MusicMan Stingray Setup

[lukeward2004]

Hi Guys,


Ive just got my lovely new Musicman Stingray (see gear porn section), but I find i need to lower the action a tad. Unfortunately the bass didnt come with any tools or allen keys, and the set I have does not fit the bridge pieces.

Does anyone know the size of key I need to lower the strings?

Cheers
Luke

[Hamster]

I'm sitting here looking at the very key you need on my desk but I'm buggered if I know what size it is - 1.58mm IIRC???

Hamster

Edit - just measured it with my micrometer - 1.58mm it is!! I seem to remember just having to take the edges off it with a few strokes of emery paper to get an easy fit.

Edited June 8, 2008 by Hamster

[Machines]

1.58mm aka 1/16". Find yourself an imperial sized key and that'll sort it out.

As for the truss rod, anything that will fit will do - try adjusting the action via that first as that's all I ever need to do.

[budget bassist]

Assuming the bridge is the same as my SUB bass, which it SHOULD be minus the musicman logo, i used a 1.5mm allen key, though it didn't fit that snug so i'd be tempted to say 1.58mm or 1/16" as machines and hamster said, It's an american bass and the yanks still use imperial...though 1.5mm did the trick.

As for the truss rod, assuming you have the one with the wheel at the scratchplate you just need anything that will fit in th holes as the man sterling ball said himself. Just use an allen key, as long as it fits it's fine. And you don't need to take the strings off to adjust it, so you know.

[Kev]

1.5mm definetly does NOT work with a stingray, frustrated the life out of me when i got mine, but ye works with a SUB

1/16th is bang on

[ped]

I had the same size key for my old Carvin/Marleaux when i lived in Aberystwyth, Wales. I went to pretty much every shop in Aber with my bass and didn't find one anywhere. I ended up getting one from a kind chap on Basschat!

[bassbluestew]

Get a Roady Wrench................lots of useful Allen keys on it ( one fits the StingRay - well it fits mine anyway !!

Also the string cutters work, even for bass strings.

Only cost about a tenner iirc.
S

[lukeward2004]

Cheers GUys, ill get myself one of those Roadie Wrench things - looks useful!

[lojo]

Revived this thread whilst searching for a stingray set up guide

I've been doing my fenders , for which there is a real heap of info around, whislt I'm sure the principles are the same, is there any specific guides to stingray set ups ?

[Grangur]

Sorry guys if this offends, but why do folk buy an American bass and expect metric Allen keys to fit?

Do you take Euros on holidays in the USA?

Why not go down to Wickes and buy a set of metric AND imperial Allen keys?

Besides, how will you go about buying your 1/16" Allen key, single key?

[sunburstjazz1967]

You can buy single Allen keys on eBay.

[drTStingray]

There used to be an item called 'how to set up your Musicman bass' on FAQ on the EBMM forum - it contained items like pick up height from strings and relief settings for the neck.

It may be easier to simply email EBMM customer services with specific questions - they are usually excellent.

I would agree with the poster who suggested tweaking the truss rod before touching bridge saddles. The basses usually (in my experience) come from the factory set up perfectly - although I have had them delayed whilst the retailer has their tech 'set the bass up'.. A minor tweak may lower the action as much as you need.