Information On Bass Building, Bass Wiring, Bass Necks, Bass Tuners, Bass Refinishing, Fender Bass Products, Bass Bridges, Bass Strings, Bass Pickups, Bass Active Electronics, Bass Repair. As A Bassist And Luthier For Over 30 Years, I Feel I Can Help You With Your Bass Guitar Project Or Put You In Touch With Someone That Can -------------------------------------------------
Any Questions Or Comments On Bass Guitar Neck Repair, Fretting, Size, Finish, Truss Rods, Radius, Refretting, Tools, Binding, Tuner Spacing, Fretless Conversions, Wood Type, Etc.
posted by bassman @ Saturday, March 25, 2006
26 comments
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26 Comments:
Hello- I need my neck refretted, and im not sure what to ask for, its an Ibanez Soundgear
Thanks-If you are doing it yourself, its not easy, Any good Luthier can tell you on that,If you are, I use the Gibson style wire you can buy at Stew-Mac,They have several choices all good, just make sure you get one tall enouge to dress later on
Hi,
I don't know how to do anything to my bass except change the strings, I'm looking at lowering the action (yamaha RBX270), and if you could give me an idea of what to do that'd be great!
Thanks
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Action
Players with a light touch can get away with lower action, others need higher action to avoid rattles. Check tuning. Using the 6" (150 mm) ruler, measure distance between bottom of strings and top of the 17th fret. Adjust bridge saddles to the height according to the chart, then re-tune. Experiment with the height until the desired sound and feel is achieved. I feel this chart will work for your Yamaha Bass
String Height
2 Strings Bass side-6/64" (2.4 mm)
2 Strings Treble side-5/64" (2 mm)
Sorry for the delay-I was out of town-Thanks Sean
I would like to get my bass converted to fretless, but its a great old bass and i wont trust it to just anybody to work on, any ideas?
I have been waiting for this question. The best and I mean the Best is HG Thor,Find him at Woodwiz.com-Here is some copy from his site-
Basses have been getting the epoxy treatment here for about 25 years, originally inspired by ideas expressed in a '77 BP interview with the late great Jaco Pastorius*. Fretboards are defretted, inlaid and carefully prepared. The most professionally trusted, highest grade epoxy is applied using techniques developed over years of R&D. This is not a poured on nor sprayed finish! Multiple layers are each sanded and polished to a mirror gloss. The result is a clear, extremely hard, smooth and uniform fretboard surface that will last a lifetime. Edges will not delaminate. Low action is possible. The resulting tone is articulate and harmonically rich with good sustain. This is the best way to preserve your fretless for a long time and allow the use of any string type without fear of damage to the fretboard.
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Xavier Padilla: "The effect epoxy produces in the sound ...is amazing: everything is brighter and all details come out clearer. As an instrument, I feel like the bass becomes more sensitive. Vibrato, which is essential in fretless playing, becomes more responsive, as if the rotating movement of the finger upon the string was now better "heard" by the neck. I would say that with epoxy coats on the fingerboard a fretless electric bass still gets a woody sound, but with a new element that brings it closer to that of a grand piano." (Mr. Padilla is currently touring, writing and recording with the Gipsy Kings.)
Frets and Fretlines: There are a number of options to select from. Frets are carefully removed and inlay applied. The most common inlays are either maple veneer or black vulcanized sheeting. Other woods are available.
Nuts: The nut must be removed in order to properly install an HG Thor Epoxy Fretless coating. In the event a nut will not be gently coaxed out of its slot without breaking, options available are: bone, plastic, delrin, micarta, corian, Graph Tech, or anything you would care to provide.
Find HG Thor at
HG Thor Epoxy Fretless
Here is a littlr info from Warmoth.com about the Gecko 6 string bass body and neck design.
6-String Gecko Bass Bodies
This body features an extended upper horn for perfect balance with playing with a strap and a small lower horn to catch your thigh when playing seated. The deep heel-less extended neck joint gives superb access to all 24 frets. The neck bolts are laid out in an asymmetrical pattern for maximum stability and sustain, they are secured in the body with custom recessed steel washers.
The well-designed rear-access control cavity features a built-in compartment for up to two batteries as well as plenty of room for controls and a custom recessed area for neat installation of an active preamp. Precisely crafted in every detail, the cavity cover even screws on with machine screws and threaded brass inserts that won’t strip out.
Duncan Basslines Tone Circuit Shown
- Two Pickup Routing Options -
The Gecko works well as a One or Two pickup bass as seen below . Choose the pickup routing to match your tone needs and playing style. Two pickups offer broad frequency response and a wider variety of tones, while a single pickup can deliver a more focused midrange sound and leave more room to dig in under the strings.
Each image below shows the pickup routing and lists the type of pickup that routing can accommodate.
