could find the post, but it seems to be long gone. From what I remember, folks pointed out a handful of things but ultimately I don't think I changed anything and just got over/through/past it. It was one of those little things that I zeroed in on and drove me nuts for a brief period.

I would recommend taking your bass in to have a setup at a guitar shop that you like. This will take the problem out of your head and into the hands of someone who knows what they're doing. You can probably rule out nut, saddle and setup issues after that. Play it on an amp in the store, see if you can get the same result and demonstrate it so they know what you're talking about. A good setup is an amazing thing. You and your bass with be happy you did it.

*EDIT*

I just reread your post and I see that you did take it in for a setup. Just bring it back, show them the issue you're having and see what they've got to say.

I had a similar problem on my ovation magnum due to the bridge saddle slot on the G string being too wide / worn out. Pressing down on the string between the string ball-end and the saddle, such that I was putting more downforce into the slot, confirmed this.

I've seen the same at the nut end. Pressing down on the strings between the nut and the tuners made the metallic ringing sound go away, even with a string tree on the D and G strings.

Yes, what Nate said. Even with that tree for the D and G strings you want a good couple of winds around the post holding your string down to give you the best break angle over the nut. You could even try fashioning a string tree that holds them even closer to the headstock.

Since you recorded it, wanna post a sample?

My first thought was: Can you hear it in the direct track? Because it could be amp related - especially if tube.

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

Tom Wanderer wrote: Tue Jan 18, 2022 10:37 amI don't think I changed anything and just got over/through/past it. It was one of those little things that I zeroed in on and drove me nuts for a brief period.

In lieu of posting an animated GIF of Gene Hackman ripping his walls apart in The Conversation, I'll say that suffering from near-constant tinnitus, which is vaguely in the same frequency range as the ringing, certainly doesn't help matters.

Tom Wanderer wrote: Tue Jan 18, 2022 10:37 amI just reread your post and I see that you did take it in for a setup. Just bring it back, show them the issue you're having and see what they've got to say.

I might do this. But yes, it was brought to the shop up the road and set-up last week. Thing is, not having noticed it before the new stuff was added, and the adjustments made, I can't say whether this has been there all along and I just didn't notice it, of if this is a new issue somehow the result of various tweaking/upgrades.

Nate Dort wrote: I had a similar problem on my ovation magnum due to the bridge saddle slot on the G string being too wide / worn out. Pressing down on the string between the string ball-end and the saddle, such that I was putting more downforce into the slot, confirmed this.

I've seen the same at the nut end. Pressing down on the strings between the nut and the tuners made the metallic ringing sound go away, even with a string tree on the D and G strings.

Tried this earlier, at both ends of the bass, and it didn't seem to alleviate the sound. Even had someone come in the room and press down, at the headstock end of the guitar at least, while I played a note, and there was no difference.

tommy wrote: Since you recorded it, wanna post a sample?

I can do this, but it'll have to wait a bit--switching into street clothes now and going for a ride while it's still warm.

tommy wrote:My first thought was: Can you hear it in the direct track? Because it could be amp related - especially if tube.

Am using a solid state (Rumble 200), but who knows, maybe it is amp related. Would have to head into a shop in town to try a different amp and see if there's a difference. Haven't figured out which track it's most prominent on of the three recorded (didn't notice until after mixing), but if I can hear it coming out of the amp without any recording gear, I doubt it wouldn't be less present on the close mic'ed ones versus the line in, aside from the latter maybe having more top-end information.


Okay, will report back later with an audio sample. You might need headphones to hear it.

Oh, forgot to add these just now...



Here's how the strings are wound, as you can see there's at least a few winds around each peg:



And here's the headstock from another angle, as you can see all of the strings are straightly aligned past the nut:



And here's the bridge for reference:

Your angle at the nut looks good. Can you plug it directly into something and listen on headphones? Like interface or mixing board or something with a headphone out, so you can hear it with nothing else in the path? Just to totally rule out amp or any other weirdness. If you can still hear it coming straight off your bass, there's no reason to feel bad about bringing it back to the shop and asking for help (or advice).

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.

Yeah, I'd guess not enough down pressure on the saddle. I have had strings where teh actual windings on the string were loose and would cause a weird ringing, but that is only with really old strings.