Setup Help Please...

If it were mine, I'd first try and adjust it back to where Lakland had it and go again from there. Personally, I always make the neck adjustment FIRST (if necessary), THEN do the string height and ultimately, the intonation. I'm not familiar with the bridge on that bass, but two and a half turns on each saddle would be a lot for me. I usually go in quarter or half turn increments when I do saddle height adjustments. I also measure the string height each time so I'll know where I am and how much farther I need to go. Fender specs measure string height from the bottom of the string to the top of the 17th fret. I believe Lakland does it at the 12th fret, with a capo at the first fret. Check their website for setup specs to be sure. I believe thats where I saw them. Either that or in some article about Lakland

Strings can also make a difference, according to type, gauge, tension, etc.

Generally speaking, I have good luck with setups, BUT I must admit, I have owned a couple basses (one was a Lakland 55-01, as a matter of fact) that I NEVER was able to get the way I wanted. The other was a Carvin fretless that I even sent back to them and they replaced the bridge, set it up and return shipped at no cost. I STILL didn't like it.

Good luck and try not to go nutz over it, because it will drive you there if you let it.

 

Well, the more relief (bow), the higher your strings will be. Good practice to let it settle after adjusting, though. I always leave it overnight in-between truss rod tweaks. Usually a proper setup (unless I get lucky) will take me 2-3 days of adjusting, waiting, adjusting, etc. Like I said, I was advised (by a local luthier friend) to make the basic neck adjustment first (if it needs one), then start in on the strings.

Of course, that doesn't mean you may not have to tweak the neck again (and again). I checked Lakland website and the setup specs are there in the FAQ section. I would set it up using those as a baseline reference and then adjust to your liking from there. I must reiterate: This is the way I would do it. I'm sure others do it differently and if one of them knows a better way, hopefully they will let us all in on it.

When I said 'unless I get lucky', what happened to me recently is a good example. I bought a new '08 Am Std Jazz from GC. Took it home and immediately restrung with ECB81 Chromes. Let it sit overnight. Put it on the bench and got out all my tools. Checked it. Played it. No tweaks necessary. Not even intonation. I love it when that happens...

 

It sounds like you actually tightened the rod rather than loosened it. This will reduce relief (make board flatter) rather than add it, which would most likely give the more buzz symptom (at the same action setting).

If the lakland rod is like other rods, think of it like tightening a normal screw or bolt: looking down on it, clockwise tightens, CCW loosens....

LS

 

Are you saying Lakland leaves you in the dust? No help? What are you asking here for? It makes no sense. You paid big dollars I bet and you get nothing? Did you ASK?

 

+1

I play with a pick too, and like my action about a medium height, but for other reasons too.

 

lefty loosey, righty tighty