more even string height

[alansan]

Hi,
I havn't been on the forum lately but I have a question about the string height on my SR5. My objective is to achieve low action with as even a string height as possible up the length of the fretboard.

I have done a search but I think my case is unusual in that I have a piezo bridge. Currently I have:

- 1.5mm of neck relief

- The 'G' string saddle is as low as it can go

- Even with this very small amount of relief the height of the 'G' at the body end of the neck is higher than at the nut

Do I need to shim the neck or are there any other set-up options I can try from anyone's experience?

Thanks for looking
Alansan

 

[prickly_pete]

I probably just don't understand your question, but I have never played a bass where the strings were the same distance from the fretboard at the nut and at the body.

 

[adouglas]

AFAIK you don't *want* the strings that low, or you'll get massive fret buzz.

When the string vibrates, its center point (at the 12th fret) moves a lot more than points near the ends. You need to leave room for this, or it'll whack into the frets and go bzzzzzzzzzz.

So your string height at the 1st fret is (and should be) very low, while the height farther up the neck is much higher.

Sight down your neck. See that slight upward curve? That's intentional. It's supposed to be there.

 

[alansan]

Thanks for the responses. Yep, I know all about that upward curve, I've been setting up my own basses for years

My favorite bass (for playability) just happens to be a neck-through-body where the string height at the nut and the body end are much more similar, with no buzzing. Granted that the string height on that particular bass at the nut is higher than on my SR5. A diffferent trade-off I suppose.

Maybe an adjustable bridge is the answer for my taste in set-up.