EBMM4 Setup Help

[cassius987]

Hey everyone. This is my first post so I hope I don't step on any toes or piss anyone off by not recognizing local rules. I tried to brush up on the stickies.

Anyways, what prompted me to register is that after a month of playing on my first and only Ernie Ball Music Man (4 strings, c. 2001), I decided it needed an action adjustment, a neck cleaning, and some new strings of course. The strings and the neck I can handle... but... and forgive me for asking something so daft... where is the truss rod???

It looks like the truss rod is at the bottom of the neck where it fits into the body, buried beneath the body and the pearloid pickguard, but even when I remove the pickguard it is not accessible except by small hexagonal holes that outline it versus the very large one that appears to be in the center and that I assume is the one I am supposed to use. And if I should be using the small ones on its periphery, what size wrench, because none of mine fit well enough???

Also, and this is just a side note, upon removing the pickguard I noticed 4 drill holes for screws clustered together in a spot beneath the pickguard where they could serve no feasible purpose... has anyone else noticed this? I am confused.

Either way I love my bass but I have no idea how to adjust the action on it very effectively, or at this rate, at all. Please help.

 

[AnthonyD]

EBMM guitars use the capsan wheel to adjust the truss rod. No need to remove anything (strings, pickguard, etc.).

Simply rotate the capsan wheel by using whatever fits in the small holes (small screw-driver, allen wrench, nail, etc.). ¼ turn or so at a time and then check your adjustment.

Some good information re: set-up can be found right here. You can also check the EBMM Bass FAQ or search this forum for additional threads.

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Urwordsbreakmed]

EBMM guitars use the capsan wheel to adjust the truss rod. No need to remove anything (strings, pickguard, etc.).

Simply rotate the capsan wheel by using whatever fits in the small holes (small screw-driver, allen wrench, nail, etc.). ¼ turn or so at a time and then check your adjustment.

Some good information re: set-up can be found right here. You can also check the EBMM Bass FAQ or search this forum for additional threads.

Welcome to the forum!

Handled very nicely I must say. They should give you a job at EB

 

[dlloyd]

Also, and this is just a side note, upon removing the pickguard I noticed 4 drill holes for screws clustered together in a spot beneath the pickguard where they could serve no feasible purpose... has anyone else noticed this? I am confused.

?

You sometimes see nail holes or screw holes under the pickguard of some guitars where they used them for finishing purposes, but they're never clustered.

Where are the holes? Can you post a photo?

 

[Samingo]

Handled very nicely I must say. They should give you a job at EB

That's why I love this forum

 

[AnthonyD]

Handled very nicely I must say. They should give you a job at EB

Just doin' my part!

You'll find there's plenty more here who do the same...

 

[cassius987]

?

You sometimes see nail holes or screw holes under the pickguard of some guitars where they used them for finishing purposes, but they're never clustered.

Where are the holes? Can you post a photo?

I don't have a digital camera, but since you've asked, I'll try to take a picture, scan it onto my PC and post it here.

Let me try to describe the drill holes in detail... until I post a photo for you.

Use the analogy of a clockface for the pickguard and what lies beneath it. The "normal" screws lie on the clock respective (sort of... it's really an egg shape after all) to 11 and 1, 9:30 and 2:30, 8:45 and 3:15, 7 and 5, and 6 o'clock, not including the drill holes around the pickup (2, lateral to), and the 5 (count 'em, 5) seemingly random, clustered drill holes. These drill holes, with respect to clock face, occur just inside of the border point "2:30", and make a shape similar to the pan in the Big Dipper. There is, obviously, no tail. However a fifth, extra point exists right beside one of the four points of the "dipper" and makes it seem even more pointless.

That's about as good as I can do for now.

 

[bovinehost]

Dude, them holes ain't right.

I don't know what they were for, but it didn't come from the factory that way, I can promise you that.

On the positive side, at least they're underneath the pickguard.

Would love to see a photo.

 

[dlloyd]

I don't have a digital camera, but since you've asked, I'll try to take a picture, scan it onto my PC and post it here.

Let me try to describe the drill holes in detail... until I post a photo for you.

Use the analogy of a clockface for the pickguard and what lies beneath it. The "normal" screws lie on the clock respective (sort of... it's really an egg shape after all) to 11 and 1, 9:30 and 2:30, 8:45 and 3:15, 7 and 5, and 6 o'clock, not including the drill holes around the pickup (2, lateral to), and the 5 (count 'em, 5) seemingly random, clustered drill holes. These drill holes, with respect to clock face, occur just inside of the border point "2:30", and make a shape similar to the pan in the Big Dipper. There is, obviously, no tail. However a fifth, extra point exists right beside one of the four points of the "dipper" and makes it seem even more pointless.

That's about as good as I can do for now.

My head hurts

 

[JB1]

Mine's just imploded....Big Dipper?

Fella, you lost me way before the 'Dipper' got involved

I think either a photo or perhaps something by way of a drawing might be useful here.

At any rate, the best you could do is fill them (I doubt unless they're very wide/deep they'll affect tone substantially) and as Bove said, they're under the PG so no worries.

Get a pic on here man, let's see what we've got.

 

[AnthonyD]

Glad I wasn't the only one!


If ever there was a need for a picture...

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Maybe the previous owner was trying to fit a finger rest and gave up when he saw what a mess he was making???

But a pic would be usefull.

 

[dlloyd]

Maybe the previous owner was trying to fit a finger rest and gave up when he saw what a mess he was making???

That's all I could think of. If it's at two-thirty on the pickguard it would be on the wrong side though... unless it's a lefty?

 

[cassius987]

Nope it's a righty... sorry my writing fails your senses It makes me feel bad. But at least I tried.

Like I said, I have no way set up to take a photo for this very moment... I've never been one to collect technology. That's probably why me no talk good. Anyways, I'll try to have a friend help me so I can get pics on here ASAP.

Thanks for the help to ALL! My setup on the truss rod went perfect after the explanation.

 

[Mobay45]

I've never been one to collect technology. That's probably why I no talk good.

Fixed it for you.