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Neck angle WRT body

Discussion in 'Luthier's Corner' started by Allen_VA, Jan 4, 2009.

  1. Jan 4, 2009 #1
    Allen_VA

    Allen_VA

    Sep 17, 2008
    Hokietown, VA
    I built my first bass a couple years ago, a NT 5-string. I did not have the neck tilted back with respect to the body. I'm trying to determine whether a small amount of angle (say, a couple degrees) is necessary, or is it OK to have the neck flat and parallel to the body surface? Is there a difference between BO neck and NT neck in this regard?

    High frets, above 11 or 12 buzz horribly. I'm pretty sure the frets are level enough. The nut is still high and there's a few 1/32's worth of relief (aka, the bass is not playable yet!)

    Thanks for any assistance!
     
  2. Jan 4, 2009 #2
    lethargytartare

    lethargytartare

    Sep 7, 2004
    Chicago
    I'm still a bit new on setups, but my 2cents:

    - IIRC you shouldn't use neck angle as a means of altering the action
    - you should address all the basics before trying to "solve" problems since they may not actually BE problems. So:
    * first and foremost you need to get the frets well dressed -- level and crowned properly
    * then get the nut set up properly -- seated "perfectly," and properly grooved
    * then set the relief
    * then set the action and intonation
    - THEN decide whether you need to change the angle of the neck.

    when I was studying, the main reason we changed the neck angle was if the bridge was bottoming out and we still needed to lower the action more.

    Hope that didn't sound too paternalistic, but you mentioned buzzing, uncertainty about the condition of the frets, and uncertainty about the state of the nut -- and those three should probably all be addressed BEFORE you decide on whether to change the neck angle.

    Good luck!!

    ltt
     
  3. Jan 4, 2009 #3
    Allen_VA

    Allen_VA

    Sep 17, 2008
    Hokietown, VA
    Thanks for the info! I won't be changing the neck angle as it's a Neck-Through design, so I'm stuck with what I have. It's a bit late, I realize, but I guess I'd like to know if it's possible to set up a bass like this with no neck angle. In other words...did I screw the pooch and forget to put an angle in there, and now it's unfixable, or, if I address the things you mentioned, it's possible to make it playable? I'll be building another bass before long and I plan to do some research this time LOL!!

    Thanks for the advice,
    AC
     
  4. Jan 5, 2009 #4
    lethargytartare

    lethargytartare

    Sep 7, 2004
    Chicago
    How goofy of me -- I didn't realize what NT and BO meant...pretty obvious now hahaha -- I'll go away and let some resident builders chime in on the NT/neck pitch issue. :)

    Cheers!

    ltt