Bass Set up question.

[BloodRose]

I feel like a noob asking this, but Id rather ask than make a mistake..

I can do a pretty decent set up an a guitar. But Im really a noob with a bass. I have a Epi tbird pro that I really like, but Im thinking it could be better. Especially after I played a couple of Ibanez soundgears yest that almost played themselves.. (holy crap, they were awesome and cheap)
Anyhow.. The action on the Epi isnt bad, but could be lower. And with the bridge, appears my only adjust is the 2 screws per saddle.. Correct??

Are the rules of thumb the same for pickups? Lower strings, lower the pups?? I assume so, but not sure how much room I have to drop these as they are direct mount.

Any other tips??

here is a pic to give an idea of what Im dealing with.. thanks





(sorry for the toes)

[Chris of Arabia]

I'd expect basic principles to be much the same to be honest. Like you, I do my own guitar stuff and have never tried a bass setup, but I'm pretty sure Dan Erlewine's books cover them off. I can take a look later if you like and see what it says.

[BloodRose]

thanks!

[ItsaBass]

IME, the hardest thing about setting up basses is finding the right balance between relief and string height with that long neck. Other than some trial and error with those two things, it is just like setting up a guitar.

You might find your self served well by making good use of some upbow, if you want a low string height. Otherwise, your tone can get killed by fret noise and buzz, especially on a long-necked Epi (not the easiest basses to set up to play great, IME).

I use heavy strings on all my basses (at least 110's), and I like to have some of them set up with quite a bit of relief. I just don't like the way a "fast" and "slinky" bass feels or sounds. And there is nothing I hate more on a bass than light strings. They feel like spaghetti to me. They make the instrument really hard to play...kind of "spineless" in attack to my hands. I like a bass to fight back a bit; it really affects the way it sounds. My main bass' neck ('73 P with Fender replacement parts neck) is almost like a banana, and the action is high. I have it set up to play slow and plunky, with stiff mutes pressed hard against the strings, so there is very little sustain. So you really have to force each note out of it. But as a result, each note is extremely deliberate, forceful, clear, fat, and punchy, without a trace of buzz. Not everyone's cup of tea, but the point is that there are really no hard and fast setup rules. It is mostly about feel and intent. And you arrive there by just experimenting. I didn't just magically land on that setup. It evolved bit by bit over the years, by just trying different stuff out. And I expect it to change in the future as I discover better ways to get what I want, and my desires for the bass change.

As for pickup height, that is just an adjust by ear thing. You don't necessarily have to move the pickups down when you move the strings down.

In short, my advice is to not stick too closely to rules of thumb. They'll give you what would be a happy medium for most people, but that's it. Just try a bunch of stuff out.

[BloodRose]

Good info! Thanks! I think what has me messed up alil is that the TBird is longer scale and so it is not going to feel like some other basses. I guess that is also what gives it the added growl. Ill try to lower at the saddles alittle. The Ibanez was almost too easy and Id probably br tempted to try to noodle on it and not play in the pocket.

[Chris of Arabia]

I checked out the Dan Erlewine book and whilst it's not as comprehensive as it is on guitars, it does offer suggestions from noted bass people on relief.

Michael Tobias: Hold down at 1st and 15th frets and you should be able to slide a Fender Thin pick between string and fret at the 8th fret.

Ken Smith: Between 1mm and 2mm at the 9th fret

Roger Sadowski: "a mostly straight neck with a little relief"

Brett Carlson: Hold down at 1st and last fret and set to .015" (it doesn't say at what fret.

Bob Malone: "I like a very slight relief, but I don't measure"

I'm not sure whether that's helpful or not, but it seems no where near as consistent an approach as for guitars.

[ItsaBass]

Good info! Thanks! I think what has me messed up alil is that the TBird is longer scale and so it is not going to feel like some other basses. I guess that is also what gives it the added growl. Ill try to lower at the saddles alittle. The Ibanez was almost too easy and Id probably br tempted to try to noodle on it and not play in the pocket.

AFAIK, the T-Bird has a normal 34-inch scale.

[BloodRose]

thanks for checking and posting Chris of Arabia!

Thanks too Itsabass! I was thinking it was longer cuz it feels like the neck is so long. maybe its the headstock that gives the appearance? Plus, I thought thats why they seem to have more growl.. guess that is just cuz they are beasts... Plus, I thought thats why they now make a short scale..

[BloodRose]

I just researched it and know why I thought they were longer... (they feel longer of course) but I had read that the orig Gibson bases were 30.5" scale and they made the T-bird 34" to resemble Fenders which were dominating the market at that time..

[Funkfingers]

Looking a the first photograph, the strings are a fair amount off centre. I would slacken the neck anchoring screws off and get the neck sitting properly in the pocket. Then, look at the truss rod adjustment. Finally, adjust the bridge saddles.

[BloodRose]

Looking a the first photograph, the strings are a fair amount off centre. I would slacken the neck anchoring screws off and get the neck sitting properly in the pocket. Then, look at the truss rod adjustment. Finally, adjust the bridge saddles.

Its a neck through... But thanks for the input.


I checked the relief this morning. Doing the 1st and 15 fret press, I have just a hint of daylight beneath the strings around the 8th fret. So pretty on par with what COA posted.. The action was of course, great near the nut but high up the board.
I did lower the bridge saddles 2 full turns on each side, (3 on the low E). I have now have the action at 3/16 off the board on the 3 highest strings and just below 1/4 in on the low E. No buzzes, plays much easier. It doesnt match the Ibanez, but thats because Ive got thicker strings and the neck is bigger too. I love the burly growl of this axe and the look, so Ill get used to the neck. Its a ton better now. The cool thing too with the adjustments made, the intonation was still in the ballpark too.

I did lower the pickups about 1/4 of a screw turn to kind of comp for lowering the strings. Ill dial the pups in when I get to pay thru a real bass amp. The are actives anyhow, so they are probably fine lower.

Thanks again for the help! Im MUCH happier now!!

[Chris of Arabia]

Good to hear it worked out.

[Bass_Medic_05]

Nice Thunderbird, hows it sound, do you like the action on it?

[BloodRose]

Nice Thunderbird, hows it sound, do you like the action on it?

Thanks!! Sounds fat and growly.. ALOT of tones in the controls. the only thing Id change is there doesnt seem to be a way to switch from bridge to neck pup.. but otherwise, alot of tones. I was ok with the action, but wasnt thrilled. now that I have it dialed in alil bit, it alot easier to play without farty notes. (from not getting the string pressed all the way)