Newly redone bass, strings not quite right

Artemiis · #1 08-10-2010, 04:23 PM

Well, I figured since I couldn't find anything else online, and no one had solutions for me around here, I'd come here. Hopefully I'm in the right area, I apologize greatly if I'm not.

I have recently stripped my bass body down, and repainted it, refinished it. I also did some redoing to the BACK of the neck. Finally, I went to put it back together, and restring it. Theres where the issue lies.

While restringing it, I have found since putting it back together, that along the 4-8th frets(On occasion, the 1-4th ones) it lays tight to the metal dividers between the frets, even when in standard tuning, and any other tuning. They press against the metal bars, no matter the situation.

Is there any situations to fix this, so I can keep my bass with its new doings? The only thing I did, was do up a new paintjob.

Again...I apologize if this isn't in the right spot, I just didn't see anywhere else I could fit this...

Kipaste · #2 08-10-2010, 04:30 PM

I'd guess that your neck has straightened itself a bit during this operation since it hasn't had any tension on it. If you're using the same string gauge, I'd give it a day or two so the neck has time to adjust to the tension. If that doesn't help, I'd start by loosening the truss rod a bit to get more relief and maybe raise the string saddles a bit. Then fine tune it to achieve good playability.

By the way, those metal bars are called frets. The space between them is just plain old fingerboard..

Artemiis · #3 08-10-2010, 04:35 PM

Well, thanks. I'll see what happens. As to the fail of my naming the frets, I'm just a tad bit upset and worried, so I'm not thinking entirely straight. Thank you once more, though.

mikeyswood · #4 08-10-2010, 04:53 PM

Did you also relevel the frets after working the neck?

Artemiis · #5 08-10-2010, 05:37 PM

Well now. Didn't think of that, perhaps because I'm a tad novice to the process of redoing instruments. So in basics, I've no idea -how- to relevel the frets...Would you be able to either brief over, or point in a direction to learn? Sorry.

mikeyswood · #6 08-10-2010, 06:33 PM

Relieve the string/truss tension and take a straight edge wrapped with ~320 sandpaper across the frets, then crown and polish.

There is probably something in the stickies about this.