Author Topic: B string's sound is too loud, sesitive on my Oreint 5 (Read 126 times)

chalie · « **on:** November 10, 2004, 06:42:59 PM »

Dear All,

I got this Orient 5 as new for couple of years but I just noticed that the sound of B string is over amplifired compare to E and the rest. You realy cann't thumb this string at all so you would missed a lot of fun with this nice bass.
I tried different ways of setting whether on the height of the pickups and on string types and guages too.

Meanwhile, I put a thin steel sheet over the neck pu under the B string to block the sensivity but I don't like this drill at all.

Do you encounter this problem and how did you solved it. Please advice.
Manny thanks,
Chalie

mica · « **Reply #1 on:** November 10, 2004, 07:11:06 PM »

If you set the pickup height lower on the B string side only it will lower the volume of that string. You have to lower both pickups on that side only.

chalie · « **Reply #2 on:** November 10, 2004, 07:33:11 PM »

Thanks Mica,
I have tried that but E and A also going down with B and do not solved this thread for me.

poor_nigel · « **Reply #3 on:** November 10, 2004, 07:42:52 PM »

Hey Chalie, welcome!

I would lower the frequencies between 30Hz and 40Hz on my graphic equalizer. This, however, would do nothing for playing the B string farther up the neck. Do you have this problem playing the B string farther up the neck? Do you have a Deep switch on your amp that is turned on? Something boost the low end?

I had the problem you state above when playing through some speakers I had, which disappeared when I replaced them with ones that easily went down to 30Hz and below. I thought it was the bass, but it wasn't.

What kind of strings are you playing? I wonder if those could have anything to do with your problem.

David Houck · « **Reply #4 on:** November 10, 2004, 08:24:03 PM »

I think Nigel has a good point. It seems reasonable to look at your strings, amp, speakers and anything else in the signal chain to see if something else might be causing this problem; especially if you've only noticed this problem just recently. Also, although I doubt it's the case from what you have described, resonant frequencies can make the lower notes sound louder. You could try isolating the amp from the speaker cab (if separate) and the speaker cab from the floor to see if it makes a difference.

flaxattack · « **Reply #5 on:** November 10, 2004, 08:50:18 PM »

I have the same situation on my orion 5 also.
lowered both pickups,primarily the neck p/u
takes some tweaking though. my neck p.u is about 1/8 inch above the body. that seems to do it for me. the other choice is to go to a lighter guage string. i use a .125 guage, but i dont like lighter guage upper strings. so i trade off and adkust the pick up and clsoely monitor the controls on the bass and amp- boosting the mid range on your amp if you have such, would help make up for some lower end loss on your e string.
i have bubinga body wood on mine.
its aint easy,take your time- but do the adjustment slowly on the neck pick up- play for a while- adjust oif necessary, and then tweak using the bridge pick up. hopefully you use one brand of strings. i use dr hi beams, but i have found that other .125 guages resonate differently
email me if you need help

mgirouard3 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 10, 2004, 11:45:55 PM »

I had a similar experience with my Essence, I experimented with a couple of different strings and found that certain types produce much louder bass on the B than others. Probalby due to the types of materail used on the strings.

chalie · « **Reply #7 on:** November 11, 2004, 08:45:18 AM »

OK, First, I like to thanks for all the supports.

Today I was working a lot on setting up this bass per suguession together with comparing it with my other 5 and 6 string basses, to see what actually is the matter.

Not to mention the rest of the strings that are giving the beautyful sound. It seems that the B is louder due to too much low-mid (the piano) is amplified with the low-low when you play. I tried to cut down the 250-500 and it help a little but then you spoil the rest of the strings as well.

Some guys belief it is the wood's combination and you need to bare with this small down-side (I have a Kao top) and not much you can do with it.

xlrogue6 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 11, 2004, 05:55:04 PM »

If your low B is taperwound and the saddles were slotted for non-tapers (as many Alembics are) the B will be closer to the pickup than the other strings, to a degree that pickup height adjustments may not remedy without losing too much of the E string. Measure the fret to string distance at the 24th fret--it should be pretty consistent all the way across. It doesn't take much to make a B overbearing--all that mass makes for big signals.