Question wow now i'm confused! ( kinda long, sorry)

[Musiksketcher]

So i started the thread on action settings and a great confab ensued as a result..but it also brought about some confusion i'm hoping you all ( including CS) can clear up...
After using MY prefered setup on my SR4, i've decided to try the EB factory specs on my bass. herein lies the conundrum:
I've set it as the FAQ recomends..however, the action seems rather high at that setting..allow me to elaborate..

1. I applied a capo at 2nd fret,then press E string at 12th fret and set truss rod to show approx business card amount of relief at the 6th fret. ( all while in playing position) then i removed the capo.
2. then adjusted the bridge saddles to approx where EB set them ( about 18/64" from body to bottom of string right in front of bridge)
3. then i fine tuned the relief adjustment to read 3/32" at the 12th fret (in playing position) and fine tuned bridge saddles to be 3/32 at last fret, allowing for radius of neck. This is what i understand to be EB fac. specs. Did i miss a step? missunderstand something?
Here is a photo of my action taken roughly at the 14-16th fret..does this seem high or normal? i honestly have not seen anyone elses action on an EB
Believe it or not, i'm one of maybe 3 EB owners in my area!
One more thing..we've had a large swing in the humidity and temps lately, went from teens and low humidity ( 15-25%) to 60 with 55% humidity, and now going back down again..since this episode i've developed a strong amount of buzz on the E string and some on A string. no action adj. will remove this buzz!..This is a brand new bass, had it less than a week. any help??
Thanks for reading, sorry so long,just needed to answer all the obvious questions before asking for help. Sketch

 

[andynpeters]

If you're having a problem with a week-old bass, then you ought to give the guy who sold it to you first chance at helping you.

 

[maddog]

from the Music Man FAQ

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.

I don't measure the string at the bridge. I start like you describe, setting neck relief. I then adjust saddle height so I have 3/32" string height at the 12th fret. Adjust intonation and usually all is good.

If, after doing this, there is still buzz, best to have someone look at it.

 

[leond]

2. then adjusted the bridge saddles to approx where EB set them ( about 18/64" from body to bottom of string right in front of bridge)
3. then i fine tuned the relief adjustment to read 3/32" at the 12th fret (in playing position) and fine tuned bridge saddles to be 3/32 at last fret, allowing for radius of neck. This is what i understand to be EB fac. specs. Did i miss a step? missunderstand something?

Regarding your step two, I didn't see anything in the faq that mentioned measurements at the bridge.

Regarding your step three, how did you adjust your relief at the 12th fret? With the truss rod or the bridge? It should be with the bridge. Once you have the truss rod set in step one, don't touch it again during this setup.

Next, if you set the distance at the last fret to 3/32, it'll change the distance at the 12th fret. So, don't do that. Leave it at 3/32 at the 12th.

LeonD

 

[oli@bass]

IMO the EBMM factory setup is "on the safe side", meaning you can dig in really hard without getting fret buzz -- but it's still on the comfortable side. However, I like it a tad lower.

Humidity and temperature changes usually have an impact on the relief. If you cannot get rid of the fret buzz by adjustin the truss rod, and the bass is just a week old, I'd go see the store.

 

[Musiksketcher]

Thanks for reply, my measurement at bridge was taken when first purchased ( i anticipated needing to return it to spec!)

I set the truss rod with business card, then fine tune with truss rod to 3/32..then tune bridge to 3/32 at last fret ( i prefer the action at 12th and last to be very close to same)

so am i to assume it's normal to have it higher at last fret than 12th?..if so, how much higher?
regarding taking to the store..i did, they said it;s the weather causing the buzz.. said to give it a few days or week, if not better will proceed with warranty steps. ugh!

any other suggestions from you wrench turners out there?

 

[maddog]

When you say buzz on E and A, what frets?

what is the measured string height at 14 and 16 in the picture you posted?

Step 2 & 3 is not per the FAQ. Might want to try a setup using step 1 then use the the saddle adjustments to set the string height at the 12th to 3/32".

My experience says not to use the truss rod to make string height adjustments at the 12th. Never got an acceptable setup doing that. It would put too much or too little relief, undoing the first step. End up chasing your tail.

 

[Musiksketcher]

Maddog... Buzz begins on 5th fret on E.. gets worse up the neck, starts at 10 on A and gets worse. Pic shows 3/32 at 14th.

 

[barginkov]

I dont think it is an exact science that needs ecact measurements, all my basses i set them up as low as they will go without buzzing, first trust rod make sure neck has a little little bit of relief, then adjust string height till you are comfortable

 

[maddog]

very well put.

 

[Big Poppa]

lets get this somewhere else.....

 

[strummer]

lets get this somewhere else.....

Hey, I read this morning about the new Porsche Boxter being available with the PDK gearbox, sounds like a blast to me!

 

[bovinehost]

I want some pie.

You guys like pie?

I like pie.

Mmmm.

Pie.

 

[rhythmCity944]

Hey, I read this morning about the new Porsche Boxter being available with the PDK gearbox, sounds like a blast to me!

don't forget the cayman too! just rebuilt a gear box for my 944 at 175K

it's all about feel in the end...

 

[strummer]

chilix, when are you going to realize that 944 was Miss Christinas' ride, and not for the kind of action you want it for;-)

Seriously, I think I'll try and go test drive one of them new Boxsters, IF I can convince them I'm a prospective customer haha

 

[rhythmCity944]

chilix, when are you going to realize that 944 was Miss Christinas' ride, and not for the kind of action you want it for;-)

Seriously, I think I'll try and go test drive one of them new Boxsters, IF I can convince them I'm a prospective customer haha

yeah yeah, the 944 works for me...on and off the racetrack...got a brand new '87 944 racecar i built with only 88 miles on the engine and tranny...just needs guards red paint

 

[Russel]

I want some pie.

You guys like pie?

I like pie.

Mmmm.

Pie.

I LOOOOVEE pie.

Me and a friend did this to a teacher we didn't like sophomore year of high school:

I wrote in a note-- I like pie.
he responded- I like pie.
me: I love pie.
him: mooooo.
me: pie is great.
him: I like milk too.
me: do you like apple or coconut?
him: I like tomato pie.
me: sounds good.
him: so uh, do you like pie?
me: I LOOOVE pie.


The teacher finally saw us passing the note, and she stormed over with that greedy, nosy look on her face as we barely concealed laughter.

Her reaction was priceless.