Hey MM owners! How's your bass setup?

[Kennyhoe]

I have mine currently w/ medium-high action (about 4/32" at the 12th fret since I play w/ a pick). There's no string buzz. However, I heard that the MM's actually sound better with some string buzz (to a certain extent). Is this true? How's the setup on your bass(es)? Any string buzz?

 

[silly]

yes they sound awesome with string buzz when playing with a pick
its gives a punchy buzzy punk tone
i think its cool

 

[CW Zing]

Pick buzz on SR's does sound cool!

My SR5 is set up as per the Ernie Ball FAQ (3/32" at 12th), same with the pickup (5/64" from top of pole piece to bottom of string). I make sure that the neck is almost straight, and maybe once in a while I'll lower the strings just a to-o-o-ou-u-uch.

For the longest time I had the strings really low, the bass hated it -- and as soon as I set it up factory-style, the bass was happy again.
It could "breathe" a little easier.

I've been experimenting with neck shims to raise the upper register of the neck with trimmed Tortex picks between the body pocket and neck. The reason for this was that my G saddle at its lowest possible position still had the string off the fretboard about 4/32"(neck warp? ). Now with the shim the saddles might be too high... It's fun to play bass doctor.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Initially I set the neck straight. The strings are then set to 3/32" at the 17th...up or down a tad consistent with no buzz from middle of the neck up to the heel. If there's buzz on the first 4 or 5 frets I loosen the neck slightly to add a bit of relief. The G is then lowered 1/4 turn and the A and D is lowered proportionately to meet the G. Recheck for buzzes and that's it.

End result is 2/32" at the 12th fret with paper width relief at the 6th or 7th fret. The frets are perfectly level

I use a pic and play with a medium touch. I can get a lower action playing with fingers but prefer the pic.

 

[Kennyhoe]

Thanx for the replies!

Whoa Gav, how do you set it so low without any buzz....especially w/ a pick? That's like....crazy.

I've tried to set my bass up. By first adjusting the truss rod. there's about a paper thickness, but it still looks bowed (illusion from the strings, perhaps). I then lower the string height, and before I can even hit 3/32" on the 12th fret of E, it buzzes. Any suggestions on how to solve this? I don't think I pick very hard...

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

>>>but it still looks bowed (illusion from the strings, perhaps)

I think that's the case. Depending on the angle of view, I experience the same.

Seated with Bass in the play position, depress the E string at 1st fret (left hand). Use thumb of right hand and depress the E at the 12th at the same time....in such a way that the middle finger of the right hand is pointing towards the headstock. Use that middle finger to depress the string at around the 6th or 7th fret.

That's where I check relief.

Alternatively, eye down the side of the neck looking from the headstock towards the body.

Either way, you'll soon know if the neck has excessive bow.

>>>before I can even hit 3/32" on the 12th fret of E, it buzzes.

My Bass was stored for 9 years after purchase so it's still brand new. The frets are dead level. You may find that one of your frets higher up the neck is a tad high. That doesn't mean to say that anything's wrong with it. For low action the frets have to be level. My Pre-EB used to buzz at the 10th fret on the D string. The 11th fret was just a fraction high. If it's a worry, a luthier should be able to level the fret at a reasonable price.

 

[Fuzzy Dustmite]

When I first got my bass (used), I took it straight to my setup guy (well, he's now my setup guy...hadn't used him before that, but he came highly recommended), cause there was quite a bit of fret buzz, and I don't know what I'm doing as far as that goes.

He dressed the frets, since there were some higher than others, set my action, adjusted the saddles for the radius of the neck, and set the pickup height. He also added a neck shim to increase the break of the string over the saddles, and replaced the nut as the slots were too deep on two of the strings.

After that, plays like a dream. $40 for the setup, $40 for the fret dress, & $20 for the new nut and neck shim...$100 out the door. A good investment seeing how nicely it plays now.

Don't know what height he set it to, but I gave him a run down of how I play (fingerstyle, medium attack, tuned down 1/2 step) and he set it up accordingly.

 

[Kennyhoe]

Hmm, maybe I'll take it to a local setup guy. I don't think my SR should have a problem though, it's only a year and 2 months old.

 

[shaver]

i dont know how to describe it in your terms with numbers, but mines low, and my G's even lower

 

[spectorbassguy]

I replaced the E-B Regular Slinky's on mine with T-I PowerBass Round Wounds. The B string is smaller so I get a great non-buzz, non-flop low end and keep the action pretty low. The smaller B seems to have more tension. I like the tone better too.