New bass, but neck looks off

[BalaamsDonkey]

I just got a new Stingray 5H in today from a reputable dealer (based on thousands of positive reviews). It sounds great. The only issue I have is the G string seems to be too close to the edge, especially as one gets higher up the neck. It's like the neck isn't quite straight. It's really easy for me higher up the neck to roll the string off the frets. There's just a little more room between the string and the edge of the frets/neck at the top than at the bottom. Anyone ever have this issue, and I can I take it in to a trusted luthier and get it adjusted, which it could probably use anyway, or is it just a dud that I need to return?

 

[Jim Carr]

Pics?

You can often get a little correction of neck angle with a bolt-on neck. Yours is bolt-on, right?
Will describe procedure, if you wish.

 

[LBS-bass]

This usually has more to do with a bridge being off-center than the neck not being straight, but pictures will help diagnose.

 

[BalaamsDonkey]

 

[BalaamsDonkey]

It's hard to get a consistent angle on the images, but you can see how close the string is to the edge in the 2nd picture. It's a bolt-on neck, so what do you think?

 

[Craig T Vector]

Is the string centered on the saddle?

 

[BalaamsDonkey]

Is the string centered on the saddle?

It was centered, but the g-string saddle wasn't level. I adjusted that, and it's ever-so-slightly better, but still feels crooked.

 

[finfrocka]

To my knowledge and from what I've heard, A lot of people find the G strings on the SR5's to be too close to the edge. From your angle, this looks like one of the worse i've seen. I would double check saddles and try to adjust the neck as Jim Carr suggested.

If this doesn't give you absolute piece of mind when finished, I would return and try another one.

 

[Jim Carr]

Proceedure on a 4-bolt (likely will work somewhat on 6-bolt):

supplies & tools: large towel, and a screwdriver that perfectly fits neck bolts (n.b., I realize they are really screws, but the convention seems to be to call them bolts for electric bass necks).

1) slack strings to "loose but not falling off the tuners."
2) spread towel on table top/workbench/counter.
3) lay bass facedown on towel.
4) loosen neck bolts about several turns—keeping them fully in their holes.
5) while seated, CAREFULLY pick up bass, being sure not to move neck in it's pocket in any plane.
6) hold the bass. flip it over so neck points the same way, but with strings toward your palm, and pickups are facing your tummy.
7) just below headstock, firmly strike the side of neck DOWNWARD toward the floor, with the palm of your hand. Keep neck stable.
8) Once you can see it has shifted a bit, stop.
9) Return the bass CAREFULLY to face down position on the towel, again being sure not to move neck in it's pocket in any plane.
10) verify neck is in pocket correctly by inspection, tighten neck bolts to original torque, and retune.
11) check alignment of strings on fingerboard, repeat process until correct.

 

[James Collins]

That looks unplayable. Also, the string spacing looks too wide between the first and second strings. Is string spacing adjustable at the bridge?

 

[Jim Carr]

I'm wondering if that is really the correct nut.

 

[Thegrandwazoo]

5-string Music Man basses are known for having strings closer to the fingerboard edge than most are accustomed to (dunno why they do that, my 4-string US Sterlings have all kinds of room on either side), but yours seems kinda wrong. Even at the nut, like look at how little meat there is in the nut after the G string. It's like the nut was mis-cast (or however they're formed) or something. Can you be certain it's not a counterfeit? Based on what I've seen, I'd personally probably return it and find another one that was right.

EBMM's quality control is usually second to none in the mass-produced bass world, but I'm sure a dud gets through once in a great while. If yours hasn't been monkeyed with and isn't a good fake, you might just have one of those rare duds. Maybe try contacting EBMM customer service? I've never needed them, but I hear they're great. Also, repeat this post on the Ernie Ball forum site if you haven't already, a lot of those folks (including Sterling Ball himself) are veritable gurus. I don't think you'll get any satisfaction trying to solve that with neck or bridge saddle adjustment, as there is VERY little available on Music Man neck joints and bridges, plus the nut looks wrong right from the get-with.

 

[Thegrandwazoo]

I'm wondering if that is really the correct nut.

Looks wrong, doesn't it? But can you even get those Music Man style compensated nuts on their own from anywhere?

Plus, look at how the A string looks way off-center compared to the dot inlay. Could just be camera angle, but if not, that's not right either. Music Man 5 A strings are always right down the middle.

 

[Thegrandwazoo]

That looks unplayable. Also, the string spacing looks too wide between the first and second strings. Is string spacing adjustable at the bridge?

Not on any Music Man bridge I've seen.

 

[UNICORN BASS]

That is wrong IMHO, needs to be returned.

 

[JKos]

The nut looks the same as in pictures of other SR5s. Yes, little material on G side.

- John

 

[Element Zero]

Just to be sure, got a pic of the bridge?

 

[Kukulkan61]

That’s an expensive bass, shouldn’t have anything wrong with it for as mush as the sell for, take it back...

 

[Mastodon2]

That is unacceptable on a new bass. Reject it and return it to the vendor.

 

[WillyW]

My neck looks a little off too, what should I do?