Pt.2 - How to set up your INTONATION video: czcams.com/video/U1fThuvYrEw/video.html *Support me on Patreon* -> patreon.com/TheBassWizard ▼*Donations are appreciated and help me to keep uploading high quality content for you:* ►PayPal email: support@thebasswizard.com ►Bitcoin address: 38LxHw2yMgUEGJCB7XykLvVub4qytsidJj
At age 55 during this COVID19 nightmare I decided to pursue an over 25 year quest, learn to play the Bass Guitar. One month ago I got a Squire Affinity P Bass with P and J pickups. I am learning so much and loving it. I noticed I could not slap on my E string. Watching this video I noticed the bridge brackets were all at different levels and the E string was very high. I lowered the action and not only can I slap but my fingers feel much more relaxed and playing scales is much easier. I even hear that pop you discussed. Thanks!
Hi! I did just the same, bought my self a bass guitar and started lurning this Great instrument 👍😊. And this video was a Great help plus understanding with out "over doin' it" 👍 Super👍
I've had a Squier Bass since I was a kid, and I've always HATED it. Turns out a half inch action on a bass isn't normal. I always thought bassists had roided up finger muscles or something. edit: holy shit this is amazing. Feeling kinda stupid that I could've been loving and learning this instrument for the past 15 years but never picked it up because I never knew I needed to adjust the action.
Action wise, (String height) at 12th fret, 1/2" inch (32/64") is too high, 3/8" inch (24 /64" inch) is too high, 1/4" inch (16/64") is too high, 1/8" inch (8/64") is too high.
Great video. One thing not mentioned is checking your intonation after lowering or raising your strings. 12 fret EADG notes should be in tune with your open string EADG notes. Making big adjustments lowering or raising will most likely affect the intonation and you will need to adjust the saddle position. If the fretted notes are sharp then move the saddle position backwards, and if rotes are flat move the saddle position forward.
"...fret down where the NECK MEETS THE BODY..." You have the best video on Bass Setup sir. NO ONE ELSE talks about fretting where the neck meets the body, which is the most important because it doesn't matter if you have 19, 20, 22 or 24 frets, where it joins the body is the right measurement. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
You my friend make the best bass tutorial videos on CZcams. To any beginners looking for learning videos to improve their playing , this guy explains the bass in a ways that’s easy to absorb and doesn’t get off track with stories and rubbish talk. He knows his stuff , but doesn’t flaunt it which impresses me most of all. He explains very intuitively and you pick up on lots of little bonus tips that help you out ,whereas other people giving lessons on CZcams have been a waste Of good practice time I should’ve been getting. Thanks for sharing your knowledge my friend.
Yeah a lot of people want to teach in this roundabout way that either revolves around a specific tool or philosophy that mostly serves to uphold tradition. With Marcelo the methods are direct, the tools interchangeable, and he isn't trying to preserve his grandfather's teachings.
@@utubeThesugi Detuning isn't really necessary for any of these adjustments, but he's just approaching it with an abundance of caution, which never hurts when you're instructing beginners, or folks who might by heavy handed with tools.
@@Billkwando How can the saddle adjustment be raised, if necessary, without detuning the strings if they are tight. Only makes sense to detune before doing it.
Dan Mayes No my friend.... No excuse, no reason, logic, statement, explanation, science, evidence ... nothing will convince our wives of the why we need more basses. Sorry. She even might seem to agree ... momentarily ....but she will just think the same, no matter what you say.
Let me tell you a secret . If all your bases are the same colour they dont notice . For the love of God they must never Know . The consequences could be catastrophic .
Mary Monica OF COURSE !!!!!!!!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 That’s so true. If anybody ask our wives what bass has he got? He’d say “a brown one” , or whatever colour your Bass happens to be. That’s soooo true. She’d never say “Oh! I’ve heard him say a thousand times he’s got a vintage 1973 Precision Fender bass with sunburst finish with new bridge and pickups.” No. I don’t think so. He could have a brown chinese 50p bass or the original James Jamerson P bass in his possession and she would be absolutely clueless anyway. For her it’s just.... “brown”. One can have as many as one desires and afford and she’d never notice! All she sees is the colour. I thank thee Mary Monica. ☺️☺️☺️☺️ In gratitude, and in return, I can tell you any man’s secret women want to unlock and you’d want to now. Just one☝🏻
5 string high low and mid action 4 in the same plus flat wound and round wound strings is a total of 12 but with acoustic its 14 but you also have active or passive pickups and double or single makes the total 50 basses that are very necessary
I picked up the Bass half a year ago, made decent progress but always felt dumb how other bassists are able to fly around the fretboard when the E string needs so much pressure, especially using my pinky finger was a nightmare. Now after this video and a little bit of help from my Dad (he plays the Guitar and built one too), it went pretty smooth and let me tell you that this is a game changer. It almost takes no effort to press down strings on the fretboard, tapping and slapping actually work and the pinky finger came into play just naturally now. Thank you a lot!
