Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 232
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Right, got your attention then. I was wondering - I know of many bass players who want to sell their basses because they don't like the tone or action ... and I've discovered they've never even bothered to set up the bass or change strings since acquiring the instrument.
So, here are a few tips to make that off-the-rack bass perform to the max.
1. Neck relief/action
Hold up your bass, look down the fretboard, sideways ... and observe the neck profile. Is it curved forward or backwards? A backbow will result in loads of string buzz. A forward bow means the action of the strings, especially in the middle frets, will be high - bad news for your wrists and fingers in the long run. You need to access the truss-rod and tighten or loosen it to set the neck at zero relief. Some manufacturers, like Fender, say there should be a bit of forward relief to avoid buzz, but I say they either don't really know what they're talking about or are simply making excuses to justify the condition of their basses when the user gets it!
2. Okay, you have a zero-profile neck - chances are, your strings are buzzing, but the action is so much nicer. So get a tech to level your frets - these are seldom level since, from the time of manufacture to purchase, they could settle into the slots unevenly. You'd be surprised how much of a low action - if this is what you want - is possible with the frets properly levelled and dressed. Rock players with strong hands prefer a higher action, since they dig into the strings a lot and a low action will cause buzz. Jazz scalers will prefer a smooth and low action ...
3. Set-up - string height, intonation and pickup height are important factors. Setting your strings too close to the pickups will cause intonation problems -- too far and the output can drop. Some manufacturers (like Fender) provide recommended distance between string and pickup in the manual ... it's a good guide to follow for most basses.
Part II to follow ...
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