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Fender Precision Set-Up. Help!

R

RyanONeal

Dec 18, 2011
9
0
#1
Hi,
I'm new to this forum but I already have a question. I recently bought a Body of a Fender Japan Reissue Precision fitted with a Seymour Duncan Antiquity Pick-up. I now added the neck of a Fender 50s Road Worn Precision. It fitted nicely in the neck pocket, so I put on some Fender String and set it up. But now I have a problem!
The neck is adjusted properly, the saddles are all the way down and my string are still really really high, almost unplayable. Between the string and the 21st neck are still about 7mm/0,27inch. I never assembled a bass or a guitar on my own and I really invested a lot of money already, so is there any way to deal with my problem?
Thank in advance!
Nick
 
#4
A neck shim will fix the issue.

Find an old credit card and cut a 1/2" inch strip off of it. Glue the strip to the neck pocket, as close to the bridge-side as you can.

This will keep the neck relief the same but will change the angle at which the neck meets the body. It should allow you to raise the saddles properly. You will have to readjust the height of the pickups though.

Do a talkbass search for "neck shim". I'm sure others can describe how to do it better than I can.
 
#6
RyanONeal said:
Hi,
I'm new to this forum but I already have a question. I recently bought a Body of a Fender Japan Reissue Precision fitted with a Seymour Duncan Antiquity Pick-up. I now added the neck of a Fender 50s Road Worn Precision. It fitted nicely in the neck pocket, so I put on some Fender String and set it up. But now I have a problem!
The neck is adjusted properly, the saddles are all the way down and my string are still really really high, almost unplayable. Between the string and the 21st neck are still about 7mm/0,27inch. I never assembled a bass or a guitar on my own and I really invested a lot of money already, so is there any way to deal with my problem?
Thank in advance!
Nick
Click to expand...

When you say "the neck is adjusted properly" what does that mean? Are you talking about the truss rod adjustment?

Sounds to me like the neck is not straight. Easiest way to check is put a put a capo on first fret, push down the E string on last fret and look at the space between the string and the fretboard. The distance between the string and frets should be relatively even except as you get closer to the 1 and last frets. Ideally, there should be about 12mm between the 8 fret and the bottom of the E string. If the distances are not even and the gap is larger at the 8th fret, the neck is bowed and you'll need to tighten the truss rod to correct.

If you've never done this before, it's not difficult but you need to be careful to make very small changes in adjustment or risk damaging the truss rod and neck. To tighten, loosen the strings and mark where the adjustment or screw is currently. Turn slowly clockwise in 1/8 - 1/4 increments. Tighten strings and remeasure after each adjustment. If it's not enough, repeat process until neck become straighter being careful not to over tighten.

Once you've got the neck straight check the height of the fretboard relative to the body. While they're both Fender PBasses, and the neck fits in the pocket it's possible the pocket depth is different. I just measured a couple of my PBasses and it's about .35 inches from top of body to top of fretboard. If the depth is correct and the neck is straight but action still not where you want it you should try the shims mentioned here. No need to glue in - pressure of neck in pocket will keep in place. If the depth is not correct, you'll want to make the shim the full size of neck pocket to raise the neck evenly. Fender setup specs call for 2.4mm from bottom of E string to top of fret, 2mm on G strings side.

Hope this helps.
 
#7
Thanks for all your answers!
What I mean by "adjusted properly" is indeed the truss rod adjustment. My other two basses are Musicman Sterling which are set up awesome. When I put a Capo on the first fret and press down on the 21st fret, the height of the string above the frets is fine, same as the Sterling.
I will measure the whole bass, depth of neck pocket etc tomorrow and post it right away. Is it a common practice to shim the neck? Btw, I don't want to take off the neck all the time because I am afraid that the wood will wear out?
Thanks!
Nick
 

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