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I'm scared to try and set this up with the string height to the extreme!! HELP!!!
- Thread starter Nate Maxwell
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- height set up strings suggestions
Your last pic appears to show a fairly substantial forward bow (too much relief.) Check some of the set-up stickies here and other internet places for guidance in the order of things to check and do. If you're unsure of how to do something, you might be better off taking it to someone who does. You don't want to screw something up by not knowing what you're doing. Good luck.
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That's a joke.
Did you just buy this?
Will they accept a return if you snap the truss rod trying to flatten it out?
Did you just buy this?
Will they accept a return if you snap the truss rod trying to flatten it out?
Can only guess without seeing bridge too. But you need to get the neck straight.
Hold the first and last fret on E string.
Should be business card gap from bottom of string to top of the fret.
If too much gap you need to turn truss rod clockwise.
If they are touching you need to turn it counterclockwise.
Lower your saddles to taste.
If your saddles are bottomed out and still strings are too high you will need to do a neck shim.
PS. If you bought new then send it back.
Hold the first and last fret on E string.
Should be business card gap from bottom of string to top of the fret.
If too much gap you need to turn truss rod clockwise.
If they are touching you need to turn it counterclockwise.
Lower your saddles to taste.
If your saddles are bottomed out and still strings are too high you will need to do a neck shim.
PS. If you bought new then send it back.
I bought it used, but mind you it said in excellent condition. I got a steal on it, but obviously it's been dropped (some chipping, which doesn't bother me), and the nut has been replaced. I will have the nut replaced since its plastic and I was expecting the original bone that it should have come with. More than likely I will take it into the shop and have them shoot me straight on whether I should just send it back or if it's worth it to get the nut replaced and just get it set up. But yeah, it's a complete joke what I received.
The neck definitely has considerable bow in it. That's an issue right there. Major truss rod adjustment.
The other thing I noticed is:- to me the neck seems to be sitting pretty deep in the pocket.
None of my basses sit that deep.
Whether that's unusual by anybody else's standards I don't know.
But to me it looks like it might take a shim as help with the overall problem.
Maybe the neck shim experts will chime in here....
The other thing I noticed is:- to me the neck seems to be sitting pretty deep in the pocket.
None of my basses sit that deep.
Whether that's unusual by anybody else's standards I don't know.
But to me it looks like it might take a shim as help with the overall problem.
Maybe the neck shim experts will chime in here....
I thought about that too, I hope someone can chime in on that. As far as I can tell though it sits pretty much the same as my P-Bass. This is my first 5 string though so I'm just now learning if there's any differences in the set ups.
No need for speculation....That's a seriously bowed neck (forward bow, not backbow). It's very unlikely that you'll be able to fix that by tightening the truss rod; you'll probably break the truss rod trying. It may also need a neck shim, but don't even worry about that until you fix the bowed neck.
This instrument doesn't need a setup, it needs some major repair. That's not "excellent condition".
This instrument doesn't need a setup, it needs some major repair. That's not "excellent condition".
I am with @Bruce Johnson on this one, that bass has some issues that go beyond that of a simple setup
That's a badly bowed neck. This instrument is not in "excellent condition"
I wouldn't dream of trying to adjust the trussrod unless I had that neck backclamped.
I wouldn't dream of trying to adjust the trussrod unless I had that neck backclamped.
If that was mine and I had to adjust the truss rod to fix it, I wouldn't try to do it all in one nut twist.
I'd go a bit at a time...in small turns...
If that would work at all.
I'd go a bit at a time...in small turns...
If that would work at all.
Well poopie... I'm just going to take pretty much everyone's opinion and just send it back. I ordered through Amazon, but I can't remember what the actual shop was. My wife has all the info in her work email. I will go ahead and put in the request to send back and if you still want the shop name I will list it as soon as I find out. Thanks again everyone, I just wish it had a better outcome.
I would like to see a pic of the whole bass. Its possible that something else is causing the issue.
Please show the whole bass, as mentioned above.....you should definitely complain and send it back.