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Modern Electric Bass by Jaco Pastorius

J

johnvice

Sep 7, 2004
848
9
#1
I just got the DVD Modern Electric Bass by Jaco Pastorius. Before the interview/lesson starts, he is adjusting something on the headstock. Does anyone know what he is doing ?

While I was impressed at the DVD and quality of instruction, it is sad that it was recorded during JP's downward spiral. That said, his sence of humour and musicality is very much intact!
 
#3
No - he's filing down the nut slots with a needle file - to get them lower - then he's checking intonation at the the 1st to 3rd frets. If your nut slots are cut too high, then it can mean that notes around the 1st to 3rd frets are sharp, as you have to press down too far.

Presumably, this was the problem Jaco had with the "cobbled together" bass that he used on the video - different body and neck, put together from a P and J bass!!

It also allows you to get a lower action overall, if you lower the height of the nut slots. Of course, if you lower them too far, then you will get a nasty buzzing, as the strings touch the fretboard "behind" where you are fretting the note - i.e. between fretting hand and nut!
 
#4
Bruce, you must be right. After Jaco finishes this operation. He blows on the nut with a quick puff (to get rid of the filings) before he tunes upthe E string . He also has a small screwdriver in his left hand presumably to adjust the intontaion screw on the bridge.
 
#5
Yeah - basically he's intonating the bass and lowering the action - even so he does struggle with some of his own lines - no surprise, given what he'd been through (just released from mental hospital) and how he doesn't have one of his favoured 60's Jazz basses. :hmm:
 

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