picture request - Bongo pickup heights

[Grand Wazoo]

By the look in comparison between my pics and yours I can see 2 major differences: 1) your neck pickup is set lower than mine and your action is a bit higher than mine.

What you said about measuring differences between strapped on bass and resting on its back would only show in the mid neck area around fret 12 but on the body there will hardly be any difference as you are too close to the bridge to have a noticable difference. As I've said a few times I am very happy with my set up I get a very equally balanced volume from both pickups and across all the 5 strings, of course both pickups together are louder but their individual volume is very much on par. Also to note my string action is set perfectly, with hardly any buzz or none that it is picked up by the amp anyway. My theory is if it ain't broke don't fix it.

 

[shakinbacon]

By the look in comparison between my pics and yours I can see 2 major differences: 1) your neck pickup is set lower than mine and your action is a bit higher than mine.

What you said about measuring differences between strapped on bass and resting on its back would only show in the mid neck area around fret 12 but on the body there will hardly be any difference as you are too close to the bridge to have a noticable difference. As I've said a few times I am very happy with my set up I get a very equally balanced volume from both pickups and across all the 5 strings, of course both pickups together are louder but their individual volume is very much on par. Also to note my string action is set perfectly, with hardly any buzz or none that it is picked up by the amp anyway. My theory is if it ain't broke don't fix it.

I agree with your theory. However, I bought the bass used and it definitely wasn't a factory setup when I got it.

 

[shakinbacon]

By the look in comparison between my pics and yours I can see 2 major differences: 1) your neck pickup is set lower than mine and your action is a bit higher than mine.

What you said about measuring differences between strapped on bass and resting on its back would only show in the mid neck area around fret 12 but on the body there will hardly be any difference as you are too close to the bridge to have a noticable difference. As I've said a few times I am very happy with my set up I get a very equally balanced volume from both pickups and across all the 5 strings, of course both pickups together are louder but their individual volume is very much on par. Also to note my string action is set perfectly, with hardly any buzz or none that it is picked up by the amp anyway. My theory is if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Not sure why your saying my action is higher than yours. If anything I was gonna say it was lower. Can you explain

This is driving me nuts

 

[nicjimbass]

I agree with your theory. However, I bought the bass used and it definitely wasn't a factory setup when I got it.

Not at all...lol.

 

[nicjimbass]

Not sure why your saying my action is higher than yours. If anything I was gonna say it was lower. Can you explain

This is driving me nuts

Just bite the bullet and get a mechanics rule, or whatever it's called. They sell them at Sears, which is where I got mine, or most hardware stores I imagine.

 

[shakinbacon]

Just bite the bullet and get a mechanics rule, or whatever it's called. They sell them at Sears, which is where I got mine, or most hardware stores I imagine.

Actually I got a nice digital micrometer. However the metal 1/32 ruler seems to do about as well a job.



NicJim - I wasn't complaining that the setup wasn't factory. I just am trying to get it back to see if I like it. Do you recall what you ended up with for a setting?

Thanks

 

[nicjimbass]

I totally understand you weren't complaining!

IIRC, I had the action set to about 3/32" on the B string and about 2/32" on the G string. Then again, you may be able to add 1/32" to each of those as I think I was reading the micrometer wrong all this time. Pickups were both 6/32" from the bottom of the B string, 5/32" from the bottom of the G.

Actually I got a nice digital micrometer. However the metal 1/32 ruler seems to do about as well a job.



NicJim - I wasn't complaining that the setup wasn't factory. I just am trying to get it back to see if I like it. Do you recall what you ended up with for a setting?

Thanks

 

[shakinbacon]

I totally understand you weren't complaining!

IIRC, I had the action set to about 3/32" on the B string and about 2/32" on the G string. Then again, you may be able to add 1/32" to each of those as I think I was reading the micrometer wrong all this time. Pickups were both 6/32" from the bottom of the B string, 5/32" from the bottom of the G.

You know what? That is very close to what I'm finding is working best in terms of equalizing volume on the strings for me too!

Thanks for the info!

 

[nicjimbass]

You know what? That is very close to what I'm finding is working best in terms of equalizing volume on the strings for me too!

Thanks for the info!

I think we're similar then... I think I messed around a bit with the pickups on the SR5 but ended up pretty close to where they were when I first got it....lol.

 

[shakinbacon]

I think we're similar then... I think I messed around a bit with the pickups on the SR5 but ended up pretty close to where they were when I first got it....lol.

Scary thought huh? Our wives might have some topics of conversation ya think?