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Radius gauges

#43
I got a bunch of feeler gauges and a capo. Thats good for checking relief in the neck. They are also good for other things but thats what I use them for most of the time.

I use the Invalid Link Removed for setting a radius most of the time. If you measure the bottom of the string off of the last few frets, you are going to get a radius. setting them all the same distance from the frets will pretty much accomplish this.
 
#44
right.

set all the strings to the same height off a given fret, and you automatically follow the board radius (even if it's compound).
 
#45
JLS said:
Experience.
Click to expand...

And that is exactly why I want to use precise measurements the first few times. I have no experience setting up my own bass. After I've done it a few times using pain-staking detail and fine measurements, I should start to feel the differences and be able to adjust purely from feel.

I'm also not talking about just setting up a bass that is already in great playing condition. I'd like to get into modding cheap basses, as a hobby. Some of those basses will need a lot more adjusting than others, and I want to be able to setup any bass.
 
#46
yes, you absolutely want to work with real measurements, so you can get a feel for what consistently works and what doesn't.

a radius gauge won't really help you with that.
 
#47
KingRazor said:
And that is exactly why I want to use precise measurements the first few times. I have no experience setting up my own bass. After I've done it a few times using pain-staking detail and fine measurements, I should start to feel the differences and be able to adjust purely from feel.

I'm also not talking about just setting up a bass that is already in great playing condition. I'd like to get into modding cheap basses, as a hobby. Some of those basses will need a lot more adjusting than others, and I want to be able to setup any bass.
Click to expand...

IMHO, taking measurements is a good idea. Just like you usually don't notice that the brakes on the car are wearing out until they get really bad.... you sometimes don't notice that the bass is slowly slipping out of adjustment. Taking measurements lets you check once in a while.

And once you get an idea of what the correct measurements are for you, you can quickly dial in those cheap basses.
 
#53
Anyone familiar with EBMM radius? Looking at their site both the Bongo and Stingray show a radius of 11", but I only see templates online or actual tools at Stewmac fr 10" or 12". Should I just try to make my own?
 
#54
guys, try re-reading the thread!

you don't need radius gauges at all; you measure string height with a little ruler, from the bottom of the string to the top of the fret, for all the strings, at one given fret; if all those heights are set the same, you will have a perfect "string radius", even if the fretboard radius is compound.

if you want higher action on the fat strings, set them for it, so that the measured string height gradually increases from thinnest to thickest.
 
#55
I think what's confusing me is say the manufacturer says the low B should be 7/64 from the fret and the G 5/64 from the fret. While I can certainly measure those with a ruler, if they don't specify what the height should be for the middle strings, don't I need the radius tool to get them where they should be?
 
#56
you measure across the fret, looking for each string to be just a little higher than the next, until you reach the other end.
 

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