Tinny 'E' string

Subject: Tinny 'E' string
From: Paul Mitchell
Date: 19 Feb 02 - 03:22 AM

Hello there people.

A minor irritation for me, but one that eally is getting on my nerves. On my Ovation 6 string my high "E" sounds quite tinny when I capo at the 4th fret or above. I'm intending to get a heavier guaged string, to see what that does, but I was wondering if anyone else has any bright ideas?

The main problem is that I seem to loose the notes I play on that string against the volume of the other strings. Other wise it's a great guitar. Suggestions welcomed, and thanks in advance.

Paul

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: Gary T
Date: 19 Feb 02 - 09:47 AM

My first thought is to try different strings, perhaps with a slightly thicker treble E.

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: M.Ted
Date: 19 Feb 02 - 10:00 AM

You could be getting some fret contact--it may be time to get the file out--

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: Spartacus
Date: 19 Feb 02 - 10:04 AM

M Ted has a good idea. You should look down the neck to make shure you dont have any winter dryness, or neck warping. Is it a rattle or just a sound more tinny than the first four frets?

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 19 Feb 02 - 11:41 AM

But go for one guage higher on the E string BEFORE you get the file out!

Rick

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: Max
Date: 19 Feb 02 - 11:46 AM

I'd say it's the Ovation. Never touched one I liked better than a $15 Salvation Army guitar. I must admit I'm a bigot when it comes to Ovations. Can't even seem to try one out before I condemn it. Something about that plastic round back freaks me out.

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 19 Feb 02 - 11:59 AM

Right Max. I thought Ovations were built to sound tinny. Of course, plugged in, it's a different story.

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: Clifton53
Date: 19 Feb 02 - 01:11 PM

Ovations do have necks on them that I like, but they are way too quiet when unamplified.

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: Midchuck
Date: 19 Feb 02 - 01:19 PM

GHS Phosphor Bronze "True Mediums."

Two E strings and the B are same as normal medium gauge. Other three are same as normal lights.

Worth a try.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: 53
Date: 19 Feb 02 - 04:10 PM

Try a new guitar, anything but an Ovation.

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: Spartacus
Date: 19 Feb 02 - 04:42 PM

I hate to jump on the Ovation bashing wagon, but I had a balladeer. It was my second guitar. I sold it six months later and went into debt just to get rid of it and get a new one. The best decision I ever made was getting rid of it. Sorry....

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 19 Feb 02 - 06:39 PM

LOL. I'm sure this is just what Paul wanted to hear! Remember, he said it was a great guitar except for the tinny e.

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: 53
Date: 19 Feb 02 - 06:42 PM

I know that he likes the guitar, but come on an Ovation.

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: harpmaker
Date: 19 Feb 02 - 07:01 PM

Sounds to me like its the soundboard rather than the "plastic round back!" The soundboard is almost cirtainly plywood. I have a fiberglass roundback guitar with a solid tonewood soundboard, Its a dream. I use it for gigs, and recording,-people are always commenting how good it sounds. I think top end Ovation guitars have solid tops. You only get what you pay for. John.

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: ddw
Date: 19 Feb 02 - 10:29 PM

Ovations? I thought they were helicopters whose mothers took thalidomide.....

david

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Feb 02 - 11:02 PM

Hey Paul.....Ignore these nabobs. If you like your Ovation, you're in pretty good company with some other players so play what you like.

The dtring gauge difference will probably correct your problem but also have a very close look at where the e-string is placed. On some guitars the saddle may be a bit notched after the years, especially if it's plastic (replace that) and the string might be lying to close to the edge of the fretboard, especially farther up the neck. This would be very noticeable with a capo. Check too, as others have mentioned, for fret buzz.

We tend to forget how much effect on sound that a fretboard has, but it's a factor.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: Justa Picker
Date: 19 Feb 02 - 11:29 PM

If the windings on the E string are catching the saddle, this could possibly be the culprit. If so a solution is to try replacing that E string but cutting and saving the ball on the end of that string and sliding it down the new string so that there are 2 balls at the end. This should now move the winding down enough that it shouldn't catch the saddle.

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 20 Feb 02 - 12:42 AM

I thought he said it was his high E string. I'm not much of a guitarist, JP, but isn't that string unwound? (I know you probably missed that on the original post, but it isn't every day I get to one-up a guitarist of your caliber!) ;-)

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: Gary T
Date: 20 Feb 02 - 12:55 AM

Mark, Justa Picker is talking about the ball end of the string, where the string is wound back around itself for 1/2 inch or so to retain the ball. This area could conceivably touch the saddle. I had to read it twice to realize he was not referring to a wound string when he mentioned "windings."

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: Justa Picker
Date: 20 Feb 02 - 12:59 AM

You got it Gary.

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From:
Date: 20 Feb 02 - 04:11 AM

Paul,

How about if you just fret the fourth string without a capo? In theory that should be the same as having a capo fretting the string. If it doesn't sound tiny in this case then you should look into your capo, or how you put it on.

Murray

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From:
Date: 20 Feb 02 - 04:14 AM

Oops! I meant to say fret the E string at the fourth fret.

Sorry

Murrray

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: mooman
Date: 20 Feb 02 - 11:00 AM

Lots of good advice here but my guess is that the top E is catching a fret higher up when capoed. That could indicate the need for too low a saddle and need for a replacement, or a worn saddle, or worn lower frets, or a slightly high fret above the fourth fret or the need for a neck adjustment. JP's theory is also possible.

But try a heavier gauge E first and this is the cheapest of the possible solutions!

Best regards

mooman

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: Paul Mitchell
Date: 20 Feb 02 - 03:36 PM

Haven't had a chance to check out the replies until now. Wow, the Mudcat does it again... this is what we want!

Great advice all round. I've bought myself a couple of heavier guages, so I will try these out first and see what happens. In fact, I'll try doing it tomorrow just to ensure I can update you all. Otherwise I'll look into the capo next.. then the other stuff. The saddle could be looking a bit sorry for itself....

I probably won't get rid of my Ovation just yet. But, like, you know, HEY! Thanks for that advice too (I think).

Midchuck, I liked then sound of that set of strings, I'll seek them out. Cheers.

Paul

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 20 Feb 02 - 07:20 PM

Oh, well, JP, at least I get points for being alert. And we all know the world needs more--anyway, guess I'll stick to medicine and leave the guitar questions to the guitarists! (Actually, I love these guitar question and answer threads...almost like having my own private luthier! Well, sort of.)

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: mooman
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 04:10 AM

Whoops! Not "...the need for too low a saddle..." but "...the presence of too low a saddle.."! But I'm sure you all knew what I meant!

Yesterday was a hard day!

mooman (in befuddled mode)

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: Midchuck
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 08:27 AM

Paul, if you strike out on the True Mediums locally, they're href="http://www.elderly.com/accessories/strings_Guitar.html">here, but you have to scroll down quite a ways to get to the G's.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: Midchuck
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 08:28 AM

quick, JoeClone, fix that URL before someone sees it and curses me for a fool!

Peter.

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 08:32 AM

Peter I just saw that URL. Curse you for a fool ...

Murray

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: catspaw49
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 08:36 AM

What an idiot!!!   A complete fool!!! It is to laugh!!!
Click Here for the Strings...botched so badly by that incredible buffoon!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 03:58 PM

I told you these guys were a tough audience, Midchuck.

Subject: RE: Tinny 'E' string
From: Paul Mitchell
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 04:28 PM

Catspaw, thanks for helping me out there. Cheers Midchuck for the help, but when it comes down to it, you can either do blue clicky things or ya' can't!

I've put the new string on, and so far so good. Seems to have sorted it out as I'd hoped. So, fame and fortune just 'round the corner now that's sorted.

Thanks again for the help people.

Groovy

Paul