High E string sounds weak; not loud enough

[1sg4me]

Hi everyone. So, the high e string just sounds weak...trying to do scales or trying to solo, the G and B high strings are loud and clear, but this darn E string is low and weak sounding...there's no fret buzz and the action is low, but there's no snag..the pick-up is close enough, but can't understand why it's lagging. Tips/ideas? Thanks guys

 

[Zeppelin Rules]

Is it an overly old string? Is it not resting properly in the groove either at the nut or at the bridge? How long has the problem been present.

 

[1sg4me]

Hey Zep- well, the strings are less than a week old and I think it's always been an issue, just that lately, spending time on the high strings and beginning to solo, not just a few licks, but trying to stay in the high fret area with the high strings...also, changed to 10's from 9's and they are working out fine...using a .60 mm Dunlop pick....so it's been this way since I've had it (2 years) but just blew it off before....have time this weekend, so gonna try to heighten the string or see what else it could be.

 

[q-4000-SG Guy]

Try tilting your pup to the "dead string" or adjust the screw so its closer i have seen pups that sound good on one side but not the other maby you need new pickups!!! UPGRADE TIME!!

 

[Zeppelin Rules]

I just noticed this for the first time really on my Gibson too since I haven't really been playing it much and I noticed that the E string is much deeper in the nut than the rest so maybe thats it. Its certainly not a case of thin dead strings since they're fairly new .012s.

 

[philosopher]

I'd guess it's the pickup pole screw.

[quote author=Zeppelin Rules link=topic=17303.msg215276#msg215276 date=1215273724]
Its certainly not a case of thin dead strings since they're fairly new .012s.
[/quote]

Off topic, but how can you guys play with .12s? I find even .11s difficult to bend.
Or are you all playing music that doesn't need bends?

 

[q-4000-SG Guy]

i play with 9's unless i can find 8's!!!!!

 

[guitarweasel]

11s here..........but they do make half sizes now.

 

[q-4000-SG Guy]

whos makeing half sizes and dp they have an 8.5?

 

[Arlabester]

[quote author=philosopher link=topic=17303.msg215305#msg215305 date=1215332647]
I'd guess it's the pickup pole screw.

Off topic, but how can you guys play with .12s? I find even .11s difficult to bend.
Or are you all playing music that doesn't need bends?
[/quote]i play with 11's, theyre hard to bend, but thats why you play them more and get used to it. i find you get a MUCH crunchier sound with heavier strings. 12's are too heavy, you get a BOING when you hit the low e string. i tune to d standard and theyre still uber tight, but i guess i like 25.5", so thats basically showing i just like tightness in guitars.

 

[guitarweasel]

[quote author=q-4000-SG Guy link=topic=17303.msg215331#msg215331 date=1215365884]
whos makeing half sizes and dp they have an 8.5?
[/quote]

PRS, GHS and D'Addario make half sizes.

 

[Rasher]

Off topic, but how can you guys play with .12s? I find even .11s difficult to bend.

I can't play .9s! Even .10s are a bit floppy. I pull them completely out of shape and there's nowhere near enough tension in them for me when playing fast.

I use .11s mainly and find them very comfortable, although I'd still like more tension on the A and low E. Bends no problem - depends on the frets of course, but I have various Fenders with not very high frets and they are fine. All rosewood or ebony boards though. My only maple necked Fender is a bit sticky so bending with mid-weight strings on those is a bit more work. I do have some guitars strung with .12s but I find prolonged bending sessions with those tends to make the nail bed bleed.

Each to his own!

 

[IommiSG]

To the original poster: I learned this many years ago from a luthier.

Plug the guitar into an amp on the clean channel, loud enough for you to hear easily, but not loud.

Set the pickup height where you usually do. (SD says to start with the thickness of two nickels between the PU's and strings.) Getting the pickup too close to the string can kill sustain w/magnetic pull.

Go across the strings, plucking them with the same force, and adjust the polepiece screws until you get as close to equal volume between all the strings as possible. This evens the pickup out nicely.

If this is a Special or Standard w/out pickup rings, don't forget to shim the pickp so it's level with the strings, not the body of the guitar.