Learn to Set Up Your Bass!

[Dr. Cheese]

Looking back on things, I have to admit that I have sold more basses because set up issues than anything else except for the times when I had financial issues (new bass GAS is a whole 'nother issue!)

I've said it before, but it was TB that really gave me the confidence to start doing setups, along with some videos I have seen on Youtube. Now that I can do it all, in terms of the neck and bridge, I cannot believe how much better even beater basses I own play and sound.

I guess the next thing is to master the soldering iron, and do electronics!

[yellofury]

agreed doing a general trussrod adjustment and intonation is one of the best things you can learn!! Its helped me turn good basses into great basses
and turning parts basses into great players!!

I am a little wary of electronics
I even bought a soldering iron in hope of doing some work but it hasnt even been opened yet
All those wires scare me

[SpankyPants]

I've been working with the setup of a parts bass I've started putting together, and it's been a bit slow. What videos were especially helpful for you?

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by SpankyPants

I've been working with the setup of a parts bass I've started putting together, and it's been a bit slow. What videos were especially helpful for you?

If you go to Youtube and look at MTD videos, there is a nice video explaining how to do intonations that helped me greatly.

This is it:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEiaq0znGL8

[bassplayer7770]

Does anybody find the Hardware, Setup & Repair forum here at TB to be helpful?

I learned to do my own setups thanks to articles in old Bass Player mag issues as well as some online help. Do a Google search for bass guitar setup, and you should get some decent results. Of course, you can always ask questions here.

I don't do pickup wiring and such. Maybe someday...

[Ziltoid]

I did start to learn, but I still need way more practice, I kinda suck at it

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by Ziltoid

I did start to learn, but I still need way more practice, I kinda suck at it

Get a cheap, but very easy to set up bass, like a USA Peavey for practice. BTW, many come with the micro-tilt neck adjustment which really works like a charm!

[bassplayer7770]

For measuring string height, pickup height, relief, etc., I've found this String Action Gauge from Stew Mac to be a very helpful tool.

[Ziltoid]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

Get a cheap, but very easy to set up bass, like a USA Peavey for practice. BTW, many come with the micro-tilt neck adjustment which really works like a charm!

I have my yamaha rbx-706a, that's a good guinea-pig , on the other side I'm very comfortable with wiring and soldering, did many electrical circuit for motion detectors, light detector lamps and the such. Just never did it on basses, and yeah I should get a gauge, my ruler has limits, haha

[CapnSev]

I find that I can like just about any decently-made bass once I set it up.

However, what separates a good bass from a great one for me, is how easily can I set it up, and how nice can I get it.

EDIT: I've also learned that just because a bass in a store sucks to play, it doesn't mean it's a bad bass, it just needs a setup 99% of the time. (Hello GC? )

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by CapnSev

I find that I can like just about any decently-made bass once I set it up.

However, what separates a good bass from a great one for me, is how easily can I set it up, and how nice can I get it.

Ease of set up is why I am such a Peavey nut. These basses always set up like butter, and play like boutiques.

[CapnSev]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

Ease of set up is why I am such a Peavey nut. These basses always set up like butter, and play like boutiques.

Totally. My T-40 is a piece of cake, but I don't think it's moved for like 10 years.

I really like EBMM for this reason too. The truss wheel makes it about a 10-second setup, and the quality let me set a low action if I want.

I used to complain about Fender a lot because I had a hard time setting them up, but my new '08 P5 is a breeze.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by CapnSev

Totally. My T-40 is a piece of cake, but I don't think it's moved for like 10 years.

I really like EBMM for this reason too. The truss wheel makes it about a 10-second setup, and the quality let me set a low action if I want.

I used to complain about Fender a lot because I had a hard time setting them up, but my new '08 P5 is a breeze.

+100! EBMMs are a breeze, and the 2008 Jazz V I had was marvelous. I hate I ran into a bind and had to let it go. It will be a while before I get another, and that bass was perfect.

[Benjamin Strange]

There are some points that need to be made here:

1. Having the correct tools to do the job properly is essential. Radius gauges, a strobe tuner, nut files, etc. are pretty much required if you want to get your bass anywhere close to being right.

