weird string buzz/clack, soft G string

[mavnet]

Hi. Loving every second of my recently refurbished 77 custom, but would love some advice on two things:

First thing - it came home perfectly set up with round wound strings (I assume Alembic), which I swapped out for the D'Addario ECB81 Chromes flatwounds i've been using recently. The A string is doing a strange buzzy clack thing now when i play with any force - to the left of where I'm fretting (and a bit when I play an open A). I've adjusted the nut a little, but i'm a bit nervous about raising it too much, since it affects the E as well.

Second thing - the G string seems a little weak to me - not an eq thing, more like a volume dip (the sound of the string is balanced, just too soft). I could potentially raise the pickups a little on the treble side, could change the G string to a different brand, could play way up the neck on the D string or... ?

Thoughts and suggestions very welcome.
THanks, Mark.

[mica]

I'm usually of the mind that things that are limited to one string should be first addressed by replacing the string. Is the buzzy clack on the A string something that comes through the amp?

On the G string, You may be noticing what every amazing player I've ever met encounters: the smaller mass strings are at a physical disadvantage. John McVie told me he avoids the G string whenever possible. Phil Lesh uses a 55 as a G string (and a 40 as a C!). Tony Levin had basses made without the G string at all. The blessing and the curse of ultra clean electronics is that you can be annoyed by such things easier.

So what to do? Again, first try another string - maybe a heavier gauge if available to make it closer to the mass of the D string. Tilting the pickup is good. Playing with a heavier touch on the G string is another option. A little of each should make a difference you can really hear.

Usually when you play with other musicians the effect is not as noticeable as when you are practicing solo.

[mavnet]

Thanks, Mica.

Going to try changing out the string (and maybe the G also). The clack does come thru the amp.

I'm going to raise the treble side of the pickups a tiny bit first, since i like the tension of the current G. If that doesn't do it, I'll try a thicker string.

[hieronymous]

I've got the bass side of my neck pickup cranked way down on my Stanley Clarke - when I had it tuned EADGC the E was almost overpowering if the pickup was level. Now that I've switched to BEADG I'm finding that the G is too strong! So going to lower the treble side. But before I do, as Mica notes, I want to play it with other people playing rather than just rely on how it sounds in headphones.

[paulman]

I'm not a bass player but wanted to chime in. 

My Alembics were the first guitars I felt delivered a really nice high E tone.  All the guitars I'd played before the high E was lacking. 

Which is a bit converse to the string mass aspect Mica noted.  Not that I'm arguing or anything she knows far better than me...just seemed like an odd opposite. 

Welcome back to the land of low B Harry.  Need to hear it through a Bassault (anyone get this reference or what I'm hinting at?)!!

[mavnet]

Restrung with Rotosound SH 77 flatwounds - 110 95 75 50. So Much Tension. Yikes!
But really solid feel and sound (and the clacky sound went away - Mica I think you're right - the string I took off looked a bit weird). Had to readjust a lot of things, but it's feeling good again. Gig tomorrow, so we'll see if the G cuts through.

Mica - you said Phil's using a 55 on the G? what brand is he using lately?

[StephenR]

Hey Mark

Per Mica's earlier post about Phil's short scale Series II in the Artists and Their Alembics section of the club...

"DR pulled through and made Phil custom gauges of Sunbeams like we used on Khaleesi: .040 .055 .070 .085 .100 .115 PLUS they made him some Pure Blues and Flatwound Legends in the same gauges."

Good to hear the new strings are working better for you so far!   

Stephen