Buh? This setup stuff is still confusing.

[Matt Till]

Alright, that discussion I had earlier "Matchbook vs. Truss Rod Adjustment" this has become more confusing. I've got the fretboard flat as I can get it, and I've got the action set as low as it will go. At the first fret the action is near perfect, at the 24th fret, it's about a 1/4 inch above the fretboard. What does this mean?

[seanm]

You don't want your fretboard flat. You have to have some relief. This is my favorite setup guide: http://www.mrgearhead.com/faq/basssetup.html.

[lonote]

Sounds like shim time to me, also.

[Matt Till]

That's what I was thinking. Is this something I buy? Have to make?

Like I said, my uncle recommended matchbooks. I'd like something a tad more pro.

[lonote]

I use thin plastic, like a credit card but a piece of a business card will work just fine. A lot of people will tell you that shimming will have an adverse on sustain but I don't buy it. I have a substantial shim in my P-clone and it sustains like crazy.

[Matt Till]

LET THE SHIMMING COMMENCE!!

As soon as I'm done being lazy and make some fettiucini alfredo... mmmm

[Treena Foster]

I have seen others use veneer from a hardware store and even masking tape as a shim.

Basswood makes for a good shim and can be purchased at most hardware stores also.

Check the link posted above.......www.mrgearhead.com has a great instruction section on shimming, I find it quite useful!

http://www.mrgearhead.com/faq/basssetup.html


Treena

[Matt Till]

I tried it, and I suck.

I'm taking it to someone.

[The Golden Boy]

Originally Posted by SMASH

No, wait. What went wrong Matt? It should be very easy to do.

Seriously, cut a 1/4" strip off the lid of a matchbook, put it in the neck pocket of your bass towards the bridge, bolt the neck back on.

The shim should be underneath at the butt end of the neck.

You may have to re-adjust the truss rod if you went ape-schizz on it.

What went wrong?

[Treena Foster]

Originally Posted by Matt Till

I tried it, and I suck.

I'm taking it to someone.

Matt, you're killing us here dude, what went wrong? We can help......if you let us!

Treena

[Matt Till]

Ha, I think I figured it out.

Once again, DUH! On my part. My shim wasn't... shimming!

I was just lifting the entire neck, as opposed to the butt end! I was so concerned with making this cardboard piece that fit the entire neck area, and that was my problem. I figured it out when I saw how tiny the piece of sandpaper (?) was they used to shim it before I bought it.

Thanks for helping guys! Greatly appreciated, helping to save a poor college bassist a couple of bucks. It just warms my heart.

[Matt Till]

Sucess. Thanks guys!

[Matt Till]

Strangely though I've had to set my action higher that I want it to avoid buzzing on the 17th fret on the G and D strings.

[Matt Till]

Originally Posted by SMASH

Fret filing time?

Perhaps.

Now my shim has completely reset. It's still there, but it's "settled."

My bass hates me.