Breaking in a New Bass - Stickers, Checking for Issues, etc.

[Hypnotaize]

Hi all,

Some of you may have seen me complaining about my Bronco. It's finally been replaced, with a shiny new vintage white Deluxe Active J with a brown shell pickguard that I got at a damn good price. I was going to get an Affinity J, but they brought this up and the price wasn't too high, and I didn't have to wait for the order to come in, like I would for the Affinity.

HOWEVER. I have not had a new bass since I was seven. My parents bought me it, and they are not musicians. They did not know what to do with it.

So, I'm left with a few basic things:

1. I want to get the sticker off that says "Deluxe Active Jazz" on it. It's on the pickguard, and I would try alcohol, but I'm unsure if it will affect the pickguard or not.

2. Should I check for anything? What noises/side things are expected of a new bass? I'll be back in the music store later this week, and they'll fix anything up for free (and yes, I still do have the receipt), but I'm never quite sure if it's my fingering or the neck. I've gone a long time with some rattling tuning pegs, so I've nearly forgotten what is normal and what is my fault.

I thought there were more, but apparently not.

 

[96tbird]

Gently peel the sticker up, slowly it should come off cleanly.

Use alcohol if there is residue. Goo Gone if you have it. Guard is plastic it will be fine

Play the crap outta it. If you don't know what is good or bad already, the bad stuff isn't going to make a difference to YOU.

LEARN WHATS GOOD AND BAD, and how to fix it. Read the Jerzy Drozd setup guide: it's in the stickies at the top of this forum.

If you can't learn, sell the bass and take up electric guitar. Most of those guys can't fix their own crap either.

 

[Hopkins]

As for the sticker, if its a new bass, I would imagine it is attached to the clear protective film on the pick guard. Remove that and the sticker should come off with it. Also if its a new bass, take it and get it fully set up, including having the action set at the nut. It is worth learning your own set up, but its not worth buying nut files that you are only going to use once. It is worth every penny to have a new instrument set up.