Getting the lowest action possible?

[AzzaTheBassist]

Hey,

I recently bought a Spector Legend 5 Custom bass, and I've been trying to set it up properly over the last few days. Due to the styles I play (Extreme metal, jazz and funk) I've come to the conclusion that trying to get the action as low as I can, while still having all the notes able to ring, is my best bet. I don't mind the clanky sound you get from having the strings hit the frets, but I'd like to avoid buzzing if at all possible. Any ideas on how I would go about this? Thanks!

 

[staindbass]

hi. i play the same bass as you do. for low action, the neck has to be pretty flat. on the b string, put your left hand finger on the first fret, not between, as if you are playing, directly on the fret. (we are going to use the string as a straightedge) then, take the thumb of your right hand, and put it on the fret where the neck joins the body and hold both there. now take your index finger of the right hand and reach toward the 12fret, still holding that string down with the thumb, and tap the string down towards the fret with the index finger, sensing how much space is between the string and the fret. for a flat neck, you want very little space, maybe the thickness of a guitar pick. if its too close (flat) it will buzz too much. once you have the neck truss rod adjusted, lower your bridge saddles a half turn at a time and tune up and see if it buzzes. once it starts buzzing, go back up a 1/2 turn and thats about as low as it will go.

 

[ddnidd1]

Read the Sticky at the top of this forum.

You can also check out the Gary Willis Setup Guide - its excellent.

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[BobaFret]

something more rigid like DR Low-Riders (hex core) can be helpful getting super low action.

 

[AzzaTheBassist]

Alright

I adjusted the truss rod, bridge saddles and set the intonation to where I'm happy with it.
Everything's good, except when I play my B string , I get a weird sort of piano-y chorus-y harmonic type sound.

Any ideas?

 

[Bobster]

Set a witness point on the bridge side of the nut. In other words, press down hard on each string on the first fret, as close to the nut as possible.

Then re-tune/re-intonate as needed.

That will but a better bend in the string.

All the best,

Bob

 

[fjbass78]

Alright

I adjusted the truss rod, bridge saddles and set the intonation to where I'm happy with it.
Everything's good, except when I play my B string , I get a weird sort of piano-y chorus-y harmonic type sound.

Any ideas?

maybe you need to lower the Pickup on the B string side.

 

[AzzaTheBassist]

Set a witness point on the bridge side of the nut. In other words, press down hard on each string on the first fret, as close to the nut as possible.

Then re-tune/re-intonate as needed.

That will but a better bend in the string.

All the best,

Bob

I'm probably not doing it right, but that didn't work.

maybe you need to lower the Pickup on the B string side.

I don't think so, because I hear it unplugged too.

 

[OldDirtyBassist]

I like how Billy Sheehan does fret leveling. He's got a vid about it online.

 

[Turnaround]

I don't think so, because I hear it unplugged too.

If the pickups are too close you can get a chorus effect. You will hear it unplugged too - it's the magnets affecting the vibration of the string.

 

[Rockin Mike]

Alright

I adjusted the truss rod, bridge saddles and set the intonation to where I'm happy with it.
Everything's good, except when I play my B string , I get a weird sort of piano-y chorus-y harmonic type sound.

Any ideas?

It's possible the string is twisted.
Loosen it at the tuning key until it's loose enough for the ball end to rotate freely (i.e. untwist) at the tailpiece.
Retune and see if it's not better.

 

[narud]

listen to turnaround