Adjusting action advice

[badboy1984]

I wanted to adjust my musicman bongo action by a little bit.

I've restrung the bass and it seems the action is slightly high by a bit. I've capo 1 and fret down the e string on the 12th fret and the gap between the string and the fret very narrow so i guess the truss rod doesn't need adjusting? Maybe straighten it by a little?

The next thing to lower the action is to adjust the bridge string heights?

[BassBus]

When you check the neck relief capo the first fret as you did then hold the E string down at the fret over where the neck joins the body. Check the gap between fret and string at the 7th fret. Others will suggest other frets. I usually go for a gap of about 0.30mm which is about the thickness of a business card.

As for string height (action), that is a very personal thing. If you like digging in a higher action might be best. Lower if you are a gentle player. Remember though, the higher the action the more you'll have to adjust the intonation. When you fret the string you are stretching it. Tune the open string to pitch. Pick the harmonic at the twelfth fret and then fret it and pick it again. If there is a difference in tuning the intonation needs adjusting.

[brensabre79]

Have you changed to thicker strings? if the action seems higher than before it may be that the string grooves on the bridge and nut need widening for higher gauge strings...

Or do they just seem stiffer?

[badboy1984]

String were completely dead when i got the bass, but i think is a set of 40-100. I've put a set of balance tension on which is 45-107. Slightly higher then my usual taste but is still comfortable to play, I don't play gentle so i don't need uber low action. I think i will re check the action again and see what happen. If the gap between the string and the fret is thicker then a business card size i just straighten the neck a bit to see what happen.

At least the musicman bass truss rod wheel is easier to adjust then my fender jazz where you have to take the neck out completely to adjust .....

[BassBus]

[quote name='badboy1984' timestamp='1384875056' post='2281729']
If the gap between the string and the fret is thicker then a business card size i just straighten the neck a bit to see what happen.
[/quote]

Yes. Keep checking how the strings play on every fret so there is no buzzing.

[badboy1984]

I think I messup intonation ......

Since I already messup I might as well put things right at start now.

1) Check neck relief, and straighten if need lower?

2) Adjust string height till no buzz?

3) Adjust intonation on the bridge saddle?

[CamdenRob]

Brief hijack...sorry...

I set up my 50th jazz a little while back and adjusted the truss rod .I asked about it at the time and was told, right turn to tighten (less relief) and left turn to loosen (more relief). The adjustment is at the body end of the neck. I also have an 83 jazz that I may need to adjust but the adjustment is at the headstock.... Is it still right turn (clockwise) to tighten and left turn (anticlockwise) to loosen? Or does that change as the rod is the other way round?

Edited November 22, 2013 by CamdenRob

[badboy1984]

The bass i'm trying to adjust is my musicman bongo. It got one of those wheel truss rod thing.

When checking the relief, if a size of a credit card lifts the string abit, that means I need to put more relief to the neck? otherwise I need to straighten the neck right?

[gary mac]

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1385115307' post='2284561']
Brief hijack...sorry...

I set up my 50th jazz a little while back and adjusted the truss rod .I asked about it at the time and was told, right turn to tighten (less relief) and left turn to loosen (more relief). The adjustment is at the body end of the neck. I also have an 83 jazz that I may need to adjust but the adjustment is at the headstock.... Is it still right turn (clockwise) to tighten and left turn (anticlockwise) to loosen? Or does that change as the rod is the other way round?
[/quote]

Same rule applies Rob

[CamdenRob]

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1385125594' post='2284725']
Same rule applies Rob
[/quote]

Thanks, much appreciated.

[GILLY]

Stumbled across this video a few days ago, really well explained and easy to follow. Worked like a charm on my Stingray:

http://youtu.be/yTo9SBsvrUI

[badboy1984]

I'm set the neck relief, adjusted the string height and set the intonation till is perfect, but action still abit high, I gotto admit i use heavy gauge string like 107-45. I guess some instrument can't go too low without some work need doing?

[Musky]

It could be that it's as good as it'll get, but straightening the neck and then raising the action until it stops rattling the frets isn't necessarily the best way to get a low action. Try lowering the action and let us know where on the board it starts to rattle. Bear in mind that as mentioned everyone has different playing styles, and that strings vibrate the most at the centre of their length. It may well be that setting the relief to a height that suits someone else isn't going to work with your style.

Edited November 23, 2013 by Musky

[badboy1984]

The rattle is around 7 fret onwards. So I have to raise the string height to get rid of it.

[BassBus]

You could try lying the bass on its back on a table. Then look at the side of the neck, hold down the E string at each fret and look along the neck as you do that. You might be able to see where the strings are catching the frets. If it's trouble from 7th up, the neck might not be straight enough yet.

[badboy1984]

I've completely give up on lowering the action. Is either 1-4 fret buzz or 6-25 fret buzz.

I'm gonna take it to the guitar tech i use to go and ask him to lower it down for me since he did all my bass perfectly on my requirement.

[PlungerModerno]

[quote name='badboy1984' timestamp='1385460024' post='2288422']
I've completely give up on lowering the action. Is either 1-4 fret buzz or 6-25 fret buzz.

I'm gonna take it to the guitar tech i use to go and ask him to lower it down for me since he did all my bass perfectly on my requirement.
[/quote]

Nothing wrong with getting a good tech to take a look - but I'd advise asking him for his diagnosis - so you can spot it in the future

[gjones]

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1385115307' post='2284561']
Brief hijack...sorry...

I set up my 50th jazz a little while back and adjusted the truss rod .I asked about it at the time and was told, right turn to tighten (less relief) and left turn to loosen (more relief). The adjustment is at the body end of the neck. I also have an 83 jazz that I may need to adjust but the adjustment is at the headstock.... Is it still right turn (clockwise) to tighten and left turn (anticlockwise) to loosen? Or does that change as the rod is the other way round?
[/quote]

Actually, although the truss on my precision neck, where the access is at the body, follows the rule that you turn right to tighten and left to loosen, my Jazz neck (which has access at the headstock) is the opposite way around. You'll be able to confirm that yourself, when you adjust the neck on your 83 jazz.

Edited November 26, 2013 by gjones

[badboy1984]

The thing is i've follow the rule when adjusting the truss rod but the string height can only adjust to a certain degree. I better get my trusted tech to have a look, he will answer me any question when i ask him. His a good chap.

[BassBus]

This might be too late but it's all explained clearly here.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNt6AO8mhJU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNt6AO8mhJU[/url]