Help! musicman factory specs?

[IvanHardy]

I need help with help on how to set up my Stealth SLO bass to factory settigns. i thought i might try it because the action is too low and there's too much fret buzz from the open to the fifth. thing is i don't want to add relief to the neck because i like my neck how it is and i have OCD so more relief would bug the crap out of me.

I currently have the bass set with Regular slinky's but in a couple of days i want to upgrade to Power slinky's on the bass again.

what i'm not understanding is the measurements said in the f.a.q. like i don't know exactly what to be measuring and i'll admit i am an idiot. am i supposed to be measuring from where the string is to where the fret is or what? what do they mean from the top of the 12th fret to the bottom of the string?

Another question is when i put the Power Slinky's on would i have to raise the saddles because of the string gauge?

 

[danny-79]

Recent thread talking about set up. http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/44699-setup-specs.html

 

[maddog]

I need help with help on how to set up my Stealth SLO bass to factory settigns. i thought i might try it because the action is too low and there's too much fret buzz from the open to the fifth. thing is i don't want to add relief to the neck because i like my neck how it is and i have OCD so more relief would bug the crap out of me.

I'd suggest addressing your OCDness. If you got fret buzz from 1st-5th it indicates not enough relief. To add, stating that you have "too much fret buzz" and then "i like my neck how it is" is a bit contradictory.

what do they mean from the top of the 12th fret to the bottom of the string?

Top of the 12 fret is the point on the 12th fret that contacts the string when you fret at 12. The bottom of the string is the point on the string that contacts the fret when you fret at 12. You are measuring the distance between those two points with the string unfretted (open).

Another question is when i put the Power Slinky's on would i have to raise the saddles because of the string gauge?

most likely not but be prepared to do a full up setup. If the saddles and nut are unmodified, the lowest part of any gauge string will be the same. The saddle and nut are your contact points and aren't going any lower in changing the string. With this said, best to be prepared for a full setup since tension is going to increase a good bit. In the least, you'll have to change the relief to accommodate the higher tension but every bass reacts differently.

Good luck.

 

[IvanHardy]

I'd suggest addressing your OCDness. If you got fret buzz from 1st-5th it indicates not enough relief. To add, stating that you have "too much fret buzz" and then "i like my neck how it is" is a bit contradictory.



Top of the 12 fret is the point on the 12th fret that contacts the string when you fret at 12. The bottom of the string is the point on the string that contacts the fret when you fret at 12. You are measuring the distance between those two points with the string unfretted (open).



most likely not but be prepared to do a full up setup. If the saddles and nut are unmodified, the lowest part of any gauge string will be the same. The saddle and nut are your contact points and aren't going any lower in changing the string. With this said, best to be prepared for a full setup since tension is going to increase a good bit. In the least, you'll have to change the relief to accommodate the higher tension but every bass reacts differently.

Good luck.

yeah i'll have my ruler ready and all to do the set up after i get my power slinky's. after i put them on ill try to set it up with factory specs. even with power slinky's should i do the regular specs according to F.A.Q?

 

[maddog]

factory specs are good.

 

[IvanHardy]

factory specs are good.

how is the action on factory specs? and am i gonna have to mess with the trussrod because i don't know the relief setting on factory specs.

 

[maddog]

how is the action on factory specs?

fine but depends heavily on string gauge. The higher the tension, the harder to fret. Although, with higher tension, you should be able to go lower.

and am i gonna have to mess with the trussrod because i don't know the relief setting on factory specs.

More than likely, you'll have to adjust the trussrod. Power Slinkys are larger gauge and will be at a higher tension when tuned. So the trussrod will need to be tightened to counteract the higher tension. Not sure on factory spec but I set my relief to a business card. Fret 1 and 12 and tighten trussrod until only a business card will slip between string and 6th fret.

Some do the tink test. Fret 1 and 12th and add just enough relief so that you hear a tink when tapping the string at the 6th fret.

 

[IvanHardy]

fine but depends heavily on string gauge. The higher the tension, the harder to fret. Although, with higher tension, you should be able to go lower.



More than likely, you'll have to adjust the trussrod. Power Slinkys are larger gauge and will be at a higher tension when tuned. So the trussrod will need to be tightened to counteract the higher tension. Not sure on factory spec but I set my relief to a business card. Fret 1 and 12 and tighten trussrod until only a business card will slip between string and 6th fret.

Some do the tink test. Fret 1 and 12th and add just enough relief so that you hear a tink when tapping the string at the 6th fret.

in my short time of setting up i've always done the business card thing at the 7th fret. ok so with more tension i can go a little lower with the action. i'll put it to factory specs then see if i want to go lower. thank you. thing was i remember one guy at the guitar center i go to telling me not to use power slinky's for EADG. it was weird because i've used them before and my black/maple Ray has power slinky's in EADG.

 

[projectapollo]

I'm still seeking clarification on the pickup height for basses with dual pickups. FAQ says 4.76 mm for single pickup and 6.35 for the neck pickup, if present. It seems to me that the basses I've seen have these both set at the 4.76 height. I set my HH bongo to the FAQ setting and the output from the neck pickup seemed noticeably lower than the bridge. So I went back to 4.76 for both. Then the Big Al presents three pickups! Yikes. Are there specs for the height for each? I have them all set the same at the moment and it sounds very even in level as I switch among them.

 

[IvanHardy]

i've set my basses as best as i could to factory specs with power slinky's and there's not that much fret buzzlike with the regular slinky's.

and Apollo i guess keeping both pickups at the same height would be good according to what u said.

 

[garythenuke]

I just adjusted my Bongo back to factory specs based on the main site FAQ page. What a difference it makes. It took about 30 minutes with me, my digital calipers, my Bongo and my OCD. It really does sound and handle differently now (in a good way). Why do people insist on tweaking so far from factory specs???