Check to see if the neck is straight from 20th fret to the nut. Look down the neck from the nut, and from the bridge. Also check to see if it's straight on the E string side and the G string side. That will give you a foundation or starting point from which to adjust. And to see if that neck has any strange deformations.
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What exactly is the problem with the saddle heights? In other words, what is preventing you from lowering them to achieve the action height you want?
Do you mean to prevent buzzing?
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Holy crap....
Stop. Some of the setup advice in this thread is simply horrible.
Follow the link provided above. Choose a setup guide. Follow it...step by step. Don't skip steps.
Stop. Some of the setup advice in this thread is simply horrible.
Follow the link provided above. Choose a setup guide. Follow it...step by step. Don't skip steps.
Why I haven't said this before on a million other threads is beyond me, regardless, OP please do this!!!!
I have to keep the saddles too high in order to keep the buzzing at bay. What's preventing me from lowering them is the fact that if I do, it buzzes like crazy.
Looking down the neck, seems that it is still slightly concave
or if I'm trying to use my limited tech vernacular; a forward bow (?)
Okay, is there away to get a bass back to equilibrium? No matter how atrocious it might be to play, do I have to get it to a place where it can be set up properly following the links?
Cause I feel like it may be the ski jump, in which I will return it because it is not worth the hassle in my eyes. But I definitely want to try to get it to a "fully adjustable" state to try to follow the links provided perfectly before I make that decision.
Hope that made sense,
Thanks!
Cause I feel like it may be the ski jump, in which I will return it because it is not worth the hassle in my eyes. But I definitely want to try to get it to a "fully adjustable" state to try to follow the links provided perfectly before I make that decision.
Hope that made sense,
Thanks!
hmmm...well I've never had a bass where forward bow creates a dip only between the nut end and the 12th or 14th frets and no increase in string height at the body end.
Any bass I have had, forward bow tends to lift the nut end of the neck higher than the body end during the process a bit.
But that's just me. YMMV.
Maybe you've got a "soup ladle" neck...where it's offwarped at the body end and then proceeds into a middle bow that effectively cancels out the forward bow adjustment.
Any bass I have had, forward bow tends to lift the nut end of the neck higher than the body end during the process a bit.
But that's just me. YMMV.
Maybe you've got a "soup ladle" neck...where it's offwarped at the body end and then proceeds into a middle bow that effectively cancels out the forward bow adjustment.
There's no good way to diagnose bigger issues (for an amateur) without first ensuring a proper setup.
The E and G strings aren't as extreme as the A and D strung saddles, but any lower on any of them and the bass isn't playable beyond fret 12
IF this was my bass and I was setting it up, I would try to get the neck as flat as possible, try "helping" the truss rod by resting the neck against your thigh "pushing" the headstock back while trying to get another 1/4 turn from the truss rod.
then sight down the neck and see if the relief has changed any.
then sight down the neck and see if the relief has changed any.
I think it's worth asking how much do you need/want/like this bass, as well as how good of a deal did you get on it? Does the place you bought it from (if it was a music store) have a tech who will set it up at no cost because you bought a bass with issues or did you agree to buy it as-is? If it's a common bass and the shop won't work on it for you then maybe returning it and looking for another of the same model/style is the way to go.
The neck looks pretty straight from the photo. The saddles could go higher. And the action looks pretty good. If you're getting buzz on specific frets, it could be a higher fret. If you have a straight edge yard stick try placing it over the frets to see if there is a higher fret or two in the area that gives you the problem. If there is a higher fret it could be fixed.
I love the bass' tone, look, weight, scale etc. the only thing I don't like about it is the action. Didn't get a great deal but it wasn't full retail price either. It was ordered used from GC, so
don't know about the tech part. I haven't worked with the techs at my local GC yet, though. Maybe worth a shot.
