Set up now or later ?

[panos79]

Hello all ,
i got myself a Cort Evl bass last summer and I practiced on it a lot .
The guy from the store i got it told me to go there in Octomber ( 2010 that is :P ) to set it up and maybe change the strings .
Due to family matters ( fathers health issues , got married , wife got pregnant etc ) I hadnt had the time or the energy to keep practicing since then .
I recently start over again and i `d like to ask you should i go get it up set it up right now or play for a few weeks remember the little i learned and then got it set up ? It s been sitting in a soft case since then and it seems ok thow i m not experienced enough to be certain .

Thanks a lot for your time ,

Panos .

[testing1two]

Your practice will be more productive and enjoyable if the bass is set up properly.

[JLS]

Originally Posted by testing1two

Your practice will be more productive and enjoyable if the bass is set up properly.

Absolutely!

[darkstorm]

Doing action setup and pup setup for best sound should be the 2nd thing you do with a bass when you get it. The first thing is checking for any loose screws and nuts. Yes get it setup if your not doing your own. It will play better and sound better.

[panos79]

Goodevening ,
I talked to the shop i got the bass and i will be droping it off tomorrow to set it up and probably change the strings . I hope things will get better than last year and i ll be able to play more and keep playing .

Thank you all for your help ,

Panos .

[john grey]

You may want to give them some in-put as to how and what you play and what you feel comfortable with. A "setup" is somewhat of an ambiguous term in that some folks like higher or lower action (some to an extreme). Some people have a much lighter faster touch and styles of playing have an impact on what a good setup means for you. Certain issues are mandatory such as intonation & appropriate pick-up height. But other areas have room for your personal fit and feel.
An example would be a guy who plays riffs, songs, & practices moving to a faster & faster tempo. Or a guy who really concentrates on Slap or using a pick. A guy who very rarely plays in the higher octaves yet plays aggressively in the wider fret-level. We could go on and on.

This issues can be contributory to a setup that yields a more comfortable instrument. So taking some time and thinking through what you intend on practicing, where you want to go w/ your playing and communicating that to the guy who sets-up your instrument may pay off big-time when you take it home.

[panos79]

Originally Posted by john grey

You may want to give them some in-put as to how and what you play and what you feel comfortable with. A "setup" is somewhat of an ambiguous term in that some folks like higher or lower action (some to an extreme). Some people have a much lighter faster tough and styles of playing have an impact on what a good setup means for you.
An example would be a guy who plays riffs, songs, & practices moving to a faster tempo. A guy who really concentrates on Slap or using a pick. A guy who very rarely plays in the higher octaves yet plays aggressively in the wider fret-level.

This issues can be contributory to a setup that yields a more comfortable instrument. So taking some time and thinking through what you intend on practicing, where you want to go w/ your playing and communicating that to the guy who sets-up your instrument may pay off big-time when you take it home.

Well i have little to no experience to be honest and i dont have a `musical` ear ( i mean to understand and be able to play a song or a part of it just by listening to it ) .
When i said i practiced a lot i meant that i was trying to `unstif` my left hand and i tried to play some chords and a couple of songs .
I managed to reach to a level that at least i could say that my playing reminded the songs . So nothing special .
I d like to learn to play just for my self ( i like mainly rock and metal ) i dont have the ambition to be the super bass player .
I suppose the only think i could tell the man is that i m clumsy and i m probably applying more force than nessacery to both the strings and the fretboard :P .

Once again thanks a lot for your time and your valuable info and advices .

Panos .

[john grey]

I believe I understand: I would expect that you only address that which you feel comfortable with. Many people lower their action in their setup (as an example) because it takes a bit less pressure to fret a clean note.
Picture what you do AND think of where you my want to explore in the future. Many people have found satisfaction in a simple "middle of the road" action height. This allows marginally less demand for fret consistency & with some relief on the neck - allows the neck to be less sensitive to climatic changes & string alterations.
But a conversation beforehand will give you more background for future use & answer many questions prior to commitment of a larger scale alteration.

[panos79]

Originally Posted by john grey

I believe I understand: I would expect that you only address that which you feel comfortable with. Many people lower their action in their setup (as an example) because it takes a bit less pressure to fret a clean note.
Picture what you do AND think of where you my want to explore in the future. Many people have found satisfaction in a simple "middle of the road" action height. This allows marginally less demand for fret consistency & with some relief on the neck - allows the neck to be less sensitive to climatic changes & string alterations.
But a conversation beforehand will give you more background for future use & answer many questions prior to commitment of a larger scale alteration.

I will certainly talk with them i hope that the guy that sold me the bass will be there .
I visited the shop 4-5 times before i decided and each time he was willing to answer my questions , didnt try to sold something expensive ( actually he showed me many cheaper basses ) he only said it would be better to get an 80 watt amp combo than a 30 because it would be very quiet . He even gave me a couple of hours lesson when i finally got the bass.

[john grey]

He sounds like an ethical guy. I think you'll have a rewarding experience. I also practice through a 70 watt amp & I think what he said was appropriate. If (& when) you play in a band you can think about "horsepower'.
One of the toughest things for people to do is practice rather than attempt to get a "perfect bass". No such thing will exist. But if it feels comfortable for you; you'll devote yourself to playing consistently and not seeking out problems (which in the end makes many people dissatisfied with most anything).
Once you're comfortable with the instrument, you will focus on making music rather than making an object into a better one.
Many people find the rewards come from playing. The technicalities are only a method of making you more comfortable. I have owned a great many musical instruments and could find fault with any of them.
Good luck & have fun.

[panos79]

Originally Posted by john grey

He sounds like an ethical guy. I think you'll have a rewarding experience. I also practice through a 70 watt amp & I think what he said was appropriate. If (& when) you play in a band you can think about "horsepower'.
One of the toughest things for people to do is practice rather than attempt to get a "perfect bass". No such thing will exist. But if it feels comfortable for you; you'll devote yourself to playing consistently and not seeking out problems (which in the end makes many people dissatisfied with most anything).
Once you're comfortable with the instrument, you will focus on making music rather than making an object into a better one.
Many people find the rewards come from playing. The technicalities are only a method of making you more comfortable. I have owned a great many musical instruments and could find fault with any of them.
Good luck & have fun.

The bold is the reason i got the ev(i)l . Since i had no idea about different woods , pick ups etc the only two things i could do were to check the finish for obvious faults and check out the `comfyness` of the basses . I was between evl and a squier vintage mod jazz bass .
As for the first ( band ) i first must practise a lot then find the time and money to get some lessons ( cant afford mostly the time right now ) and then we ll see .

Thanks again for being so nice and helpfull it s a rare think nowdays . . .

Panos .