Adding extra relief to a Series 1 neck.

[Picure]

Recently I just got my S1 back from the mothership with upgrades and it sounds FREAKIN AMAZING!!!
However, when I got the bass, it was still equipped with old 45-100 D’Addario Chromes. They were a bit floppy and the A string buzzed heavily from the 3rd fret on up. The E string only started buzzing from around the 11th fret upwards. At this time, it has just a slight bow in the neck.

The next thing I tried to remedy this buzzing was I changed the strings to Alembic CX3 45-105 Compression Wound strings. The A string is now buzz free, however now the E string buzzes like crazy from the 3rd fret on up. There is a slight relief on the neck, but loosening the truss rod didnt add much more relief.

Right now, my prediction is that I might need to find 45-100 strings but with higher tension and also need more relief in the neck.

Also, I play primarily with a plectrum so I do understand that I should have a bit of an higher action, but right now my gigging bass (Sandberg VM4) has almost a straight neck, low action, and has just a bit of buzz to give the tone character. I wish to do the same for my S1 but roght now I’m not feeling it yet.

Currently I still have the CX3 strings on the bass and I have it tuned up a half step from standard tuning and my question is, how long could/should I leave my bass like this? And am I going in the right direction in fixing this problem?

P.S I have read up on Joey’s post (and tried) about setting up and posts about heat treatment. But right now I want to see what else I can do first.

Thanks everyone in advance!

[adriaan]

I expect the neck on your Sandberg is a bolt-on, has a single trussrod, and will not be angled back like on an Alembic, and at the bridge you set individual spring heights, so the adjustments you need to make to end up with similar results will be quite different. For instance if you duplicate the string height at the 12th, and have the same clearance, and the same strings, one bass may be playing fine while the other may fight you all the way.
So stick to Joey's instructions! Set the neck straight and lower the bridge so even the open strings do nothing but rattle in playing position. Then start adjusting the trussrods to where the strings start losing some of the rattle, then start raising the bridge. You'll get the feeling for it.

[Picure]

I expect the neck on your Sandberg is a bolt-on, has a single trussrod, and will not be angled back like on an Alembic, and at the bridge you set individual spring heights, so the adjustments you need to make to end up with similar results will be quite different. For instance if you duplicate the string height at the 12th, and have the same clearance, and the same strings, one bass may be playing fine while the other may fight you all the way.
So stick to Joey's instructions! Set the neck straight and lower the bridge so even the open strings do nothing but rattle in playing position. Then start adjusting the trussrods to where the strings start losing some of the rattle, then start raising the bridge. You'll get the feeling for it.

Cool, Ill try that when I come back from overseas this Sunday. But what about my strings being a half step up? Should I have my wife detune it for me tomorrow night or could I leave it like that until Sunday?

Thanks!

[jacko]

To get extra relief in the past I've put a thick book under the strings around the 12th fret then tuned up a step or two and left it alone for a couple of days.  Take the book out and follow joey's instructions for the perfect setup.

Graeme

[Picure]

To get extra relief in the past I've put a thick book under the strings around the 12th fret then tuned up a step or two and left it alone for a couple of days.  Take the book out and follow joey's instructions for the perfect setup.

Graeme

Good to know, thanks!