Setup Issues

[LeftyBass]

Folks,

I need some assistance... The last 3 (new) basses I bought had significant set up issues. I've managed to fix 2 of them (one at a considerable cost) but, am stumped on my latest acquisition..

I purchased a Lefty Sting Ray (Maple Neck).. Coming pretty much direct from the factory, the action was bad (I've made some adjustments) and I am haveing a significant issue with string volume (pickup height).. The G string is nonexistant and the A is overpowering... I've tried adjusting the pickup but, to no avail... Any suggestions or, reccomendation of a decent luthier in the Philly area would be great...

The first MM I bought (a Sterling) came set up beautifully from the factory.. After that, forget it... These ain't cheap basses either. You would think that they would leave the factory in better shape.

Any help is appreciated.

Mark
LeftyBass

 

[mynan]

Here's a link to the FAQ section of the EB website. Start by putting it to factory specs.

http://www.ernieball.com/faq_content.php?subjectcode=mm_basses

 

[T-bone]

This must be an April Fools joke.

Welcome, Leftybass. Mynan hit it dead on with the link. That, or you should try customer service. They're the best (and that ain't no joke).

tbone

 

[LeftyBass]

Bryan,
Thanks...
Mark

 

[LeftyBass]

This must be an April Fools joke.

Welcome, Leftybass. Mynan hit it dead on with the link. That, or you should try customer service. They're the best (and that ain't no joke).

tbone

Guess I picked a bad day to post (April fool's joke) ... Love the basses though... Nothing like 'em...

 

[Baird]

If it isn't a joke, weather changes can wreak havoc on basses. I recently pulled a really expensive non EBMM bass out of it's case and in less then a month of not playing it, the action went from perfect to Jamerson-esque! it must be 1/2 inch+ off the fretboard.

This is a problem for those of us with hot summers and cold winters. Humidity can also be an issue.

 

[Brim]

Call Customer Service - especially since you bought it brand-new.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Folks,

I need some assistance... The last 3 (new) basses I bought had significant set up issues. I've managed to fix 2 of them (one at a considerable cost) but, am stumped on my latest acquisition..

I purchased a Lefty Sting Ray (Maple Neck).. Coming pretty much direct from the factory, the action was bad (I've made some adjustments) and I am haveing a significant issue with string volume (pickup height).. The G string is nonexistant and the A is overpowering... I've tried adjusting the pickup but, to no avail... Any suggestions or, reccomendation of a decent luthier in the Philly area would be great...

The first MM I bought (a Sterling) came set up beautifully from the factory.. After that, forget it... These ain't cheap basses either. You would think that they would leave the factory in better shape.

Any help is appreciated.

Mark
LeftyBass

All instruments leave the factory in a perfectly set up condition. Have you approached the store from where you bought them.

 

[LeftyBass]

Thanks for the repy

The most recent bass was shipped directly to the store, then directly to me.. It was still wrapped in plastic when I got it. I work in "MI" so, the "store" in question was doing me a favor as an employee of a fellow retailer. None of the basses were purchased locally where I could "take it back" for adjustments.

I own the following EB Basses... Each one with a story and, what I believe to be, a pattern that might intimate some QC issues at EB... (all Left Handed)

Sterling - Maple Neck: Purchased through Curt (Ind-Accom) after playing the bass at a NAMM show a few years back... Arrived with a perfect setup and playability.
Stingray - 5 String w/Rosewood Neck: Weighs a friggin' ton (that's not your issue).. Came straight from EB to Dealer to me.. Still in plastiic. Had to tweak the relief and re-intonate. I did a good job (If I do say so myself)
Sterling - Rosewood Neck: Came in set up fairly well.. Very playable. 3 months after I had it, the 3rd fret mysteriously raised up creating a buzz while playing a G note on the E string. I checked "levelness", etc. and ended up going to a luthier to have fretwork done... This guy is well known (he builds guitars for some top Jazz folks in the US and beyond).. He had a hard time figuring the problem out. He fixed it and it now sounds great... But I'm a few hundred $$ short.
Stingray 4 string - Maple Neck: The bass that caused me to ask for help in the first place...

So, I can't agree that the basses come from the factory set up that well... All in all though, I still love the instruments... It's just a little frustrating...

Thanks for listening,

Mark

 

[mynan]

Mark,

Try to keep in mind that your experience is extremely rare. EB is literally world-renowned for consistent quality in the instruments that they produce.

As far as setup goes, there is no perfect setup...only the perfect setup for you, and your perfect setup is going to be different than mine or anyone else's. I bought my first SR5 from GC after it had been hanging on the wall for nearly a year and by then, the setup was terrible. I was having similar issues with string volume and I couldn't get rid of the fretbuzz without the strings being a mile off the fretboard. I thought I had a lemon so I called customer service and they had me send it in. I turns out that I was not the setup expert that I thought I was and that was all it needed. I got the bass back a week after I had sent it in and it was perfect. I had to raise the action on a couple strings because I'm a little ham-fisted, but that's all. My point is that a good setup from someone who REALLY knows what they are doing can fix a lot of problems and the guys at EB know what they are doing.

Your Sterling fret issue was a warranty issue. You should have contacted customer service, which is also world-renowned for being the best in the business, and they would have taken care of it. You would have only been about $50 short...shipping it to Cali.

How's it going with the SR4? Have you been able to get anywhere with it?

 

[KennethB]

Wow, 3 out of 4 basses with setup issues. That's a lot. I've never had setup issues with any of my EBMMs. Maybe I've been lucky?
And since your bass is not in my hands I can't help you. Sorry!

 

[mynan]

Wow, 3 out of 4 basses with setup issues. That's a lot. I've never had setup issues with any of my EBMMs. Maybe I've been lucky?
And since your bass is not in my hands I can't help you. Sorry!

I wouldn't really call the 2nd one a setup issue. Anything could have happened in transit (climate change, UPS guy venting some frustration) to cause it to need a truss-rod adjustment, and any time you adjust the truss-rod you are going to have to adjust the intonation.

 

[bovinehost]

I own the following EB Basses... Each one with a story and, what I believe to be, a pattern that might intimate some QC issues at EB... (all Left Handed)

Quite a few of us have been to SLO and have seen how the basses are built and setup. I don't think you'll get much agreement on there being a pattern or QC issues.

Look at it this way.

1. Your maple board Sterling? Perfect.
2. Your rosewood Stingray 5? Perfect. (Having to adjust relief/intonation is not an "issue" - it's like checking the tires on your car.)
3. Your rosewood Sterling may have had a fret raise, but was under warranty and could have been checked and repaired if necessary with no cost to you.
4. New Stingray. If you can't figure out what's going on with it, then call customer service and they will take care of you.

But it's not going to be solved with 'opinions'. No one here can see your bass, play your bass, much less suggest a 'fix'.

So before this gets defensive, I'm going to give you the only opinion that can really help you: call customer service.

Jack



EDIT:

Mark,

For some reason, my outgoing PMs aren't working, so - Gavin had nothing to do with closing that thread - 'twas I.

If it were 'censorship', then I would have just deleted the thread. I thought you had your opportunity to express your concerns and I also thought you got a few good replies.

I didn't close the thread because of anything YOU said. I closed it because soon the posse would have come riding to the 'rescue' of EBMM. I try to control this group as best I can but I also try to do it as little as possible. I'm not a heavy-handed moderator, is what I'm trying to say - but the natives can be very defensive. They've extremely loyal.

Any disappointment you may feel should be directed at me, not at the company or Gavin or BP or anyone else.

Jack