When I was in a band I had high action so I could dig in for a clean punch. Now I play melodies in my living room with very close action for ease and speed. It's totally what's comfortable to you.
Thank you very much indeed. I thought I needed to bring my bass to a local instrument guy by paying loads of money but thanks to you, I could fix it without spending any money.
Using this tutorial as well as the intonation tutorial, I was able to set up my brand new bass in no time flat and it now plays great. Thanks Marc for these videos, saved me a lot of money getting a "professional" setup and I now have the pride of knowing I can work on my instrument myself.
Awesome advice. I've always been afraid to touch the truss rod but now not so much. Also I'm so glad that up close your shiny bass is just as grimy as mine 😁
You forgot the intonation step after lowering/raising the saddles. But you nailed everything else and then some. lol just noticed the link after posting the comment, good job bro!
Fantastic video bro. Been playing guitar for 25 years and just picked up a bass, very informative and well laid out so a musician can set up for what they want to play and sound like. Bravo sir
Ok here's my take: I took the advice since the second hand bass (i bought 8 months ago) hasn't been adjusted since it is showing an obvious sign of bowing. Its really miles high between the fret and the string in some places. I really took this man's word. Lo and behold, my bass right now feels like brand new! Before, it was impossible to slapp and tapp. Now, i'm almost there. I'm not a luthier btw.
I always keep a small screwdriver with me...I can adjust the neck on the fly on the MM wheel...to have low or higher action. Very cool adjustment option. Yay Musicman truss wheel!
Hey im getting string "clacking" ob ny MM bass. Its like the strings hitting the frets when i play. Ive tried raising the action a bit but its still there
Outstanding video. One of the few videos that explains why you may want low or high action. I'm also happy that I'm not the only person who checks the relief by tapping!
Just spent a bunch of money on a new bass and was going to spend over $100 to pay someone to do this for me. Truss rod scares me. This video gives me the confidence I need to go home and do it myself. Thank you.
Thank you for this. I got a bass 6 months ago, and after a string change, the action went sky high and was unable to correct it. There are no guitar shops nearby here so i kinda gave up on it for a while (stress, lack of time, etc.) but today i watched this and my bass become MUCH EASIER TO PLAY ON! This is incredible. My hand doesnt hurt anymore while fretting higher notes. Thank you!!!
Thanks! I especially like the comparisons in this video -- helped a lot. I definitely gotta setup my 5 string bass (my only one) in a lower action. Hard rock and metal benefits greatly from the treble-inducing growl of fretbuzz and the snappiness of the attack.
This noob is very much indebted to you. The action on my Steinberger XT25 was way too high as set from the factory. Now I lowered it it plays so much lighter. Awesome! Thank you!
AN excellent video, very well presented and explained. One thing that would be a useful addition is to give measurements for the action that you have set, whether it is say 2.2 mm top G string down to 2.5 mm bottom E string at 17th fret, for example. That would give people a very useful guideline.
What a humble, intelligent, thorough, gifted, tone beasting dude, and a refreshing change of pace, that I'm enjoying watching. And nobody even plays bass in my fam lol. Gotta admire a guy who embraces all styles of music, & knows the names, work & history of many, not just one genera of great bass players. Definitely not afraid of discomfort neither, or the potential for embarrassment from unfamiliarity i see. Best of all, you're embracing a willingness to learn while displaying a broad appreciation for your craft. Way to be young man! Much respect. You deserve everything you earn in your future to come. Not to mention, a great f'n taste in gear lol! Although a drummer myself, I can't help but love the sound of those EB basses. Rock on sir!
