Mein Kampf!

[4-Bang'er]

= My struggle! or in all actuality, "My Bitch!" = Why is it I have yet to find a bass (bought my 32nd recently!) to find even 1 to have the intonation set like the Retailer and/or private seller in general almost always claims it to be? I have always had to set up every one of my 32 bass guitars....every one of them-NEW or USED! NOT 1 (to my memory over 32 years now) has had the intonation set within' acceptable range or perfection ("perfection"=obviously nigh impossible,given 99% of necks have some imperfections in the woods etc.MINUS my 2 Steinberger L-2 basses from '82-'83 of course) It's been a pain considering the variety of bridges/string sizes neck issues etc. But , I've done it every time! "sigh"

[M0ses]

Because the seller wants you to buy the bass, and they'll tell you whatever it takes.
Perfection doesn't exist, anyway, thanks to equal temperament.

[Big chicken]

umm.....you cound set it up yourself.(just an idea).

[4-Bang'er]

As U read the post-I have...I don't enjoy all the work -often tedious... which begs the question, do most players (2/3rds of my 32 basses were bought used) not hear a bass out of tune? or improperly set up? gotta wonder.

[puddin tame]

it's not really all that much work man, like 2 minutes with a screwdriver

[4-Bang'er]

U obviously have dealt with some easy to set bridges-not all are that way-+ neck/truss rod issues-not all are smooth sailing-sounds like U got lucky thus far. The point of the post is-why not be honest with the buyer? I mean seasoned players as myself expect such,but honesty and a well set bass would be a welcomed change. New basses especially, that have so called "Pros" setting them up from the Bass specialty shops/stores(6-8 of my basses were from such) should be set up right,alas obviously sent from factories never touched.

[I<34080]

Perfect for me may not be perfect for you.

[4-Bang'er]

Perhaps that may be the moral of the story?

[I<34080]

i'm a fan of summarization

[4-Bang'er]

LOL summation's good! I'm a fan actually.

[JTE]

It may very well have been set up correctly for the neck relief and action the seller likes. But after it's shipped who knows where, settles into your home's temperature and humidity, etc. , it's going to need adjustment. In 30 years of gigging and 11 years of managing a guitar store I've learned that proper set-up is very much a personal thing with no single "proper" way.

John

[neurotictim]

^ What he said. I've bought and sold dozens of basses, and the amount of "settle" varies wildly. Plus, I like my action relatively high.

[bassbenj]

Originally Posted by 4-Bang'er

U obviously have dealt with some easy to set bridges-not all are that way-+ neck/truss rod issues-not all are smooth sailing-sounds like U got lucky thus far. The point of the post is-why not be honest with the buyer? I mean seasoned players as myself expect such,but honesty and a well set bass would be a welcomed change. New basses especially, that have so called "Pros" setting them up from the Bass specialty shops/stores(6-8 of my basses were from such) should be set up right,alas obviously sent from factories never touched.

Well, I've had a new bass be perfectly set up! It was one of my SX basses from Rondo. The perfect setup made it all the way from China! Of course, the strings on it were total crap and immediately had to come off to be replaced with "real" strings...which naturally needed a new setup!

So what do you want us to say? You finally discovered you are living in the same world as the rest of us? Think of my pain. I can remember a time when at least some people actually tried to do their jobs.

So what can we say? Yeah, we hear ya. And it would be real nice if the Easter bunny still brought me candy and Santa Claus still dropped off presents for me too!

[4-Bang'er]

Originally Posted by bassbenj

Well, I've had a new bass be perfectly set up! It was one of my SX basses from Rondo. The perfect setup made it all the way from China! Of course, the strings on it were total crap and immediately had to come off to be replaced with "real" strings...which naturally needed a new setup!

So what do you want us to say? You finally discovered you are living in the same world as the rest of us? Think of my pain. I can remember a time when at least some people actually tried to do their jobs.

So what can we say? Yeah, we hear ya. And it would be real nice if the Easter bunny still brought me candy and Santa Claus still dropped off presents for me too!

