Is My Bass Broken?

i am new to the bass playin for about 3 months with a bass that was given to me anyway, back to the point, Are my strings supposed to raise as they go further down the neck?

Mine do that. Can you measure the distance between the strings and the fretboard at the 1st or 2nd fret and then measure the distance between them at the 24th? I had 2mm at the 1st fret and 5mm at the 24th. To straighten it out a bit I had to mess about with the truss rod (which I don't recommend doing yourself, take it to a professional) and it's now 2mm at the 1st fret and 3.5mm at the 24th, which I think is normal.

Well the neck should have a slight natural bow in it, so that when you fret a note the string will be able to be clear of the other frets so that there is no or little buzzing. If you look, the strings will get slightly further away from the frets as you get towards the middle of the neck and then the strings will get a bit closer to the neck near where the neck meets the body. A bit like a bow and arrow (without the arrow )

If you've been fine all this time and you've only just noticed it (presumably it was always like that) then there's probably no problem at all

Yeah, what he said. How much of a bow there is depends on preference really.

thanks alot, both helped.

Sorry, Dafunk was just about to reply to your PM, but these guys have covered it here.

If they are TOO far off (over what Pip says) i'd recommend taking it to a music shop, and getting the action lowered. This will be quite cheap.

You could always try to follow this site http://www.tunemybass.com/bass_setup/

Setting up your bass is an important thing to learn, plus it will save you about £30 a pop lol.

It sounds like your action needs lowering by lowering the bridge saddles.

First post and it's in a thread that's months old? I'm confused...

didnt realise it was that old sorry, but then again its still useful information

That wasn't very welcoming of you, Jake

And it is indeed useful information. Though like Dman said once in a video somewhere... I wouldn't recommend experimenting with your main bass. Get a cheapo second-hand one for experimenting with so if anything goes wrong it doesn't matter too much.

Welcome to the forums, pickle!

Now I feel bad.

Welcome pickle! Are you related to Pickles the drummer?

MetalJacob wrote:Now I feel bad.

Welcome pickle! Are you related to Pickles the drummer?

Dethklock?

MetalJacob wrote:Now I feel bad.

Welcome pickle! Are you related to Pickles the drummer?

I dont think i am but its always a possibility lol

Indeed, Dethklok.

THUNDERHORSE!!


I love that show

Yup great show! Although the third season was kinda meh.