Action adjust on a bass?

Re: Action adjust on a bass?

Funkfingers said:
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.
Click to expand...

Cool, will give it a tweak once I get it ! gonna restring and of course, clean it up and will dial up the truss rod and get it zeroed in. should rip after that cuz it was playing like butta on the low frets.. A set of straplocks and hopefully Ill be laying down some Steve Harris grooves soon.. hahahhahahaha

Ive done little with truss rods, so pls refresh my memory. to tighten, I turn to the right correct? thanks
Thanks for the info!
 
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Re: Action adjust on a bass?

BloodRose said:
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
Click to expand...

Is it still in playable condition when you push back or does it have fret buzz?
 
Re: Action adjust on a bass?

What's your truss setting? Action could be high in both cases - either the truss is completely loose or very tight. Sometimes when players overkill the adjustment so that there's a backbow, you usually get annoying buzzes in the lower registers and to compensate for that the raise the saddle.

Don't use your strings as a straight-edge, that will only show you how much relief is there. If the neck is already backbowed it will appear straight if you use the string method. Take a good constructional straight-edge and do it that way. To be sure about the neck angle, just push the straight-edge towards the bridge so that one part is still resting on the neck and the other end is touching the bridge saddles. What you want to see is saddles being just a tad higher than the straight-edge.

But as you have guessed it correctly, the problem you described could either mean bad truss adjustment, whacky saddle height or poor neck angle. But as these thing usually work close together, could be all of the above. If your truss is fine, but saddles are cranked down all the way and the action is still high, then the neck angle should definitely be corrected
 
Re: Action adjust on a bass?

how are you gonna play this bass? I mean, using fingers or pick? The action will require different action depending of how you play it.

edit: so, you didn't get the Jackson CBX that you mentioned you wanted.
 
Re: Action adjust on a bass?

constant mesh said:
What's your truss setting? Action could be high in both cases - either the truss is completely loose or very tight. Sometimes when players overkill the adjustment so that there's a backbow, you usually get annoying buzzes in the lower registers and to compensate for that the raise the saddle.

Don't use your strings as a straight-edge, that will only show you how much relief is there. If the neck is already backbowed it will appear straight if you use the string method. Take a good constructional straight-edge and do it that way. To be sure about the neck angle, just push the straight-edge towards the bridge so that one part is still resting on the neck and the other end is touching the bridge saddles. What you want to see is saddles being just a tad higher than the straight-edge.

But as you have guessed it correctly, the problem you described could either mean bad truss adjustment, whacky saddle height or poor neck angle. But as these thing usually work close together, could be all of the above. If your truss is fine, but saddles are cranked down all the way and the action is still high, then the neck angle should definitely be corrected
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input! Ill check all the above. I believe the saddles are kinda high. but Ill ck the neck first.
 
Re: Action adjust on a bass?

crguti said:
how are you gonna play this bass? I mean, using fingers or pick? The action will require different action depending of how you play it.

edit: so, you didn't get the Jackson CBX that you mentioned you wanted.
Click to expand...

Will play with both fingers and pick. Depending.

No, found a great deal on a used model series Charvel at a fraction of the cost and with more versatile pickups!
 
Re: Action adjust on a bass?

An update.. Was checking the bass again. In tests with both a straight edge and holding the strings down, the neck appears very straight. There is just a tiny hint of light under the strings above the frets. However... I noticed the saddles on the bridge are cranked WAY up. One is so high the screws are no longer threaded into it. I backed each saddle down a couple of turns, and it's now got good action except the one string. Ill have to pull the strings and get the adjusters rethreaded back into the saddle. The guitar is in really nice shape aside for just a couple of small dings, dimarzio pups, updated knobs, (not sure ill keep those) and I see what looks like aluminum foil sticking out of the control cavity under the cover. looks like they tried to shield it.
And... I knew it was supposed to come with a case.. But, I comes with a grey chainsaw case with all the latches!!!!
 
Re: Action adjust on a bass?

Hey. This is a bass guitar we're discussing. There needs to be some relief in the neck to leave room for the excursion of those man-size strings.

Using the first and last fret test, below the seventh fret, I'd like to see 3/64".
 
Re: Action adjust on a bass?

Funkfingers said:
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.
Click to expand...

Spend some time dialing it in yest.. Rainy day here and was doing laundry. The bridge was set up a mess. All the saddles were way high and one was dialed up so high the adjustment screws were no longer in the threads, it was just resting on the screws. So, I removed the bridge, used q tips and cleaned all the dust up and lubed all the screws, threaded them back in and adjusted all the saddles down to about a medium height. scrubbed the mung off the board, and lemon oiled it. tighted a couple of lose tuners, scrubbed and waxed the body and restrung with some fresh wires.. The control cavity was already sheilded. ( i hope aluminum foil has the same affect, cuz thats what they used.??) I put on some straplocks and tuned and intonated it. Was very funny. As I said, I just dialed all the saddles to what I thought looked good. 2 of the strings were properly inonated. I got the other 2 dialed in.

Now, the thing plays freaking amazing!! So far, no buzzes and the action is set at a Ridiculous (IMO) 3/16 of an inch in most spots on the board..

Rand-O-Monium said:
Pics,Dammit!!!
Click to expand...

Im working on this bro! dont have email on my phone like i used to..
 
Re: Action adjust on a bass?

hey funk fingers, is 3/16 pretty good? plays pretty easy cept my weak fingers. or should i try to dial it down some more?
Also, when
I do a first and last fret press, I have maybe 1/32 of gap tween string and fret. ( I dont have anything that measures below sixteenths or millimeters
 
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Re: Action adjust on a bass?

Funkfingers said:
Hey. This is a bass guitar we're discussing. There needs to be some relief in the neck to leave room for the excursion of those man-size strings.

Using the first and last fret test, below the seventh fret, I'd like to see 3/64".
Click to expand...

Dan Erlewine suggests .014" - not sure how that translates into fractions, but that's what I just set mine to.
 
Re: Action adjust on a bass?

The first fret / top fret test is for setting neck relief.

I measure action at the twelfth fret position between the underside of the open string and the crown of the fret (or the fretless fingerboard).

How much relief is enough will vary, depending on string gauges, what tuning you use and how hard you attack the strings.

EDIT - Any comparison between the opinions of me and Dan Erlewine should be a no-brainer. Side with Dan. :D
 
Re: Action adjust on a bass?

i like to see about 4/64ths or 5/64ths. i play pretty hard and i dont like when basses buzz.
 
Re: Action adjust on a bass?

Nice Bass!

.014" is slightly under 1/64.

Look for Davey4557 on Utube - He's a repair guy who's a Bassist.
 
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