MarkG3 Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 (edited) Just spent all evening trying to get the string height on my bass where I would like it as it was too high and I have come away feeling frustrated that I haven't really got anywhere. The bass in question is my Fender Dirnt with a 78 telebass neck. The strings are too high even with the saddles right down. I tightened the truss rod a little as i read that lowers the strings and still no joy so I tried a shim but even with that its not great. The neck has a small gap between the back of the neck and the pocket which is about 2mm I can see the screws anyway so I don't know if that is an issue or just because of the older neck. I've emailed a luthier in Milton Keynes so hopefully a proper set up will get it to what I want. Just frustrated that I haven't seemed to of got anywhere with it myself. Edited April 4, 2013 by OBT1000_S12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 [quote name='OBT1000_S12' timestamp='1364686546' post='2029736'] ...The neck has a small gap between the back of the neck and the pocket which is about 2mm I can see the screws anyway so I don't know if that is an issue or just because of the older neck... [/quote] I'm no expert, but I'd say that's an issue. I think you've done the right thing by contacting a luthier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 Have you taken the neck off? There may be a shim in there - it sounds like ultimately to get the action where you want, you may need to shim anyway. Have a look at the sticky which I think is at the top of this section. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 In fact - check this http://basschat.co.uk/topic/49897-how-to-shim-a-neck/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 Another alternative is to either get the bridge routed and sunk into the body, or replace it with a lower profile bridge. I am having the same problem as you, but mine is a neck-through so I can't shim it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iiipopes Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 (edited) This sounds like a digression, but please let me use it as a starting point: I can't stand Stratocaster bridges being flush to the body. I'm a Gibson-style man, with the bridge up off the body. OK -- application to the current situation: I do like the ergonomic body shape of a Strat. So on a project guitar, I inset a raised block of wood about 3-4 mm to raise the bridge. To get the appropriate pitch to the neck so it would integrate properly, I had to take the neck to a belt sander and induce a pitch to the neck heel so it would effect the proper pitch to match the raised bridge. I say this because since the OP has decided to modify the instrument with a separate neck, shims may help, but I've always found shims to interfere with tone and sustain. If the OP is not adverse to modifying the neck as a one-time-for-all permanent replacement, then sanding the underside of the heel of the neck to the appropriate pitch may be a solution. It's also much less expensive and much less room for error than trying to recontour the neck pocket. Edited April 1, 2013 by iiipopes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiOgon Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 (edited) [quote name='OBT1000_S12' timestamp='1364686546' post='2029736'] Just spent all evening trying to get the string height on my bass where I would like it as it was too high and I have come away feeling frustrated that I haven't really got anywhere. The bass in question is my Fender Dirnt with a 78 telebass neck. The strings are too high even with the saddles right down. I tightened the truss rod a little as i read that lowers the strings and still no joy so I tried a shim but even with that its not great. The neck has a small gap between the back of the neck and the pocket which is about 2mm I can see the screws anyway so I don't know if that is an issue or just because of the older neck. I've emailed a luthier in Milton Keynes so hopefully a proper set up will get it to what I want. Just frustrated that I haven't seemed to of got anywhere with it myself. [/quote] The way I'm reading this - if there's a gap about 2mm where you can see the screws - it ain't even put together right & you're gonna need more than a setup to sort that out. Sounds like the neck/pocket fit is a no-match! Job for a Luthier definitely Edited March 31, 2013 by KiOgon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkG3 Posted March 31, 2013 Author Share Posted March 31, 2013 Thanks for all the replies, I will get a picture of the gap when I get home, but what I noticed is it is a tight fit when the strings are loose but as soon as I tighten them the gap appears..... I have emailed another luthier as well so hopefully I'll be getting some replies soon. I hope this is fixable and doesn't cost too much £££ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 (edited) [quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1364696442' post='2029831'] Another alternative is to either get the bridge routed and sunk into the body [/quote] I'm considering getting exactly the same thing done to my newest 6! Edited March 31, 2013 by chrismuzz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkG3 Posted March 31, 2013 Author Share Posted March 31, 2013 [quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1364696442' post='2029831'] Another alternative is to either get the bridge routed and sunk into the body, or replace it with a lower profile bridge. I am having the same problem as you, but mine is a neck-through so I can't shim it. [/quote] Frustrating isn't it? What do you mean by a lower profile bridge something that's smaller? Its got a BA2 on at the moment. Have you got any ideas so I can look into it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkG3 Posted March 31, 2013 Author Share Posted March 31, 2013 Here's a rubbish picture: [IMG]http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/r569/S9_S12_Bass/402EA778-C2CA-42E8-B180-DC3AA47191D0-5487-00000606991B56CF_zpsd201c4a7.jpg[/IMG] It would appear the two top screws also the ones showing aren't actually doing anything as the neck came off with just unscrewing the bottom two slightly so I might need to fill the original holes with matchsticks and rescrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Stu Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 [quote name='OBT1000_S12' timestamp='1364767078' post='2030764']It would appear the two top screws also the ones showing aren't actually doing anything as the neck came off with just unscrewing the bottom two slightly so I might need to fill the original holes with matchsticks and rescrew[/quote] You could well be right - definitely worth a try, shouldn't do any harm & you could save yourself a bill. Though as has been said many times on various threads; use cocktail sticks rather than matches. The wood is much harder & there'll be a hell of a lot of tension on those screws. