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Squier Jazz Bass issue

tarantulawasp

tarantulawasp

May 8, 2017
7
8
O - H - I - O
#1
This might be a really novice question, but I'm just trying to get a second opinion on an issue...

A friend of mine was having issues with his Squier jazz bass. I was able to fix a minor soldering issue and the bass actually sounds great, but I realized his string height was incredibly high and told him I could fix this for him.

I adjusted the truss rod, and then when to work on the bridge. However, moving the pole pieces the height didn't change. I noticed the saddles were laying flat on the bridge and the strings were still high. Moving the back/forward seemed to do nothing.

So, this led me to question, is the neck back bowed? When I took a closer look at bass, I noticed the nut and it seems like the nut slots were filed COMPLETELY out, like, down to the fingerboard.

So I guess my question is, could the nut be causing this issue or should we assume there's some back-bowing (even though I honestly couldn't see anything)
 
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#5
tarantulawasp said:
Sorry, I confused the convex/concave bowing!

I measured the relief with the capo/holding the string down and it improved... slightly, but after a huge amount of turning, I didn't feel comfortable turning anymore.
Click to expand...
If you are getting the right measurement stop there. (The squier is probably 9.5 radius, so shoot for .012" relief.) The truss rod is supposed to give you a straight neck, not fix the action. Might be time for a shim.
 
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#7
Yes, I tried to adjust the trust rod to straighten the neck and I felt like it did the job the goal with the truss wasn't to lower the action, but to get the neck straighter, which I think it accomplished.

The action on the bass was over .125", I dont have bass to check but I'm looking at a string action ruler. This was also post all adjustments. As far as the relief measurement... it definitely was higher than .012" going from memory here, as I did this all last night and he took the bass back, but it was likely somewhere around .07-.08 but I'm assuming there's a major issue with bowing as the first 4 frets action was fine and then the increase was just crazy (likely why someone at some point had filed the nut down to try to fix the problem)

I'm just trying to problem solve for him, because he's the type of guy that just accepts things they way they are and the bass had me baffled, as I'd never seen anyone carve a nut out like that and never had a guitar, even when I had a bowed neck where moving the pole pieces did little to nothing.

I appreciate your help.
 
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#8
Some pictures might help but the truss rod and the saddle heights are 2 separate adjustments. Read some of the setup guides stickied at the top. First, set the relief on the neck using the truss rod. As stated above, 0.012” is a good starting point. Then, use the bridge saddles to set the string height. 5/64” at the 17th fret is a good starting point there. If the saddles are touching the bridge plate and the strings are still too high then you need a shim. There are numerous threads abut shims and how to make one here.

If you moved the saddles forward and back and not just up and down then you need to reset your intonation. Compare the open string to the note at the 12th fret. If the fretted note is flat compared to the open string, move the saddle towards the neck.

On the nut height, 0.020” clearance at the first fret is a start.

Edit: looks like you posted while I was typing and you have it under control. :D
 
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#9
tarantulawasp said:
Yes, I tried to adjust the trust rod to straighten the neck and I felt like it did the job the goal with the truss wasn't to lower the action, but to get the neck straighter, which I think it accomplished.

The action on the bass was over .125", I dont have bass to check but I'm looking at a string action ruler. This was also post all adjustments. As far as the relief measurement... it definitely was higher than .012" going from memory here, as I did this all last night and he took the bass back, but it was likely somewhere around .07-.08 but I'm assuming there's a major issue with bowing as the first 4 frets action was fine and then the increase was just crazy (likely why someone at some point had filed the nut down to try to fix the problem)

I'm just trying to problem solve for him, because he's the type of guy that just accepts things they way they are and the bass had me baffled, as I'd never seen anyone carve a nut out like that and never had a guitar, even when I had a bowed neck where moving the pole pieces did little to nothing.

I appreciate your help.
Click to expand...
Sounds like you're on the right track. I'm the same way, it would bug me and I'd want to fix it.

If he let's you take the bass back, I'd try a shim, they work wonders
 
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