Absolutely, lowered the neck pickup up to a point where it's almost sitting flush to the pickup ring. I also play by the bridge pickup (which I almost use exclusively) for a tighter response, or as I try to believe..I also try to play as light as I can, economy of motion as some dudes would put it.
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I'm starting to hate my bass
- Thread starter mankybass
- Start date
Hahahahaha I can't, I share it with my dad. It might possibly end up becoming a family heirloom of sorts, that's if it'll stand the test of time.
I'd use the damn thing anywhere anytime hahahahaha as long as it's serving its part (well except for stuff that requires more than 5 seconds of sustain). My only gripe with potentially playing it live would be copious amounts of feedback. But oh well, it's all I've got, other people probably have had it much worse getting by without basses to practice on.
I'd play it for anything tbh, atleast I don't see it as a beatles tribute-only bass. I've only played it one time live at school. It did pretty well, probably because I was behind the amp and avoided unwelcome feedback as a result. It was given to us by my dad's friend, so unfortunately I didn't have a say in it. Nonetheless I respect it's heritage, being derived from a classic instrument and all, looks pretty classy too, had a couple of my schoolmates comment on its looks lol.
Definitely asian lmao, also don't ask me about the logo. It's been on there ever since it arrived hahahahaha.
Save up and get a new bass, then sell your current one and buy another new bass. IMO, you should have at least 2 in case one goes down and you are left in a pinch. Also, 2 give you a lot more options. Just save your pennies, it won't take as long as you think especially considering the great options out there for $500 and less. Good luck, mankybass!
Fret wear and tear and even uneven frets out of the factory is something we can all run into at any point.
There are tools for leveling and polishing them. One of my basses has a high fret or two. barely noticeable but it's there. Would cost me about $40 to go get them filed down from a local luthier because fretwork and nutwork is where my ability to setup a bass ends. Probably worth doing at some point but like I say, I barely notice it most of the time.
Other than that.. string height changes dependent on gauge. Relief measurements will change dependent on the overall tension of the strings. It's not just a matter of "Cheap vs expensive" or "Round vs flat vs tape" but the amount of tension each set of strings may apply to the curvature of the neck and the relative thickness changing how close the strings are to the frets.
Each time you put on a different set of strings you should be measuring relief as well as string height, as well as intonation.
Relief is easily measured with a set of feeler gauges. Capo first fret, and fret the thickest string at the 17th or even the highest fret. What you want to measure is the gap between the string and the frets at around the 5th or 7th fret. Typically, for fretted bass guitar we want anywhere from .20mm to .50mm of relief. Which is a measurement of the curve of the neck. When you don't have enough of a gap you will get fret buzz.
If you slide the feeler gauge in flat against the 5th or 7th fret wire and the string moves, or there is not enough gap to slide the gauge in, your neck needs more relief, which is accomplished by loosening the truss rod. You only want to do this 1/8th turn at a time, tune to pitch, measure again. Adjust as needed.
If there is too much gap between the feeler gauge and frets and the string a the 5th or 7th fret, then you tighten the truss rod. (probably want to loosen strings) 1/8th turn.. tune to pitch, measure again, adjust as needed.
Tightening the truss rod straightens out the neck, pulling against the tension of the strings. Loosening allows the tension of the strings to cause the neck to curve by pulling the headstock towards the body.
This is something that is going to change every time you change to a set of strings with a different level of tension, as will intonation and levels of string height.
Another bass setup term I just mentioned is Intonation. This is basically the speaking length of the string from the bridge to the nut. You measure it by playing the open note to the most accurate tuner you have. Then you play the same string at the 12th fret. If it is sharp or flat, you have to loosen or tighten the screw at that string's bridge saddle to move it closer to, or further away from the neck until the note at the 12th fret is no longer sharp or flat. Of course, loosen the strings before moving the saddle, adjust a small amount, then tune to pitch. This may in turn effect your string height. Best you can do is adjust that, check intonation and keep fine tuning until you get as close as you'd like.
Otherwise, it might sound like you're going out of tune the further you move up the neck, because you would be.
IMO it sounds like you have some setup issues. I'd iron those out and then see how I felt about it.
In my area a proper setup would cost me about $45, not including any fretwork.
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Earlier I (kinda callously) recommended a $300 bass, but now I see the picture is different. So my apologies.
You could possibly look at saving 20 bucks towards some EB slinkies or Fender 7250s, might buy you some inspiration. But you might also be throwing money down an endless rabbit hole...
Time to get real with yourself. Are you serious about bass? Write down what you want, hang it on the wall. Write up a budget. If you’re under your parents budget, ask if you can do odd jobs for money, mow lawns. If you’re on you’re own, eat ramen, stash cash in a jar. (It’s inspiring to watch it grow.) testing basses in a store might seem like torture, but it might also inspire you to stay on course... might all seem like obvious stuff, but I’m just throwing it out there. You can do it!
This amp can be a little muddy. I like an EQ of 10/2/2/10 or 10/12/2/10 as a starting point to help clean it up.
Good luck
Yes, that changes things imo, if it was given by a family friend. Maybe keep it but work towards getting another bass might be the appropriate thing to do. However, I'm really curious to find out what make it is (it's definitely not a Fender), but it looks a little on the older side, like maybe the 1980s. If so, if it's something like a Greco, check out the used prices for those, I think you'll be pretty surprised. Maybe ask the family friend if he/she knows what brand it originally was.
Best of luck, we've all been there, heck my first "bass" guitar many years ago was a Telecaster clone that was given to me, as in a telecaster guitar I played as a bass.
It's basically a rogue series 2 violin bass as far as looks go, it has the black painted sides though which hint at the more older and thicker plywood construction. Unfortunately doesn't have a center block like the older MIK rogues.
I had a PRS Kestrel in red that was amazing to look at.
Hated the fat neck and poor tone.
Sold it and never looked back.
Sell your bass and get a Sweetwater card like Skycruiser said and use their money to upgrade.
Hated the fat neck and poor tone.
Sold it and never looked back.
Sell your bass and get a Sweetwater card like Skycruiser said and use their money to upgrade.
Way too far from the states lol, I can't give off replies for those suggesting craiglist and sweetwater since I live in the philippines lmao. There are affordable offerings here, mostly in the 100-200$ range. It's just a matter of when I can get the money to buy a p or j bass, which is unlikely since the ongoing pandemic has shifted all our finances to strictly day-to-day living.
Yeah too far to pass on one I recently was given. Check out my recent thread IBD. Hang in there and keep playing
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My cousins and I would often frequent Salonga Music which is still around I think. US instruments were very expensive when doing the currency conversion but there are some good alternatives though, Riverhead (once a MIJ manufacturer) makes basses in the Philippines, I've heard some good things about those. Also, there's a store in Singapore called Swee Lee that I believe ships to the Philippines, much closer than the US and they have a pretty wide choice of basses from all over.
Are you near manila?... got a co-worker who ships there often. I gotta bass looking for a young player to give it a good home. Check out my recent tread.
I reside in Cebu City, you can keep the bass though hahahaha. I'd have to do a lot of explaining to my parents if that ever happens. It'd also be too much getting it shipped here imo.
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