Finally got her set up.

[maddog]

Took awhile, several nights, but I think I got my bass finally setup. Intonation looks good. Action is nice, a little higher than I prefer but the tension feels good. Something odd is going on around the 7th and 8th frets. I'll eventually get it in for a professional opinion but for now, it works.

Thanks, Tom K., for the advice. Ended up working out a mutt of a process between you and Gav.

Now, time to focus on practicing.

 

[Randracula]

I feel like i'm missing something, is there a related thread to this one?If not please share whatever tips you got on setup

 

[maddog]

I guess it is a bit out of context. Running some low tension flats on my Bongo5. Never really did a proper setup when I slapped 'em on the bass. So I sat down last sunday to work on it. Got several hours into it, got the intonation set but couldn't get the action down to where I usually have it. Very frustrated at this point. So I took a break, pm-ed a few bored members for advice. Heard back and decided I'd start in on it another night. Finally got back to it tonight and got it into a decent place.

The real problem was fret buzz at the 7th, 8th and 9th frets on the D string that I couldn't get rid of without raising the D-string way high. So i tried a couple approaches and wound up doing the following:

1. Straighten out the neck.
2. Set the saddles so strings are 3/32" above the 12th fret.
3. Slowly added relief until the buzzing stopped on the previously mentioned spots.
4. Lowered the strings down to the point where the buzz was back
5. Raised strings a hair to kill the buzz.

Would like to get somebody to look at the neck because it is so localised but it works fine now. The relief is a little more than the thickness of a business card when fretting at 1 and 12. The action around 1/8" or slightly under. So I think it is OK.

 

[Randracula]

I was having a problem with the G on the Sterling that I just got.It was buzzing up above the 12th fret so I raised the action and then it was vibrating against the first fret when I played open G.A few days of making small adjustments between the action and trussrod and I finally got it playing pretty good.Oh yeah,the best thing I did was take off the GHS stainless that were on it and put on some EB Nickel Slinky's Glad to hear you made it through your crisis as well

 

[tkarter]

Glad I could assist you Tom. If those were new strings they will dull out some and you may be able to go a bit lower. However, that is what I call low any way.

Practice and smile about getting the job done.

tk

 

[Figjam]

Part of the reason i love my sterling is because of the consitancy across the board. I can have my strings in the perfect playing position and relative heights, no real problematic strings.

 

[Golem]

.... real problem was fret buzz at the 7th, 8th and 9th frets on the D string that I couldn't get rid of without raising the D-string way high. So i tried a couple approaches and wound up doing the following:

1. Straighten out the neck.
2. Set the saddles so strings are 3/32" above the 12th fret.
3. Slowly added relief until the buzzing stopped on the previously mentioned spots.
4. Lowered the strings down to the point where the buzz was back
5. Raised strings a hair to kill the buzz.

Would like to get somebody to look at the neck because it is so localised but it works fine now. The relief is a little more than the thickness of a business card when fretting at 1 and 12. The action around 1/8" or slightly under. So I think it is OK.

That set up sounds exactly right, for a basic starting point. But if you wanted lower action, you *should* be able to drop below that 1/8" @ 12th.

How do you judge buzz? By ear in a quiet room or amped up at modest volume? Lower tension strings do have a larger excursion, and so you have to tolerate a hint of buzz to get lowest action. By 'hint of buzz' I mean noticeable by ear in a quiet room, but amped up you should hear no buzz thru the amp using a gentle right hand and a mildly audible buzz with an aggressive right hand.

Let the strings break in. The excursions are obviously harmonic waves since the buzz is not at the midpoint of the speaking length of the string. Nothing between the nut and the 12th can ever be the midpoint of *any* note. Harmonics will change as the strings break in. Did you do the string stretching massage along the strings? Also, harmonics are altered by right hand location along the string.

I notice most players' right hands usually remain at the two favorite spots: heal of neck, and over the PU. They switch between their favorite spots, but the right hand is usually not following the left hand along the neck in an elastic relationship. If you tend to play in a couple of favorite right hand locations, see if both buzz equally. You may have to move the one the buzzes more, not very far but just enuf.

 

[stevenee]

I just got my bass setup the other day, 75$ for new strings, truss rod adjustment, and to lower the action...and i think they threw in a new 9v battery as well

-steve