Set up questiona?

[adimanto]

hi there,just recived my new bass 12 days ago,the set up was orrible,the bass don't work specialy on the e string ,i have waited for let the woods feell the cold europe temperature but still have a lot of buzz and rumour,i have already followed the instructions on the site,suggestions please!

[adriaan]

So you've been following Joey's Post on Setting Up Your Bass?
 
Remember you have three things to play with - and when you start you do them in this order: the adjustable nut, the truss rods, and the bridge.
 
It is also very important that you check the buzz and rumour with the bass in playing position, not when it lies down flat. And a reasonably fresh set of strings!
 
Your bass is currently unplayable - or as Joey said, ALL of us have turned our basses into boat oars the first time or two till we 'got it'.
 
So start again with the nut, to remove buzzes at the first five frets, making sure you can easily press down the strings in those positions. Then the truss rods to reflect your playing style and preferences. Finally the bridge to remove (or intentionally add) buzz from the fifth fret up.

[adimanto]

interesting, most of the problem that i have is with the e string and d string,in the first fret ,in the e string from the first to the twelve,d and g are ok!but buzz a little on the side of the peghead,i hear a lot of buzz also when i play e string free!

[mica]

I'm sure we can help you get the proper adjustments done. The bass was setup very well when it left us, but it's been on at least 2 flights since then, and it will need attention now.  
 
Did you loosen the truss rods? You said you followed the instructions on the site, there's lots of suggestions for adjusting your bass, can you tell me what procedure you followed so I know what you've already tried?
 
The buzzing sound, does it come through the amplifier?

[adimanto]

hi Mica you're so kind,i'm sure that the bass was set up proprely,the bass is fantastic,i'm sure also that the problem is the drastic chabge in temperature from hot california to cold germany and cold italy.i have changed the string with dr string with the same gauge,becouse the D string was broken on the peghead the first time i have tried to tune it,probably on the E side i got to much space on the first fret but i do it for try not to make it buzz,then i have loosen the truss rod 1/8 of a turn anticlock turn(for loose is correct?)and the bass was pretty better but not enough,and then i have raised the bridge on the E ide a bit,if i press at 24TH fret And press at the 1st fret i can see a bow,on the first fret to the 7th fret i got no space from string to fret,and the same on the last fret on middle the space is ok,as i said i see a bow.got no probem playng on the end of the fingerboard,the problem is on the E and A string also playng it free,it slap over the frets dang dang.Help me....i'm sad,i want to play this beauty!thank you!

[mica]

I would suggest sticking with truss rod adjustments at first - the only thing that moved with you or I asking it to was the neck. 1/8 of a turn is a pretty small amount, so I would have to try that a little more. Also, adjust the rods the same amount on each side at first.  
 
I probably don't have to say this, but of course make sure that you play with a touch appropriate for the action - the lower the action, the lighter the touch you need to play with.  
 
Don't raise the nut unless you have a buzz on an open string that goes away when you fret. Since you are getting buzz on open and fretted notes, truss rod adjustments are the right first approach.  
 
Make sure if you decide to adjust the nut that you loosen the center anchor screw first, or you will damage the baseplate.  
 
Let me know how it goes.

[rustyg61]

Thanks for this valuble info Joey/Mica! I just got my SC Signature Deluxe last week, & it had a little string buzz right out of the box. I raised the bridge which helped, but could still hear some buzz when playing acoustically. I did that before reading this thread to see how to properly set it up! I followed your instructions & now I have no buzz with lower action! My only question is I loosened the truss rod on the low E side all the way, & still can not get the medium pick under the string without it raising the string. It did create a gap between the string & the fret when holding down the 1st & 24th fret, but not enough gap to slide the pick under the string without it moving the string up. Before loosening the truss rod, there was no gap, so it did some good. I guess my question is, is it OK to have the truss rod nut completely loose, & should I have more of a gap under the string with it all the way loose? I loosened it to where I can turn it with my fingers, then snugged it back to keep it from vibrating. I also loosened the truss rod on the G string side to see if it would create any more gap on the E string, but it didn't have much effect. The gap under the G string is also less than the medium pick thickness, but it was not buzzing like the E was.
 
Thanks for sharing your knowledge & advice!
 
Rusty

[thumbsup]

Rusty....I would recomend you start a new thread...sounds like you have loosen them to the extreme...doesn't sound right to me...but others on this site are vey knowledgable.
 
Steve

[rustyg61]

Thanks Steve. I emailed Joey & explained my situation & he told me what I need to do to get more relief. He has had the same issue with his bass when it was new & was able to correct it, so hopefully mine will line out too.

[thumbsup]

Joeys' the man...hes' helped me on several ocations!

[rustyg61]

Joey's advice worked! My bass plays amazing now with no buzz!

[mario_farufyno]

Tell us what you had done...

[rustyg61]

I tried adjusting the truss rods like Joey instructed in his setup post, but even though I loosened both truss nutts completely, I still didn't have much gap under my E string when holding down the 1st & 24th fret. So I emailed Joey & he said he had the same problem when his bass was new, & suggested I loosen the truss nuts all the way, then tune the bass up a full step to F#,B,E,A & let it set for 24 hours. Then snug the truss nuts, but not tighten them, & retune. The extra tension from tuning up a step pulled my neck into increased relief which put more gap under the strings, which allowed me to lower my bridge & have great action without buzz! Joey is indeed The Man!

[rustyg61]

I tried adjusting the truss rods like Joey instructed in his setup post, but even though I loosened both truss nuts completely, I still didn't have much gap under my E string when holding down the 1st & 24th fret. So I emailed Joey & he said he had the same problem when his bass was new, & suggested I loosen the truss nuts all the way, then tune the bass up a full step to F#,B,E,A & let it set for 24 hours. Then snug the truss nuts, but not tighten them, & retune. The extra tension from tuning up a step pulled my neck into increased relief which put more gap under the strings, which allowed me to lower my bridge & have great action without buzz! Joey is indeed The Man!

[mario_farufyno]

Great tip!