Got this yesterday for $65....Oscar Schmidt....

[geminiswp]

I was in San Diego for a couple of days and decided to check CL for any bass deals.

Met the guy and cleaned it up today...cleaned out the 500k pots and polished it, adjusted almost everything but I can't get enough bow into the neck...not sure if I am turning the truss rod correctly...

I am thinking of upgrading the pickups though...

I was searching for this model and still have found very little info on it.

If anyone knows what the heck I have, please let me know!

 

[jaybones]

Should be turning the nut counter clockwise to let the strings pull the headstock forward. Loosening the nut will give more back bow in the neck.

Tightening the TR (clockwise) will straighten the neck and pull the strings closer to the frets.

No idea on the model, by Oscar Schmidt is Washburn's entry level. Higher than Lyon IMO, and I've never seen a solid body bass, only OS's I've seen are acoustics.

My first bass I played was a Lyon P (stood for P.O.S.). Homed my soldering skills because every time I tried to play it a wire came loose inside. Apparently there was a shortage of wire at factory that day since there was barely enough slack to strip back and re-solder.

 

[geminiswp]

Ok will do that when I get the DR Red strings...and a new pickup...or should I wait and see how it sounds with the new strings...?

 

[punchdrunk]

That was first bass. It was a Sears brand. Loved it while I had it.

 

[Maxdusty]

Oscar Schmidt is a budget brand of Washburn along with Lyon. I had one of their guitars- I agree with jaybones above in that in that it was perhaps a step up from the Lyon brand of Washburn instruments in terms of quality.
There's a similar bass on ebay right now, it's listed as the "OWN-3" which is a typo. The model number is on the truss rod cover and it's says OEB-3 on it.
That's your model number- OEB-3. The model # on your bass may have been worn off or scratched off or possibly, the truss rod cover is a replacement?

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It's an older beginner model that was later replaced by the OB30. Slightly different headstock and no "Spirit" on it.
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There was one OEB-3 sold on TB a while back and here are the particulars:-
SOLD - 1990 Oscar Schmidt OEB-3 Precision style bass

 

[Maxdusty]

Ok will do that when I get the DR Red strings...and a new pickup...or should I wait and see how it sounds with the new strings...?

Before all that, you should make sure the neck can be adjusted. I would adjust the truss rod with the existing strings and see how that goes. If all is good, then do the strings and pickups, you want to make sure the neck is good. Also being an inexpensive bass, unless the neck and feel of the bass feels really nice to you, would it be worth the cost of a PU upgrade?

 

[geminiswp]

So here's the deal on the OScar Schmidt:

The e string is 11-12/64ths and the g is 9-10/64ths with the bridge saddles all the way down.

Since this is a bass for me to learn about adjusting and setups, I can use some feedback...

 

[Qlanq]

I like the look of it.
Start with a shim in the neck pocket to get the saddles up a bit. More of an angle to the neck.
Or just adjust the neck.
The sticked posts above will give you the info.

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

Oh Schmidt!
Sorry, couldn't resist.

If you got it just to learn about adjustments,
I think it may well have a few good lessons in store for you.

If the truss rod works, you should be able to get it sorted out.
It could turn out to be a great playing bass. Dunno.

The few Schmidts i have seen played well and I think you did
quite well at $65.

 

[geminiswp]

For $65.00, I get the chance to learn about this stuff...I can't mess it up too bad and if I get it to be a super duper bass, then it's well spent money...if I learn more than what I know now, it's even better spent money.

I did buy a new pickup for it, just to learn how to do that...it was only $50...next is leanring about truss rods and shims and neck angles...