Help! Sterling 4H set up.

[JayDawg]

Hey all,

Still playing the crud out of my Sterling that I got last month. I have a question about the set up though. Does anyone know how they come set up from the factory? When I received the bass, the strings were adjusted to all different heights. The E and G strings were really low near the pickup and the A and D strings were set really high. I tinkered with the bass and pretty much have them now all set at an even level but would like to adjust the bass to factory settings and was wondering if anyone could help me out with what the factory set up is?

Also, I have decided to try and purchase 2 Big Al's with the 3 single coil pickups in them. The two that I want is one to be black and the other to be metallic red. I know a few people on here have purchased a metallic red Big Al but I was wondering if anyone knows if those colors will still be available after this year for the Big Al's?
Thanks,
Jason

 

[mmbassplayer]

First check relief in the neck by holding the lowest string down on the 2nd fret with your fretting (left) hand. Then, hold the same string down on the 12th fret with your plucking thumb and tap on the string in the middle to see how straight the neck is. There should be no more than the thickness of a business card between the string and the frets. If there is no relief in the neck, a little pressure in the middle of the neck (after adjusting the trussrod wheel) should help.
The standard string gauge is .45-.100 with a .130 on the low "B" for the 5 string at 440 tuning. If you decide to tune down, typically you would increase the gauge for every 1/2 step downward that you tune. This will keep most of the measurements close by having more tension on the neck.

Factory String heights are: Bass side 3/32 to 7/64 Treble side: 5/64" to 7/64" from the top of the 12th fret to the bottom of the string. The rest of the strings should have the radius of the fretboard when looking at the top of the string, (with the A string hidden from view by the E string, etc.), rotating the bass at the same time. The "right" string height is, of course, ultimately determined by your playing style.

The pickup should be 4/32" to 5/32" on the bass side and slightly closer (4/32" to 5/32" on the treble side. This is determined by tuning and volume of strings measured by the top of the pole piece to the bottom of the strings. If the G string needs more volume, adjust it slightly more toward the pickup. Again, if you tune down, more distance is needed here, as well; but in any case, no lower than 4/32".

If fret buzz occurs from the open to the fifth fret, the neck needs more relief. If it buzzes between the 5th fret and the 12th fret, the neck needs to be straighter (turn the wheel slightly clockwise). If it occurs all over the neck, the string height need to increase (by turning the trussrod wheel slightly counter-clockwise).

For intonation: Check the harmonics to the fretted note on the 12th note on the twelfth fret if you don't play much above that fret. If you do, also check the harmonics at the 19th fret after the 12th fret is set. If the fretted note is sharp, you need to make the string longer by turning the saddle screw counterclockwise, and vice versa. Make sure that the string are coming off of the saddle straight and not in an arch. All measurements must be rechecked after each adjustment.

JOSH

 

[JayDawg]

Awesome! Thank you Josh!