Help! Does this neck look normal to you?

[metrollsta]

Hi,

I bought a used StingRay via Ebay.
Somehow the strings are not 100% centered on the fretboard. It plays pretty normal, but sometimes it feels like the G-string might slip away from the fretboard if pressed to hard.

Is this normal?
If not, what can I do to fix this?

Thanks.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Do you have a close-up pic of the bridge?

 

[metrollsta]

Yes, sure.
I already pushed the saddles in the direction of the E-string.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

.
See pic below.

Your problem could be that you have your string saddles too far forward. They should be positioned between the two round anchor bolts on each side.

 

[metrollsta]

Thanks for your comment, but I think that I can't just move my string saddles backwards as this would lead to intonation problems.
Intonation is pretty much spot on right now.

 

[njhammer]

Definitely.

.
See pic below.

Your problem could be that you have your string saddles too far forward. They should be positioned between the two round anchor bolts on each side.

 

[nhbassguitar]

Moving the saddles is definitely NOT the solution.

It's uncommon to see that much string misalignment on a MM.

String alignment is always ALWAYS the first thing I check when I look at pics of a potential purchase.

You might try loosening all the strings until they go floppy, loosen the neck bolts, and see if there's enough slop in the neck pocket to let you kick the neck sideways a bit, then retighten the screws. If MM neck pockets are routinely cut tight -- and I have no idea if that's the case -- then file this suggestion in the wastebin.

FWIW, there's a new SR in the wild and up for sale with the same issue:

http://www.raymullinmusic.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/DSC_0449-e1476401245814.jpg

http://www.raymullinmusic.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/DSC_0450-e1476401264473.jpg

I see basses with misaligned strings for sale all the time in the TB classifieds. Typically Fenders, though. A common seller ploy is to supply only angled shots, though you can often spot problems if your eyes are sharp.

 

[metrollsta]

Thanks, I loosened the strings and the neck bolts and tried to find a better position in the neck pocket. First it got worse and then I managed to get it back to where I started...

However, I think that the problem is that the neck is curved. If I look at it from the perspective of the bridge right up to the nut it looks like a "(".
Do you have any advice? Is there a way to straighten the neck?

I don't think that there's a problem with the position of the bridge, saddles or anything else because otherwise it would not have passed the quality checks at the factory. So I assume that the neck has bent over time. Is that possible?
The bass was built in 2009 by the way.

 

[nhbassguitar]

Let me make sure I understand what you're saying. With the back of the body facing down, and the front facing up, and looking from the bridge up to the headstock, the neck looks like it's curved left to right or right to left? If so, that would be very uncommon -- at least far less common than a curve (bow) from string tension that a simple truss rod adjustment would fix. However, when I look at your bass's full length image and I hold a straightedge against either side of the neck, I think I *do* see a bit of a curve. Maybe, maybe not. My eyes are old.

If that really is the case, it might be worth sending the bass to EB Service. They might be able to do something creative, like expand the neck pocket so the neck can be shifted enough to make things acceptable. If their in-house policies allow them to do that sort of work, that is. If not EB, then maybe an independent luthier you can trust with this sort of work.

 

[Bert]

I would take the neck off and check the long side with a ruler or something (red line in my pic).
View attachment 30948

 

[metrollsta]

@nhbassguitar: Yes, that's exactly what I meant. It looks like it's curved from left to right.
@Bert: Thanks, that red line perfectly illustrates the curve. I just checked it with a ruler and the curve looked pretty much the same as on your photo.

Sending the bass to EB is probably not the best option for me as I'm from Germany...

 

[Bert]

Contact EB with a link to this thread - probably Musik Meyer (German Distribution) can help.

 

[steevo]

That needs setting up. First of all your intonation is way out, as has already been pointed out. Second of all, the adjustment screws that adjust the height of the saddles are wrong, they are to high on the bass end and pushing the strings towards the treble end of the neck. Theres no way that neck has moved in the neck pocket that much and if the neck was warped that much it would look like a boomerang. All it needs is a good setup.

