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Trying to fix a worthless Bass

#301
Since the neck didn't move at all after 5 days I decided to file the nut a little further down as well. When I was going to glue it up I was afraid I might have gone too far, but it plays great now. No buzzes open and no buzzes on any fret. I feel very good about what I was able to accomplish.
You can compare these pictures to the ones above to see how much lower I was able to get the action.
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#305
It's been a year since I started this thread and 4 months since my last update. Last night I took the bass down played it for a little bit and decided it needed some tweaking. I tightened the truss rod a little more than a quarter turn and it responded perfectly. It's straightened right up and didn't twist at all. I think at this point I can safely say this was a huge success.
At some point I may file two of the nut slots and the base of the floating bridge a little more but it is more than playable as it is right now.
 
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#306
Markshan said:
Since the neck didn't move at all after 5 days I decided to file the nut a little further down as well. When I was going to glue it up I was afraid I might have gone too far, but it plays great now. No buzzes open and no buzzes on any fret. I feel very good about what I was able to accomplish.
You can compare these pictures to the ones above to see how much lower I was able to get the action.
View attachment 5291723 View attachment 5291724 View attachment 5291725 View attachment 5291726 View attachment 5291727
Click to expand...

The gap between e string and 1st fret as per mass produced standard is 0.024". More appropriate would be 0.017-0.018. Some people go 0.014-0.016. you are likely to start hearing back buzz on e string fretted around 6 - 8 frets. You will definitely have a back buzz on e string if capo 7th fret and play the G string... Or play a Bm chord from 4th string.
 
#309
Markshan said:
I don't own a set of feeler gauges.
Click to expand...

When your guitarist changes his strings get the old ones, mark the gauges and use them. They'll actually work better than feeler gauges because they won't deflect the string when measuring because they are so flexible. You can even keep them on a bead chain This works especially well if the balls are colored, a 3x5 card with the sizes and colors works great.

If he's as organized as I am (fat chance) he has the carton the strings came in and you can use it, the gauges are already on there and it gives you a neat way to store the 4 inch pieces of string.
 
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#310
sissy kathy said:
When your guitarist changes his strings get the old ones, mark the gauges and use them. They'll actually work better than feeler gauges because they won't deflect the string when measuring because they are so flexible. You can even keep them on a bead chain This works especially well if the balls are colored, a 3x5 card with the sizes and colors works great.

If he's as organized as I am (fat chance) he has the carton the strings came in and you can use it, the gauges are already on there and it gives you a neat way to store the 4 inch pieces of string.
Click to expand...
I'm going to be changing strings on my acoustic in the near future. Great idea.
 

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