I wanna hear just what U related! U suffer too! I feel so much better!

[darkstorm]

Untill quite recently there was very few people useing electronic tuners. Pitch forks, pitch pipes, and note from keyboard player keyboard. Was used for tuning first string. Then you tuned the rest by ear via fretting E string at 5 fret for A string, ect.

The little off tuning that resulted compared to perfectionist of today who uses electronic tuner. And who often couldnt tune their bass without one. Was never a problem. In fact its a well known fact among synth players, that microtonal shifts in onscillator tuning for stacking them can create very very useful musical voiceing that sounded better then haeving each oscillator in exact same tuning as the others.

Intonation adjustments likewise where done by ear via useing referance tone and resulting judgement. Unless a person has perfect pitch. Their hearing isnt going to get it absolute perfect. And not surprisingly, microtone offness isnt necc a detrement to musical sound for human ears.

Lets look at modern day most popular tuners like found in multi effects units. I can take 10 diff ones. And so can you. And none of them will absolutely agree with most of the others. I'm glad this is true actually. Cause like has been known for centuries before electricity existed, A whole slew of instruments can play together "in tune" and "copying notes" even though those various instruments are only +- a certain average percent of absolute same.

And some musicians wonder why some bands have grooving soul while others though proficient, dont. Part of the why imo, is the latter are often over technical and too preoccupied with details that dont matter.

[SurferJoe46]

Misery loves company.

[SurferJoe46]

Originally Posted by darkstorm

< snip >
And some musicians wonder why some bands have grooving soul while others though proficient, dont. Part of the why imo, is the latter are often over technical and too preoccupied with details that dont matter.

The Rolling Stones f'rinstance.

They still sound like a garage band if you listen with headphones and yet they are very well accepted as a good band.

At least they are still rockin' and selling CDs.

They make recorded mistakes, wrong notes, off-meter, and off pitch all of the time and yet they are a joy to hear.

I can even hear Charlie asking for something to drink - prolly an adult beverage of some sort - on one cut on an older album.

[PJSShearer]

Originally Posted by darkstorm

Untill quite recently there was very few people useing electronic tuners. Pitch forks, pitch pipes, and note from keyboard player keyboard. Was used for tuning first string. Then you tuned the rest by ear via fretting E string at 5 fret for A string, ect.

The little off tuning that resulted compared to perfectionist of today who uses electronic tuner. And who often couldnt tune their bass without one. Was never a problem. In fact its a well known fact among synth players, that microtonal shifts in onscillator tuning for stacking them can create very very useful musical voiceing that sounded better then haeving each oscillator in exact same tuning as the others.

Intonation adjustments likewise where done by ear via useing referance tone and resulting judgement. Unless a person has perfect pitch. Their hearing isnt going to get it absolute perfect. And not surprisingly, microtone offness isnt necc a detrement to musical sound for human ears.

Lets look at modern day most popular tuners like found in multi effects units. I can take 10 diff ones. And so can you. And none of them will absolutely agree with most of the others. I'm glad this is true actually. Cause like has been known for centuries before electricity existed, A whole slew of instruments can play together "in tune" and "copying notes" even though those various instruments are only +- a certain average percent of absolute same.

And some musicians wonder why some bands have grooving soul while others though proficient, dont. Part of the why imo, is the latter are often over technical and too preoccupied with details that dont matter.

+1 - You couldn't have put it any better.!!

[Bubba Ghanoosh]

Originally Posted by 4-Bang'er

... which begs the question, do most players (2/3rds of my 32 basses were bought used) not hear a bass out of tune? or improperly set up? gotta wonder.

When I started, I played for a few years (live, too) before I knew about intonation (sigh).

Now, of course, I can set up everything on my own.

[4-Bang'er]

Originally Posted by Bubba Ghanoosh

When I started, I played for a few years (live, too) before I knew about intonation (sigh).

Now, of course, I can set up everything on my own.

I hear ya, but U have to admit it's a pain in the ass-period.