sterling - heat tolerance

[Psycho Ward]

A stupid question, but then I'm stupid. Remember I came from a different world.

Are you, as a bass player, supposed to be able to do your own set up?
I see guys setting up guitars and basses at the local music stores and there is no way in hell I would ever put my ButterCream bass on their nasty bench, I had one of my basses come back from a "professional" setup... well, violated!

As a sax player I replaced pads, sanded reeds, bent springs and in synth world I did chip set upgrades, sound programming, you know keeping your instruments in playing condition.

I've set up a couple of my basses, but aren't you supposed to? It didn't seem like rocket science to me.

(I ask because I'm in a white lab coat going to lower my SR4's action a bit...)

 

[Aussie Mark]

Are you, as a bass player, supposed to be able to do your own set up?

Absolutely. Why give $50 to some pimply kid at your local music store to do something that you can learn in 15 minutes of reading and hands-on pratice?

 

[tkarter]

IMHO if you play it who knows better how to set it up for you? It isn't rocket science nor that hard to do.

Hard to be exceptional at setting up for someone else unless your name is Jon or Dudley.

With all the documentation on the Internet and this site alone anyone that can read should be able to setup his or her own bass.

IMHO once again

tk

 

[bovinehost]

Lemme tell you, I was as dumb as a box of rocks for a long time (no surprise there, I'm sure, and I'm ready for incoming, Sterling) regarding how to adjust my own damned instrument. Considering I started playing bass long before the Beatles broke up (no reflection on my expertise, I've just sucked for a long time), I really knew zip for most of my life.

Now - unless it were Jon - I wouldn't trust my instrument to anyone. I know what I like (Peter Gabriel quote) and I finally know how to do it myself.

It really isn't rocket science once you begin to learn a bit.

And there is one other person I would trust, too, now that I think about it, because he taught me an awful lot along the way and I wish he were a member of this forum: Chuck Moses.

Jack

 

[Psycho Ward]

I have to admit the day I bought my first bass I also bought a book called "How to play the bass", and there is a great step by step thru the whole process and yes you are supposed to check the intonation after any adjustment to the trussrod, saddle, string gauge, moon phases and so on.

I could never improve on the factory setup on my SR5, @%&*! wonderful!

My new SR4 is just a little higher than the SR5, I'd like it as close to the SR5 as I can get it.


Sounds like a three beer job...

 

[tkarter]

I had an uncle that could build a fiddle that played like the finest. He showed me the basics and wouldn't go beyond because he said an electric bass is a board with a neck and isn't that hard to setup.

I split the difference and listen to whom manufacured my bass on how to set it up.

Then I met a forum member that had the best setup article ever written..

IMHO

That is Gav. Rod, sir broken trussrod or whatever he answers to.

I copied his setup to a pdf file then I print it so I can read when I work on my SR5.

You want that pdf email me and I think I already have permission from this excellant member to share.


tk

 

[Big Poppa]

Absolutely. Why give $50 to some pimply kid at your local music store to do something that you can learn in 15 minutes of reading and hands-on pratice?

Mark
Thats what Michael Jackson did and look where it got him.

 

[Big Poppa]

Heres my quick take on intonation and truss rod.

When the instrument goes out of adjustment from factory specs the intonation has been affected...when you adjust the truss rod back to previous bow it should be back in intonation but you should always check it and expect a little minor tweakiing

 

[Bill]

Yeah, I kinda suspected a truss rod tweak would affect intonation. I've always checked the intonation on mine after any kind of adjustment just to make sure everything's fine, and usually it is (unless I make a big adjustment of some sort).

 

[Beth]

Mark
Thats what Michael Jackson did and look where it got him.

BWAAAHHAHAHAHAHAHA

 

[JB1]

I can't believe it BP/Beth!

Mr S Ball himself is making Wacko gags. And libellous ones at that.

Outstanding sir.

Hope you got a good lawyer!

 

[AnthonyD]

Yeah... I recall he's around here somewhere...

 

[Guitarburetor]

How can you be SO brilliant, so ealy in the morning?

Mark
Thats what Michael Jackson did and look where it got him.

PERFECT!!!

 

[Guitarburetor]

MY 2 cents on heat, truss rods and intonation for today...

Heat;
It's not a good idea to allow your instrument to get hot for a lot of reasons. It can cause structural and cosmetic problems, so take every precaution to avoid it. We go to great lengths to build a very SOLID instrument, but wood is wood, it warps under heat and tension, and heat is very bad for glue joints. The hotter it gets, and the longer it stays that way, the more likely you will have problems.

What if it gets hot?
Get the instrument into a normal temperature environment, and allow it to cool off. Don't put it in front of an air conditioner, or anywhere that will cause a drastic temperature or humidity change. DO NOT make any radical adjustments to the instrument until it cools down!!

Once it has normalized, check it over. If there is no apparent damage, you're probably fine, and there is no need to worry.

Truss rods and humidity;
All wood necks move with changes in temperature, and especially humidity, so they require adjustment. The beauty of the Music Man truss rod design is that it is so easy to access, and simple to adust. You can tweak the rod for optimum bow in the neck in a matter of seconds. Learning to adjust the truss rod, and having a tool dedicated to the job with your guitar can make your playing experience much more enjoyable.

Desiccant packs are very good for humid conditions, but should be avoided where conditions are extremely dry. Solid body guitars are far less prone to serious damage than acoustic instuments, but can be adversely affected by too much, or too little moisture. Just be aware of the conditions your guitar lives in, and take common sense precautions to avoid exteremes.

Intonation;
Changes in the action height due to bow in the neck will affect intonation. Intonation is set to compensate for the strings moving a certain distance when notes are fretted. The more this distance changes, the more intonation changes. The solution is to keep the neck adjusted to consistent action height, and the intonation will follow.

 

[Mobay45]

Thanks Dudley!

I feel like I just got a free education.

 

[SteveB]

Well said, Mobay...

Quick! Somebody paste Dudley's post into the FAQ!

 

[Psycho Ward]

Yes, Thanks very much.

 

[bovinehost]

Dudley's Heat Post is now part of the Forum FAQs.

Thanks, Dudley! It's nice to have a couple of people who know what the FAQ they're talking about!

 

[Big Poppa]

Notice how much"Ketel breath" jackie is sucking up to dudley?

 

[Beth]

Dudley's Heat Post is now part of the Forum FAQs.

Thanks, Dudley! It's nice to have a couple of people who know what the FAQ they're talking about!

Hey BP,

Can I say FAQ in the office? HAHAHAHAHAHA

-Beth