Why are some basses so easy to setup?

[AHDBassist]

Also some basses are made with the interest of those wanting real low action whereas some are not. Fender being a good example of the latter. Those who want real low action with fenders often need to add a neck shim. Whereas most basses designed for real low action are built without need for a shim. This plus the extra care in neck construction, bridge selection, fretwork, etc. Some mfg just orient toward medium (average) or high action basses.

So on my MIM Jazz I need a shim because it frets out on the high frets but not lower on the neck?

 

[cassius987]

If it frets out on the high frets you need the shim at the headstock end of the neck pocket to add fallaway. You've got too much rise right now, if the notes are fretting out up there only. Most people have the opposite problem.

 

[AHDBassist]

If it frets out on the high frets you need the shim at the headstock end of the neck pocket to add fallaway. You've got too much rise right now, if the notes are fretting out up there only. Most people have the opposite problem.

That's what I thought. I've had to put one in at the body end on another jazz for that very reason. It frets out from about 13 on.

 

[lethargytartare]

That's what I thought. I've had to put one in at the body end on another jazz for that very reason. It frets out from about 13 on.

We're pretty far off topic, but I would say that I'd want more detail on what you mean by "fretting out" before jumping to the conclusion that it's so badly built that you would have to shim the forward end of the neck pocket.

Assuming you mean when you play the frets from 13 and up, your strings are hitting those higher frets, that could very easily be a case of too much relief. I could be that your saddles are way too low -- and if they're that low to get decent action on the higher frets, maybe your nut is too high (or the slots not deep enough). Maybe it's the frets themselves, etc.

You shim the back end of the neck pocket to get consistent and lower action when your saddles are bottomed out. Shimming the forward end of the pocket changes the geometry in a different and not comparable way. So when you say you did the opposite for "that very reason" I'm not sure that makes sense. But in total -- shimming should be a decision that's part of assessing everything in the instrument's setup.