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Thanks for your comment, but I think that I can't just move my string saddles backwards as this would lead to intonation problems.
Intonation is pretty much spot on right now.

What I meant was this....

Positioning the string saddles back between the two anchor bolts will stop side movement of the saddles and will correctly align the strings over the neck. It will also put the saddles in a ballpark position for correct intonation. As steevo said above, your intonation has to be way out and you need a good setup.

If you still have problems, email Customer Service for advice. They're only too happy to help:

[email protected]

 

[metrollsta]

Sorry, I have to correct myself. I just doublechecked the intonation with a different tuner and noticed that it was pretty bad on the E-string and not optimal on the other three strings as well.

I did my best to set the intonation properly (so that the notes in open position, 12th fret and 21st fret are in tune). Now the saddles are pretty much positioned as shown on the picture of Rod Trussbroken, see my photo below for comparision.

I think that helped quite a bit - Thanks!

I also made two photos on which you can hopefully see the height of the saddles. Do you think that they are too high? I fear that if I lower the height of the saddles I will get a lot of fret buzz.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Sorry, I have to correct myself. I just doublechecked the intonation with a different tuner and noticed that it was pretty bad on the E-string and not optimal on the other three strings as well.

I did my best to set the intonation properly (so that the notes in open position, 12th fret and 21st fret are in tune). Now the saddles are pretty much positioned as shown on the picture of Rod Trussbroken, see my photo below for comparision.

I think that helped quite a bit - Thanks!

I also made two photos on which you can hopefully see the height of the saddles. Do you think that they are too high? I fear that if I lower the height of the saddles I will get a lot of fret buzz.

View attachment 30949 View attachment 30950 View attachment 30952 View attachment 30951 View attachment 30953

'
From the pics, that seems to be a lot better.

I can email you a comprehensive mini tune-up manual which will help you if you need it.

My email is:

[email protected]

 

[Golem]

I would take the neck off and check the long side
with a ruler or something (red line in my pic).
View attachment 30948

Ruler schmuler. Ain't nothing more straight than a
string under tension, which within those pix DOES
show the curve described in the OP. Doesn't even
matter if the camera lens distorts the image, the
string and the neck are in one and the same pic,
and this neck shows worse string spacing in the
middle than near the high end, where side-to-side
unevenness is more moderate. The neck might be
beyond salvation.

 

[MCRome]

Hallo All,

it seems that neck misalignment and (in my case) poorly spaced strings slots on the nut, are not exceptional anymore.
Despite what Rod Trussbroken wrote a few posts earlier, I contacted EBMM Customer Service via email, but I haven't received answer to my question.
Two months ago my wife bought me a Stealth Black MM Stingray 5; very lightweight, sounding great and with perfectly seated and leveled frets. I can set up string height to the level I desire.
Here come the problems.....
I am the happy owner of several MM basses, including a BFR Black Sugar SR4, and I've never experienced the problems I have with the Stealth (S/N E79841).... the slots on the compensated nut are the worst I've ever seen on a MM, with B and G ones being too close to the edge of the fretboard, and poorly (differently) spaced between E A and D strings.
The neck is (due to badly cut neck pocket) misaligned with bridge and pickup.

I'm still waiting for the Customer Service to answer; I have a PDN starry Night SR5 with matching headstock on order, but I am quite worried at this time....

Sorry for my disappointment, but I always praised craftmanship on EBMM basses, but I absolutely cannot say the same for this one.

MC

 

[MCRome]

a bit less than a month has passed since I wrote to EBMM Customers Service and I have not received any answer yet.
D I S A P P O I N T I N G !

 

[Edmang]

a bit less than a month has passed since I wrote to EBMM Customers Service and I have not received any answer yet.
D I S A P P O I N T I N G !

I would check your junk mail folder. Sometimes things inadvertently go to there if your e-mail client does not recognize the address. Would also contact them again if no reply at all and mention your previous e-mail.