Bass setup issue: Warbling notes on A/E string high frets.

[tbonesullivan]

So, I've actually got two bass guitars with this problem, a Carvin B4A, and a MM Stingray. I've been setting these up for a while trying to get the intonation all right and the action where I want it. I set the action on my basses at .100-.110 inches at the 12th fret, so it's a bit higher than the usual "factory" action, which is usually recommended at 3/32", or .094 inches. relief is about a medium pick at the 5th fret with the 1st and 13th positions held down. I have the pickups at or lower than factory.

So, on the high frets on the low E and a bit on the A I get a "warble" in the pitch. It is like the string is not in tune with itself. I have searched, and I've heard everything from a twisted string, to old strings, to the action being too low or the pickups being too high. I checked all that out, and I'm still getting the warbling. Though, it's not like I usually play that high on the E strings, but I don't remember having this before, and now it's there.

Help?

[tbonesullivan]

I don't think my Stingray is routed for the 3 coil, and honestly I could care less about having a single coil sound.

I now have the pickup at a level that is nice, and no note weirdness except on the top two E string frets. I have the treble side a bit higher as the G is always kinda weak. I'll see how this goes. Also lowered the Carvin's pickup a bit, and got most of the warble out of that.

I think I never had issues before because I used to use a really high action, like .120" or above. I tried to bring it down a bit closer to "factory" specs, and that's what caused the problem on basses with the big magnets. I mean they are huge compared to the magnets in standard P or J pickups, even G&L's MFD versions. Live and learn. Now if it only it was that easy to fix sound issues with a trombone.

[JohnnyB]

I don't think my Stingray is routed for the 3 coil, and honestly I couldn't care less about having a single coil sound.

It's a drop-in replacement. All Bart MM pickups have the same dimensions.

I now have the pickup at a level that is nice, and no note weirdness except on the top two E string frets. I have the treble side a bit higher as the G is always kinda weak. I'll see how this goes. Also lowered the Carvin's pickup a bit, and got most of the warble out of that.

I think I never had issues before because I used to use a really high action, like .120" or above. I tried to bring it down a bit closer to "factory" specs, and that's what caused the problem on basses with the big magnets. I mean they are huge compared to the magnets in standard P or J pickups, even G&L's MFD versions. Live and learn. Now if it only it was that easy to fix sound issues with a trombone.

Yep, you might say that when you lowered the action your pickups got overexcited.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I suspect different trombone mouthpieces are better suited to playing loud vs. soft, upper range vs. middle or lower, correct?

[tbonesullivan]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I suspect different trombone mouthpieces are better suited to playing loud vs. soft, upper range vs. middle or lower, correct?

That is true, to an extent. Usually though you want one mouthpiece that allows you to play throughout the range of the particular instrument. the size of the mouthpiece, the shape of the inside, the thickness of the walls, the size of the hole at the bottom of the cup, and how it tapers up to the full bore of the instrument. that's before considering the shape of the rim, which since a player ends up pressing against their face, means comfort is an issue as well. Mouthpieces are usually made of 80/20 copper/zinc brass, but lately higher copper content brass has been used. Also some use plastics for the rim, while others are made of stainless steel or titanium.

the problem is that you literally have over a thousand options, and the differences can be so subtle. This is before even considering the trombone, which are made out of various alloys of brass, as well as everyone's favorite tone metal: nickel silver, which is really a mixture of copper, zinc, and nickel. The Bb tenor trombone also comes in a variety of different bore sizes, ranging from .480 up to .547 inches, with bores like .500, .508, .490, .525, .562. Then some companies vary the gauge of the brass used in the bell of the instrument, as well as the type of brass, etc etc.

In some ways guitars are pretty easy to deal with, after dealing with trombones.