The Official MARUSZCZYK CLUB!

[Barticus]

I didn't take it poorly and appreciate the sentiment/kick in the butt I mean, really, unless you're Geddy Lee or a AAA touring guy with his very own tech, you gotta be able to do your own work. Janek Gwizdala, Damian Erskine etc, all these monster players are taking care of their own gear on the road.

My schedule has been/will be full for awhile and sometimes it's just easier to take it in. I may still do it this one time. But $200 is a lot of dough and can buy a nice pedal. Will probably head to Home Depot this friday and make a weekend of it.



Thanks Twang!

And remember, all the folks here are willing to answer questions as you build your new skills

 

[spade2you]

It's not rocket surgery to adjust the truss rod, but maintaining ideal humidity means you'll be wrenching less, which hopefully means playing more. Another added benefit is that guitars and basses can stay in tune a really long time. Over time and/or with extreme humidity changes, warping or cracking is a possibility. I learned the hard way with a really nice Rob Allen bass when I put some cracks in a majestic ebony fingerboard. Ebony expands and contracts a lot with humidity changes. The longer plank on a bass means there's the potential for a lot of movement.

 

[BassParrott]

Keep in mind that Maruszczyk does use truss rods that tighten when turned LEFT (counterclockwise). This is different from most basses which tighten the truss rod when you turn to the right (clockwise). I am not sure if they use the left hand truss rods on all of their basses or just some models. They do call this out in the manual for the bass, so double check in the manual that came with your bass. It also has an OK guide on how to adjust the truss rods. Aside from that the setup is just as with any other bass. I also highly recommend Roger Sadowsky’s setup video on YouTube. Is is really concise clear and to the point and will walk you through the process. Finally, with respect to the truss rod, go slow, make small 1/4 turn (or less) adjustments and most importantly do NOT force anything. Good luck!

 

[BlueTalon]

Last year, I tried a set of 40-100 strings on my Frog. I normally use 45-105. The lighter strings were alright, but I prefer the larger gage. Anyway, the different gage required a truss rod adjustment. That was my initiation into the wonderland of Maruszczyk left-hand truss rod threads. Once I got my head wrapped around that, I was fine.

But the strings started getting old. I thought I could get away with using them for an upcoming blues festival, but I took a new set of 45-105 with me anyway. Finally, I just couldn't stand it any more, so an hour before the show, I changed the strings. Of course, that meant re-torquing the truss rod, and I'd forgotten exactly how much I adjusted it the first time. So I adjusted a bit, then re-remembered about the left hand threads, so I adjusted some more...

It was getting frustrating because it just wasn't right, and the minutes were ticking away. I got impatient with the little turns, so I made one big turn. Something popped or clicked -- not in a bad way, but like something was settling. And just like that, it was perfect. I haven't needed to touch it since then.

Oh, and the show went great, too.

 

[Danger McLovin]

Sorry for the poor picture quality
But, it has arrived. 35-inch scale.
it weighs in at 3.9kg or 8.5lbs.
Looking forward to my 2 toddlers going to bed tonight. So, that I can investigate some more.
it feels so lite in my hands.

 

[Shibata]

Sorry for the poor picture quality
But, it has arrived. 35-inch scale.
it weighs in at 3.9kg or 8.5lbs.
Looking forward to my 2 toddlers going to bed tonight. So, that I can investigate some more.
it feels so lite in my hands.

View attachment 4916017

Congrats. Looks amazing! Looking forward to more pictures

 

[Barticus]

Sorry for the poor picture quality
But, it has arrived. 35-inch scale.
it weighs in at 3.9kg or 8.5lbs.
Looking forward to my 2 toddlers going to bed tonight. So, that I can investigate some more.
it feels so lite in my hands.

View attachment 4916017

Wow, that’s crazy… what a cool case too!
And only 8.5lbs is pretty amazing. Can’t wait to hear some sound clips of that beast.

 

[BlueTalon]

Did that case come with the bass? Wowza! (How much did the case cost, if you don't mind me asking?)

I'll be interested to see pictures of you playing it.

 

[MrClassicMetal]

I got impatient with the little turns, so I made one big turn. Something popped or clicked -- not in a bad way, but like something was settling

This initially sounded like one of those "Chiropractor Gone Wrong" videos on youtube!

 

[Danger McLovin]

Did that case come with the bass? Wowza! (How much did the case cost, if you don't mind me asking?)

I'll be interested to see pictures of you playing it.

@BlueTalon
Yes, at my request Adrian had the flight case custom made for my bass. I think from memory the case was quoted at $350 euros. I asked Adrian to outsource the case at time of ordering. On the receipt from Adrian it just quoted one figure for everything (bass, case & delivery) the total figure including taxes and duty, everything, all in was 3650 euros, that's with the bass now in my hands.
So maybe:
- bass 2850 euros
- flight case 300 euros
- shipping, taxes & duty 500 euros.

 

[BlueTalon]

This initially sounded like one of those "Chiropractor Gone Wrong" videos on youtube!

Funny you should say that. I see a chiropractor once a week. But it hurts like crazy when a chiropractor twists my neck, so instead, he hooks up a head harness and gives it a big yank in line with my spine. So it's basically sudden traction. It feels amazing, but it probably looks terrifying. I keep telling him he needs to take a video of him doing that.

