Author Topic: 6 string bass problems (Read 187 times)

rami · « **Reply #15 on:** January 27, 2009, 10:12:53 AM »

I totally agree John. Mike, at least call Carvin and mention the problem. Their service is excellent, and they'll pay the shipping charges for warranty service. I also own a recent LB76 and have no such problem. Their quality is excellent and I'd also be VERY surprised if they sent an nstrument out with such a flaw.

Rami

mike1762 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 03, 2009, 07:14:20 AM »

Since the PUP height doesn't matter so much on an Alembic, it did not occur to me (until last night) that it DOES matter with regular PUPs. The PUPs were REALLY close to the strings on my Carvin. I lowered them and VOILA!!! The intonation was dead-on (although the screws are still run all the way out on a couple of the saddles), the excess string noise disappeared, and the general tone is much improved.

Doh!!!

rami · « **Reply #17 on:** February 04, 2009, 09:41:21 AM »

Mike,

Since pickups have no physical contact with the strings, they cannot have any effect on intonation. Intonation is strictly a function of string length, tension (tuning), and location of harmonic notes in relation to fretted notes. The only direct adjustment is the forward or backward movement of the bridge saddle and neck movement.
I suspect that since you did not make any further adjustment of the bridge saddles, there must have been slight neck movement due to environmental conditions (Temperature, Humidity), or even how the Bass has been sitting (on its back or standing upright) in its case.
Changing the pickup height will affect how well the magnetic field captures the string vibration. It may sound weaker or thinner, but it will not have any effect on intonation.
You may notice slight changes in the intonation from time to time but that's normal.
I think that fiddling with the pickup height may introduce other changes that affect the sound that you may not ultimately like.

mike1762 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 04, 2009, 10:25:28 AM »

I agree with what you said, so that must be the case. I did make some major adjustments to the truss rod, so it may just now be settling in. I've been wrong about so much other stuff that I was just assuming there was some property of the magnetic field that somehow affected intonation. I'm just glad it's on now. I'm using the 6 string as a vehicle to learn to read music. This is REALLY like starting over.

rami · « **Reply #19 on:** February 05, 2009, 08:35:37 AM »

That's really great Mike. And you'll find that you're Bass will play and sound better over time. I find that the more interaction I have with a Bass, and with the occasional tweaking here and there, it settles better. It really gets Broken in and fits like a comfortable glove. I suppose that's the appeal of a vintage Fender. The nicest compliments I get for my Basses (feeling, action, playability and sound) are usually for those that I play the most.

Best wishes and many years of enjoyment.

Rami