I no longer trust my eyes..in the endless search for the lowest possible action with no buzz, I purchased a 24 inch heavy-duty steel rafter square at Home Depot(couldn't find a straight-edge on the way home)...
I placed it across my frets, and to my surprise, it did it's best impersonation of a see-saw...Whoa!..and I thought my neck was straight(I just backed off the truss rods yesterday to get rid of lower fretbuzz(frets 1-5))
Well..today I think I backed off both the rods more than one turn...and I think I'll wait at least a day to watch for a change...
I use high action as my band plays some tunes in dropped "D", but it's just a little lower now, and the bass actually sounds and plays better now...I highly recommend some sort of straight-edge for anyone as clueless as me when setting up neck relief....
...I think I may start to enjoy playing bass again!
Trying to turn my neck into an arch!
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clankchris
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A straightedge is very useful for setting relief. I got an aluminum one at Lowes, I think. Joey has a great webpage showing pictures of a basic setup, perhaps he will see this and post a link - it was very helpful to me.
Action is definitely a matter of taste. I got the action as low as possible on my midnight blue 4003 and then found out it was too low for playing live, because when we were really getting intense, it was too much fret noise and interaction. Just personal preference... I've found I like the action a little higher than most. But I play fingerstyle and really dig in at times. YMMV....
Action is definitely a matter of taste. I got the action as low as possible on my midnight blue 4003 and then found out it was too low for playing live, because when we were really getting intense, it was too much fret noise and interaction. Just personal preference... I've found I like the action a little higher than most. But I play fingerstyle and really dig in at times. YMMV....
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jingle_jangle
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The better the quality of the edge, the better your setups will be...cheap rafter squares have no certification as to straightness of their edges; they are stamped out of steel sheet.
A good, stiff precision-ground 18" straightedge can be gotten for about $30 new; they turn up at swap meets (not guitar swap meets) for as low as a few bucks.
Relief is a bit more critical on guitars than on basses. But when you're talking .005-.007 relief (on a guitar) as some folks prefer--RIC says no relief--a bit of inaccuracy in a stamped square could lend confusion to the art of setting up a guitar or bass.
A good, stiff precision-ground 18" straightedge can be gotten for about $30 new; they turn up at swap meets (not guitar swap meets) for as low as a few bucks.
Relief is a bit more critical on guitars than on basses. But when you're talking .005-.007 relief (on a guitar) as some folks prefer--RIC says no relief--a bit of inaccuracy in a stamped square could lend confusion to the art of setting up a guitar or bass.
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut
Stewart-MacDonald has a 24" precision straight edge that is made for "neck checking".
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Straightedges/Precision_Straightedges.html
What surprised me a little is how much the neck will move with changes in the weather.
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Straightedges/Precision_Straightedges.html
What surprised me a little is how much the neck will move with changes in the weather.
I'm no longer surprised, Richard!
After a number of days here in the mid 30s to mid 40s (celsius) and pretty high humidity, I couldn't believe how much underbow had developed in the necks. Oddly enough, not so much my Ricks as others. I had to tweak the rods in the 360V64 a little, but the others that I've checked have stayed pretty much rock solid.
Totally different story for the American Tele and SG. I've had to crank the rod on the Tele 3 times (OK, so I put heavier gauge strings on the first time)and resest the intonation twice.
On advice from good friend Brian Medway I purchased a top quality 24" steel rule - mainly for initial 'roughing' of intonation - but it's proved to be invaluable for instant neck checks. My eyesight is not as good as it once was and even with glasses I'm not sure that the ol' peepers will be giving the brain the right messages.
I have now purchased a DeLonghi a portable air conditioner (not evaporative cooler) which will be used almost exclusively at the 'guitar end' of my modest abode.
BTW, playing mostly rhythm, I prefer the lowest possible action without fret buzz on my guitars.
After a number of days here in the mid 30s to mid 40s (celsius) and pretty high humidity, I couldn't believe how much underbow had developed in the necks. Oddly enough, not so much my Ricks as others. I had to tweak the rods in the 360V64 a little, but the others that I've checked have stayed pretty much rock solid.
Totally different story for the American Tele and SG. I've had to crank the rod on the Tele 3 times (OK, so I put heavier gauge strings on the first time)and resest the intonation twice.
On advice from good friend Brian Medway I purchased a top quality 24" steel rule - mainly for initial 'roughing' of intonation - but it's proved to be invaluable for instant neck checks. My eyesight is not as good as it once was and even with glasses I'm not sure that the ol' peepers will be giving the brain the right messages.
I have now purchased a DeLonghi a portable air conditioner (not evaporative cooler) which will be used almost exclusively at the 'guitar end' of my modest abode.
BTW, playing mostly rhythm, I prefer the lowest possible action without fret buzz on my guitars.
"Never eat more than you can lift." - Mr. Moon
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leftyguitars
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What happened to just fretting at the first and last frets to check the amount of neck relief?
"If only quilted maple grew on trees!"
http://www.leftyguitars.co.uk
http://www.leftyguitars.co.uk
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jingle_jangle
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Nothing. But strings deflect and scale rules are rigid, so it's easier to get an accurate measurement.
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut
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clankchris
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"The better the quality of the edge, the better your setups will be."
I hear that Paul, and will be getting the real thing before long.....but even the square(the best one I could find) is making a night-and-day difference...
I've tried fretting at the first and last, sighting the neck, and playing whilst looking to see if the buzz comes from the lower part of the neck....but all these weren't half as accurate in comparison...
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Straightedges/Precision_Straightedges.html
....those look pretty nice...I may have to buy one!
...this is probably why my bandmates call me a tweaker, and ban me from my incessant tweaking, whether it be my bass, my amp's EQ, or some pedal during practice.."STOP IT!"
I hear that Paul, and will be getting the real thing before long.....but even the square(the best one I could find) is making a night-and-day difference...
I've tried fretting at the first and last, sighting the neck, and playing whilst looking to see if the buzz comes from the lower part of the neck....but all these weren't half as accurate in comparison...
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Straightedges/Precision_Straightedges.html
....those look pretty nice...I may have to buy one!
...this is probably why my bandmates call me a tweaker, and ban me from my incessant tweaking, whether it be my bass, my amp's EQ, or some pedal during practice.."STOP IT!"
