• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Purpose of Neck Shims?

#41
well, adding a shim isn't gonna set your bass on fire or anything :)

it's just pointless unless you've run out of room to raise or lower your saddles, is all.
 
#42
walterw said:
sure, if you run out of height adjustment room on the saddles. it doesn't "compensate" for anything, though; you end up with the strings just as far from the neck either way.

as for "feel" differences, i could see how one way makes for strings closer to the body than the other, but actual string action off the frets ends up the same.
Click to expand...

If done properly it works out well as long as the neck isn't too far gone...You seem to have an idea what's what here, as it is you're fairly close since you seem to have identified a possible issue. Now all you have to do is figure out how to rectify it.
 
#43
Staccato said:
Technically, yes.

As a practical matter, someone that is versed (very experienced) with setups would do this-preferably a luthier or other, very qualified individual. ;) If you want to learn on your own bass, you're asking for disappointment. Those that understand the geometry involved have a leg up.

If you can't spell geometry, leave it to a Pro!
Click to expand...

I went ahead and added the shim, and it worked out quite well, actually.
 
#44
Thanks everyone for the advice - and the entertainment! I just assembled a fretless jazz and I've come to the conclusion that I will need to shim... The relief on the neck is just about right, but the bridge saddles are about as low as they can go and I still have high action.

By the way, I do like a little more neck angle for another reason - my belly! Skinny guys with long arms have a better reach, and my big gut and shorter arms actually work better with a little bit of neck angle...

And yes, I'm serious about this one.
 
#47
Shims are to fix bad neck pocket route. Where neck had no rearward tilt at all. In the case of sx basses needing full pocket shim, well your dealing with low qaulity instruments with even worse neck pocket route then average basses that benefit from shims. Buy better instruments with ptoperly done neckpocket and shims are not needed.
 
#49
darkstorm said:
Shims are to fix bad neck pocket route. Where neck had no rearward tilt at all. In the case of sx basses needing full pocket shim, well your dealing with low qaulity instruments with even worse neck pocket route then average basses that benefit from shims. Buy better instruments with ptoperly done neckpocket and shims are not needed.
Click to expand...

Sorry, this is just flat wrong.
 
#53
I've got 2 basses that I had to shim.....both of them are over $1800.......but both of them had neck pockets that were too deep.....I've done a step shim on my first try on my first one and it worked.....the second bass needed a full shim which brought the neck up so I could raise the saddles but the action is still not right so I'll add a step shim on top of the full shim and I should have the proper tilt that I much prefer because of short arms and expanding gut.......
 
#55
walterw said:
yeah, that's quite weird.

the ratio i see is more like 10 to 1 with no shims needed.
Click to expand...

Yeah, really - I've probably set up atleast 100 basses, and probably only needed to shim half a dozen or so...

I currently have 4 Fenders and 3 Music Man basses, all that play great - none of which have any shims in them...

Personally, I prefer not to shim if I don't have to, and think that *some* people shim basses that really don't need it, more out of habit or lack of knowledge, than anything...


- georgestrings
 
#56
yes, the saddles bottomed out and I've only shimmed 2 instruments out of many that were just fine but I like low action and if the instrument needs it then you don't have a choice.....either that or sell it to someone who likes high action with no chance of adjustment.....
 
#57
loopee said:
yes, the saddles bottomed out and I've only shimmed 2 instruments out of many that were just fine but I like low action and if the instrument needs it then you don't have a choice.....either that or sell it to someone who likes high action with no chance of adjustment.....
Click to expand...


Could you tell us what make those $1800 basses were??? -because honestly, I wouldn't pay more than a couple hundred for a bass who's neck pocket was so poorly cut that it required as much shimming as you describe...


- georgestrings
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back