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I read the set up sticky and still have two questions, please help me!

Discussion in 'Hardware, Setup & Repair [BG]' started by de la mocha, Dec 5, 2005.

  1. Dec 5, 2005 #1
    de la mocha

    de la mocha

    Aug 20, 2005
    NEW JERSEY
    I have a four string cort curbow bass and I love it to death. The only thing is that my strings are too high. Now, I'm at work now but when I get home I'm gonna save $50 bucks and do it myself.

    My two questions are this......

    1) To lower the strings do I have to adjust both the truss rod and the strings at the bridge, or is it one or the other?

    2) Do I have to remove the strings to do this or no?

    I'm so scarred to touch my bass to do these adjustments, but I don't wanna blow $50 if it's really as easy as people say it is.

    Thanks in advance....
     
  2. Dec 5, 2005 #2
    de la mocha

    de la mocha

    Aug 20, 2005
    NEW JERSEY
    Let me see if I got it straight.

    1) Loosen the strings to take the tension off.

    2) Adjust the truss rod to lower strings.

    3) Lower strings at the bridge.

    4) This will get my strings closer to the fret board?

    I really don't wanna screw up my bass! I'm questioning myself if I can handle this..... :meh:
     
  3. Dec 5, 2005 #3
    tadawson

    tadawson

    Aug 24, 2005
    Lewisville, TX
    No! The truss rod should NOT be used to adjust helght! Just neck releif (bow).
    All height adjustments are done at the bridge saddles! So:

    1) Check neck releif. (Read the FAQ!)
    2) If wrong, relax strings, adjust truss rod, retune.
    3) Goto step #1 until correct.
    4) Measure string height.
    5) Adjust bridge to get desired action height.

    - Tim
     
  4. Dec 5, 2005 #4
    bannedwit

    bannedwit

    May 9, 2005
    Buffalo, NY
    The only time I touch my truss rod is when I could possibly get some more string tension out of my bass at lower tunings (I usually also get much heavier gauge strings which changes things on me) by tightening the truss rod. You know how those metal bands are with their dropped tunings. Just my opinion on what works for me. Maybe I have just been lucky all these years doing it my way.

    Try lowering your strings at the saddle first... Get them to your liking... try to make sure they contour to your neck though, you dont want the A string to be way above your low E string and stuff like that.

    I do a test where I lower the strings and play all the way down the string to check for fret buzz.. Buzz means raise the string a bit until it goes away. Now here is the kicker, Sometimes everything sounds great except maybe 1 or 2 frets buzz on you.

    This is where truss rod adjustments start to be needed.

    Tighten truss rod (clockwise) = Less relief and make the neck bow backwards. So less of a gap between string and fretboard in locations.
    Loosen gives more relief and causes the neck to bow forward.