Need Advise Setting Up Action

[Robert Spencer]

I just received a Dean bass today to be used as my backup. It was purchased here form the Basses For Sale forum.
I was attracted to it because the claim was that it had been set up by a professional ( and bass player).
When I opened the undamaged box and began to play I discoverd that there was nothing above the fifth fret (to the nut). I have spent the day trying to get it to play. It will register on my tuner in the twelth fret but not open string. I tried placing a clip of string in the nut groove as a shim but it did not change anything.
I`m hoping that someone will be so kind as to walk me through the procedure of setting up the action so as to get notes from all strings in at least the first twelve frets.
This is the bass as sold to me:
FS/FT: Dean Rhapsody 4 semi hollowbody
Please help I want to play this bass and not be out a substancial investment. Thanks & take care. Bob

[Aaron_D]

I discoverd that there was nothing above the fifth fret

?

[Robert Spencer]

Aaron no clear notes from any fretted strings in the first five frets. Just rattling sounds. Hope that helps. Thanks & take care. Bob

[Jim Campbell]

Originally Posted by Robert Spencer

I just received a Dean bass today to be used as my backup. It was purchased here form the Basses For Sale forum.
I was attracted to it because the claim was that it had been set up by a professional ( and bass player).
When I opened the undamaged box and began to play I discoverd that there was nothing above the fifth fret (to the nut). I have spent the day trying to get it to play. It will register on my tuner in the twelth fret but not open string. I tried placing a clip of string in the nut groove as a shim but it did not change anything.
I`m hoping that someone will be so kind as to walk me through the procedure of setting up the action so as to get notes from all strings in at least the first twelve frets.
This is the bass as sold to me:
FS/FT: Dean Rhapsody 4 semi hollowbody
Please help I want to play this bass and not be out a substancial investment. Thanks & take care. Bob

is the bridge fixed or movable.....if it's not a fixed bridge it could have been bumped forward in transit.....perhaps some close up pix of the bridge.....

[Robert Spencer]

Hi Jim. Thanks for joining in. I`m not sure about how to describe the bridge. It has fore & back adjustments for each individual string. I have moved all adjustments from all the way forward to all the way back & still nothing was gained. Its as if the bridge needs to be raised up but I don`t know if thats an option. There are two screws in it and I wonder if they are for adjusting height or for securing the bridge to the body. These are all things I am here to find out. Thanks again & take care care. Bob

[LiF]

Download this free guide. It is very easy to understand and will tell you all you need to know. http://www.jerzydrozdbasses.com/ulti...ass-setup.html

[Jim Campbell]

Originally Posted by Robert Spencer

Hi Jim. Thanks for joining in. I`m not sure about how to describe the bridge. It has fore & back adjustments for each individual string. I have moved all adjustments from all the way forward to all the way back & still nothing was gained. Its as if the bridge needs to be raised up but I don`t know if thats an option. There are two screws in it and I wonder if they are for adjusting height or for securing the bridge to the body. These are all things I am here to find out. Thanks again & take care care. Bob

likely the screws are for securing the bridge,but without seeing it i can't be sure.........have a look down the length of the neck to check if it is bowed....you might have more luck in set up/repair forum

[Robert Spencer]

I am now in the setup & repair forum as a result of having the thread moved by I assume a moderator.
I posted into the Luthiers forum because the thread I linked to in regard to the action being set up was refering to the work done by a luthier. I wanted opinions of other luthiers to confirm that the work was performed properly and the security of receiving advise from proferrional or semipros. Hop we are able to come to some conclusions here. Thanks & take care. Bob

[ajmee]

To Jim's point, it might be back-bowed. To check, go to the E string. Press down on the 1st fret with your left hand (or use a capo if you have one handy), and at the same time press on the 19th fret with your right hand's thumb. Now, with your right index finger, tap around the 8th fret - is there a space between the top of the fret and the bottom of the E-string? If it's the latter, that would indicate back-bow (which requires a truss-rod turn).

[Joshua]

It was moved to Setup & Repair because you needed advice setting up your bass. There are also plenty of pros here. The LC is generally more about builds...

And I agree with ajmee. Start by measuring the relief and let us know. The sticky thread at the top of the forum ALL BASIC SETUP QUESTIONS ANSWERED HERE has a number of excellent references for doing so.

[Robert Spencer]

ajmee I`ll make this check and let you know what I find;;;
Joshua thanks, I didn`t understand the nature of the situation. I appreciate your assistance.
Which setup guide might be nearest the Dean Rhapsody I linked to in the OP? Take care. Bob

[Robert Spencer]

OK I feel much better now. I did the back bow test by using a capo on the first fret and depressing the ninteenth to examine the clearance at the eighth. I found no clearnce at the eight but decided to twist the truss rod anyway (nothing much to lose at this point I figured). I gave it a quarter turn clockwise. That made things worse (which was encouraging ). So I then turned two quarter turns opposite & wallah. All was well .
Lesson learned, I like this forum and am almost as interested in being able to learn to set them up as I am in playing them. Thanks to those that contributed to this positive outcome. Now I must go to apologise to the seller. I suppose change of climate was responsible for the changes. Next time I`ll try not to panic. Take care. Bob