#46
|
|||
|
|||
i agree. on an electric, with an unwound 3rd string, it can be the most troublesome string.
|
#47
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
|
#48
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
do these exist? |
#49
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Quote:
|
#50
|
|||
|
|||
My point was that the B string will sound thin when transitioning to it from the G string, which is wound. The E string does not suffer the same fate, since it is next to the B string (which is plain steel). I believe some of the perceived thinness of the B string is an aural illusion.
|
#51
|
|||
|
|||
how about on an electric, which generally has an even larger unwound g string?
|
#52
|
|||
|
|||
Glad to know it wasn't me all this time... The #$%#&* 'B' string drives me crazy on some days and on other days S'OK... Most frustrating on the 12 string.
I usually fret the 'B' on the third fret and bring it to equal with the open 'D' string. Helps!! Sometimes...
__________________
Scratch sends ________________________________ 1988 Guild GF25 2007 Little Martin 1988 Guild JF30-12 2010 Santa Cruz OM/PW(M) 2003 Gibson J-45(R) Custom 1974 Epiphone FT165 Texan 12 |
#53
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
You can also compensate the nut, in addition to the saddle, in order to achieve something close to correct intonation. That will help with the bending stiffness at the nut, which tends to sharpen the notes fretted nearest the nut. But the plain B string will never have as pure a tone as the other strings because of the physics. |
#54
|
|||
|
|||
I think I'm lowering it because it is sitting higher than the others. No real danger in this case as a new Tusq saddle is only $12.
|
#55
|
|||
|
|||
No but that wasn't what you said originally, it was all about lowering the B wrt to the G and E on any guitar, there was no mention of your B being too high in the first place, you inferred that it was a fix for a loud B string, period. In fact, all strings sit 'higher than the others'; they follow an arc, not a straight line. To be fair, the $12 cost to you is inconsequential in terms of how dangerous lowering the B string is; it's the fact that other guys may see lowering the B string as 'good', bomb proof advice that concerns me. Anyway, as I say, not a method that I would choose personally. And string height is not affected by the saddle intonation stagger neither. They are separate things.
__________________
Experienced guitar tech and singer/guitarist based in the midlands, England. McIlroy AJ50 Yamaha CPX-1200 Yamaha CPX-700/12 Yamaha LS16 Yamaha FG-300 Yamaha FG-580 Vox V2000-DR + electric guitars.. |
#56
|
|||
|
|||
I really have no idea why but with my Taylor with the tusq saddle, I was always retuning the B string, the guitar is new and I'm new to steel strings coming from playing a classical and I thought that maybe this was normal.
I wear hearing aides and he high E would just get to me with a kind of chime and I tried switching from Elixir 80/20 to PB and the sound from the wound strings was Awsome but the unwound strings were the same because they probably were the same and the B still went up and down out of tune, not a big deal, not a lot but it was the only one tha acted that way. I had Bob Colosi make me an Ivory saddle and it not only sweetened the sound of the E and B but the B doesn't act up anymore. I've had Elixir Light Nano PB's, Martin Custom Light SP's and now D'Adderio EXP Custom Lights and no weirdness with the B at all. Yes the Colosi is a compensated saddle made to match the origional Taylor saddle in every dimension and this doesn't make any sense to me but that's okay because it works. |
#57
|
|||
|
|||
Touche
Quote:
I have found the b to require a gentle non-pointed pick, perhaps closer to the fret board. Also depends on what other strings are resonating(vibrating) that shape the overall blend |
#58
|
|||
|
|||
Hi, count me in the increasing number that has problems with clunky or pingy B strings (and incidentally - sometimes top Es).
I play Collings guitars now (sorry.....er ... no I'm not) and so have done quite a lot of research about this on the Collings forum and found that I was not alone - so here's some info to add to the conversation: 1. the well tempered aspect is of course correct- but that doesn't (IMHO) resolve why a B string is often sounding choked/nasty. However, a trick that was taught to me by John Lowell is to never tune the B string to B on your tuner - BUT tune the D(3rd fret) to D on your tuner - really works folks! If you check tensions - the top E and the B correctly tunes have less than 1/10th of a pound weight difference in tension !? 2. You might be cheered to know that the more finely built the guitar the more likely you are to experience this problem.....No? Well it seems to be born out. 3. On my 12 fret dreads I use D'addario EJ17s, but I usually swap the B&E for a 16 & 12. (Well why not buy EJ19s ? - 'cos a) they are more expensive and b) I like a 26 G and c) because I STILL get that problem of clunky strings. But that's not the point - as much as I really appreciate D'addario strings - I have been told by a luthier in Australia (who has studied this matter) - that D'addario wound strings are not always as consistent in diameter along the length as they might be. So - I buy my Ej17s and simply buy a batch of Elixir (anti-rust) or Newtones or Ernie Balls which almost always resolves the situation. Now this raises the eternal question as to whether D'addario makes strings for other labels - some say they make Elixirs - I really don't know but they seem to solve the problem. I have raised this issue with D'addartio UK in the past and they have been receptive but unaware of the issues - I have been intending to re-raise it with the info from the gent in Aus. but - well life - y'know. Incidentally I am old and have some hearing issues (years behind a drum kit beside Marshall stacks). I have a good pal picking partner of similar vintage who has the same problems with his two Martins. I also have a pal who is a few years younger who cannot hear this issue. FWIW - I hope that might throw some useful info into the thread. Last edited by Silly Moustache; 05-09-2013 at 12:25 PM. |
#59
|
|||
|
|||
its not just me
I'm fairly new to guitar playing and haven't had a huge exposure to different guitars. I have had some issues with how the B-String sounded on my guitar since I bought it. I really like the guitar and how it sounds but there was something just not right about the B-string. Very subtle but slightly off. I assumed it was my guitar. Its well built with decent wood but not a high-end guitar and chalked the issues up to a slight defect in the design.
While it still might be something with the guitar I'm feeling a bit better hearing from others that it might just well be something about the B-String. Another +1 for this forum. Thanks everyone. |
#60
|
|||
|
|||
same here. I just accept it as how guitars are and ignore it. I mean, the whole standard tuning is insane. the b string is always the odd one out. I just resigned to the fact.
|