no quality sound from my little E string

[Derrell Reagan]

I have a 8 string lap steel and the strings that are on there now are the strings when i bought the guitar . They seem to be of a lighter gauge than my other steel guitar. My problem is that when I am playing and i hit the ist string it doesnt sound as loud comeing from my amp. I raised the screw from my pickup and it doesnt seem to change anything. Do i need a heavier gauge set of strings?

[Erv Niehaus]

Try a .015 gauge and that should take care of the problem. And a whole new set of strings wouldn't be a bad idea either.
Erv

[Frank James Pracher]

Is the string directly over the pole piece?

What brand of steel is it? Some Valco guitars can do strange things when the pickup magnets get switched around...

[Derrell Reagan]

thanks guys for your input. and it is an old "national " lap steel serial number was from 1949.