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Post subject: Fender american Special P Bass Question
Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2014 11:01 am
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Yesterday, I took my old strings of my base to clean the fret board and the body of the base. When I put the new strings on, which were the exact brand, string guage etc of the ones I took off, I noticed that the action was now higher than it was set for with the old strings? What happened?


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Post subject: Re: Fender american Special P Bass Question
Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2014 1:08 pm
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Location: Albemarle, NC
Neck needs adjusting. This happens with big changes in tension. In the future change only one string at a time. It helps keep the neck more stable. Since you are removing the old strings just slip the cleaning cloth under the strings and buff the fingerboard since it won't matter if some of whatever you are using on the cloth gets onto the strings. It would matter with the new strings. Big changes in neck tension cause exactly what you describe. Once I get one the way I want it I change only one string at a time. I haven't had to adjust a truss rod in ages.


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Post subject: Re: Fender american Special P Bass Question
Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2014 1:25 pm
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Thank you for the information. You mean I should adjust the truss rod? Would you know which way to turn if I want to lower the action?


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Post subject: Re: Fender american Special P Bass Question
Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2014 9:36 am
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There are some online resources, HOWEVER a professional tech can usually do a better job and safer too.

My favorite online resource for do it yourself set up is:
http://www.garywillis.com/pages/bass/bassmanual/setupmanual.html

Of course the OFFICIAL FENDER setup guide is good if you are more experienced:
http://www.fender.com/support/articles/bass-guitar-setup-guide/

And then also:
http://www.studybass.com/gear/bass-setup/bass-setup-intro/

Anytime you take all the strings off all at once, you wreck the setup and essentially have to start over at square one. I can setup my instruments, but there is this one guy I pay and he can set them up better than I can because he does it every workday, all day. He has a 3 week turnaround at present. I guess it depends on your skill level at doing a setup. Sure I can set one up, but someone who does it for a living usually will do better than I can. What he does I don't know. But whatever it is, it is spectacular.

((Sorry had to edit this because I posted the Gary Willis link by mistake instead of the Fender one! Just noticed it! Dave))


Last edited by brotherdave on Sun Oct 19, 2014 2:15 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Fender american Special P Bass Question
Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2014 9:55 am
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brotherdave wrote:
There are some online resources, HOWEVER a professional tech can usually do a better job and safer too.

My favorite online resource for do it yourself set up is:
http://www.garywillis.com/pages/bass/bassmanual/setupmanual.html

Of course the OFFICIAL FENDER setup guide is good if you are more experienced:
http://www.garywillis.com/pages/bass/bassmanual/setupmanual.html

And then also:
http://www.studybass.com/gear/bass-setup/bass-setup-intro/

Anytime you take all the strings off all at once, you wreck the setup and essentially have to start over at square one. I can setup my instruments, but there is this one guy I pay and he can set them up better than I can because he does it every workday, all day. He has a 3 week turnaround at present. I guess it depends on your skill level at doing a setup. Sure I can set one up, but someone who does it for a living usually will do better than I can. What he does I don't know. But whatever it is, it is spectacular.


Amen!


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Post subject: Re: Fender american Special P Bass Question
Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2014 12:52 pm
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Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2012 1:58 pm
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Location: SW Florida
Quote:
I can setup my instruments, but there is this one guy I pay and he can set them up better than I can because he does it every workday, all day. He has a 3 week turnaround at present. I guess it depends on your skill level at doing a setup. Sure I can set one up, but someone who does it for a living usually will do better than I can. What he does I don't know. But whatever it is, it is spectacular.


+1 My bass tech charges me $45 for a setup. He does it much, much faster than I ever could and he always cleans everything up, too. I think it is a great value. It's a relationship. He knows what kind of strings I like, how I like the action set, etc. Sure, I still set up my own when time permits, but it takes me a long time to get the same result. I just do it for mental health.

_________________
Collector of vintage Fender 4 string basses.


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Post subject: Re: Fender american Special P Bass Question
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 12:27 pm
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affprod wrote:
... It's a relationship. He knows what kind of strings I like, how I like the action set, etc. Sure, I still set up my own when time permits, but it takes me a long time to get the same result. I just do it for mental health.


That is true. It is a relationship. Once a tech knows how you like it then stick to that guy. My tech charges way more than yours, however you are a volume customer with your warehouse full of Fender basses and he might see me once a year tops when I get a new axe or have a problem.

Sorry to hear about your mental health issues there Steve. Fortunately it has be scientifically proven that I'm not crazy, the county had me tested.


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Post subject: Re: Fender american Special P Bass Question
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 3:34 pm
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Location: SW Florida
Quote:
Sorry to hear about your mental health issues there Steve. Fortunately it has be scientifically proven that I'm not crazy, the county had me tested.


Sad but true. They wanted me to get involved in some simple craft, basket weaving, origami, I chose bass set up. You have to tell me, how did you beat the test?

I should have mentioned that $45 does not include the cost of the strings, but he does give me a good deal, and yes, he almost always has something in his shop from me, so maybe he does discount my stuff - I never asked. Nice guy. I always know my stuff is going to come back better than when I dropped it off. And he is young, so no problem with him retiring before I retire...permanently.

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Collector of vintage Fender 4 string basses.


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Post subject: Re: Fender american Special P Bass Question
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 9:41 pm
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Affprod, My tech is $135 plus strings, exactly 4 times yours. Be sure to give yours a holiday spiff. Mine will be lucky to get a fruitcake this year after finding out I'm being nailed.

To pass the psych eval I just assumed the persona of Teddy Roosevelt. I have this great jungle hat, monocle, riding crop and pair of black jackboots. BULLY! BULLY!


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