Adjusting Action

[smurfy27]

I just bought a "new to me" Lakland 55-02 and the action is lower than I like. Can I simply adjust the saddle height to raise the action or do I need to go through the truss rod, nut and intonation adjustments too?

Thanks

[FrenchBassQC]

Originally Posted by smurfy27

I just bought a "new to me" Lakland 55-02 and the action is lower than I like. Can I simply adjust the saddle height to raise the action or do I need to go through the truss rod, nut and intonation adjustments too?

Thanks

You can only do the saddle. Do like a half turn at the time until you get to the hight you like.

[greggster59]

You can. But check the neck relief first to see if you should also adjust your truss rod.

Hold the bass in playing position and press down on the first and last frets. The clearance from the 7th to 9th fret should be small, about just enough to grab a business card.

Once you are sure you have proper neck relief you can raise your saddle height. A tech I know always tells me that the A string should be a hair higher than the rest. Basically, you're allowing for the slight curvature of the fingerboard.

When all else is done you should check your intonation and adjust if necessary.

[JLS]

ALL BASIC SETUP QUESTIONS ANSWERED HERE

ALL BASIC SETUP QUESTIONS ANSWERED HERE

ALL BASIC SETUP QUESTIONS ANSWERED HERE

ALL BASIC SETUP QUESTIONS ANSWERED HERE


ALL BASIC SETUP QUESTIONS ANSWERED HERE

[Solarmist]

Get a Stew-Mac string action gauge - they work beautifully if you're into accuracy.

[Turnaround]

Originally Posted by Solarmist

Get a Stew-Mac string action gauge - they work beautifully if you're into accuracy.

No, that's not accurate. Feeler gauges are accurate. Parallax can give widely inaccurate readings on a simple rule.

[Solarmist]

^ Yes - it is accurate if you know how to use it. The people here that use one recommend it for its simplicity, ease of use, and accuracy.
Feel free to keep using your feeler gauges.

[dStar]

Originally Posted by Turnaround

No, that's not accurate. Feeler gauges are accurate. Parallax can give widely inaccurate readings on a simple rule.

Where can I get a feeler gauge for 6/64", for string height?

[dincz]

Originally Posted by dStar

Where can I get a feeler gauge for 6/64", for string height?

You can't, but you can get 3/32"

[96tbird]

^ truth. But generally a steel ruler (shorty) is used to measure action because you may want it a little lower or higher. Specs are only beginning points. You may not like the specs so a ruler you measurement flexibility.

[Turnaround]

Originally Posted by Solarmist

Feel free to keep using your feeler gauges.

Don't worry, I will. After 50 years of doing this I'm not likely to change now.

[mattattack187]

Lakland has an excellent video on YouTube about setting up their Basses. I tend to learn these things easier by watching than reading.

[hailet]

I was looking for a thread and found this one where I could say THANKS to the folks here on TB for giving me the information I needed to give me the confidence to make action adjustments to my bass. I bought a nice P bass and had a setup done on it but was unhappy with the action. Taking it back in seemed like a waste to me so I did it myself and now I'm very happy. Intonation and action are perfect. It's the first time since I bought my bass that it really feels like mine. Thanks again TB'ers .

[smurfy27]

Thanks for all your help. Since I've never done this before I'm still going to take it to be professionally set up and then if I need the action adjusted up or down from there I can do it. I just don't like the idea of playing with the truss rod when I really don't know what I'm doing. Plus I really don't have any of the measuring tools. Thanks again for the help!