Neck shim/action-related question

[lwrthnwhalepoop]

I've retro-fitted my mid-'90s SKB2006 with a current-vintage Roscoe/Hipshot bridge, replacing the Wilkinson that was originally fitted.

It's firmed up the sound nicely, but it's a bit higher than the Wilkinson, so the action is a bit high for my tastes and playing style. I've put about all the tension I dare on the truss rod, and the neck is dead flat. The saddles on the bridge are bottomed-out as well. I think what may be needed is a neck shim, but I'm opening the question up to your folks for ideas.

Milling down the bridge is an option but isn't reversible, so I'm more focused on raising the neck, at least for now.

Have any of you shimmed a Roscoe neck? Gard, is this a realistic option, or is the mere suggestion roughly akin to going to St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican and peeing in the holy water?

If shimming is an option, what's the material of choice? I'd like to add .10 to .12 inches in height - roughly 1/8". I'd want to use something that had no effect on the sound of the bass, or at least as little effect as possible. I've got a couple of old stale tortillas in the fridge that look like they're about the right height. Would they make the bass sound corny?

I should have prefaced the question by saying that the bass plays pretty well; for any other brand of bass this might pass for a sweet setup. I'm just so spoiled by the fantastic playability of my other Roscoes that I'd like this one dialed-in exactly as they are.

Hey guys, great to get a chance to post again. I've been working far too much but I have a break now. Rumors of my death (likely propagated by one or both of my ex-wives) are unfounded. Wishful thinking, no doubt.

-Dave

[JOME77]

Hey Dave,
A little shim goes a long way. If you want to take the action down 1/8", the shim that you need will be considerably less (than 1/8"). Typically, a thickness of 2x a business card (placed at the deepest area of the neck pocket) is sufficient to bring the action down 1/16-3/32. Your bass may need 3x a business card thickness but that should get you close.

[Gard]

Yeah, the thickness of the shim won't be a 1 to 1 correlation with the amount of saddle travel you want!

We find that a very thin shim in the neck goes a long way, typically we actually work with some self-adhesive sandpaper when shimming a neck (which we do rarely, but we do do...that voodoo that you do soooo well!!!....it's HEADLEY, not HEDDY!....sorry, went all Blazing Saddles for a moment... ). If that doesn't give enough range, try adding a 2nd layer, but I would recommend going slowly forward, not diving in the deep end right away.

[lwrthnwhalepoop]

Originally Posted by Gard

Yeah, the thickness of the shim won't be a 1 to 1 correlation with the amount of saddle travel you want!

We find that a very thin shim in the neck goes a long way, typically we actually work with some self-adhesive sandpaper when shimming a neck (which we do rarely, but we do do...that voodoo that you do soooo well!!!....it's HEADLEY, not HEDDY!....sorry, went all Blazing Saddles for a moment... ). If that doesn't give enough range, try adding a 2nd layer, but I would recommend going slowly forward, not diving in the deep end right away.

Good input so far, and keep it coming.

Looking around my desk at shim material candidates, I think a CD might be suitable for a first effort. It'll be nearly invisible looking at it from the edge, and easy to cut and trim with a file. Maybe I should burn some Yellowjackets onto it first?

Blazing Saddles - a true classic. Gard, you'd be perfect for the Alex Karrass part.

[bassteban]

Just a somewhat-educated guess here, but I'd think a CD would be WAY thick for your purposes here. You do understand we're talking a very small thickness at one end of the neck pocket(as opposed to the full width & length of the pocket itself), increasing the neck angle- correct?

[Gard]

Originally Posted by lwrthnwhalepoop

Good input so far, and keep it coming.

Looking around my desk at shim material candidates, I think a CD might be suitable for a first effort. It'll be nearly invisible looking at it from the edge, and easy to cut and trim with a file. Maybe I should burn some Yellowjackets onto it first?

It'd be a waste of a good CD, 'Jackets or not.

Again, a SMALL amount of difference will make a HUGE change in the setup. Start small, business card or sandpaper thickness, check it, then adjust as needed.

Blazing Saddles - a true classic. Gard, you'd be perfect for the Alex Karrass part.

(cough, cough)

...Mongo only pawn in game of life.






...how'd I do, Mr. Brooks????

[lwrthnwhalepoop]

Originally Posted by Gard

It'd be a waste of a good CD, 'Jackets or not.

Again, a SMALL amount of difference will make a HUGE change in the setup. Start small, business card or sandpaper thickness, check it, then adjust as needed.



(cough, cough)

...Mongo only pawn in game of life.






...how'd I do, Mr. Brooks????

Okay, I'm catching on. I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I can spot a trend and take a hint when I'm bludgeoned with it for long enough.

This bass lives at the girlfriend's house, and I'll give it a try tomorrow night when I'm there.

I had a glorious day there this past Monday. I brought a bunch of gear there to putz with over the weekend and spent Monday smoking a pork shoulder (my lips are tired from trying to keep it lit) and playing bass in the garage. I had my rack rig and my Acme 4x10's set up with a Crown K2 amp bridged mono powering each one. I closed the doors and let 'er bark for a while. Five thousand watts of pure Roscoe bliss had the whole joint rattling real nice. About the time my ears were done, so was the pork. Life doesn't need to get any better than that.

[DannyV]

Wow. I thought I kept hearing thunder...