I've been playing bass since I was 15 yo, and I just realized (15 year later) my action is high as hell. Holy moly, i can even fit a book when i press the 1st and neck fret. Time to adjust it, I guess
Thank you! I’m a new player and was wondering why the slap technique was not working well. Just made the adjustments and Bam, that fixed it! Neck was warped and strings way too far off the fretboard.
thank you! I'm new to bass and I ordered one recently and it just came in. I tried playing it but there was one fret that kept making a buzzing noise. Turns out it was the action that needed adjusting
Appreciate that break down...over the years I guess mine loosened up a bit. Was so gradual I had thought it wrongly to be my diff strings and therefore diff tension. I was wrong...and now after watching this I'm set up good to go again and crissakes I'm greased lightin' now...thanks buddy for the very clear and concise explanation.
Truss rod adjustments, tightening or loosening should always be made with the strings at low tension, Always loosen strings first! Adjust your truss rod, then bring back up to pitch
Thank you sooo much. I have a stingray 5 since 2013 and i was sure something was not optimal. As soon i watched your tutorial i have tuned my bass and now it sounds great ! Many thanks
I'm a longtime guitar player, and not very familiar with bass setup. I just bought a new short scale bass which needs a lot of setup work, so this video has been very helpful. The bass is a Squier Bronco which is poorly built using cheap components, and will take a lot of work to make it nice. The bridge is total junk, flimsy and not possible to adjust the intonation or action of individual strings, so I've ordered a new better bridge. The pickup is also substandard, so I'll have to replace that. But I like the size and shape of the body and neck, so all the work will be worth it. Thanks for the video!
Thank you so much for this! You’re very informative and helpful! I actually have bone issues which makes playing painful sometimes, and the difference after adjusting the action feels life saving. Thank you a million times over 😊
Perfect video.I’ve played guitar for 40 years and just started on bass 6 months ago. I play them,but have always been afraid to adjust Anything on a stringed instrument. This was so helpful and very clear to understand.I bought a new MIM P bass and the action was too high for my liking. After watching this video a couple times and applying these ideas I’ve got it playing SOOOOO much better. Thank you very much for your help.
Thank you for doing this. Bought my first bass in 30 years. Learned right handed when I was 18 life happened and sold it when I was 19. Picked up a lefty a week ago to learn it the way I couldn't afford to back then. I have my Ibanez set up at 2.5mm on the E and A and 2mm on the D and G. Seems to work well for me. But to know how to adjust it right will help down the road. Cheers from a old hippie.
My bass was buzzing all over the place and I played around with the action. Turned out some of the strings were super high, while others were super low. Thanks to this video I was able to amend the problem and I can finally enjoy my bass the proper way.
I played bass for years before I had the courage to touch my truss rods. I’ve found that quarter-turn adjustments work, but you still don’t really know if it’s right till it sits, in-tune, overnight.
My suggestion is check and adjust the action on 18th fret ( gap between top of fret wire and bottom of the string ) on SR5. Start with 2.5mm on B to 2.0mm on G string as starting point. This possible make all the string follow the fretboard radius for better playing feel. Hopehelp Edit. Set the neck relief on 7th or 8th fret . Try .010 neck relief for low action and light touch play. On aggressive pick style prefer low action + dirty fret buzz (non chocking tone ), try .014. For gorilla hand, more neck relief and sky high action are the best ！
Great video! That's the way to explain it. This will help many of us to play more comfortable and feel that we control our instrument and not the other way... I don't know how much time I've lost to learn this stuff. Your video would had saved me so much time. Thanks!
I’m really glad I found this because when I put my bass back together it will have a new neck with an extra fret. Now I know to check the measurement and notes. Thanks!
Intonation is all about using a KORG tuner, and comparing the open string tuning to the octave tuning at the 12 fret. They must be the same. If sharp at the octave, move the saddle to make the string longer. (turn screw clockwise) tighten screw. and do the opposite if the octave is flat. If flat, you want to make the string shorter. loosen screw.(counter clockwise)
You are awesome man , thanks for this videos , you make look it easy , I think I'll never gonna touch my action (beginner bass player) but this is good material.
It’s absolutely the video bass player needed.Amazing Marc!!! How about the G string close to edge? Will you shot another video for that? I just want to know if new MM match your needs. I care about that too.
Thanks so much for this video! I know its 2 yrs old, but I just got my first Sterling bass and now I finally know how to set it up just right. It's so much more comfortable to play now. :)
I'm a guitar player and know anything about the physical aspects of a bass. Or should I say I Didn't know anything. I feel like I know enough now to evaluate a low end violin style bass I'm looking at. Outstanding video! Great content and the presentation excels. I will sit through a painful video to learn something, but few are compelling. And there are lots of other videos, as you say, on the same topic, but if anyone is still confused after watching this video, they should probably give up. Liked and subscribed.
