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Do you setup your bass?

Who does the setup on your bass?

  • I set-up my own bass

    Votes: 275 88.1%

  • I take my bass to someone else

    Votes: 26 8.3%

  • I feed my bass carrots until it's just right

    Votes: 11 3.5%
  • Total voters
    312
#21
It sickens me to think of how much ive paid over the years for setups. I rarely got what I was looking for - crazy low action everywhere on the neck. Now I do my own setups. Need some tools and some knowledge and some practice. Its pretty easy once u understand the principles
 
#23
Art Araya said:
It sickens me to think of how much ive paid over the years for setups. I rarely got what I was looking for - crazy low action everywhere on the neck. Now I do my own setups. Need some tools and some knowledge and some practice. Its pretty easy once u understand the principles
Click to expand...

I need to get a couple tools. All I had for measuring was measuring tape :smug: I pretty much eyeballed the truss rod adjustment and then got the string height as close as I could with the measuring tape :help: After I got that basic/average setup and got the intonation right, I fiddled. If I can get a feeler gauge and an accurate ruler/scale then I'll be able to do it much quicker. I got a feel for the adjusting the saddle height to get the feel I like.
 
#24
mcnach said:
A few times a week? Really?
Click to expand...

Yeah, it takes about 2 seconds to adjust the action and a minute to get the intonation nearly perfect on my main player. I have to deal with drastic temperature changes depending on where I play, if I take my bass perfectly set up from my temperature controlled practice space to a hot bar gig or a friend's freezing garage I usually end up pulling out a flat-head screwdriver and dialing my action up or down a notch.
 
#25
Splintered Skul said:
I need to get a couple tools. All I had for measuring was measuring tape :smug: I pretty much eyeballed the truss rod adjustment and then got the string height as close as I could with the measuring tape :help: After I got that basic/average setup and got the intonation right, I fiddled. If I can get a feeler gauge and an accurate ruler/scale then I'll be able to do it much quicker. I got a feel for the adjusting the saddle height to get the feel I like.
Click to expand...

I use a digital caliper. Was $8 on Amazon when I bought it. When adjusting the truss, I give it just enough relief so that I can see a sliver of light between the string and fret.
 
#26
I do my own, an I'm happier for it. I paid a tech a couple of times when I first started out, but after watching how it was done, I just started doing it myself. I don't mess with the frets or nut, and I've only dabbled a couple of times with soldering, but really, it isn't rocket surgery. And after seeing some of the things that fellow tb'ers successfully tackle on their axes, a setup isn't that bad!
 
#29
I have mine done by a local shop but the guy who does mine is a Bass player and playes in several bands and has for years and knows how I like mine setup. if there is a problem all I have to do is take it back and he will adjust it for me. I do all of my own electrical work he just does the setups and adjustments and also sells me all my strings for cost and pretty much any other accessories I want. I don't have to worry to much about him with my insturments he handles them with kid gloves I think last count I actually have more Bass's and guitars than him. LOL
 
#32
I do my own setup. My bass plays the way I like it. Don't think I'm a pro at it but I've done everything from truss rod, saddle, bridge and nut adjustments regularly. I taught myself from YouTube vids and asking questions from techs and the like. It's fun for me. I would like to go and get my main go to, an ibanez ATK 300, set up by a pro one of these days and see if it's a lot different from what I do to it. I bet I would be able to tell a difference. Again, I'm no pro, but I like to think I'm pretty decent at it.
 
#33
I took my jazz bass to this respected guitar shop by my house and all they did to "set it up" was lower the saddles to make it look like the action was low. It was unplayable and I wasn't mad, but I was humored that someone could do that and think that I would pay them for it.
 
#35
Started teaching myself on a cheap CL bass, bought the tools and went at it. I've done fret levelings twice, and learned more each time. I'll do a better job next time I'm sure, but have had no major problems.

I like knowing how things are done- I can make adjustments or repairs as needed. No need to wait to get to a shop.

But I do wish I could chat with a pro a bit- lots to learn still.
 
#38
Never gone to a luthier or shop for setups or minor maintenance-modifications.

I even substitute nuts, polish frets, electronics and other minor things.

If you learn how to set up the instrument, it will be easier to find the right setting that allows your body and playing style to reach the max.

I can't figure to play an entire life with a generic setup. The setup is made for me, for my technique, my touch, my taste, and, in the process, I learned some very unique things that some could miss.

How does it change with a more or less bowed neck?

How much importance resides in the pickup height?

can I play better using a custom string spacing?

the correct string "radius" is important?

Does it apport some advantages to rebuild the stock electronics an wiring with better components?

A copper shielding and "cage" with single coil basses is preferable?

Well. I only put questions, answers are likely to start a sterile debate. You have to spend some time and effort to try for yourself to gain a valuable opinion. It remains an opinion, but my friends, whose instruments I care for, seem to be enthusiast when they finally, after some time, put their hands on their instrument again and find it has changed so much without any visible change...
 
#39
I've done almost all of my own setups on my many guitars for years.

NUT HEIGHT is very important...get it right first.

I agree on getting some very reasonably priced but decent quality instruments to start with....this way, once the instrument is set up and plays well it is much easier to sell.
 
#40
DavidEdenAria said:
I've done almost all of my own setups on my many guitars for years.

NUT HEIGHT is very important...get it right first.

I agree on getting some very reasonably priced but decent quality instruments to start with....this way, once the instrument is set up and plays well it is much easier to sell.
Click to expand...

This was part of the setup that was never right. Low action higher up the neck but not in the lower positions.

Ive got adjustable nuts on all my basses so I can adjust this end of the bass as easily as the bridge saddles. Filing the nut is just too permanent.
 

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