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Just got an oldish (early '80s I think) Vox standard bass- I'm not a bassist but want to just lay a fee simple runs on some recording.
Strings are really high, say about 10mm E string 12 fret, and 6mm G string 12 fret ?
What should these be ?
Bolt on neck, don't think it has a truss rod - can it be adjusted or a lost cause ?
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Comments
Check the relief first by holding down the G string at the first fret and the 19th with the bass in the normal playing position. Look at the gap under the string at about the 8th fret - if it's bigger than the diameter of the string then there's far too much relief. About half the string diameter is ideal usually.
If that's OK then an action of about 2mm (G) to 3mm (E) should be about right, but don't lower it to that if the neck isn't straight enough or it will just rattle at the top end of the neck and still be too high in the middle. If the saddles won't go low enough to achieve that then it may need a shim in the neck pocket.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
my gosh ICBM, thanks you - just done the first check holding E string down at 1 & 19 fret and the height of string over 8 fret is a whisker over the string diameter - is that OK then ???
Don't know how to attach pictures here - does the plate on the back with 4 screws actually hold the neck on, or is it just a cover that is safe to take off ?
It actually holds the neck on, so don't undo them unless you've taken the strings off first .
If you do take the neck off, when you refit it make sure the screws find the old threads properly - turn them backwards until they click into the threads, then tighten. If you just drive them in and force them to cut new threads it can strip the holes.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Unless they mean relief?
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein