Pu string height

[thumbsup]

Put new set extra light strings on MK 5 I resontly aquired. Tweeked the neck just a little to my liking. At last night jam the g string (40) just didnt cut thru.  
I've used same strings on my Rouge & Essence with no problem.  
Could this just be a pu adjustment issue, electronics or tonal settings?  
Steve

[sonicus]

Please elaborate on your descrption  didn't cut through  What was not satisfactory ?

[thumbsup]

sorry....lower volume.

[sonicus]

I would let the neck settle . I like to sometimes loosen all the strings  slightly after a truss rod adjustment  for about 12 hours Then tune to pitch and wait another 12 hours  and then check the bridge and pickup height adjustment. String tension needs to be optimized and stable before string amplitude is best. That has been my experience , others might dispute my suggestions.

[dfung60]

Each bass has different resonant response.  First thing to do is follow sonicus' recommendation - let the adjustment settle to make sure that the neck is at equilibrium.  When it's settled down, make sure that the string's sitting well at bridge and nut.  And check the relief to make sure that there's not a minor buzz that's kiling the string vibration.  The easiest way to do this is to fret at the first and last fret and use the string as a straightedge over the frets.  You should see the gaps increase in size smoothly to the middle area of the neck and then decrease smoothly. If you see two frets at the same level or out of order, you might need some fret work or you may just want to increase the relief view the truss rod.
 
The other thing to check is to play unplugged and see if the G string sounds dead then too.  
 
I think your electronics are unlikely to be the problem since you didn't see a problem before with different strings and action.
 
David Fung

[bigredbass]

I generally find that Alembics are slow to respond to neck tweaks via the truss rods.  Between the laminations and the 1/4 ebony fingerboard, they're STIFF.  On one hand it's a bit aggravating as it really does take a day or two for the eventual 'stopping point' to be reached.  On the other hadn, there's nothing worse than a Flexible Flyer neck, you know, one of those necks you can just bear down at the nut end of the fingerboard and you can see it / hear it flex.  These can turn into a real handful if you are sensitive to changes in feel.
 
I find on my two fives (a '92 and an '06) that it really takes 24-48 hours for it to finish moving.  Can NOT imagine waiting on one with ebony lams !
 
I could see the relief could be just flat enough with the bridge low enough on the high side to where when it's played, as it vibrates it's just ever-so-barely grazing a fret to damp it in a not very audible fashion.  On the other hand, you'd think it would also catch the D, maybe even the A out as well.  Or owing to Alembic's adjustable nut (2-piece high- and low-side on a Five), it could be the same thing happening from the other end.  But if you follow the steps David outlined above, I'd think you could trouble-shoot that pretty quickly.
 
IF I was betting, I'd think p/u height and/or the occasional brand new, quick-and-the-dead ('but I just bought these!') string.  
 
Personally, I'm no fan of XLite strings, because every one of these 'can't hear my G or C' posts I see seem to always involve XLite strings.
 
I'd check my p/u clearances with a ruler.  I'd start off getting them even/parallel to the strings (that is, both across and front to back) as a baseline, listening to them carefully through the amp (where I'd run flat if I could to not fool myself into hearing something that may not be there).  If they're light or heavy on one side or the other, adjust accordingly, and I'm sure this will go away.
 
Don't even get me started on room anomalies . . . Standing Waves Hate Me.
 
J o e y

[thumbsup]

I appreciate the suggestions.  
they are new strings...earnig ball...all live....neck has settled.....fit well in nut & bridge ...No Buzz....Humm  but now that I think bout it, it may not have only been the G maybe also the D.
May be the xtra lights ? Think I'll try new brand and lights.
Steve

[sonicus]

I use a 95/75/55/40 set of Dean Markley 2670 Blue Steel on My Essence and have raised the pickup height and made  setup adjustment as per JOEY'S setup page and have no problem with gain/ amplitude/ volume. I love it that way. If I need more it more phat I can do it with my  EQ. I believe the internal gain adjustment might be another course of action.

[thumbsup]

is the Dean Markleys Blue Steel a round wound?
I am going to try new strings....turn internal gain some and raise pu some....It really plays like a dream so I dont want to mess with the set up.

[sonicus]

Yes , the Blue Steel 2670 Are round wound. In fact I just put a New set on my  Series I  today. The strings that I had on that Bass before were Pyramid Gold Flatwound strings. I use Pyramid Gold Flatwound strings as my flat  wound sound.  I was really impressed  AGAIN by the sound that the Dean Markleys gave me . WOW , it was really impressive . That E string is only a 95 but it gave me that growl that I love from the bridge pickup. The G string gave ME plenty of sound as well. They work well with Bass chords and the intonation is  better then many others that I have tried. The big WOW for me with these strings that  I perceive is that I am impressed with that even though they are extra light the sound output is substantial.

[s_wood]

Interesting that the problem cropped up after you tweaked the set-up. FWIW, I have found that treble-side strings, like a G string, will lose power or what I would prefer to call a full frequency response if the action of the bass is just a tad too low on the treble side. In fact, that happened to me last week.
 
If your action is a bit too low, the string won't audibly buzz (like the B, E or A strings will), but its ability to vibrate freely will be affected if it's bouncing off the fret tops after you strike it. (Of course, if the action is waaay too low the D and G strings will buzz, too.)
 
Anyway, try raising the treble side action no more than a 1/4 or 1/2 of a bridge wrench turn and see if that clears up the problem. Bet it does :-)
 
NOTE TO MODERATORS: This thread, and my post, is duplicated in the Alembic Basses and Guitars section.  Seems more appropriate here....

[dfung60]

Joey's post reminded me about one other thing that's worth looking at...  When you go to a lighter gauge of string, the nut slots may be a little too large.  That can be another place where you can get a tiny buzz that kills sustain.  
 
Of course, I think that only audibly affects the open strings.  But (at the risk of upsetting the action at the nut, you can loosen the string, lift it out of the nut, put a piece of paper over the slot and tune the string up and see if it has an effect.
 
I also think that starting up with the pickup height parallel to the string is an excellent starting point from which you can season to taste.
 
David Fung

[sonicus]

Complications with the nut slots being too large makes sense to me as well ; good call.

[thumbsup]

Wow.....
Yes it did crop up after only a 1/8 turn tweak! And different brand strings and from light to extra lights.  
A small change with big effect.
I will check everything noted,string height,possible slight vibration..not set up super low but I will check...pu height, nut slots, consider going back to lights.
It'll be this week end before I can report back.
Steve
 
Note: I originally posted this in basses/guitars w/o much responce....
then posted here and got responces  sorry for the dbl post.
 
(Message edited by thumbsup on February 09, 2011)

[thumbsup]

Played last night. Didnt have time to make any adjustments but had no problems at all.
All is good!  Hum....maybe just needed a litle more time for neck to settle