Marcelo i have to adjust my truss rod in the spring and again in like november, and i love my Musicmans cause having that wheel truss adjustment it is so easy to get to it and i have been hooked ever since. my adjustment on my strings, is i like the action on the two middle strings a little higher to dig out those strings easier and i adjust my neck and action just like you do by feel and touch......Thank you Marcelo great job !!!! Ernie Here.....
The comparison of the sound between the two basses with different action settings was really instructive. I already knew how to set action to where it felt good but I didn't fully understand the influence on tone. This demo made it clear. A great video.
Thank you so much for this - finally felt comfortable to adjust my truss rod on my P-bass and the action is so much better now its only slightly curved in the middle rather than a full on C shape as it came. Exactly how I wanted it but struggled for ages!
Very informative video. I love the feel of the low action, but unfortunately the style that my band plays just works a lot better with higher action for most of our songs. I guess I will have to buy another bass to set the action nice and low!
Pt.2 - How to set up your INTONATION video: czcams.com/video/U1fThuvYrEw/video.html
*Support me on Patreon* -> patreon.com/TheBassWizard
▼*Donations are appreciated and help me to keep uploading high quality content for you:*
►PayPal email:
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►Bitcoin address:
38LxHw2yMgUEGJCB7XykLvVub4qytsidJj
5.08 - what song is that? Love that bassline!
How can anyone dislike this, the guy’s just giving advice - since when did passing on knowledge become a bad thing :(
Haters will hate
Those dislikes came from failed guitarist lols
Negativity fuels negative people. Pressing dislike is one step towards towards achieving their daily goal.
Emptiness breeds toxicity. They exist everywhere, in every walk of life. Just accept them, they need acceptance and love more than most. :)
before truss rod ajusting its important decrease tension of string if you dont want damage neck or truss rod!
At age 55 during this COVID19 nightmare I decided to pursue an over 25 year quest, learn to play the Bass Guitar. One month ago I got a Squire Affinity P Bass with P and J pickups. I am learning so much and loving it. I noticed I could not slap on my E string. Watching this video I noticed the bridge brackets were all at different levels and the E string was very high. I lowered the action and not only can I slap but my fingers feel much more relaxed and playing scales is much easier. I even hear that pop you discussed. Thanks!
Bridge saddles must follow the neck radius, each saddles 2 screws should be level, yet still following the neck radius.
@@grantkoeller8911 How does the bridge saddle adjustment follow the neck radius?
@@donh5794 The neck radius is a curve, so your bridge saddles need to be the same exact curve.
@@grantkoeller8911 Thanks!
Hi!
I did just the same, bought my self a bass guitar and started lurning this Great instrument 👍😊. And this video was a Great help plus understanding with out "over doin' it" 👍
Super👍
I've had a Squier Bass since I was a kid, and I've always HATED it.
Turns out a half inch action on a bass isn't normal.
I always thought bassists had roided up finger muscles or something.
edit: holy shit this is amazing. Feeling kinda stupid that I could've been loving and learning this instrument for the past 15 years but never picked it up because I never knew I needed to adjust the action.
Wow that is really crazy!
same
Action wise, (String height) at 12th fret,
1/2" inch (32/64") is too high,
3/8" inch (24 /64" inch) is too high,
1/4" inch (16/64") is too high,
1/8" inch (8/64") is too high.
The proper height would be,...
6/64" inch for low E and A strings
5/64" inch for the D and G strings
I have seen so many pawn shop basses with massive 3/8" inch action!!!!! (24 /64" inch) !!!
Great video. One thing not mentioned is checking your intonation after lowering or raising your strings. 12 fret EADG notes should be in tune with your open string EADG notes. Making big adjustments lowering or raising will most likely affect the intonation and you will need to adjust the saddle position. If the fretted notes are sharp then move the saddle position backwards, and if rotes are flat move the saddle position forward.
This is what I thought he would be doing -- this is what "set up" means to me.
czcams.com/video/U1fThuvYrEw/video.html
@@PaulKopco czcams.com/video/U1fThuvYrEw/video.html
I had to move me e string almost all the way back before it was in tune with it's self...
"...fret down where the NECK MEETS THE BODY..."
You have the best video on Bass Setup sir. NO ONE ELSE talks about fretting where the neck meets the body, which is the most important because it doesn't matter if you have 19, 20, 22 or 24 frets, where it joins the body is the right measurement.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
So true! I never thought of that, but it is really simple and effective
Cool video. Very informative without being condescending.
