Too much string tension on my Geddy

[Lakland55]

Hey everyone,

Wondering if someone might be able to give me some advice. My Fender Jazz (Geddy) has too much string tension and I'd like to perform this set up myself.

The string height at the high end of the neck (closest to the neck pocket) is more than a credit card so I'm willing to bet that a neck adjustment will also need to happen and I haven't had this bass set up in over a year (keep in mind that Tucson is a very dry/desert environment and wreaks havoc on necks so I have become accustom to performing those myself).

I've been watching a few youtube videos to familiarize myself with these procedures and have the neccessary tools to do the physical work, I'd just like to know that what I'm doing is right so I can make the bass comfortable to play again.

[groooooove]

what makes you think theres too much tention? the neck is bowing foward? the strings feel too tight for you?

[Lakland55]

The bow in the neck looks good at the 7/8th fret (pressing down at 1st and 20th, the neck has a slight curvature mid-neck) and yes, for me the strings definitely "feel" too tight (tuned standard EADG), feels like I'm having to do too much work to play anywhere on the neck.

[Vic Winters]

Try lower tension strings.

[Skitch it!]

Originally Posted by Vic Winters

Try lower tension strings.

+1 There is quite a difference between brands tension-wise, maybe try a lighter gauge too? Doesn't sound like a set-up problem from what you've related.

[mdogs]

Ya, the string tension at tuning has will not change with the neck bow adjustment. Now, if your action is off there will be a perceived change in tension because lowering it will make it easier to play. Take it to a pro with a new set of the strings you want and have him do a proper setup...

[walterw]

Originally Posted by Lakland55

The bow in the neck looks good at the 7/8th fret (pressing down at 1st and 20th, the neck has a slight curvature mid-neck)...

how"slight"?

anything more than a credit card is too much, and you might be able to get it tighter than that.

[Lakland55]

It may not be a set up problem, I have thought of trying the light gauge string to resolve the issue. I am currently using a medium gauge set of elixirs (.45 -.105) so going with a lighter gauge could resolve the issue. I'll try that first...thanks for the advice everyone.

[Chrisk-K]

What string are you using? I use 040-100 Hi-Beams on my Geddy and love the low tension and tone.

[Lakland55]

Originally Posted by walterw

how"slight"?

anything more than a credit card is too much, and you might be able to get it tighter than that.

There is more than a credit card amount of space at the bottom of the neck (again, toward the neck pocket). That was something I tried prior to my original post and that's why I thought a maybe neck adjustment (or shim) might be needed as well.

[Chrisk-K]

There is more than a credit card amount of space at the bottom of the neck (again, toward the neck pocket).

Are you saying that you can slide a credit card between the string and 8th fret while holding down the string at the 1st and 20th fret?

Then, neck relief is too big. Since you live in AZ, chances are there's too much forward bow (Dryness causes forward bow and raises action). Tighten the truss rod or better yet buy a quality humidifer. You want to keep humidity at least at 50%.

[walterw]

Originally Posted by Lakland55

There is more than a credit card amount of space at the bottom of the neck (again, toward the neck pocket).

"the bottom of the neck"?

you mean the string height at the last fret when you're not pressing down any string?

that needs to be more like 3/32", way more than a credit card!

the "credit card" measurement is just for relief, the distance from the string to the 7th or 8th fret when holding down the string at both ends. that has to be right before you can make any other adjustments.

[maturanesa]

Low the action. More height = more distance between the bridge and nut = more tension

[TrevorOfDoom]

try different strings. I use Thomastick SuperAlloy's and they have the lowest tension of any string i've played.
or if you're currently stringing through body, try stringing through the bridge. that should bring the tension down a bit.

[Lakland55]

I trust that the set up is good, maybe a year old and the credit card test the 8th fret is normal (yes, there is more space at the bottom of the neck). The three variables in this are: bridge set up (intonation & saddle height), neck bow, and strings. Bridge set up I think can be ruled out...

[JTE]

A. Neck relief. Fret at the first fret and the last fret. You want about 1/16" or less clearance between the bottom of the E string and the top of the 7th fret; my basses have about 1/32" clearance. Any more than that (and I know Fender specs them higher) is too much in my opinion, and I'm not a low action freak. This is all the truss rod is for. Set the relief correctly before you do anything else. And I wouldn't use a credit card for this- get a 6" steel machinist's ruler marked in 64ths of an inch- you can get one a real hardware store and at most "home improvement" stores for way less than five bucks.

THEN play it. You say "... there is more space at the bottom of the neck" which doesn't tell me anything. If you mean with the relief set correctly, the strings are higher above the frets at the high end of the fingerboard, around the 20th fret, then I'd start with adjusting the saddles lower. That's their purpose, to set the action. If you can't it it low enough without buzzing then you'll need to have the frets looked and look at the neck/body angle. However, the neck/body angle seldom really needs any adjustments. So look to the bridge, but get the neck relief right before you start moving other things.

The nut? It's likely to be too high, as almost no mass production factory really does it right- but it's probably acceptable and not causing real problems. You can check it by putting a capo on the first fret. If the bass is a LOT easier to play with the capo at the first fret, your nut is high enough to impact the action settings. But if it's not significantly easier with the capo, then the nut isn't the primary culprit.

John

[fat_boy]

if you are using standard gauge strings, I think you could try a lighter set (40-60-80-100)
I tried it before and just 5 less, i changed everything.