I used to (and now I've got back in to playing, I'll be doing the same) set all my own kit up for the most part, and do whatever maintenance I can do myself, and then on a yearly basis down to my tame tech to give it the once over.
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Do you setup your bass?
- Thread starter SplinteredSkull
- Start date
Vintagefiend
I don't care for 410 cabinets at all.
not anymore - I don't have time. Drop
'em off on a Tues/Wed and my guy will have 'em ready for me to pick up late Thurs/early Fri on my way out of town.
'em off on a Tues/Wed and my guy will have 'em ready for me to pick up late Thurs/early Fri on my way out of town.
I do my own setups just because I know how I want my bass to play. I have a very skilled tech that I use for more detailed jobs like pup's, pre's, or nuts. And he is also willing to offer up advice if I am having an issue with a setup.
I can't tell you how many basses I've picked up that were totally messed up and the owner is so proud because they do all their own setup work.
I had a very good friend who did all my instrument work for years. Not only was his work top shelf, it was a chance to help out a friend so I just took my stuff to him whenever it got wonky, and I always got it back slick and ready to go. He passed some time back and I just let stuff go until I couldn't any more and broke down and took my main bass to a local tech. It was a lot more than I ever paid for a setup and when I got it back it was way higher than I was used to. I asked the tech and he said that was as low as he could set it without buzzing problems. He went on to explain that I need a fret job if I wanted any lower action. That had NEVER been a problem before so I started looking for info on setup and found the Fender guide to bass setup. I downloaded it, gathered the tools and set about working on my main player, which just happened to be a little MIM J bass. Took my time and went step by step and lo and behold, nice low action with no buzz.
I've been doing all my own setup work since then and have developed my eye to the point I can do most all the work by eye and get what I want. Everyone who plays my stuff raves about how easy it is to play and wants to know who does my work for me.
yes i do. i don't trust anyone else to do it. i showed my tech how to put on strings so it won't go out of tune, i trust him with that.
everyone should learn to do it. there are plenty of books and youtube tutorials showing how to do it. you cant ruin a bass permamantly by doing it incorrectly, so its worth a shot. my first bass (1979) was a beatle bass copy and the action was about a half inch off the fretboard at the 12th fret. i got a book from the library (guitar players handbook) and learned how to adjust it. never paid for a setup since then.
Yes, mainly because I'm too cheap to pay for something that I can do myself and I love the learning process, I also string my tennis racquets myself, install my truck gadgets on my own, made my own pedal board, etc...
I just like to do it, I remember my first bass, I was 14 maybe and I just took every piece apart and then install everything again just for the heck of it, I didn't even know what a proper set up was but I knew that maybe if I lowered those strings it would made playing easier for me, it did take me weeks to have it playing and sounding again but it was a fun experience.
I just like to do it, I remember my first bass, I was 14 maybe and I just took every piece apart and then install everything again just for the heck of it, I didn't even know what a proper set up was but I knew that maybe if I lowered those strings it would made playing easier for me, it did take me weeks to have it playing and sounding again but it was a fun experience.
Everybody starts from somewhere,and screwing up is a part of learning process. Nobody popped out of their mother's belly, knowing everything. Setting up a bass is not an open heart surgery.
Word. Even when someone else sets up a bass for me, like when I take one in for repair or when I buy one, no matter how well set up they are, I'm never satisfied and I tweak it till I am.
Although I have been playing over a year and a half, I'm still too afraid to do it myself. Hell, I only string one of them myself, not the other 2.
I have 7 basses and 5 guitars, so I can't afford to pay someone to set em all up. I don't do any measuring, but I certainly know what feels right, so I'll adjust my neck (by rod or by shim) and bridge until things feel right, and adjust pickup heights till they sound right. I'm lucky in that I have a good friend who always helps me out with anything more complex involving electronics, but that's a rare need and I think I could learn if I had to (and will likely do so when I find the time anyways).
Started doing my own setups in the 70's after spending scarce $$$ having "techs" do it.
For new-to-me basses, I set them up and then use them as "an experiment" during the last hour or so of a show. LIVE feel and sound tells me what, if anything, needs to be tweaked. My bandmates now know what I mean when I say "I brought an exeperiment tonight". I experimented Tuesday with a Hondo Longhorn and it passed(2nd show) except the pickups need to be raised a slight amount so the output matches my other basses.
PS: ALWAYS have tools to adjust truss rod and saddle height if you travel by air. We did a show in Mexico that had different climate and was at a higher elevation(than south Texas) and when we got there my action on what is a normally-stable bass had "become" high. We sound checked the night before the show so the bass got setup in my hotel room.
For new-to-me basses, I set them up and then use them as "an experiment" during the last hour or so of a show. LIVE feel and sound tells me what, if anything, needs to be tweaked. My bandmates now know what I mean when I say "I brought an exeperiment tonight". I experimented Tuesday with a Hondo Longhorn and it passed(2nd show) except the pickups need to be raised a slight amount so the output matches my other basses.