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 (edited) [quote name='OBT1000_S12' timestamp='1364767078' post='2030764'] Here's a rubbish picture... [size=4][/quote][/size] [size=4]Is that a crack or something down at the heel end of the neck?[/size] Edited March 31, 2013 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkG3 Posted March 31, 2013 Author Share Posted March 31, 2013 No it's just where the top layer of finish has been scratched off at some point. But I had to go and check to be sure, definitely just surface Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkG3 Posted March 31, 2013 Author Share Posted March 31, 2013 [quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1364768218' post='2030771'] You could well be right - definitely worth a try, shouldn't do any harm & you could save yourself a bill. Though as has been said many times on various threads; use cocktail sticks rather than matches. The wood is much harder & there'll be a hell of a lot of tension on those screws. [/quote] Thanks I will try and get some cocktail sticks soon, just tried with matchsticks and didn't really get anywhere so hopefully the cocktail sticks will be better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 [quote name='OBT1000_S12' timestamp='1364763973' post='2030706'] Frustrating isn't it? What do you mean by a lower profile bridge something that's smaller? Its got a BA2 on at the moment. Have you got any ideas so I can look into it? [/quote] Yeah, just a bridge that is thinner/lower, so it doesn't hold the strings so high off the body. With the standard Fender style bridges sometimes people grind the bottom of the barrel saddles flat so they can lower them more than normal, but you can't do that with your bridge, if it's the one I am thinking of. To be honest, I think that if you can get your neck problem fixed, so the screws hold the neck properly, it will make a huge difference to your action and may not even need any other work done to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 [quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1364779575' post='2030866'] To be honest, I think that if you can get your neck problem fixed, so the screws hold the neck properly, it will make a huge difference to your action and may not even need any other work done to it. [/quote] This. I got my Scorpio cheap as chips because the neck had this problem, stuck a few matches in the screw holes, and put a shim in the neck and it's awesome now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkG3 Posted April 1, 2013 Author Share Posted April 1, 2013 Hopefully this is all I have to do as it is relatively simple, something I need with this is patience. Fingers crossed it doesn't get to having to start sanding things! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkG3 Posted April 1, 2013 Author Share Posted April 1, 2013 What about these? http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=281034618680# Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloodaxe Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 [quote name='OBT1000_S12' timestamp='1364855734' post='2031944'] What about these? [url="http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=281034618680#"]http://item.mobilewe...d=281034618680#[/url] [/quote] They'll work, but are a much more engineered solution & usually need access to a pillar drill for best results. Cocktail sticks + superglue = £2 @ Poundland, don't need specialist equipment & are an easy DIY option. You'll also have plenty left over for when your strap buttons work loose. Fenders have been held together by four woodscrews since the dawn of time & in most cases they work just fine. Pete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 Am I seeing things, or are you using a neckplate for a shim? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 [quote name='OBT1000_S12' timestamp='1364855734' post='2031944'] What about these? [url="http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=281034618680#"]http://item.mobilewe...d=281034618680#[/url] [/quote] I am such a dick when it comes to screws and wood (and unintentional innuendos), so I should probably get a few of these! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloodaxe Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 [quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1364862509' post='2032021'] Am I seeing things, or are you using a neckplate for a shim?[/quote] You're seeing things. Well documented side-effect of trying to buy Gibsons over the internet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 If you want to have a drive down to Herts, I'll happily take a look at it for you and sort out the plugging/screwing issue. then we can attempt a proper set up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkG3 Posted April 2, 2013 Author Share Posted April 2, 2013 Excellent thanks Gary I may well take you up on that, I'm going to give it a go first today but if I don't get anywhere I will let you know, I'm sure it could do with a decent setup anyway after all of this. When are you free to have a look at it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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