You my friend make the best bass tutorial videos on CZcams. To any beginners looking for learning videos to improve their playing , this guy explains the bass in a ways that’s easy to absorb and doesn’t get off track with stories and rubbish talk. He knows his stuff , but doesn’t flaunt it which impresses me most of all. He explains very intuitively and you pick up on lots of little bonus tips that help you out ,whereas other people giving lessons on CZcams have been a waste Of good practice time I should’ve been getting. Thanks for sharing your knowledge my friend.
I know. Right
Yeah
Great video, I thought I knew everything about action hight but I learned quite allot within the first half.
me too , detune the string is a tips i didn't know !
Yeah a lot of people want to teach in this roundabout way that either revolves around a specific tool or philosophy that mostly serves to uphold tradition. With Marcelo the methods are direct, the tools interchangeable, and he isn't trying to preserve his grandfather's teachings.
@@utubeThesugi Detuning isn't really necessary for any of these adjustments, but he's just approaching it with an abundance of caution, which never hurts when you're instructing beginners, or folks who might by heavy handed with tools.
@@Billkwando How can the saddle adjustment be raised, if necessary, without detuning the strings if they are tight. Only makes sense to detune before doing it.
JUST GREAT! Now I have an excuse for my wife why I need more basses!
Great video
Dan Mayes
No my friend.... No excuse, no reason, logic, statement, explanation, science, evidence ... nothing will convince our wives of the why we need more basses. Sorry.
She even might seem to agree ... momentarily ....but she will just think the same, no matter what you say.
Let me tell you a secret . If all your bases are the same colour
they dont notice . For the love of God they must never Know .
The consequences could be catastrophic .
Mary Monica
OF COURSE !!!!!!!!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
That’s so true. If anybody ask our wives what bass has he got? He’d say “a brown one” , or whatever colour your Bass happens to be. That’s soooo true. She’d never say “Oh! I’ve heard him say a thousand times he’s got a vintage 1973 Precision Fender bass with sunburst finish with new bridge and pickups.” No. I don’t think so. He could have a brown chinese 50p bass or the original James Jamerson P bass in his possession and she would be absolutely clueless anyway. For her it’s just.... “brown”. One can have as many as one desires and afford and she’d never notice! All she sees is the colour.
I thank thee Mary Monica. ☺️☺️☺️☺️
In gratitude, and in return, I can tell you any man’s secret women want to unlock and you’d want to now. Just one☝🏻
5 string high low and mid action 4 in the same plus flat wound and round wound strings is a total of 12 but with acoustic its 14 but you also have active or passive pickups and double or single makes the total 50 basses that are very necessary
Dan, just give your wife more basses to cook and more basses for you to get hook you'll be fine...
Just started playing bass, felt the action was too high but was afraid to fiddle with it but this helped me so much! Thanks.
I picked up the Bass half a year ago, made decent progress but always felt dumb how other bassists are able to fly around the fretboard when the E string needs so much pressure, especially using my pinky finger was a nightmare. Now after this video and a little bit of help from my Dad (he plays the Guitar and built one too), it went pretty smooth and let me tell you that this is a game changer.
It almost takes no effort to press down strings on the fretboard, tapping and slapping actually work and the pinky finger came into play just naturally now.
Thank you a lot!
Thank you for explaining this so in depth. I've always been curious when I'd hear people talk about "action".
When I was in a band I had high action so I could dig in for a clean punch. Now I play melodies in my living room with very close action for ease and speed. It's totally what's comfortable to you.
The smile on your face when you hear the snap in the new bass you just set up. Priceless. 👌 Clear, practical video! Very useful!
My first bass setup took like 2 days and by the end of it, I was exhausted. I'm not even kidding.
Thank you very much indeed. I thought I needed to bring my bass to a local instrument guy by paying loads of money but thanks to you, I could fix it without spending any money.
It's not loads of money, it's the same money that's spent on fast food, movie theater popcorn.or overpriced Starbucks coffee.
Low action for tapping and fast passages and high action for aggressive slapping or popping.
Using this tutorial as well as the intonation tutorial, I was able to set up my brand new bass in no time flat and it now plays great. Thanks Marc for these videos, saved me a lot of money getting a "professional" setup and I now have the pride of knowing I can work on my instrument myself.
