5 simple steps to set up your bass guitar
Does your bass guitar no longer play the way it should? Are the strings rattling, does the action feel too high or too low, or do certain notes sound out of tune even though your bass is tuned correctly? Then it’s time for a proper setup. Luckily you can do a lot yourself once you know what to look out for. In this blog we’ll explain in five clear steps how to set up your bass guitar perfectly, so it sounds, plays and looks like new again.
Step 1. Adjusting the truss rod
The first step in setting up your bass guitar is checking the neck relief. A neck with too much or too little relief is almost always the cause of fret buzz and unwanted noises. The most accurate way to measure this is with a truss rod ruler, which shows exactly how much relief (curvature) the neck has. If you don’t have such a ruler, you can also check it by hand. Hold your bass in the playing position, tune it to the tuning you normally play in and press down the first and twelfth frets simultaneously. Placing a capo at the first fret makes this easier. Then look at the gap between the string and the fret at the sixth fret. The ideal distance is roughly the thickness of a business card – around 0,20 mm.
Is the gap too big? Then the neck is in a forward bow (“U-shaped bow”) and the truss rod needs to be tightened clockwise. Is there no gap at all? In that case the neck is in a back bow (“N-shaped bow”) and the tension needs to be reduced anticlockwise. Always do this in small steps of no more than a quarter turn at a time and check the neck again in between.
Step 2. Cleaning the bass
Once the neck is set up correctly, it’s time to remove the strings and give the bass a thorough clean. A rosewood fretboard is best cleaned with extra-fine (0000) steel wool. A lacquered maple fretboard is best cleaned with a slightly damp cloth, so you don’t damage the finish. Once all the grime has been removed from the fretboard, you can polish the frets. In our workshop we use special polishing cloths and sanding blocks. Be sure to protect the wood of the fretboard properly to prevent damage. Finally, you can condition the fretboard using our Fretboard Care Wax, a completely natural beeswax that keeps the wood in good condition. Don’t have any? No worries, you can order it via Wheel of Fifths. Make sure you don’t use beeswax on a lacquered (maple) fretboard – a lacquered fretboard doesn’t need feeding.
While the beeswax soaks in, you can clean the rest of the bass. With the strings off, it’s easy to reach the spots where dust likes to gather, such as around the pickups and between the tuning machines. Use a slightly damp microfibre cloth to clean the body. Once everything is clean and dry, you can install new strings and tune the bass to your preferred tuning.
Step 3. Adjusting the string action – the height of the strings
Now that you have a straight neck and a fresh set of strings, you can adjust the height of the strings relative to the frets. This is done at the bridge saddles. Although you can measure the action with a special gauge, in the end it’s mostly a matter of listening and feeling. Most bassists aim for an action of around 2,4 mm (6/64 inch) on the E side and 2,0 mm (5/64 inch) on the G side, measured at the twelfth fret. For 5- and 6-string basses a slightly higher action is usual, given the greater string movement of lower notes.
If it takes a lot of effort to fret a note, you can lower the bridge saddles slightly. If you hear rattling strings or fret buzz, increase the saddle height slightly. A little buzz is often only audible unplugged and generally isn’t a problem when you’re playing amplified. Above all, look for the sweet spot – the point where your bass guitar plays effortlessly without fret buzz.
Please note: in some cases fret buzz occurs when an open string is played. This is often a problem with the nut. Without specialised tools this is difficult to fix. If that’s the case for you, book an appointment with one of our luthiers via the contact form – we’ll be happy to help you further.
Step 4. Adjusting the pickups and checking the electronics
Now it’s time to plug your bass into an amplifier. Pay attention to the volume and the balance between the pickups. A commonly used guideline for the height of the pickups relative to the strings is 2,8 mm (7/64 inch) on the bass side and 2,4 mm (6/64 inch) on the treble side, measured with the string pressed down at the last fret. This applies to both a Jazz Bass and a Precision Bass.
Make sure you check the electronics too. Crackling potentiometers can be treated with Kontakt Chemie Tuner 600, a spray made specifically for electronics. Then turn the pot back and forth several times until the crackle is gone. Avoid universal contact sprays – they often do more harm than good.
Step 5. Making your bass guitar play in tune – intonation
The last step is perhaps the most important one – setting the intonation of your instrument. This determines whether your bass guitar sounds in tune across the entire neck. Start with a tuned bass in the playing position and compare the harmonic at the twelfth fret with the fretted note at the twelfth fret. It’s best to use a tuner pedal or a good tuner for this. If the fretted note is sharper than the harmonic, the bridge saddle needs to be moved back slightly (clockwise), making the string longer. Because you’re lengthening the string, the midpoint of the string shifts. You’re essentially making sure the midpoint of the string sits exactly above the twelfth fret. If the fretted note is flatter than the harmonic, the saddle needs to move forward instead, so you’re shortening the string (anticlockwise). Do this for every string until your bass is perfectly intonated.
That’s all!
Congratulations – your bass guitar is now fully set up! If you’ve followed the steps carefully, you’ll notice your bass immediately plays better. Keep in mind, however, that some problems can’t be solved with a standard setup. Think of frets that aren’t completely level, a nut that hasn’t been cut to the right height or a bridge or neck that needs a little extra attention.
Want to get your bass guitar in truly great condition? We’re specialised in all types of jobs – whether it’s fixing a broken output jack, replacing pickups, an extensive fret job or something else entirely. Our luthiers are ready to help. Via the contact form you can easily book an appointment at one of our nine locations. We’re currently based in Amsterdam, Boxtel, Ewijk, Groningen, Heerenveen, Heino, Leeuwarden, Rotterdam and Utrecht. With every setup you’ll also receive a maintenance booklet that details exactly how your bass has been set up and what work we’ve carried out. In most cases your instrument is ready to collect again within two working days.
