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I have an Ibanez SR-900 and I hate the fret buzz on it. The only reason I don't bring it in and get it set up is because I'm saving for a 5 string Warwick Thumb BO.

i generally wind up adjusting the stringed instruments twice a year, in the spring and fall. it's not an inevitability; it's definitely dependent on whether they start buzzing, seem like the action is overly stiff, or otherwise need adjustment. i haven't done a thing to my Tokai Les Paul Standard other than change the strings since i got it; i fuck with the Fenders three or four times a year. i haven't messed with the setup on the Jazz Bass in awhile because it's fretless and so i keep the action pretty stiff so it won't frack out. i HATE that buzzsaw sound when you "fret" out on fretless, especially with a shit-ton of reverb and all

I dunno, man. I think you should take it in more often then that.....but to someone who knows what the fuck they're doing.

Before we went into the studio, all the strings had our intonations looked at.

But a few weeks ago, when I bought the new rig, I went to Trip, the local bass phenom's, house to jam around a bit. He's the one that got me into Status. He used to be endorsed by them. He took one look at it and adjusted the action and other things on it. Fucking SINGS now. Totally wish I would have brought it to him a year or two, ago. It's like how you can toss a frog in a burning pan and it'll jump out....but if you put the frog in a room temp pan and then slowly heat it up, it'll just sit there and cook to death. You won't notice anything until it is WAY past where you want it to be. But you can't just take it to anyone, you have to be able to take it to a tech that knows how you play. Which will be rare for you, Behnders. You need to find someone who's used to that fancy man playing.

lol. boring, fake it with pedals to cover the sloppiness playing you mean SUH.

yah, the tech i go to is a guy named Stephen White that is awesome. he's done work on 5 or so of my basses over the years and always made the cheap ones feel expensive and the only expensive one i've had butter. SEX BUTTER. we've hung out enough and talked pretty extensively about what makes me comfy that HE makes me comfy. hell, half the time i get like a third through what i'm trying to say and he rephrases it more intelligentally than i would have. plus, he's a 50ish NERD that is a huge steampunk and a bigger fan of Neal Stephenson than i am. i CRUSH.

Sex Butter, so fun to make, so hard to sell.

If you're looking for an excuse to see your man crush; it's hard to beat a setup by somebody that knows what they're doing.

If you'd rather spend your money on something useful like drugs; if it stays in tune and the action is how you like it, just leave it. Maybe some oil for your fingerboard depending on the wood.

Achtane wrote:

dubkitty wrote:i HATE that buzzsaw sound when you "fret" out on fretless, especially with a shit-ton of reverb and all

BWAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNpktkp

Yup. Sucks.

I never adjust my bass. I fuck with it a little bit when I change strings, but I prefer to keep my gear kind of "caveman."

i had to learn to adjust my instruments because i can't afford to schlep eight electrics, four acoustics, and a bass to the shop twice a year. they sock you about $60 for a proper setup here in the Bay Area. do the math: that's over $1500 a year. can you say "FUCK THAT?" i thought you could.

he IS dreamy. and fun to hang out with. but yah, i really was mostly worried i was being a bad owner. i guess i'll wait 'till i have issues.

hurm. what type of oily stuff should i be doing to it? it's an ebonized maple fingerboard i think.

Nothing if it's Maple, those tend to be finished with some lacquer so don't need the oil.

dubkitty wrote:i had to learn to adjust my instruments because i can't afford to schlep eight electrics, four acoustics, and a bass to the shop twice a year. they sock you about $60 for a proper setup here in the Bay Area. do the math: that's over $1500 a year. can you say "FUCK THAT?" i thought you could.

yeah. I have a pair of basses, and a pair of heads. I take care of my gear but generally I don't mess with anything until it breaks/starts to feel real shitty.

srsly, that's a Duo Jet with Filtertrons right there. or 3/4 of an EB-2. they had one at Starving Musician in town here that was SO nomulent. when i went in to play it the radio station put on "Hot 'Lanta." i LOL'ed and jammed out the entire track, which i knew by heart from my adolescence. it was loverly.

Haki wrote:Nothing if it's Maple, those tend to be finished with some lacquer so don't need the oil.

I have never really got the whole oiling thing... I mean sure every 5-10 years.. but some people take that shit too far...

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I set my own stuff up... well since I build/assemble most of my basses I have to... I hate any fret buzz or grind and I like a bouncy feel so I use lighter strings and highish action.. I adjust the rod when it buzzes.. intonation, action andy truss adjust should at most take 15 min tops.

I use fret doctor on my axes about twice a year, makes the ebony pop and keeps the board free of gunk. The '64 Gibby acoustic had all of 48 years of finger gunk on the board when i got it, that was such a pita to clean up.

Jeff-7 wrote:I use fret doctor on my axes about twice a year, makes the ebony pop and keeps the board free of gunk. The '64 Gibby acoustic had all of 48 years of finger gunk on the board when i got it, that was such a pita to clean up.

The bottoms of my strings get like that... I use flats and don't change them very often.. year go by... so the underside get a goodly coating of green funk