You're playing the around the world intro like it's nothing and it makes me wanna cry HOW R U SO GUD
Awesome advice. I've always been afraid to touch the truss rod but now not so much. Also I'm so glad that up close your shiny bass is just as grimy as mine 😁
That's actually just the plastic that I haven't removed from the pickguard yet, that's why it looks like that haha
You forgot the intonation step after lowering/raising the saddles. But you nailed everything else and then some. lol just noticed the link after posting the comment, good job bro!
Fantastic video bro. Been playing guitar for 25 years and just picked up a bass, very informative and well laid out so a musician can set up for what they want to play and sound like. Bravo sir
Ok here's my take:
I took the advice since the second hand bass (i bought 8 months ago) hasn't been adjusted since it is showing an obvious sign of bowing. Its really miles high between the fret and the string in some places.
I really took this man's word. Lo and behold, my bass right now feels like brand new!
Before, it was impossible to slapp and tapp. Now, i'm almost there. I'm not a luthier btw.
wish these sorts of things were around 10 years ago when i was a kid. thanks for making this easy, subscribed
THANK YOU SO MUCH, this is 100 per cent the best setup tutorial on the internet
I always keep a small screwdriver with me...I can adjust the neck on the fly on the MM wheel...to have low or higher action. Very cool adjustment option.
Yay Musicman truss wheel!
Hey im getting string "clacking" ob ny MM bass. Its like the strings hitting the frets when i play. Ive tried raising the action a bit but its still there
@@Strat91 you need to adjust your truss rod for a bit more neck relief.
Best video I have seen on adjusting the action. Explained in good detail and not too long and not too short.
This is the top discussion and demonstration of the use of different actions for different purposes.
this is perfect i literally didn’t this with 0 prior knowledge during my lunch period at school give or take 45min 10/10
I've been playing bass for almost 8 years now and never knew any of this stuff... Thanks for helping me sound way better than I ever did before...
This is the first video that I've found that actually talks about how the actions affects tone and playing instead of just how to change the action.
It's like everything else beginning always feel hard but you get use to it after a while
Followed this process on my 90's 4 string Stingray. I can't believe how bad the setup had gotten over the years. My fingers are very grateful!!
Outstanding video. One of the few videos that explains why you may want low or high action. I'm also happy that I'm not the only person who checks the relief by tapping!
Just spent a bunch of money on a new bass and was going to spend over $100 to pay someone to do this for me. Truss rod scares me. This video gives me the confidence I need to go home and do it myself. Thank you.
I am a complete beginner and happened across your video and all I can say is thank you very simply explained. :)
Thank you for this. I got a bass 6 months ago, and after a string change, the action went sky high and was unable to correct it. There are no guitar shops nearby here so i kinda gave up on it for a while (stress, lack of time, etc.) but today i watched this and my bass become MUCH EASIER TO PLAY ON! This is incredible. My hand doesnt hurt anymore while fretting higher notes. Thank you!!!
You're very good at explaining things without adding any BS like bad jokes or playing with your kids. It's appreciated more than you know!
I was having an issue getting the sound I wanted. This helped. I appreciate this video.
Thanks! I especially like the comparisons in this video -- helped a lot. I definitely gotta setup my 5 string bass (my only one) in a lower action. Hard rock and metal benefits greatly from the treble-inducing growl of fretbuzz and the snappiness of the attack.
Indeed. Thanks Mr. Feldman. This old bass I have was pretty gnarly. Much better now.
This noob is very much indebted to you. The action on my Steinberger XT25 was way too high as set from the factory. Now I lowered it it plays so much lighter. Awesome! Thank you!
AN excellent video, very well presented and explained. One thing that would be a useful addition is to give measurements for the action that you have set, whether it is say 2.2 mm top G string down to 2.5 mm bottom E string at 17th fret, for example. That would give people a very useful guideline.
I lost my shit when I saw my bass had 2 truss rods. I didnt know what to do lol
6 string bass?
Gotta be a Rick
@@licccio2133 6 string bass have 2 truss rods I genuinely don’t know
The color of that MM Stingray 5 is amazing
Watched a bunch of videos on adjusting your bass' action but this was the only one that was clear enough for a beginner like me to understand
With high action you are more in control yeah you might have a sore finger or hand but you get use to it after a while
What a humble, intelligent, thorough, gifted, tone beasting dude, and a refreshing change of pace, that I'm enjoying watching. And nobody even plays bass in my fam lol. Gotta admire a guy who embraces all styles of music, & knows the names, work & history of many, not just one genera of great bass players. Definitely not afraid of discomfort neither, or the potential for embarrassment from unfamiliarity i see. Best of all, you're embracing a willingness to learn while displaying a broad appreciation for your craft. Way to be young man! Much respect. You deserve everything you earn in your future to come. Not to mention, a great f'n taste in gear lol! Although a drummer myself, I can't help but love the sound of those EB basses. Rock on sir!
