About string action of Neck-Thru Bass

[Winton_Wong]

Hello, everyone. I've encountered a tricky problem.
My bass model is StingRay 3 EQ HH, its neck is already straightened, and the action at the 12th fret of the 4th string is 2.4mm. It feels a bit too high for me. The bridge saddle for the 4th string is already at its lowest position. I originally planned to add a shim at the neck joint to adjust the string height, but I found that the neck of my bass is non-removable.
In this situation, are there any other ways to fix the issue of high string action?

 

[MPU]

You can file the string slots on the saddles a bit lower.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

A straight neck is not the goal. You want the neck and bridge adjusted to give you the string height you prefer without fret buzz. Read up on guitar / bass setups.
There’s a great explanation in the Thunderbird wiki on this site although the bridge details won’t apply.

 

[ardgedee]

You can file the string slots on the saddles a bit lower.

and/or file down the undersides of the saddles.

 

[Winton_Wong]

You can file the string slots on the saddles a bit lower.

Wow, I was just thinking the same thing, I think I need to have a professional take a look at this. Thanks!

 

[Yahboy]

and/or file down the undersides of the saddles.

This is the best solution.

My Charvel Pro Mod PJ bridge saddle also can't set the E string action down to 1.65mm@ 17th fret check point. Since it is brass matetial on saddle, it allow me easily file the saddle slot deeper .

 

[Winton_Wong]

This is the best solution.

My Charvel Pro Mod PJ bridge saddle also can't set the E string action down to 1.65mm@ 17th fret check point. Since it is brass matetial on saddle, it allow me easily file the saddle slot deeper .

View attachment 7315237

That's a great idea! I hadn't thought of that approach. I'm going to take it to a professional to get it adjusted tomorrow.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Have him check the nut slot heights while he's at it, probably fine, but he'll let you know as part of a general setup.

 

[Zooberwerx]

You can file the string slots on the saddles a bit lower.

That would be my first recommendation...deepen / re-shape the saddle slots. A few swipes of the file should suffice. Caveat: it's not reversible but the saddles can always be replaced.

Riis

 

[ardgedee]

Caveat: it's not reversible but the saddles can always be replaced.

...the saddles can always be raised if needed and for a neck-through or set-neck bass I doubt they'll ever have to be raised so high you'll wish the slots were shallower. With a bolt-on it's always possible that a replacement neck will be thicker and need the bridge raised quite a bit.

 

[Bob Coldwell]

You have a neck-through Stingray???

 

[mikezimmerman]

You have a neck-through Stingray???

StingRay Through Neck

The StingRay neck through series offers many of the same great features as its bolt on predecessors with more resonant construction and superior high register fret access. The neck through basses feature a 3 piece maple neck through ash body with a rosewood fretboard for plenty of sustain and a...

www.music-man.com

 

[MidlifeBeginner]

Bridge saddle filing others proposed is the easiest.

Other option is routing out a little bit under the bridge to lower the entire bridge.

 

[micguy]

Some bridges have bigger diameter bridge saddles (which leads to this very problem) - yours looks like one of those. You can either get smaller diameter saddles, or file the underside of the ones you have.

 

[Bob Coldwell]

StingRay Through Neck

The StingRay neck through series offers many of the same great features as its bolt on predecessors with more resonant construction and superior high register fret access. The neck through basses feature a 3 piece maple neck through ash body with a rosewood fretboard for plenty of sustain and a...

www.music-man.com

Wow! I never knew EBMM made any neck-throughs.

 

[J Wilson]

I would take this to an experienced and veteran guitar tech before I 'd go any further. Except for extremely rare cases, a dead-straight neck is not playable for most bassists, and owning a bass and then discovering later it's a neck through is not confidence inspiring.

 

[JIO]

You also need to consider the nut. There are a few approaches, but I've found that when fretting the 3rd fret of each string, the string should be just above the 1st fret. I use a post-it-note sheet to check on tolerances. It should just grab slipping between the string & fret.

 

[Loring]

You say the neck was straightened. Was this under tension? What is the relief measurement when your instrument is in tune…

 

[Lownote38]

Yeah. Are you sure that neck is straight? It's hard to believe that the geometry could be that far off!

 

[eniac]

1. Are you the first owner? If so, when did you buy it?

2. Has the problem been there all along or is it a recent one? If a recent one, was there something done to the instrument that might have caused the problem?

3. You say the neck is "already straightened". Who did that, and was it done by someone who knows how to do the process correctly? Was the adjustment to correct a bow, or to correct a hump?

4. Under good strong lighting, sight down the fretboard from the headstock toward the bridge. Does it look perfectly flat or is there a bow in it?