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05-24-2009, 05:54 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA | | | Musicman Issue: Can not lower saddles enough.
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Hello.
I have an SR5. I have the neck relief set almost flat(1/3 a credit card thickness). I have the B string saddle all the way down to the bridge and the bass still has higher action that I would like. Most people that pick it up remark that it has high action. I don't have the tools to sand down the B string saddle. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Jonathan |
05-24-2009, 06:27 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Seweracuse, NY | | | Time to shim... that'll give you the room to raise the saddles and get a lower action all at the same time.
__________________ fEARful: for those who want something better: http://greenboy.us/fEARful/ For Sale (locally only): Bergantino HT115 with Cover: $500.00. PM me about it.
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05-24-2009, 06:28 PM
|  | Supporting Curmudgeon Moderator | | Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Suburban Chicago, IL | | | +1
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Ken
If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to serve as a horrible warning.
As I cuddled the porcupine he said I had none to blame, but me. |
05-24-2009, 06:30 PM
|  | Four on the floor | | Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: US Midwest | | | +2 You need a neck shim. The body pocket and the neck aren't perfectly aligned. Rare for a Music Man but not a big deal. I you don't want to take it on yourself, pay a professional $75 or so to give it a professional setup. You'll be rock solid in no time.
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05-24-2009, 06:32 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Seweracuse, NY | | Quote:
Originally Posted by pringlw  +2 You need a neck shim. The body pocket and the neck aren't perfectly aligned. Rare for a Music Man but not a big deal. I you don't want to take it on yourself, pay a professional $75 or so to give it a professional setup. You'll be rock solid in no time. | He's an engineer...he should be able to handle it with no sweat. 
__________________ fEARful: for those who want something better: http://greenboy.us/fEARful/ For Sale (locally only): Bergantino HT115 with Cover: $500.00. PM me about it.
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05-24-2009, 06:35 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA | | | I was hoping to avoid that. It seems like my only option. Anyone know of any aftermarket saddles that are shorter?
I don;t like seeing that gap that a shim leaves. The way I see it is that the B saddle is made for a string that is tapper wound. My Chromes are not taper wound. I wil go ahead ad drill/cut a shim tonight. I have cut many, just didn't want to.
Last edited by JonathanD : 05-24-2009 at 06:37 PM.
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05-24-2009, 06:38 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by BurningSkies He's an engineer...he should be able to handle it with no sweat. |  |
05-24-2009, 06:43 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Seweracuse, NY | | Quote:
Originally Posted by JonathanD I was hoping to avoid that. It seems like my only option. Anyone know of any aftermarket saddles that are shorter?
I don;t like seeing that gap that a shim leaves. The way I see it is that the B saddle is made for a string that is tapper wound. My Chromes are not taper wound. I wil go ahead ad drill/cut a shim tonight. I have cut many, just didn't want to. |
Ummm... that's why you should seek out a full-contact-full pocket shim. I know that some luthiers will make them for their basses, so there's no gap. You should be able to find one, or someone willing to make one for you. Basically its a very narrow wedge that has the same shape as the neck pocket.
__________________ fEARful: for those who want something better: http://greenboy.us/fEARful/ For Sale (locally only): Bergantino HT115 with Cover: $500.00. PM me about it.
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05-24-2009, 06:45 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Halifax, NS, Canada | | | I don't see how a shim leaves a gap, unless there's a colour difference betwee the exposed & unexposed portions of the neck.
BTW, LOVE your avatar image! |
05-24-2009, 06:50 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Seweracuse, NY | | Quote:
Originally Posted by JustDavid I don't see how a shim leaves a gap, unless there's a colour difference betwee the exposed & unexposed portions of the neck.
BTW, LOVE your avatar image! | It doesn't really leave a visible gap...but it does raise the heel enough that you're not getting full contact from the neck pocket and the back of the neck heel. I've had them in basses and I personally can't tell a difference in sustain or tone
__________________ fEARful: for those who want something better: http://greenboy.us/fEARful/ For Sale (locally only): Bergantino HT115 with Cover: $500.00. PM me about it.
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05-24-2009, 06:51 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by BurningSkies Ummm... that's why you should seek out a full-contact-full pocket shim. I know that some luthiers will make them for their basses, so there's no gap. You should be able to find one, or someone willing to make one for you. Basically its a very narrow wedge that has the same shape as the neck pocket. | I understand. It never matches the neck perfectly(color). In that gap it provides I can still see it. I have shimmed many a neck  |
05-24-2009, 06:58 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Halifax, NS, Canada | | | Thanks Burning. I was 'seeing' just a chunk of shim in the bridge-ward part of the pocket. |
05-25-2009, 08:22 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: D'Shaw | | Quote:
Originally Posted by JonathanD I was hoping to avoid that. It seems like my only option. Anyone know of any aftermarket saddles that are shorter?
../The way I see it is that the B saddle is made for a string that is tapper wound. My Chromes are not taper wound. | Why not just widen/deepen the saddle groove to fit the string?
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05-26-2009, 08:14 AM
| | Pat's the best! | | Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Northern Virginia, USA | |
Quote:
Originally Posted by mongo2 Why not just widen/deepen the saddle groove to fit the string? | Because shimming is much easier and much less invasive to the bass. |
05-26-2009, 08:35 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Syracuse, NY | | If he was going to replace the saddles then I dont see why he wouldn't file them down... Quote:
Originally Posted by Philbiker Because shimming is much easier and much less invasive to the bass. | |
05-26-2009, 06:17 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Loughborough | | | As everyone else says...
shim shim shim shim shim shim shim shim shim shim shim
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05-28-2009, 12:30 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Austin TX | | | I'd say no to lower saddles. Once they're down that far they're not getting a lot of string tension which could lead to bridge buzzing and/or loss of sustain. The last bass I just bought came like that and will be shimmed hopefully by this weekend. Also I hate having the adjustment screws stick out of the tops of the saddles.
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Originally Posted by Reaper Man is one black? we all know black growls more | |
05-29-2009, 06:02 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: D'Shaw | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Philbiker Because shimming is much easier and much less invasive to the bass. | The OP doesn't want to use a shim. Hence my response.
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"It's a Crapshoot." The timbre is in the timber. It's a poor craftsman that blames his tools.
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05-30-2009, 12:00 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Dacula, GA | | | +1 to shimming.
A buisness card in the pocket of a neck has made a difference. Of course it was cut down a bit... haha.
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