Taking time to write all those lines that is hige.... wow..
I've been playing bass since I was 15 yo, and I just realized (15 year later) my action is high as hell. Holy moly, i can even fit a book when i press the 1st and neck fret. Time to adjust it, I guess
Thank you! I’m a new player and was wondering why the slap technique was not working well. Just made the adjustments and Bam, that fixed it! Neck was warped and strings way too far off the fretboard.
thank you! I'm new to bass and I ordered one recently and it just came in. I tried playing it but there was one fret that kept making a buzzing noise. Turns out it was the action that needed adjusting
Appreciate that break down...over the years I guess mine loosened up a bit. Was so gradual I had thought it wrongly to be my diff strings and therefore diff tension. I was wrong...and now after watching this I'm set up good to go again and crissakes I'm greased lightin' now...thanks buddy for the very clear and concise explanation.
Truss rod adjustments, tightening or loosening should always be made with the strings at low tension, Always loosen strings first! Adjust your truss rod, then bring back up to pitch
Ernie Ball says not to loosen strings when making truss rod adjustments with their basses..
I'll check this out thanks!@@davidsharples5149. Ok, I looked at Fender, and they say to lower string tension.
@@davidsharples5149 You can drive a car without wearing a seatbelt too. I'm erroring on the safe side.
I have a ibanez 655 with medium low action. Just got a schecter stilleto extreme 5 today and went with low action, sounds great.
Thank you sooo much.
I have a stingray 5 since 2013 and i was sure something was not optimal. As soon i watched your tutorial i have tuned my bass and now it sounds great ! Many thanks
I'm a longtime guitar player, and not very familiar with bass setup. I just bought a new short scale bass which needs a lot of setup work, so this video has been very helpful. The bass is a Squier Bronco which is poorly built using cheap components, and will take a lot of work to make it nice. The bridge is total junk, flimsy and not possible to adjust the intonation or action of individual strings, so I've ordered a new better bridge. The pickup is also substandard, so I'll have to replace that. But I like the size and shape of the body and neck, so all the work will be worth it. Thanks for the video!
Thank you so much for this! You’re very informative and helpful! I actually have bone issues which makes playing painful sometimes, and the difference after adjusting the action feels life saving. Thank you a million times over 😊
I’ve discovered my new bass hero. Marcelo is an amazing player and a fantastic teacher!
Just got my first bass guitar today. Got to go through all these vids now. Excited to learn!
2:54 thats the flea tone secret wooww
Thanks for describing the action and how to properly adjust the saddles. Most vids are just like "here's the saddle, adjust it"
Perfect video.I’ve played guitar for 40 years and just started on bass 6 months ago.
I play them,but have always been afraid to adjust Anything on a stringed instrument. This was so helpful and very clear to understand.I bought a new MIM P bass and the action was too high for my liking. After watching this video a couple times and applying these ideas I’ve got it playing SOOOOO much better. Thank you very much for your help.
Thank you for doing this. Bought my first bass in 30 years. Learned right handed when I was 18 life happened and sold it when I was 19. Picked up a lefty a week ago to learn it the way I couldn't afford to back then. I have my Ibanez set up at 2.5mm on the E and A and 2mm on the D and G. Seems to work well for me. But to know how to adjust it right will help down the road. Cheers from a old hippie.
I lowered the action on my bass and at last can finally play YYZ.
Hahahahaha I was in your exact same situation a decade ago
My bass was buzzing all over the place and I played around with the action. Turned out some of the strings were super high, while others were super low. Thanks to this video I was able to amend the problem and I can finally enjoy my bass the proper way.
I came here to see how to adjust your action. I’m leaving with a wealth of knowledge. Great video!
I’m planning on getting a bass but was slightly scared cause I don’t know how the truss rod worked. This cleared everything up for me. Thank you
I played bass for years before I had the courage to touch my truss rods. I’ve found that quarter-turn adjustments work, but you still don’t really know if it’s right till it sits, in-tune, overnight.
My suggestion is check and adjust the action on 18th fret ( gap between top of fret wire and bottom of the string ) on SR5. Start with 2.5mm on B to 2.0mm on G string as starting point. This possible make all the string follow the fretboard radius for better playing feel. Hopehelp
Edit.
