High Action P Bass- worth keeping?

Plastics71 · May 21st, 2003, 09:38 AM

I just got a Fender Mexican Precision Bass that I won in an auction. I'm a guitar player put I always wanted a bass to have around. It sounds and feels good
but the action is a bit high. The bridge saddles are as low as they can go and there is a slight buzz on the E string at the first and second frets. Is this worth fixing or am I just dealing with a warped neck and should just cut my loss?

4mal · May 21st, 2003, 01:44 PM

That doesn't sound good however, I'd lay a straight edge along the face of the fretboard while strung and un strung to evaluate what the issue really is. If there is a decent repair guy available, I'd probably get a hands on opinion and decide from there. If the neck is a problem, replacement necks are plentiful and cheap... Given that I double (now triple as I added keys a while back) I like J necks. The thinner profile is easier to switch back and forth for me. When I was playing bass only, I used a P or the G&L equivalent almost exclusively. Gotta love the P pickup.

So how about a Mexi-P with a J neck ? You could do that for cheap if a simple setup from the repair guy won't put things in line.

Tylercaster · May 21st, 2003, 02:09 PM

If it cannot be fixed, get rid of it. If its not comfortable to play, it will never get played. :)

brock29609 · May 21st, 2003, 02:11 PM

People too-often assume that high action or buzz is from cheap bass or bad neck. Truss tension had everything to do with it. Find some good setup instructrions on the web, assuming you havn't already set the bass up. Probably just needs a truss rod tweek. Sometimes one high fret is the cause. Just needs to be hammered down.

maxvintage · May 21st, 2003, 05:14 PM

Seriously--just give the truss rod a turn and see what happens. You want to get the neck very close to straight--hold the "E" string down at the first fret and at the 16th fret. Then look at the space between the string and the fret at the 7th-9th fret area. You should see a gap between the string and the frets of about the thickness of a busines card--you should be able to slip a card in there without any trouble.

If the neck is close to straight, and the action is still high, try shimming the neck--take the neck off and put a small strip of heavy paper, like a business card, at the body end of the neck pocket. you'll be amazed at the difference.

But really, adjust the truss rod first. I bet that takes care of it. I can't rememebr if the rod is at the neck heel or up at the headstock on tose. Go to www.mrgearhead.net. Fender has a set of detailed instructions on setup, including tweaking the truss rod.

Also it is true that one or two high or low frets are all that causes rattle--they can easily be fixed by a good shop. I do my own fret leveling--it's not rocket science

dean · May 21st, 2003, 10:38 PM

I was just going to post a similar question. I'm re-doing a pickguard for a young friend, and it's obvious his P-Bass need a setup, too. The Mr. Gearhead site is just what I need. I've used it for my Teles and Strats, but didn't know it had a Bass section, too.

Thanks,
Dean

TACurtis · May 24th, 2003, 05:15 PM

Quote:

The Mr. Gearhead site is just what I need. I've used it for my Teles and Strats, but didn't know it had a Bass section, too.

Sheesh! Guitarists! (rolls eyes)

May 21st, 2003, 09:38 AM	#1 (permalink)
Plastics71 Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2003 Location: Perth Amboy, New Jersey Posts: 173	High Action P Bass- worth keeping? I just got a Fender Mexican Precision Bass that I won in an auction. I'm a guitar player put I always wanted a bass to have around. It sounds and feels good but the action is a bit high. The bridge saddles are as low as they can go and there is a slight buzz on the E string at the first and second frets. Is this worth fixing or am I just dealing with a warped neck and should just cut my loss?

May 21st, 2003, 02:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tylercaster Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mississippi Age: 31 Posts: 379	I would say.. If it cannot be fixed, get rid of it. If its not comfortable to play, it will never get played. :) __________________ Psalm 33:3 - Play skillfully as you shout out your praises to Him!

May 21st, 2003, 10:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
dean Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota Age: 60 Posts: 2,015	Thank you! I was just going to post a similar question. I'm re-doing a pickguard for a young friend, and it's obvious his P-Bass need a setup, too. The Mr. Gearhead site is just what I need. I've used it for my Teles and Strats, but didn't know it had a Bass section, too. Thanks, Dean __________________ "I used to be clueless, but I've turned that situation around 360 degrees."

May 21st, 2003, 01:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
4mal Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The Gorge Posts: 2,153	That doesn't sound good however, I'd lay a straight edge along the face of the fretboard while strung and un strung to evaluate what the issue really is. If there is a decent repair guy available, I'd probably get a hands on opinion and decide from there. If the neck is a problem, replacement necks are plentiful and cheap... Given that I double (now triple as I added keys a while back) I like J necks. The thinner profile is easier to switch back and forth for me. When I was playing bass only, I used a P or the G&L equivalent almost exclusively. Gotta love the P pickup. So how about a Mexi-P with a J neck ? You could do that for cheap if a simple setup from the repair guy won't put things in line.

May 21st, 2003, 02:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
brock29609 Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 106	People too-often assume that high action or buzz is from cheap bass or bad neck. Truss tension had everything to do with it. Find some good setup instructrions on the web, assuming you havn't already set the bass up. Probably just needs a truss rod tweek. Sometimes one high fret is the cause. Just needs to be hammered down.

May 21st, 2003, 05:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
maxvintage Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Age: 49 Posts: 427	Seriously--just give the truss rod a turn and see what happens. You want to get the neck very close to straight--hold the "E" string down at the first fret and at the 16th fret. Then look at the space between the string and the fret at the 7th-9th fret area. You should see a gap between the string and the frets of about the thickness of a busines card--you should be able to slip a card in there without any trouble. If the neck is close to straight, and the action is still high, try shimming the neck--take the neck off and put a small strip of heavy paper, like a business card, at the body end of the neck pocket. you'll be amazed at the difference. But really, adjust the truss rod first. I bet that takes care of it. I can't rememebr if the rod is at the neck heel or up at the headstock on tose. Go to www.mrgearhead.net. Fender has a set of detailed instructions on setup, including tweaking the truss rod. Also it is true that one or two high or low frets are all that causes rattle--they can easily be fixed by a good shop. I do my own fret leveling--it's not rocket science