 

[MrClassicMetal]

Funny you should say that. I see a chiropractor once a week. But it hurts like crazy when a chiropractor twists my neck, so instead, he hooks up a head harness and gives it a big yank in line with my spine. So it's basically sudden traction. It feels amazing, but it probably looks terrifying. I keep telling him he needs to take a video of him doing that.

A harness.... that sounds like one of those characters in the Hellraiser movies! I'm sure a video would get lots of views!

 

[pepj]

Do your basses all move when you change strings?

 

[BlueTalon]

Do your basses all move when you change strings?

If that question is addressed to me, the answer is no. It wouldn't have even moved that time if I wasn't putting a new set of strings on that were the same gages as the strings they replaced. But going to a lighter set of strings, and then back to a heavier set, required adjustment.

 

[twangcat]

Sorry for the poor picture quality
But, it has arrived. 35-inch scale.
it weighs in at 3.9kg or 8.5lbs.
Looking forward to my 2 toddlers going to bed tonight. So, that I can investigate some more.
it feels so lite in my hands.

View attachment 4916017

Wow! Amazing it's as light as it is. Congrats

 

[Shibata]

Sorry for the poor picture quality
But, it has arrived. 35-inch scale.
it weighs in at 3.9kg or 8.5lbs.
Looking forward to my 2 toddlers going to bed tonight. So, that I can investigate some more.
it feels so lite in my hands.

View attachment 4916017

Maruszczyk Posted the couch pick of your bass on their Facebook page last night. Looks stunning!

 

[Danger McLovin]

Maruszczyk Posted the couch pick of your bass on their Facebook page last night. Looks stunning!

@Shibata
When Maruszczyk called my bass:
"Something very special"
I could not stop smiling,
my smile was from ear to ear

 

[swartzfeger]

Here's a setup tutorial from Roger Sadowsky. It includes recommendations for pickup heights. There is a pdf file of the same information by him online as well. Enjoy!
Roger Setup Instructions – Sadowsky Guitars

And remember, all the folks here are willing to answer questions as you build your new skills

It's not rocket surgery to adjust the truss rod, but maintaining ideal humidity means you'll be wrenching less, which hopefully means playing more.

Keep in mind that Maruszczyk does use truss rods that tighten when turned LEFT (counterclockwise). This is different from most basses which tighten the truss rod when you turn to the right (clockwise).

For those interested, I was just getting ready to head to Home Depot for a ruler and feeler gauge and saw this on StewMac -- looks pricey but super nice:

String Action Gauge - StewMac

FWIW, I've adjusted my truss rods a few times and never had issues. My Bongo was the easiest with the truss spoke wheel.

What I *haven't* done is adjust action and intonation and pickup height so this is a new/exciting project for me The Sadowsky vid was great and I found another more specific vid on checking string height that was great too.

For those that have done a lot of work on their Maru or any other bass with a zero fret: do you find you still need to fret/capo the first fret? Or does the zero fret essentially remove the nut out of the equation when checking string height around the 6th fret? I'm going to fret it anyway, just curious of others' opinions/experiences.

Also -- I now appreciate how Maruszczyk made a truss rod route at the heel of the neck with foam in the bottom. Still would prefer a spoke wheel but you can't win 'em all I guess.

Ok off to home depot...

 

[Barticus]

For those interested, I was just getting ready to head to Home Depot for a ruler and feeler gauge and saw this on StewMac -- looks pricey but super nice:

String Action Gauge - StewMac

FWIW, I've adjusted my truss rods a few times and never had issues. My Bongo was the easiest with the truss spoke wheel.

What I *haven't* done is adjust action and intonation and pickup height so this is a new/exciting project for me The Sadowsky vid was great and I found another more specific vid on checking string height that was great too.

For those that have done a lot of work on their Maru or any other bass with a zero fret: do you find you still need to fret/capo the first fret? Or does the zero fret essentially remove the nut out of the equation when checking string height around the 6th fret? I'm going to fret it anyway, just curious of others' opinions/experiences.

Also -- I now appreciate how Maruszczyk made a truss rod route at the heel of the neck with foam in the bottom. Still would prefer a spoke wheel but you can't win 'em all I guess.

Ok off to home depot...

Good luck, I don't capo the first on any of my zero fret instruments.
Not sure you'll find what you need at Home Depot, check Amazon since there are many less expensive options and will arrive overnight - I have some of the Fret Guru stuff and it is good quality as well. With Stewmac, if you're not in their annual membership club they'll hit you for shipping. That same gauge is available from them on Amazon for $28 (full price) with Prime but $24 at Stewmac (15% off sale) but you'll pay shipping.

 

[twangcat]

For those interested, I was just getting ready to head to Home Depot for a ruler and feeler gauge and saw this on StewMac -- looks pricey but super nice:
String Action Gauge - StewMac

After a number of years struggling along with a normal ruler I bought the StewMac gauge. That was so many years ago now I don't remember the price at the time but I can easily say the tool has amortized out and paid me back 100x . Have fun.