Tools to help set up

[Thunderpaws]

Hey fellow chatters. I am not that great at setting up ny bass. Eg. Getting the height of each string correct in relation to the finger board and the other strings, getting the truss rod just right so the neck is straight. Recently bought fender flat strings and had to tweek the truss rod more than a quarter turn...which made me wonder if I was over doing it.

Anyhow...point of the post...what tools, if any, should I look in to that would help me get the set up consistently right?

[BassBus]

I would take your bass to a luthier and watch him/her set it up. Then take the measurements when you are happy with the setup. Ebay is your friend for tools. You will need some sort of measuring implement, feeler gauges, allen keys and radius gauges. Loads of videos on youtube to help you as well.

[Horizontalste]

What bassbus said, radius gauge and feeler gauge will get you nice consistency in your setups.
If you get radius gauges go for the under string ones for ease of use.

Edit' & a nice engineer's ruler with 1/2mm increments

Edit' edit' & a small torch you can hold in your mouth to look down under the strings when measuring

Edited April 2, 2014 by Horizontalste

[essexbasscat]

Radius guages are a great idea.

You could do a google search for Dan Erlewine and order his guitar player repair guide. You'll find detailed guidance there on practically everything you'll need to get the best from your guitar or bass. It depends how deep you want to go into it really.

Best bet is to just keep reading around on the topic, learning as you go. It can be a fascinating journey and there's nothing like seeing the smile on your friend's face as they start to play the guitar you've just set up and handed back to them

[Green Alsatian]

These are the tools I use with each setup, be it on bass or guitar. I bought them through StewMac and eBay for the most part:

Screwdriver set (one of my fave tools!) - [url="http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Screwdrivers/Guitar_Tech_Screwdriver_Set.html?actn=100101&xst=3&xsr=11116"]http://www.stewmac.c...xst=3&xsr=11116[/url]

Action Guage (I use the imperial version) - [url="http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Straightedges/String_Action_Gauge.html?actn=100101&xst=3&xsr=8598"]http://www.stewmac.c...&xst=3&xsr=8598[/url]

Radius Guages - [url="http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_tools_for_Neck,_fingerboard/Radius_Gauges.html?actn=100101&xst=3&xsr=251"]http://www.stewmac.c...1&xst=3&xsr=251[/url]

Feeler Guages (for neck relief) - [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LASER-TOOLS-FEELER-GAUGE-SET-32-BLADE-IMP-METRIC-GUAGE-WITH-BRASS-BLADE-2481-/161246555430?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item258b0b2d26"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item258b0b2d26[/url]

Hex Keys (I have metric & imperial) - http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Wrenches/Ball-End_Hex_Keys.html?actn=100101&xst=3&xsr=11531

Nut files - [url="http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Files/Gauged_Nut_Slotting_Files_for_Bass.html?actn=100101&xst=3&xsr=7332"]http://www.stewmac.c...&xst=3&xsr=7332[/url]

Capo (to help with setting neck relief) - [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Guitar-Capo-Clamp-for-Electric-and-Acoustic-Guitar-Quick-Trigger-Release-Pick-/251484098188?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&var=&hash=item3a8d9ece8c"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item3a8d9ece8c[/url]

ESP Multispanner - [url="http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Wrenches/ESP_Multi_Spanner.html?actn=100101&xst=3&xsr=66118"]http://www.stewmac.c...xst=3&xsr=66118[/url]

Edited April 2, 2014 by Green Alsatian

[Number6]

I have a 6" / 150mm good quality engineers rule that i have marked with a Sharpie marker at 4/32 (imperial of course lol) and a good pocket inspection torch. I also have allen keys and Phillips 1 and 2 screwdrivers.

[HowieBass]

Add an electronic tuner so you can check for correct intonation (I usually check tunings most of the way up the neck and always at the 12th, the 15th, 17th and 19th frets) and you'll probably need a cross-head screwdriver to adjust the intonation screws. I usually check for amount of relief by eye alone - probably not ideal but it seems to serve me quite well (as a check I hold down the G string at the 1st and 8th frets and there should be a slight gap between the string and the 4th fret; hold down the E string at the 1st and 12th frets and there should be a slight gap between the string and the 4th through to the 8th frets).

EDIT: Regarding changing strings and tweaking the truss rod; not at all surprising since different types/gauges will have different tensions and flatwounds tend to be higher tension than roundwounds.

Edited April 2, 2014 by HowieBass

[Number6]

Like Howiebass i use the strings as a straight edge to set the neck using a cheapy Dunlop capo at the 1st fret. I have a couple of tuners.....one is better than the other for intonation for some reason.

[Horizontalste]

Slightly different relief for me.
I use a pencil & rubber band ( I don't have a capo, I play bass :-) ) to fret the first fret, then hold the E string down at the point where the neck & body join. Then I aim for 0.012 at frets 7/8/9.

[BassBus]

I'd recommend you don't buy from Stewmac. They can be quite expensive and on bigger orders you might incur customs charges. There are quite a few suppliers on ebay whomsupply from Europe and are much cheaper. CHGuitars for one. There's another in Portugal I have used too which is very good. Can't remember the name off hand though.

[Green Alsatian]

I've never had any customs charges from StewMac purchases (or Guitar Parts Resource who I've used a lot in the past) - I ensure that my orders stay under the price that incurs charges (can't remember the limit off the top of my head). When you factor in the fact that stuff is more expensive (or not available at all) over here, StewMac really aren't that expensive - better quality tools too, I've found.

It does take longer, so if you're impatient you can pay more for speedier shipping services.

[theyellowcar]

Fender have a really good guide available online which I've used religiously when setting up my basses.

http://www.fender.com/en-GB/support/articles/bass-guitar-setup-guide