Help with my Stingray...another truss rod issue :(

[Coinsmuggler]

Ok so I bought a Stingray and thought that the action was a bit high for my taste. So after reading just about every post on these forums I thought I knew what I was doing and grabbed a credit card and my bass. I fretted the 2nd and 12th fret and noticed that there was no room for a credit card which I assumed meant that I needed to add some relief to the neck. So I turned the wheel counter clock wise and after checking the bass I noticed that there was now a buzz from the middle frets, and the action was much to high for my taste...even though a credit card still didnt fit between the strings and the fret.

After letting that settle I came back and decided to turn the rod the other way. So I put the wheel back to the position it was in, but now its still buzzing in the middle frets.

My guess is that there is still not enough relief in the neck, no gap in between the strings when i do the fretting 2nd and 12th thing. So once I add enough relief the action is gonna be way too high...so Ill have to adjust the bridge...

Is lowering the bridge gonna effect relief? What I mean is If i add relief, then lower the bridge do I have to add more relief?

I don't know what's more confusing..setting up my bass or taxes!

Any way I'm very intrigued to see what you all think, any advice or tips in setting up my bass will be appreciated. and in the mean time I am gonna try to find a good guitar tech for when my tax return comes back.

by the way this is the link I used to check relief How do I set up my Music Man bass? | Music Man Basses | F.A.Q.

Thanks For Your Advice!

 

[TNT]

What credit card did you use?

 

[phatduckk]

changing saddle height doesn't change the relief at all. the strings will raise or lower and you'll probably have to reset your intonation.

honestly, if you dont know what you're doing just take it to a tech

 

[maddog]

imo, credit card is too much. business card or less.

as phatty pointed out, the saddles have nothing to do with relief. Relief is all in the truss rod.

 

[Coinsmuggler]

I have 6 days to return this bass to GC for a full refund...so I think Im gonna try to find a Luthier in my town tomorrow and have him check it out...

I'm worried that having such high action...even when the neck has no relief could be a major problem with the instrument.

 

[bradfordws]

I always adjust the bridge saddles first and set the height at 3/32" at the last fret - that is 3/32 between the top of the last fret and the string. Then, I sort of use my elbow to hold down the E string at the last fret so I can have a free hand to push down on the string in the middle of the neck and see how much clearance I have (while holding down the string at the first fret with the other hand). I've heard of guys using business cards, credit cards, feeler gauges - but I have a feel for this now and don't use anything. All I know is I don't want the string touching the fret at the mid point of the neck - a little relief is all you need if you like low action and you're not a heavy hitter. I like lower action too, so I try and set all my basses up the same.

 

[bovinehost]

I have 6 days to return this bass to GC for a full refund...so I think Im gonna try to find a Luthier in my town tomorrow and have him check it out...

I'm worried that having such high action...even when the neck has no relief could be a major problem with the instrument.

1. If you aren't comfortable with setting relief and saddle height, it can be counterproductive.

2. Taking it to a luthier is a fine idea as long as the luthier in question knows what he/she is doing with a bass. Trust me - some don't.

3. The bass is new? From Guitar Center? Then it should have been set to factory specs, which are entirely within the comfort range for about 99 percent of all electric bassists.

 

[Coinsmuggler]

Unfortunately I don't know any techs in the area the one I used before went out of business. So who ever I find is gonna be new too me...

And yes it was new from guitar center but I checked when this bass was made and it was 2 years ago...Alot can happen to a bass in GC over two years...people can buy it, mess with it..and bring it back. Or the weather changes, or dropping in the store, or being pounded on by 5 year olds...you get the picture.

 

[strummer]

And yes it was new from guitar center but I checked when this bass was made and it was 2 years ago...Alot can happen to a bass in GC over two years...people can buy it, mess with it..and bring it back. Or the weather changes, or dropping in the store, or being pounded on by 5 year olds...you get the picture.

Does not matter one iota!
I am sure they will gladly do the set up for you, as they will want happy customers.

 

[Al Heeley]

+1, good advice, take it back to the shop and ask them for some advice or a decent setup.