String Alignment Running Uneven Down Neck? (Hard to Desrbie)

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MarMar

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#1
This might be a silly question and I'm finding it hard to put into the proper words, but why do some basses appear to have their strings running diagonally up and down a neck or closer to one side of the neck?

Or maybe this is a better way to describe what I'm seeing - I've seen some basses where say the G string has barely any space between it and the edge of the neck on the first fret, but as you go down the neck to the 12th fret, there seems to be more space, and all the other strings do that in parallel. This would mean the E string looks like it's almost hanging off of the near side of the neck once you reach the 12th fret or whatever.

Is this a serious issue with the neck or maybe the bridge? Can this be fixed? Does this affect play-ability? I saw a couple instruments I am interested in purchasing where the strings look closer to one side of the neck than the other on the lower frets and then the space grows as you go to higher frets.
 
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#2
Okay (and I'm really sticking my neck out here as I know little about making guitars) I read somewhere that necks can be set this way because, over time, the extra tension exerted by the E and A strings pull the joint over a little as it settles. Offsetting it means it will straighten out in time. But don't rely on me. Someone intelligent will come along soon. ;)
 
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#3
It's a setup option when you have a bolt on neck. You loosen the screws slightly and give the neck a yank to one side.

I do it to most of mine because I never play the E above the 12th, but I use the G frequently up there and I'd rather have a bit more room on that side so it doesn't catch the edge of the fret when I do vibrato.

It can also be an optical illusion when pictures aren't taken from exactly square with the instrument.
 
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#4
The first thing this has me thinking is that it's a bolt-on bass with extra wiggle room in the pocket, and with a neck set at an angle. Or possibly adjustable bridge spacing (a la vintage Fenders) with the placement out of whack (or in whack if you like it, I could see value in extra room for the G string up higher).

I've got a bass with a wiggleable pocket and just setting it how I want & bolting in securely has done the trick. I've also discovered I'm pretty particular with my string nut placement, and that can definitely change the string profile; if the G is TOO close to the edge at the nut, I'm fitting a new one.

If it's on a neck-through bass, I might be creeped out...
 
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#5
TrevorG said:
Okay (and I'm really sticking my neck out here as I know little about making guitars) I read somewhere that necks can be set this way because, over time, the extra tension exerted by the E and A strings pull the joint over a little as it settles. Offsetting it means it will straighten out in time. But don't rely on me. Someone intelligent will come along soon. ;)
Click to expand...

I'm not so sure about this - based on both D'Addario's and GHS's string tension charts, the E and A strings are not higher tension than the D and G strings. In fact, they are almost always slightly lower tension. This is assuming a balanced tension set of strings on a 34" fixed scale bass.

This is a large part of the whole multi-scale thing a la Dingwall.

https://www.daddario.com/globalassets/pdfs/accessories/tension_chart_13934.pdf
http://www.ghsrep.net/uploads/2/2/2/5/22258814/ghs_bass_string_guide.pdf
 
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#7
Thank you everyone for the thoughtful responses. It sounds like this, in some instances, could be done intentionally as part of "setting up" the bass because it serves a sort of practical use (more space for your fingers on certain frets you might use). I never really thought about that. It also sounds like it can be corrected (to one's liking) in basses with bolt-on necks. I feel like I am learning something here. :bassist:
 
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#8
lz4005 said:
It's a setup option when you have a bolt on neck. You loosen the screws slightly and give the neck a yank to one side.
Click to expand...

If you're not used to working on basses or guitars this might seem severe. Or you might think he was joking:-) But it really works. Just loosen the bolts a little, then slowly apply pressure to move the neck in whichever direction it needs to go and then tighten the bolts while holding it under tension. Works great.
 
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#10
Hipshot’s Kickass bridge is an easy alleviation to this situation. Fully adjustable string spacing @ the turn & tightening of a few allen screws.
I snagged one for my latest Jazz build to get 100% accurate pickup pole spacing and lo and behold— perfect string spacing was a welcome result as well.
(Photographic evidence: the lower of the two basses pictured below)
D1CBC7A6-BEB0-4453-BB2E-0753EBD3092C.jpeg
 
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#11
Of the few MM Stingray basses I’ve owned plus the ones I’ve checked out in the store I’ve noticed their G strings are close to the edge of the fretboard. I didn’t like that but I could get used to it.

However, they were parallel rather than diagonal as you’ve described.
 
#12
This is why I like the bridge style that allows you to change the string spacing. You can usually correct these things.

Anyone ever see how some 70s Gibson Les Pauls just have the bridge in the wrong spot? So they cut the saddles in a weird way to make it line up?
 
#14
Personally I have no idea of what possible basses you are looking at with this problem. But this string alignment issue has been a problem for a while. Seems to more of an issue with imports.

It is all about where the pups are and the the bridge is installed. Along with neck position if a bolt neck. (Neck thurs are an another issue all together) Some manufacturers aren't so great at getting this right. And since lots of variables are here, impossible to tell you how to fix it. It can be a multitude of problems. And it is possible it can never be properly corrected.

I've seen imports that the bridge is off set and the pup installation is not right. So in that case it is buyer beware.

Without exact measurements and good photos, it is an impossible task to give answers to the problem. So best of luck.

My question is why would a manufacturer set up an instrument for sale that was not properly aligned????? After all, it's not rocket science. Only has to do with measurements and a straight edge normally.

So personally I'd be leery of anything with bad alignment if I was spending my hard earned cash.
 
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#15
My MIA Fender Jazz came with this Fender high mass bridge which helps dial in string spacing and alignment:

s-l640.jpg


My Warwick also has adjustable saddles as well to get that perfect alignment (but it's pretty fiddly and I generally don't mess with it).

I also have a couple Squiers with just the cheapo Fender bridge with no left/right saddle adjustability, but to be honest I haven't had any real issues with spacing or alignment on any of my instruments.
 
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#16
MarMar said:
This might be a silly question and I'm finding it hard to put into the proper words, but why do some basses appear to have their strings running diagonally up and down a neck or closer to one side of the neck?

Or maybe this is a better way to describe what I'm seeing - I've seen some basses where say the G string has barely any space between it and the edge of the neck on the first fret, but as you go down the neck to the 12th fret, there seems to be more space, and all the other strings do that in parallel. This would mean the E string looks like it's almost hanging off of the near side of the neck once you reach the 12th fret or whatever.

Is this a serious issue with the neck or maybe the bridge? Can this be fixed? Does this affect play-ability? I saw a couple instruments I am interested in purchasing where the strings look closer to one side of the neck than the other on the lower frets and then the space grows as you go to higher frets.
Click to expand...


That was an option on most 70's Fenders:laugh:. They should run right down the middle of the neck, if the neck pockets is sloppy sometimes the neck will tilt one way or the other, usually towards the G string side with resultant G overhang, very common on 70's Fenders as the neck pockets were too big on some of them, you can usually fix it buy loosening the neck and moving it and really tightening the neck screws so it won't move. If it's on a neck through maybe the bridge was put on a little to the right or the left of where it was supposed to be..
 
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#19
I don't know why I never searched for this before, but this was perhaps the only thing about my bass that annoyed me from time to time. I loosened the screws a wee bit prior to giving it a gentle push and now its the way it should be. Thanks for the comments.
 
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