Action adjust on a bass?

B

BloodRose

Professional Scapegoat
I found a bass that I really like. Ive been looking for one for my daughter and I found one that I like better than she does and she wants mine.. Sooo win win..

The bass is an old Charvel 575 (?) and its in really good shape aside for scuffs thru paint where the strings feed into the jackson bridge. The pups are Dimarzios of some sort and has a hard case for under 2 benjamins. The ONLY drawback is that the action is very high up the neck.. I know I can lower the saddles, but would it also ok to shim the neck? I want to do as pro a job as possible so Im looking at the options.

Thanks for your info!! Also, anyone have exp with this model? Thoughts? Its along the lines of the model series, black, pointy hs, old charvel logo, jackson brige, dual pups, three knob setup. (curious of the function as I couldnt tell if one was changing pups. Sounded like volume tone tone, but im sure thats not it..thank you
 
Re: Action adjust on a bass?

You know the drill.

Hold down the low E string at the first and last frets. (Capo it, if you like.) Observe the clearance of the bottom edge of the depressed string above the top of the seventh fret. If you have feeler gauges, take a precise measurement.

If the neck bow is okay but the string action is high, install a shim.

On the typical PJ bass, the controls are either Neck Vol, Bridge Vol, Master Tone OR Master Vol, Balance pan pot, Master Tone. On a cheap bass or one with knackered strings, the panpot will achieve little or no tonal variation.
 
Re: Action adjust on a bass?

If the pickups on your bass turn out to be Charvel-badged Select-by-EMG P and J types, even with fresh strings, the sonic options are going to be gutless and muddy or gutless and muddy with slightly more treble.
 
Re: Action adjust on a bass?

Funkfingers said:
If the pickups on your bass turn out to be Charvel-badged Select-by-EMG P and J types, even with fresh strings, the sonic options are going to be gutless and muddy or gutless and muddy with slightly more treble.
Click to expand...

Actually, the pups are Dimarzios! Thats part of what got me so excited about it. I mean, Im primarily a Duncan guy, but the fact the pups are already upgraded. all it needs is neck adjust and straplocks. ( And a good de munging..)
 
Re: Action adjust on a bass?

Check the control cavity. See how many conductors the J pickup has. It could be a dual coil, noise-cancelling affair. This might explain why it is not as trebly as expected.
 
Re: Action adjust on a bass?

IIRC the 575 was neckthrough with the script logo, not the guitar-shaped logo. Bolt-ons were 1b (1 pickup) and 2b (2 pickups). The 3 knobs could indicate that it has the JE1200 active bass circuit, which is volume, bass cut/boost, and treble cut/boost.

Check that the neck is not bowed too far forward with the strings tuned, then adjust the saddles. If you're getting too much buzz on the open and low fretted notes, raise the saddles and shim the neck.

However, some buzz is to be expected on a bass with low action due to the size of the strings. The only question is how much you're willing to tolerate.
 
Re: Action adjust on a bass?

Check the curve in the neck first, and adjust as needed. Then adjust the saddle height. Shim if required, but most likely not. Tune the 12th fret via the saddles. Finally, adjust the pickups to compensate for the major setup tweaks.
 
Re: Action adjust on a bass?

The big question is what kind of adjust screw your truss rod has. Basses need more fiddling with it than guitars and it is a real pain if you have to take the neck off for any adjustment.

As people said you need to find out what you relief is (if any), get that right, then see whether the saddles can be adjusted to where you want to be and if not you shim (or route).
 
Re: Action adjust on a bass?

DrNewcenstein said:
IIRC the 575 was neckthrough with the script logo, not the guitar-shaped logo. Bolt-ons were 1b (1 pickup) and 2b (2 pickups). The 3 knobs could indicate that it has the JE1200 active bass circuit, which is volume, bass cut/boost, and treble cut/boost.

Check that the neck is not bowed too far forward with the strings tuned, then adjust the saddles. If you're getting too much buzz on the open and low fretted notes, raise the saddles and shim the neck.

However, some buzz is to be expected on a bass with low action due to the size of the strings. The only question is how much you're willing to tolerate.
Click to expand...


Yeah, I really dont think its a 575. I have been in love with the old model series axes since they came out and used to carry the catalogs with 4 and 6 marked everywhere I went.. (yeah, Im a dork and admit it) I didnt think the numbers like 575 came out till later with the other logo. but thats how they had it marked. Its def model series, has 3 knobs and bolt on. Pup config IIRC was like split p and a jazz.
 
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Re: Action adjust on a bass?

3/32" clearance between the underside of the open E string and the crown of the twelfth fret would be nice. (MIG Warwick.) 5/32" is perfectly playable.
 
Re: Action adjust on a bass?

All the Model series were built in Japan. If the logo is guitar-shaped with the 6-inline "headstock" on the logo, it was made in Japan (except the current ProMods). The script (or "toothpaste") logo came later, and while most were made in Japan, some of the later models moved to Korea/Indonesia. All the Charvette models were made in either Korea or Indonesia.
 
Re: Action adjust on a bass?

its Japanese then cuz its exactly like that 2b in the brochure you put up. Sweet!! $199 with case!!
 
Re: Action adjust on a bass?

Is this the same metallic pink one that appeared in an earlier thread about buying a bass guitar for your daughter?

What is really needed here are photographs of the control wiring. ;)
 
Re: Action adjust on a bass?

Rand-O-Monium said:
Where's a pic?
Click to expand...

Funkfingers said:
Is this the same metallic pink one that appeared in an earlier thread about buying a bass guitar for your daughter?

What is really needed here are photographs of the control wiring. ;)
Click to expand...

No, its a diff guit. No pics avail. Its on A) layaway and B) police hold. Cant get it for at least a month, prolly wont be able to pay it out for 2. haha Will try to get pics up when I actually have it.
 
Re: Action adjust on a bass?

I failed to mention one thing. when I push back on the headstock just a little bit the string action is just how I want it. Thats why I asked about a shim. I think the saddles are kinda high
 
Re: Action adjust on a bass?

Hmmm. In that case, you might want to try adjusting the truss rod to straighten the neck before adjusting the saddles or adding a neck shim.
 
Re: Action adjust on a bass?

BloodRose said:
when I push back on the headstock just a little bit, the string action is just how I want it.
Click to expand...

Ample proof that minor truss rod tightening will solve the "problem".

Applying pressure to the face of the headstock counteracts the string tension. This is what the rod is supposed to do for you. (Can't have you playing bass one-handed, can we?) :D

No shim. Little or no saddle adjustment.

One other way to alter the balance between the string tension and truss rod is to drop a gauge.
 
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