Flame Koa on Mahogany
Duncan ASB-6 x 2
or Bartolini P4 x 2
Flame Maple on Alder
Tobacco Sunburst Finish
Duncan ASB2-6 x 2
or EMG 45 x 2
- Single Pickup Routing Options -
Mahogany
Duncan ASB-6
or Bartolini P4
Swamp Ash
Duncan ASB2-6
or EMG45
Control Options
You can specify either three or four holes for controls. The three control pattern is in an arc along the side of the body, and the four control pattern is an LP-style diamond. A blade switch slot for a three or five-way switch is available in the three-control layout for Music-Man style coil-switching options.
Bridge Routing
Gecko bodies feature a custom recessed routing for our exclusive Kahler bass bridge. This bridge is continuously adjustable for string spacing, height, and intonation. Once adjusted, the saddles lock down to the baseplate for better sustain and tone transfer. The saddles and baseplate are precision cast and machined. The strings rest on threaded steel machine screws for a brilliant tone.
Accent Line Option (For Laminate Top Bodies Only)
You can add this thin layer of contrasting wood as a stripe between your body and laminate top. Maple is available for darker combinations, like Flame Koa/Mahogany, and Black is good for light woods, like flame Maple/Swamp Ash. + $20
- Pricing -
Body Back
Top Options Alder Swamp Ash Mahogany Walnut Korina
No Laminate Top $190.00 $200.00 $200.00 $235.00 $235.00
Flame Maple
Quilt Maple* $255.00 $265.00 $265.00 $300.00 $300.00
Burl Maple $330.00 $340.00 $340.00 $375.00 $375.00
Koa $255.00 $265.00 $265.00 $300.00 $300.00
Flame Koa $355.00 $365.00 $365.00 $400.00 $400.00
Flame Walnut $305.00 $315.00 $315.00 $350.00 $350.00
Walnut $255.00 $265.00 $265.00 X $300.00
Rosewood $255.00 $265.00 $265.00 $300.00 $300.00
Zebrawood
or Lacewood $255.00 $265.00 $265.00 $300.00 $300.00
Gecko 6 Bass Necks
6 String Gecko Necks
Nut width: 2-1/4" (57.2mm)
Width at 24th fret: 3.3" (83.8mm)
String Pitch @ The Bridge: 21/32" (16.5mm)
The asymmetrical contour of this wide neck makes playing more comfortable and allows full access to the two octave fingerboard. This neck features two truss rods to enable relief to be set independently on the bass and treble sides of the neck for optimum action and playability. The wide heel is attached with 6 bolts for superior stability and sonic coupling.
Neck Details
All standard Gecko bass necks feature 5-piece laminated construction (using bubinga or purpleheart for the lam depending on availability), 35" scale and 24 fret fingerboards. Each neck has been fine sanded, and dipped in a penetrating sealer, ready for final spray finishing. Through holes are drilled .551" (14mm) for Gotoh tuning machines. Neck mounting holes are also predrilled. #2069A frets are installed (.110" wide x .050" tall.) A black truss rod cover and screws are provided. Please see the paint & finish section for finishing options. If you prefer a blank fingerboard, we can omit the Gecko inlay for an additional $35.
See Below
The Gecko series bass necks feature an asymmetric back shape for a more comfortable, fast feeling. These necks "feel" thin, but retain sufficient bulk for strength and tone. The asymmetric back shape keeps perceived neck bulk down for maximum hand comfort and to create a thinner, fast feeling neck. The bass side of the neck is thicker, with the treble side being thinner. Your thumb will find easy reference as your hand glides up and down the neck. This is a very comfortable neck to play.
NOTE: All Gecko necks are available fretted or fretless at the same price.
Unlined fretless necks have the side position markers moved to the
exact fret positions, rather than between them.
Fretless Line Option
Contrasting strips of wood inlaid into the fretless fingerboard at the usual fret positions. Maple lines are used in dark woods, black lines are used maple. Additional $65
Peghead Veneer:
A laminate added to the front of the peghead to match the body for a more consistent look. Available in most top woods.