2. Almost every instrument coming out of any sizable manufacturer generally needs some level of fretwork (yes, even the Pleked ones). It takes about 2-3 hours for a competent tech to do a fret level and dress (including setup) with a properly built neck jig - this would be suicide for any manufacturer to do to every instrument they make. They simply can't afford to take the time to make sure ever instrument is perfect. If your frets are uneven (most are), then your setup will be compromised.

3. Doing a setup is a sequential process. Neck first, then nut, then bridge, then intonation. Doing it out of order simply won't work, and you'll compromise the integrity of the previous step. Even a pro that's been doing setups every day for years will still take about an hour to do it right.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by Benjamin Strange

There are some points that need to be made here:

1. Having the correct tools to do the job properly is essential. Radius gauges, a strobe tuner, nut files, etc. are pretty much required if you want to get your bass anywhere close to being right.

2. Almost every instrument coming out of any sizable manufacturer generally needs some level of fretwork (yes, even the Pleked ones). It takes about 2-3 hours for a competent tech to do a fret level and dress (including setup) with a properly built neck jig - this would be suicide for any manufacturer to do to every instrument they make. They simply can't afford to take the time to make sure ever instrument is perfect. If your frets are uneven (most are), then your setup will be compromised.

3. Doing a setup is a sequential process. Neck first, then nut, then bridge, then intonation. Doing it out of order simply won't work, and you'll compromise the integrity of the previous step. Even a pro that's been doing setups every day for years will still take about an hour to do it right.

I see your points and agree 100%, but doing less than pro level set ups can still greatly enhance the playbility of a bass and help a player avoid wasting money on yet another bass that need its nut filed and frets leveled.

[Benjamin Strange]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

I see your points and agree 100%, but doing less than pro level set ups can still greatly enhance the playbility of a bass and help a player avoid wasting money on yet another bass that need its nut filed and frets leveled.

True - a good setup can help. But in my experience, it's RARE when an instrument comes into my shop that DOESN'T need a fret level and the nut filed.

[StyleOverShow]

Agree that radius gauges and strobe tuners help, but aren't essential to maintenance of your instrument(s). I used to send out my axes every 3 months for setups but now do most of my own setups.

Working on keeping my maple fretboard clean. That's a tough one.

-richard

[Linas]

Originally Posted by bassplayer7770

For measuring string height, pickup height, relief, etc., I've found this String Action Gauge from Stew Mac to be a very helpful tool.

THIS! in conjunction with this

http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Player-.../dp/0879309210

has helped me set up my basses and play great with low action as long as frets are good.

[PBass101]

The only setup work I don't know how to do yet is fretwork.

Yet.

I've found that even the "pro" guys who work on the gear of "the pros" can never get a setup exactly the way I want them to, even if I write down my desired specs on a damn piece of paper and hand it to them.

[CapnSev]

Originally Posted by Benjamin Strange

There are some points that need to be made here:

1. Having the correct tools to do the job properly is essential. Radius gauges, a strobe tuner, nut files, etc. are pretty much required if you want to get your bass anywhere close to being right.

2. Almost every instrument coming out of any sizable manufacturer generally needs some level of fretwork (yes, even the Pleked ones). It takes about 2-3 hours for a competent tech to do a fret level and dress (including setup) with a properly built neck jig - this would be suicide for any manufacturer to do to every instrument they make. They simply can't afford to take the time to make sure ever instrument is perfect. If your frets are uneven (most are), then your setup will be compromised.

3. Doing a setup is a sequential process. Neck first, then nut, then bridge, then intonation. Doing it out of order simply won't work, and you'll compromise the integrity of the previous step. Even a pro that's been doing setups every day for years will still take about an hour to do it right.

I agree with you on some of these points, but not all of them.

I own the tools to do a whole technical setup (minus the strobe tuner maybe), but I can say that I never use them on my basses. I always do my my setups 100% by eyeballs and feel, and if the bass is good enough quality, I can get them dead on (for me anyway).

I don't necessarily think that almost every production bass needs fretwork either. The last few I've owned have had some pretty ridiculously low action (buzz-free) with any fretwork at all, current basses included.