Help! Shimming the neck of a Bongo 5

[Redwood]

Hey guys,
Quick question: I have an '04 Bongo 5 SHp. The saddle for the G has just about bottomed out. So I am thinking I need to shim the neck.
The question is, should I start with one piece of card stock, how large should I cut it (as in should it extend almost the entire length and width of the neck pocket), and should the neck screws go through the card stock when I install?
And/or, if anyone can direct me to a thread, or instruction on this topic on this site or (God forbid LOL) another, I would greatly appreciate it.

Happy Thump Day,
Jim

 

[adouglas]

Welcome to the forum!

The wisest man I ever met taught me a valuable lesson:

"Never overlook the obvious."

Have you adjusted relief properly? Are you aware of the impact of turning the truss wheel on string height?

The reason I ask is that what seems the obvious way to address a high action is to lower the bridge saddles, so that's what most people who are unfamiliar with proper setup procedure do. I've done it in the past before I figured things out.

Unfortunately, that's also the wrong way to do it 99.999 percent of the time. The vast majority... no, let me restate that... THE VAST MAJORITY of string height issues are dealt with using the truss rod, not the saddles.

I've got four Music Man basses and the only time I ever had to adjust the saddles AT ALL was when I briefly strung my fretless E-C. I tweak the trussrod all the time, though, as the weather changes. At least monthly, though I don't keep track. It's that routine.

So, if your relief is adjusted right and your saddle is STILL bottomed out (certainly possible but to be honest unlikely), then shimming the neck is the next step. But before you do it I'd strongly suggest doing a full setup so you know for certain how things stand.

As far as a direct answer to your question, I'd be speculating since I've never had to shim a neck before. However, it doesn't make sense to me to make the shim the full length and width of the neck pocket. All that would accomplish is raise the neck evenly relative to the body. You're asking to tilt the neck. Thus... shim the back end of the pocket, towards the bridge, right?

 

[Redwood]

Yes, relief is set. Minimal as a matter of fact. I have a light touch and like close action. And I live in the Great White North, so setting the truss rod is a seasonal right of passage.
My original thought was that the with the piezo bridge, there might be more "depth" to the saddle. And it's not bottomed out, but closer than I'd like. Maybe a millimeter.
I've also been trying a few different string types recently. I put on a set of flats and obviously had to adjust the trussrod for the increase in tension. And the neck is almost dead straight. Still with very little room left to adjust the saddle down.
That's what lead me to the initial thought of shimming.
After I wrote the initial question, I thought about it, and it was pretty stupid to assume that the shim would run the whole length of the pocket. Would negate the desired results. But hey, it's early. My brain is still in second gear. LOL

Thank for your quick response. Bass players rock, don't they? ;-)

 

[melvin7822]

What you should do is contact customer service. You can actually ask them to send you a set of shims. The shim typically goes across the bottom two screws inside the neck pocket.

 

[Redwood]

I should have thought of that immediately, given the awesome customer service.
Thanks Mel

 

[five7]

or make your own

 

[TNT]

Jim, there are a few other things to look at as well. All good advice above!!

Don't use card stock though, use custom cut brass shims (any hardware store has them, buy a variety of sizes). All my guitars have shims in 2 locations (neck pocket & each string saddle). My action is PERFECT on each individual string.

Depending on how techical you want to get; However, it is not just a matter of laying a shim down in the pocket, (if you're going to do it right), because typically it calls for "2 shims of "different" widths placed correctly in the pocket. And, you cannot "crank" down the neck screws!!!! Just gently snug.

Not only that, you can disfigure and warp your neck if not done right. This may save you a little grief.

 

[strummer]

What you should do is contact customer service. You can actually ask them to send you a set of shims. The shim typically goes across the bottom two screws inside the neck pocket.

This