I dropped my bass and now it plays great!!

[bongostealth]

Funny thing.... I was swapping out the preamp on my bass and it was resting on its gig bag. Somewhere in the mix my cat (yes, I do own a cat. They are my favorite and my favorite thing to eat at the Chinese buffet) jumped up on it right when I was getting up and I somehow knocked the bag over. The bass then fell on its front-side (strings and bridge side) from a distance of about 3.5 feet and I heard the loud "Bam!!" Luckily, nothing happened at all to the bass.... until I played it.

I don't know what impact the fall had on it but now it plays like an absolute dream! It's now the best playing bass I've ever had and I've been playing for 20 years (not professionally) and have tried many basses.

I had previously adjusted the string height and the bridge to my liking but something was still missing. I guess all it took was a good kick-in-the-bass. (I know... bad joke)

[meatwad]

This is not how this sort of thing usually works out. Congrats!

[Mykk]

Perhaps the fall made the nut seat in or it set the string witness point. :-P

I couldn't imagine it did anything to the truss rod, although perhaps it help that adjustment seat too.

[bongostealth]

Originally Posted by Mykk

Perhaps the fall made the nut seat in or it set the string witness point. :-P

I couldn't imagine it did anything to the truss rod, although perhaps it help that adjustment seat too.

The action and string tension on it became 2x better. It's the weirdest thing. And it's a heavy bass too. It's solid Ovangkol.

What's a string witness point?

[mjac28]

I just did it to one of my jazzes didn't do anything but scratch it I'll try one of my P's next I must have to drop it from a higher point ?

-Kim Kardashian

[Wallace320]

Then jump on your bass, while it's flat on the floor...

I wouldn't do on mine, but if you like it like this

Cheers,
Wallace

[bongostealth]

Originally Posted by mjac28

I just did it to one of my jazzes didn't do anything but scratch it I'll try one of my P's next I must have to drop it from a higher point ?

-Kim Kardashian

Hey Kim Kardashian, just make sure that when you drop your bass you don't snap your g-string.

[wideload]

Now drop it twice as far for an even greater improvement! Or maybe not...

[Bassamatic]

That is so cool! There must have been something that just needed to be jarred into place. Maybe you can start a service.

[bongostealth]

Originally Posted by Bassamatic

That is so cool! There must have been something that just needed to be jarred into place. Maybe you can start a service.

"Droppin' the low end since 2012...literally"

[Wallace320]

Is this S/M bassplayin'?

Bondage bassplayin' with unholy rites involvin' cats, evil animals by definition!

the only cat I dig in...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH-rPt1ftSo

Cheers,
Wallace

[Count_Blah]

So is this the new recommended method of setup?

[Mykk]

Originally Posted by bongostealth

What's a string witness point?

What Is a Witness Point and How Do I "Set" It?

I personally tried it on my basses and thought it made the strings sound less vibrant.

[Andyman001]

+1

cat required

[bongostealth]

Originally Posted by Mykk

What Is a Witness Point and How Do I "Set" It?

I personally tried it on my basses and thought it made the strings sound less vibrant.

Thanks for the info! I will try this every time I replace my strings.

And yes, furry cats are required for dropping your bass.

[uOpt]

The nut being "adjusted" is the obvious candidate since you had already messed with the height at the bridge.

[funkytoe]

This is not the first time I have heard about something like this happening. Although its always with instruments with bolt-on necks.

I have a theory that the impact somehow allows the neck to re-set itself in the pocket (especially under tension from the strings) and results in a better aligned neck. If, I were you, I would just check all of my neck screws/bolts to ensure that they are properly tightened and that the neck was securely set in its pocket. If it plays great now, you will want to keep it that way.

Otherwise - call it serendipty. Plug it in and rock it!

[bongostealth]

Originally Posted by funkytoe

This is not the first time I have heard about something like this happening. Although its always with instruments with bolt-on necks.

I have a theory that the impact somehow allows the neck to re-set itself in the pocket (especially under tension from the strings) and results in a better aligned neck. If, I were you, I would just check all of my neck screws/bolts to ensure that they are properly tightened and that the neck was securely set in its pocket. If it plays great now, you will want to keep it that way.

Otherwise - call it serendipty. Plug it in and rock it!

You are so right! My bass is in fact a bolt-on. I will check all of the neck screws when I get home tonight. So far it plays just fine and nothing seems loose on the bass at all.

[Standalone]

placebo effect...?


or perhaps your bass has now achieved "Mojo." Be sure to mention that in any f/s ad.

[ics1974]

Originally Posted by mjac28

I just did it to one of my jazzes didn't do anything but scratch it I'll try one of my P's next I must have to drop it from a higher point ?

-Kim Kardashian

you need a cat for it to work