Set the neck relief on 7th or 8th fret . Try .010 neck relief for low action and light touch play. On aggressive pick style prefer low action + dirty fret buzz (non chocking tone ), try .014. For gorilla hand, more neck relief and sky high action are the best ！
Low action also helps for tapping high action will make it inconsistent after the octave of the board
Man. This guy is amazing.
I have been playing bass for over 30 yrs , you know your stuff
Great video! That's the way to explain it. This will help many of us to play more comfortable and feel that we control our instrument and not the other way... I don't know how much time I've lost to learn this stuff. Your video would had saved me so much time. Thanks!
Thanks Man - Helped me a lot on adjusting my pre owned Warwick Thumb which was a mess when i got it.
I’m really glad I found this because when I put my bass back together it will have a new neck with an extra fret. Now I know to check the measurement and notes. Thanks!
I like low action.
Thank you! This was a huge help for me and my mom, you just saved her 65 dollars!
One of the best instructional video regarding hardware of bass so far.
This is the best tutorial I've found on this topic so far
Thanks for this. Was about to go to a music shop but this explained it to me well.
I never adjusted my bass and it's extremely high.
Nicely explained and demonstrated. Even I should be able to do this!
Thanks, Marcelo. You said almost everything i wanted to hear. But maybe you could explain something about intonation in a future video.
Intonation is all about using a KORG tuner, and comparing the open string tuning to the octave tuning at the 12 fret. They must be the same. If sharp at the octave, move the saddle to make the string longer. (turn screw clockwise) tighten screw. and do the opposite if the octave is flat. If flat, you want to make the string shorter. loosen screw.(counter clockwise)
@@grantkoeller8911 is this right, or arse about tit, ?
Woww This guy is definitely the bass wizard, very grateful for this info treasure
Thanks for the how to.... its always good to see this, the way people go through a setup. Thanks!!! 🤘🤘🤘🤘
Thank you!
You are awesome man , thanks for this videos , you make look it easy , I think I'll never gonna touch my action (beginner bass player) but this is good material.
I would like to hear you talk about pick up height adjustment and how string gauges affect tone and playability sometime.
Great advice, that is often overlooked, even by experienced players. Thank you!
It’s absolutely the video bass player needed.Amazing Marc!!! How about the G string close to edge? Will you shot another video for that? I just want to know if new MM match your needs. I care about that too.
Thank you for considering us noobs in your explanations :)
Thanks so much for this video! I know its 2 yrs old, but I just got my first Sterling bass and now I finally know how to set it up just right. It's so much more comfortable to play now. :)
Thank Marcelo, I have always been afraid to adjust my basses even though the action is higher than a hippy. Will now do them with confidence.
Super helpful in fixing the action on my new Stingray 5 Special! Thanks!
I'm a guitar player and know anything about the physical aspects of a bass. Or should I say I Didn't know anything. I feel like I know enough now to evaluate a low end violin style bass I'm looking at.
Outstanding video! Great content and the presentation excels. I will sit through a painful video to learn something, but few are compelling. And there are lots of other videos, as you say, on the same topic, but if anyone is still confused after watching this video, they should probably give up.
Liked and subscribed.
I love the confortability and snapines of low action
Awesome! Thanks for doing this video. The advice on how you set up your bass up for slap was very helpful!
omg, thanks man this is the best I've watched finally got my bass playing how I wanted it to Awesome!
Marcelo i have to adjust my truss rod in the spring and again in like november, and i love my Musicmans cause having that wheel truss adjustment it is so easy to get to it and i have been hooked ever since. my adjustment on my strings, is i like the action on the two middle strings a little higher to dig out those strings easier and i adjust my neck and action just like you do by feel and touch......Thank you Marcelo great job !!!! Ernie Here.....
The comparison of the sound between the two basses with different action settings was really instructive. I already knew how to set action to where it felt good but I didn't fully understand the influence on tone. This demo made it clear. A great video.
Thank you so much for this - finally felt comfortable to adjust my truss rod on my P-bass and the action is so much better now its only slightly curved in the middle rather than a full on C shape as it came. Exactly how I wanted it but struggled for ages!
Perfect video, gave me a proper understanding! Makes me want multiple basses now for different action haha. Thanks a lot!
Very informative video. I love the feel of the low action, but unfortunately the style that my band plays just works a lot better with higher action for most of our songs. I guess I will have to buy another bass to set the action nice and low!