why do open strings "sound" when playig fretted notes

[bassplayer7]

why do open strings "sound" when playing fretted notes on other strings, like play a B on the 1st or 3rd string and the open E string sounds. I've had the bass set up, new strings. so on and so on. The guy that set up the bass and even cort don't know what could be wrong. my amp did give 5 or 6 loud cracks just before this started. could it be the amp, or is the bass ready for retirement?
Thanks to anyone who can help, Bill
bassplayer7@comcast.net

[JackasS sonNY]

You copied my freinds sn :mad:!!!! Well in a way...

[BassTallica]

first of all Sonny what does that have to do with anything??

second.... what do ya mean the open strings ring?? do ya hit them at all?? is it after ya left off the fret that that string rings?? could ya be a bit mroe specific plz

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[bassplayer7]

OK BassTallica here goes: When I fret thew B on the 1st string, as soon as I play the note the open 4th string rings loudly without touching it. Same deal with the B on the 3rd string, after letting off the fret the open 4th string rings until I stop it. This is happening all over the fretboard, different fretted notes cause different open strings to ring loudly without touching them. No real big deal with slow stuff, but real fast sounds really muddy. I hope this makes things a little clearer. Thanks for your help and your question for Sonny, Bill
bassplayer7@comcast.net
yea sonny, bassplayer7

[BassTallica]

hmm i really dont knwo if ya want you can try to mute the other strign swith yoru fingers.. but thats weird.. mayeb its your bridge thats a mess

what kidna bass and what year is it

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[zero_380]

Back from ecuador. whats going on basstallica?
Ive had that problem with notes played on my bass causing the open strings on my guitar players guitar to sound are my acoustic to play.
but only on certin notes I play. Something in the harmonics is my guess your amp only picks up sound even if its feed back and you know the difference. before I spent money in a new bass unlees you can afford it. I would change my strings and recheck my harmonics and a cleaning might help. New strings have a lot of ring and this could be your problem this is my best guess Im shooting in the dark on this.
but Im a tech of an electric co. and I deal with harmonics and the problems they can cause. What year is the bass and did you change brands when you changed strings? also when was the last time you changed strings. Thier are some pretty smart guy on this sight more info and somebody will have an answer. (eventually, someday, mabie)
this problem could stop after the strings have aged but the ring is what makes a bass.

[BassTallica]

hey mans whats up?? new name?? did shawn delete your old one??

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[zero_380]

no same name still a little new to the site just been gone awhile. I travel too much. I've been collecting some of the artise for 5 string bass you told me about. but just know back playing it not much progress yet but still beating on it. I have stop riding up on the B string as much. Thanks again for the help.

[BassTallica]

anytime man... what kinda bass ya got again??

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[zero_380]

well I got a peavey dyna-bass 4 string a friend gave me after I dropped my stinburner falling down the stairs of a little bar after work in 1990. whisky and packing up dont mix well.lol I fell in love with it. little custom work. washburn xb125 5 string. 3 guitars. went to bass in 85 after some friends mastered randy rhode and the metallica up rising. always been good at rythem & lead they were better. once I heard cliff burton play I been bass all the way. pullin teeth hooked me.

[BassTallica]

Originally posted by zero_380
well I got a peavey dyna-bass 4 string a friend gave me after I dropped my stinburner falling down the stairs of a little bar after work in 1990. whisky and packing up dont mix well.lol I fell in love with it. little custom work. washburn xb125 5 string. 3 guitars. went to bass in 85 after some friends mastered randy rhode and the metallica up rising. always been good at rythem & lead they were better. once I heard cliff burton play I been bass all the way. pullin teeth hooked me.

lmao good ol' cliff... just making guitarists into bassists year after year after year

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[luecke]

bill-

from what you said, it sounds like a bit of a feedback problem. when you play a note, it not only vibrates at that given frequency, but also at harmonic overtones as well. the 5th is the second strongest overtone (after the octave), and at times can be strong enough to cause resonance. since your E string is made to vibrate at a frequency that is a fifth above the note B, it will sometimes sound when you play a stong B.

so that is what i think is going on, but unfortunately im not really sure what you can do to remedy the problem. are you playing with your amp facing directly towards you?

[cooldude321]

I've read about the same problem in one of my bass books but does not specify what causes it. I don't think anything is really wrong with it. Since bass has such a lower sound spectrum, I'm guessing the string sends the sound vibrations back to the guitar wood then to the other open strings causeing them to vibrate and the pickup sends it to the amplifier. I'm just guessing at it but I was always good at science and physics. I guess just have to mute the open strings some how.

[Syko]

This happens with my guitar as well, and even when I'm not plugged into an amp. It's a bit annoying really, especially when soloing with those high-pitched notes, and then it'll cause one of the lower strings to ring and sound terrible. So I just try to keep the other strings muted when I'm playing on the high strings exclusively.