Prices for Peghead Veneer
For Flame Maple, Quilted Maple, Birdseye Maple, Zebra Wood, Lacewood, Walnut, Koa, Rosewood, Black Fibre Add - $45 to the neck cost
For Spalted Maple, Flame Koa, Macassar Ebony, Flame Walnut Add - $55 to the neck cost
- Pricing -
Neck Wood Fingerboard Wood 6 String
Maple laminated neck Maple $255.00
Pau Ferro $265.00
Ebony $285.00
Wenge laminated neck Pau Ferro $340.00
Wenge $340.00
Ebony $360.00
Gecko 6 Options
Bodies
Necks
Body Woods
Neck Woods
Paint & Finishes
Pickups/Electronics
Hardware
Accessories
Gecko 5 String
All Bass Bodies
All Bass Necks
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Hi. I have a 71 gibson EB-3 without a fretboard and truss rod (previous owner). I have founf truss rods at Stew-Mac and wouuld like to know if I should go with the 2 way adjustable one or stick with the original type? Also I would like to buy a fretboard that has the frets, inlays and bound if possible so I can just glue it on (would save a whole lot of work). Any ideas as I just can't seem to find anywhere to get one? I also have a 72 EB-0 that I could swap necks with but am hesitant to unglue the neck. What do you think? Thanks
Hello,I would stay with the original truss rod setup, also I'm not sure they make a ready to go fretboard for that bass, at least I cant say that i have seen one, also do not remove the the neck from the EB-0,keep it as is.Also you will just have to find a good luthier to install the truss rods anyway,why not have them make a fretboard to your specs or original specs, but stay with the original truss rod set up-Thanks Sean
hey, i am working on getting the action on my fender zone bass right. it seems that however i adjust the truss rod or the bridge, it will buzz unless the action is high. Any suggestions?
How much of difference does the gauge of the strings make?
Theres also an adjustment hole for an alen key on the back of the body, in the plate holding the neck on, what does this do?
I wouldn't start tightening or loosening the truss rods to much on that,you could break them, also the hole on ne neck plate is fir neck pitch, you can find a complete guide on how to set up and the measurements for that bass at Fender.com under resources an bass set up,follow the directions carefuly,and you will be ok, also the string gauge makes a big difference,I use med, or med lights
good luck.
What an awesome site! Kudos for everyone involved, just magnificent! Okay then here we go: I am presently playing a Gibson Les Paul bass with (I think) the infamous 3-point adjustable bridge. When making adjustments to the bridge everything is fine with the 1 (G) 2 (D) and 4 (E) strings. I can move the action just about anywhere with ease. Whether it is low or medium or even high everything is a snap.
Dare I say it? No matter what I do with the bridge may bass, in particular, my bass's 3 (A) string will not stop with the fret buzz. At some adjustments the buzz may be less (starting at the 3rd fret) or when it's extreme it starts at the 5th fret.
Observations: Whilst examining the bridge I happened to notice that the saddle on the 3rd string is far lower than the three other saddles; moreover, I also noticed that the groove in 2nd saddle is wider. I don't know if the factory made a mistake or what. I haven't been to the luthier yet, and hope that I don't have too. Please I don't know a thing about truss rods or even that much on saddles. I do know that the A string sits noticeably lower than all other strings. Please help! Thanking you in advance…Cheers!!
Thanks for the kind words,And yes the factory could very possibly made a mistake,it should be reversed,also it sounds like your frets need dressed,dont mess withe the neck,truss rods etc.if you dont have any exp. in this.they break very easy-Thanks Bassman
i have a FNA jazzman warwick and i think the truss rod is stripped what can i do?
All that you can do is replace it-there is no easy fix,sorry to have to tell you that.It is rather a common repair tough,a good Luthier can fix it right up,so dont worry. Thanks,Sean
Hello. I have an Ibanez GWB2 (fretted) bass that has startet to act strange. When playing the G-string, no matter what fret, it sounds like a phasing effect was switched on. I'm not sure, but it may have appeared after replacing the bridge. But even when I put the original bridge back on the problem remains. I can also hear the unwanted sound acousticly, so it has nothing to do with electronics. I have tried to; replace string, replace nut, tighten truss rod, check for bad frets, switch D and G-string tuner mechanism, but nothing seems to help. When I put the G-string in D-string position (tuner, nut and bridge slot)the string sounds OK. What else can I try?
Kjetil, Norway.
That is very strange, Let me do some checking and I will post what i come up with-Thanks
I have a gibson bass with a broken head. Can it be repaired or do I need a new neck.
Yes that can be repair and done very well,it really depends on the break or fracture it hayou will prob. always be able to notice were it was repaired but it will be stronger usually than the wood around it-good question
Hey i've got a musicman copy and im looking at replacing the neck as its quite old, a little twisted and has a bit of a buzz, its got 21 frets just wondering if you know of anywhere i can pick up a nice neck for it? Cheers
I need the neck pocket size and but if it is standard fender which
most copys are,I would look at a Warmoth neck,they build great necks and bodies. Let me know the size and I will try to find one-Thank
Could someone order a fretless maple neck with matching maple fingerboard with fret lines?-If so, how much would it be?
Check out HG Thor Or Warmoth-both have websites-check for links on this site-Thanks
I have a maple fretboard that is coming away for the neck to about the 5th fret. what is the fast way to remove the fretborad. A friend told me to inject acetone under it and that would loosen the glue. Or iron it with a steam iron to loosen it. Please advise.
thanks
ED
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