Tweaking my bass

[lfender]

I recently bought an Ibanez SR350DX 5 sting due to the numerous positive price vs. quality reviews I read. I put Elixir nanoweb strings on it as soon as I picked it up. My question is....

Does anyone know where I can find some info/tips on things like adjusting the pickups, truss, etc? I want to get it in "optimal" condition, and I cant imagine that it came that way from the factory. Don't get me wrong, its a sweet bass, but I need some advice. Bass EQ settings, etc. I would rather not pay to have someone do it for more, but learn myself instead. Any good websites anyone could offer, or some advice?

Thanks!

 

[Wireneck]

I would take it to someone the first time and see if they will let you watch/sort of explain what they are doing while working on it. Setting up an instrument is not rocket science but I could see how you could get it all out of whack if you didn't know what was going on.
I understand how "intonation" works and I could set my own but I prefer not to because I don't have a nice tuner (strobe) and paying a pro doesn't really cost all that much.
I don't know any links but I bet you can search on here as well as google and there will be a wealth of info.

 

[lfender]

re: intonation

Well I can explain intonation to you - its easy. Tune a guitar using the 5-5-5-4-5 method. Whether or not you start from high to low or low to high, you want to get the first note in tune with the entire band. Have everyone play the same note and listen for "waves" in the sound; i.e. you want to eliminate them. If the waves in your sound move faster then you are sharp. If they are slower, you are flat. Play the 5th fret on one string and open on the other and tune yourself from there. All you need to do is make sure that all the stringed insturments are in tune on one and the same string. Then just work your way down (or up) the strings. Anyway hope this is clear and hope it helps. Also thanks for your advice

 

[JKestle]

I think you need to look up "intonation" again.

What you described is how to tune your bass.

Intonation improves an instruments ability to play in tune throughout the fingerboard. i.e. An open E should be in tune with its octave... fretted E at the 12th fret.

Here's a good site to check it out:
http://www.fretnotguitarrepair.com/intonation.htm

Cheers,

 

[scrubs]

http://www.projectguitar.com/

check the tutorials section.

 

[F_cksia]

I don´t think you have to explain Wireneck how to tune a guitar..

 

[lfender]

I think you need to look up "intonation" again.

What you described is how to tune your bass....

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=intonation&r=67

You can use my "method of tuning" to check the "intonation" of any stringed instrument, provided you can tune ONE note correctly using a different method (my example was to tune to the other instruments in the band, another sugg. in this thread was a strobe tuner, still the same IMO)

 

[mshilarious]

You can use my "method of tuning" to check the "intonation" of any stringed instrument, provided you can tune ONE note correctly using a different method (my example was to tune to the other instruments in the band, another sugg. in this thread was a strobe tuner, still the same IMO)

No, you can't. It is true that if after carefully tuning using the 4th & 5th frets, your high E doesn't match your low E, then your intonation sucks. But that's still not a very good technique for setting your intonation.

 

[scrubs]

intonation - "--the exactitude of the pitch relations" from dictionary.com

I think that is what JKestle is referring to. With fretted stringed instruments, the term intonation is generally used to denote adjusting the instrument so that it is most in-tune with itself. That is, that open notes are "in-tune" with fretted notes all over the neck. This has to do with variables such as string length and fret height. There are a number of different methods for adjusting the intonation of a guitar/bass/etc. The project guitar website gives a simple method using the intonation of the 12th fretted note with the 12th fret harmonic. Other methods get pretty hairy, and should probably be done by a professional.

Sorry if I am telling you something you already know. Learning to set-up a guitar/bass properly takes some skill. I am comfortable doing it on inexpensive electric guitars, but always take my acoustics to the shop for major adjustments.

 

[JKestle]

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=intonation&r=67

You can use my "method of tuning" to check the "intonation" of any stringed instrument, provided you can tune ONE note correctly using a different method (my example was to tune to the other instruments in the band, another sugg. in this thread was a strobe tuner, still the same IMO)

OK...your explaining how to "check" your intonation, not "set" your intonation.

Here is an easier way to check your intonation.

1) Put your finger down on the 12ft Fret, pluck the string (any string) and take a mental note.

2) Now play the 12 fret harmonic of the same string....

Hear a differece? If so your intonation is out. To correct your intonation you have to change the distance of the bridge saddle to the nut (string tention). Usually electric instruments will have adjustable bridge saddles. If the harmonic is higher than the fretted note, move the saddle closer to the nut...and vice versa.

Moving the saddle closer to the nut increases the tension on that string making the fretted note increase in pitch.

 

[Toki987]

I don´t think you have to explain Wireneck how to tune a guitar..

Ya rekkin?