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Bass Setup - Who Does Their Own?

Bass Setup - Who Does Their Own

  • I have a luthier do my bass setup.

    Votes: 43 6.4%

  • I do my own.

    Votes: 604 90.3%

  • Carrots.

    Votes: 22 3.3%
  • Total voters
    669
#141
BostonJazz72 said:
Is it possible to self learn bass setup and maintenance?
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Yes

BostonJazz72 said:
If so - how?
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Lots of YouTube and experience.

Like many on TB I have a few basses, and having someone else work in them is cost prohibitive. I am constantly tweaking my setup for different things, so doing it myself makes the most sense. There is also the fact that only I know what feels right to me.
It isn't for everyone. The set ups on used bassed at stores illustrate that just setting the bridge saddles is beyond some people's abilities. Including the store staff.
 
#143
rocket-surgery.jpg
 
#145
I do my own. It takes basic mechanical skills and a few small tools. It takes a while to learn as well as patients to perform. It takes a good knowledge of the design, physics, and components of the instrument. There are many good books on the subject and the internet is also a great resource.
It doesn't take very long to master and in addition to being rewarded by not having to pay someone to do it for you, you will also be rewarded in the confidence of knowing your instrument intimately enough to trust that it will serve without distracting failures.
 
#147
BostonJazz72 said:
Is it possible to self learn bass setup and maintenance? If so - how? I want to learn how to do basic setup like trust rod adjustments, etc. What essential tools do I need? What books/videos can be recommended?

I am in Chicago and there is a shop called 'Chicago School of Guitar Making' that offers the following course:

Guitar Set-Up & Maintenance - Chicago Workshops - Specimen Products

Has anyone taken this?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Scottsbasslessons.com has a comprehensive course. You can sign up for a 14-day free trial. Goes through the whole process with a respected luthier, and it's video so you can see what he's doing.

Just signed up myself a couple weeks ago, wanted to learn some of the same things. I've watched some YouTube vids, but none as complete or good as that.

Hope I'm not breaking any rules with the info up there, no affiliation or anything, just found it to be a super helpful resource.

Biggest thing is take it slow, use the exact fitting hex wrenches, etc (gonna be a big job if you strip the truss rod hex), and leave yourself plenty of time to do the job. It's not hard, but if you rush it you can make it a lot harder on yourself.

Anyway hope it helps.
 
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#149
friskinator said:
I've tried a million times to understand how setups work. I've watched videos, read tutorials, and I even took a class on how to do it. I still don't understand how the truss rod works. Every time I try to to sight down the neck, I cannot see what I'm supposed to be looking for. So until I can grasp it, someone else will be doing my setups.

However, i can change strings, tune accurately, set string height at the bridge, and set intonation. I'm just still in the dark on how to safely and accurately adjust the truss in conjunction with the rest of it.
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just get a capo ($5 elastic strap type) and feeler gauge set ($5 cheapo at WallyDepot). Capo first fret, finger 17th fret, gauge 7th fret.
Personally, I use .012, .013, .014.
.012- slide in freely without touching string
.014- slide in with no chance of missing string
.013- slides in and just barely avoids touching string
 
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#150
Do it. Learning basic set up and maintenance is indispensable. You'll save yourself money and it's not that difficult. I do basic setups for my gear, but I take it to a qualified tech person when I have a bigger problem that's out of my range of knowledge.
 
#152
I went years without setting up my basses because I was scared I'd mess up my bass forever, and I didn't go to a luthier either because that costs money. Eventually I buckled down and watched a ton of Youtube videos, confirmed that there is really no "correct" way to do things, as long as you're careful and aware of the affects your actions have on the bass. I bought an Ernie Ball tool kit for like $35 and I've been using that ever since. Fast forward to now and I'm taking a woodworking class– going to make myself learn how to build a bass!

Save yourself a ton of money and set up your own bass! You can't mess it up that bad.
 
#153
I too cannot recommend Dan Erlewine's books and tutorials enough, they were invaluable to me, especially the already-mentioned 'Guitar Player's Repair Guide'. And there's LOTS of vids in YouTube and other online destinations.

I prefer to use the feeler gauges and rulers as this gives me a set of numbers (relief, height over the last fret, pickup clearance, etc.) that are repeatable: In this way, I can always return a given bass to exactly the same feel, and I use the rulers as my eyes aren't good enough to see a difference of millimeters or a tiny fraction of an inch.

I'll also say that once you get used to the feel, over time as gravity and humidity and tension work on an instrument, you'll feel any real change in your setup and you'll then be able to feel it when you get it back. And you'll find that some basses have extremely stable necks (more often than not) and you will find some 'flexible flyers' that will require more attention more often, it's just the 'wood lottery' involved in instrument making.

And you'll learn what YOU can handle, and when it's time to take it to a professional. Not everyone is as fortunate as I am in Nashville to have many, very qualified techs, so . . . . . wherever you are, find the guy that all the real players who depend on their instruments to make a living use, keep your mouth shut and your ears open and you may be able to make a relationship where you can learn a lot. There's nothing better than a real guitar tech that can handle your axe properly, and there's lots of them out there. Bring doughnuts !
 
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#156
I wish there was a "both" option. For the regular, between gigs and string changes, I'll do my own setups.

Every now and again, I'll take a bass in to a luthier that I know really well to have it done by them. Because, as good as I can dial in my bass for me, having a guy whose main job IS setting up instruments makes a difference.
 
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#157
I've also had to shim my Spector Legend Classic and G&L Tribute Kiloton. Made me nervous but I'm happy with the results.
For any of this stuff just use common sense, have a nice work space to keep things organized and tidy, give yourself plenty of time so you're not pressured and rushing it, make sure you have all of the PROPER (ex. using a wrench as a hammer is going to make a mess of the wrench and what you're hammering) tools, think everything through before you do any adjustments or disassembly/reassembly.
 
#158
BOOG said:
just get a capo ($5 elastic strap type) and feeler gauge set ($5 cheapo at WallyDepot). Capo first fret, finger 17th fret, gauge 7th fret.
Personally, I use .012, .013, .014.
.012- slide in freely without touching string
.014- slide in with no chance of missing string
.013- slides in and just barely avoids touching string
Click to expand...

I'm not quite sure what this is telling me.
 
#159
On my backup bass I'll do everything. However, on my Rick, I'll have a luthier do the setup. I'm not trying to shag with two truss rods. I could learn, but I'd rather have the professional do it since I rarely need to do it anyway.
 

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