PS: ALWAYS have tools to adjust truss rod and saddle height if you travel by air. We did a show in Mexico that had different climate and was at a higher elevation(than south Texas) and when we got there my action on what is a normally-stable bass had "become" high. We sound checked the night before the show so the bass got setup in my hotel room.
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Official leathers tester and crash dummy
Most of the time, I just play 'em. After an initial setup that involves cleaning up and fixing the nut, leveling and polishing the frets, etc., I do all the adjustments. I do wiring and electronic projects on my instruments myself. I would like to think what I do is reasonably competent, but there you have it. I might be one of those infamous previous owners. Like the guy I bought my Ric from. It has taken me a while to work through the weirdness left over on that bass.
I have setup & still do setup some of my cheaper basses or basses that I have modded.
As for the main 3 basses I play?...I have "my guy" set them up, he has done it for me for nearly 20 years now, he's been there as I've experimented with sooo many brands & models, and because he's done it for so long they always come back to me perfect.
As for the main 3 basses I play?...I have "my guy" set them up, he has done it for me for nearly 20 years now, he's been there as I've experimented with sooo many brands & models, and because he's done it for so long they always come back to me perfect.
Do my own except for nuts and frets. Of course since my only instrument is a fretless ABG, half of that's no longer an issue!
But when I had electric guitars and basses, I learned setup from Dan Erlewine's "Guitar Player Repair Guide" and a little book by Richie Fliegler, "The Complete Guide to Guitar and Amp Maintenance." I believe Dan has a smaller volume available which mainly covers things like setup; check the Stew-Mac site.
A few basic items, a decent tuner, and a little patience, and you're good to go! Plus you can experiment with stuff like p.up height to your ear's content. And if you're going to experiment with various types and/or gauges of strings, knowing setup is a must- flats and rounds, for example, need different amounts of compensation, even for the same gauge strings. Makes your life so much easier to know that stuff. Cheaper, too.
It's also worth having Dan's big book if you're contemplating having serious work done that you wouldn't want to do yourself, because he gives you a pretty good idea of what's involved. That gives you some information to keep in mind when talking to potential repair-persons...
Richie's book is more succinct, plus, lots of great roadie anecdotes! Both books are mainly guitar-oriented, of course, but the principles of setup involved apply to bass as well.
If it plays right and sounds right- it IS right!
But when I had electric guitars and basses, I learned setup from Dan Erlewine's "Guitar Player Repair Guide" and a little book by Richie Fliegler, "The Complete Guide to Guitar and Amp Maintenance." I believe Dan has a smaller volume available which mainly covers things like setup; check the Stew-Mac site.
A few basic items, a decent tuner, and a little patience, and you're good to go! Plus you can experiment with stuff like p.up height to your ear's content. And if you're going to experiment with various types and/or gauges of strings, knowing setup is a must- flats and rounds, for example, need different amounts of compensation, even for the same gauge strings. Makes your life so much easier to know that stuff. Cheaper, too.
It's also worth having Dan's big book if you're contemplating having serious work done that you wouldn't want to do yourself, because he gives you a pretty good idea of what's involved. That gives you some information to keep in mind when talking to potential repair-persons...
Richie's book is more succinct, plus, lots of great roadie anecdotes! Both books are mainly guitar-oriented, of course, but the principles of setup involved apply to bass as well.
If it plays right and sounds right- it IS right!
I do my own. Since I have been using the same string set on my EBMM Sterling 5 for many years (DR Fat Beams), there's really very little I have to do other than occasional truss rod tweaks to compensate for the humidity changes here in New England. Pretty easy to keep it exactly as I like it.
However... today I set up my new Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI. Hokey smokes, Bullwinkle, what a nightmare! It took me about three hours to figure out what to do with that ridiculous bridge design in order to get the intonation and action right. I'm obviously spoiled by the bullet-proof solidity of the Sterling. I am loving the Bass VI though, as are my bandmates... perfectly twangy for a lot of songs in our set list. Plus, it's got a vibrato arm, and THAT IS FUN!
However... today I set up my new Fender Pawn Shop Bass VI. Hokey smokes, Bullwinkle, what a nightmare! It took me about three hours to figure out what to do with that ridiculous bridge design in order to get the intonation and action right. I'm obviously spoiled by the bullet-proof solidity of the Sterling. I am loving the Bass VI though, as are my bandmates... perfectly twangy for a lot of songs in our set list. Plus, it's got a vibrato arm, and THAT IS FUN!
Always did all my own for last 35 (yikes) years and and guitarist in the band that needed work. Only one I don't do myself is my Ricky which is done by Geddys luthier from his Ricky days.
I've been setting my own gear (guitars/basses-acoustic/electric) for almost 3-4 years years. Saves me money other than the tools i'm getting slowly within the progress. I have a build on back burner for now as i have no cash flowing in at the moment. So yeah, Setting up my gear just saves me from going to my local shop when i can do it all myself. I've taught myself to adjust the action, set up intonation and wire elctronics. Started when i was 16, and now i'm 20, and can do fret leveling, crowning, filing nuts will be pretty soon (on my first custom build I'll get a few just in case i screw it up). I've also been thinking about building my own bass cases. Something else to do in my spare time.
