Quick Setup Question

[LilRay]

Hey Guys,

If an instrument comes from the factory set at 440 and you're used to tuning down 1/2 step, what all needs changed? Just the intonation or saddles and all?

Thanks!



God Bless, Ray

[Gard]

Ray, the difference in tension MAY make the neck backbow just a bit, meaning you'd need to take some tension OFF the trussrod (lefty loosey) to allow the string tension to give enough relief to the neck.

Once you do that, more than likely, you wouldn't need to do much else. The intonation should be the same, and the string height will probably be the same as well. You MAY need to raise the saddles a bit, with lower tension the strings may vibrate a bit more widely, and rattle. If so, the intonation may change a bit, but it is not a major difference.

Good luck!

[JOME77]

^ What Gard said!

Less string tension = less truss rod tension

more string tension = more truss rod tension

Ray, you must be working on either some black gospel or metal tunes. For a while I was bring 3 basses to every gig. One fretted tuned to standard pitch, one fretless tuned to standard pitch and one fretted tuned 1/2 step down for the black gospel tunes. All the black gospel tunes were in Eb! What's up with that?

[LilRay]

Originally Posted by Gard

Ray, the difference in tension MAY make the neck backbow just a bit, meaning you'd need to take some tension OFF the trussrod (lefty loosey) to allow the string tension to give enough relief to the neck.

Once you do that, more than likely, you wouldn't need to do much else. The intonation should be the same, and the string height will probably be the same as well. You MAY need to raise the saddles a bit, with lower tension the strings may vibrate a bit more widely, and rattle. If so, the intonation may change a bit, but it is not a major difference.

Good luck!

Dunno why but moving the neck scares the shizz outta me. (Especially on the Roscoe )

I guess 'cause I never lernt how.

How does one get good at sighting the neck?

I've got a rackmount sabine tuner for intonation.

I need to learn to do this because I got burned by a very well known tech, Spent a lot with little in return.

Thanks man.



God Bless, Ray

[LilRay]

Originally Posted by JOME77

^ What Gard said!

Less string tension = less truss rod tension

more string tension = more truss rod tension

Ray, you must be working on either some black gospel or metal tunes. For a while I was bring 3 basses to every gig. One fretted tuned to standard pitch, one fretless tuned to standard pitch and one fretted tuned 1/2 step down for the black gospel tunes. All the black gospel tunes were in Eb! What's up with that?

I got the idea from old blues tunes. I found that most piano oriented songs were in flats/sharps. Piano Smith, Roscoe Gordon Pinetop Perkins. A lot of Ellington, Basie and other Jazz is the same too.

Dunno why.

But it's odd, when I tune by ear I automatically tune down.



God Bless. Ray

[JOME77]

Originally Posted by LilRay

I got the idea from old blues tunes. I found that most piano oriented songs were in flats/sharps. Piano Smith, Roscoe Gordon Pinetop Perkins. A lot of Ellington, Basie and other Jazz is the same too.

Dunno why.

But it's odd, when I tune by ear I automatically tune down.



God Bless. Ray

Probably on account of the fact that you're a low down dude!

[LilRay]

Originally Posted by JOME77

Probably on account of the fact that you're a low down dude!

Low Down To The Bone

Born that way, may as well stay that way.




God Bless, Ray

[Ryan L.]

I've switched both of my Roscoes from standard tuning to 1/2 step down a few times now, and haven't had to adjust a thing.

Both bands I play in use standard tuning, but the few occasions I've taken them out to let friends play them for a set or two, we've had to tune them down for their bands. No issues at all with it.

[Bipslapper]

Ray- bought my LG used from Anthony Crawford who always tunes his basses down a whole step for his tapping technique. When it arrived I brought it to my local luthier/guitar repair guy who was impressed at how stable the truss rod was, even after shipping it from LA to Cape Cod,MA. I tune all my basses and guitars to standard pitch. No adjustment was needed to truss rod, he did raise the saddles a little. These basses are very stable and the graphite rods really help.

Side-note- I love and prefer the Hipshot "A" bridge, have on 2 Roscoes and my Modulus FTIW.