Bass Set-ups

[Tim Bishop]

Originally Posted by Bob Faulkner

Well, I like to maintain the integrity of my fingers and my fingerboard as much as possible. Rubbing something that could take the finish off my truck over my beautiful ebony fingerboard is not something I would enjoy doing.

I've found the slicks, and especially the compressors, are much easier on the fingerboard and my fingers while still retaining most of that round wound zing. The compressors are a little harder on the fingers than the slicks, but the gain in tone makes up for it.

The slicks are probably my favorite for pure feel. They make doing slides and deep vibrato on the fretless more comfortable, and also dramatically reduce finger scrape noises. The compressors aren't as comfortable and quiet as the slicks on slides and deep vibrato, but are much more comfortable than round wounds.

Ken shipped my fretless to me with taper core rounds on it. I played it for exactly 5 minutes before I saw the carnage they were releasing on my fingerboard (that 5 minutes was more wear on the fingerboard than the next 5.5 years with slicks) and then went straight to the store and bought the only pack of flats they had in stock. I then spent about 6 months testing different brands and types of flat and compromise strings before I settled on Smith slicks as the best feel and wear vs tone. I've recently started using the compressors and they're great, but I still like the slicks in general. I'm still kinda undecided on which type to stick with.

Oh well, given the subjectivity of my question, I would expect varying responses on this one.

I personally will stick with the Taper Cores since they bring it all. I'm not concerned about fretboard wear with them; I don't think my playing style would lend itself to the type of abuse you reference. But again, that's why there are all types of flavors out there.

I would love to hear from others about this topic.

[Bob Faulkner]

Well, it's not like I try to squeeze the string through the back of the neck, I play fairly light in fact. But that first 5 minutes the fingerboard looked like I had taken a chisel with a serrated edge to it. Even today you can still see those initial scars. I switched strings then and never looked back. I've gotten to the point now where I don't even like rounds at all, on any bass I play. The compressors are as close to that type of string as I want to get.

[Tim Bishop]

Originally Posted by Bob Faulkner

Well, it's not like I try to squeeze the string through the back of the neck, I play fairly lightly in fact. But that first 5 minutes the fingerboard looked like I had taken a chisel with a serrated edge to it. Even today you can still see those initial scars. I switched strings then and never looked back. I've gotten to the point now where I don't even like rounds at all, on any bass I play. The compressors are as close to that type of string as I want to get.

"Fingerboard looked like I had taken a chisel with a serrated edge to it"??? Hmmm, very odd. I could understand some superficial lines left on the fingerboard from the strings, but I've never had the kind of issue you describe.

Is the fingerboard Ebony or other?

[Bob Faulkner]

It's ebony.. Mind you I stopped at 5 minutes, but it was apparent at 5 minutes that several hours of playing would have worn a noticeable trench into the wood. Maybe that set of rounds Ken put on it then were diamond edged or something. I don't know. No other strings I've had on it have ever really worn the board at all. Even now, 5.5 years of playing with slicks later, the board looks like someone buffed it more than any real wear. At the current rate of wear, this fingerboard will outlive me without having to be redressed.

[Tim Bishop]

Originally Posted by Bob Faulkner

It's ebony.. Mind you I stopped at 5 minutes, but it was apparent at 5 minutes that several hours of playing would have worn a noticeable trench into the wood. Maybe that set of rounds Ken put on it then were diamond edged or something. I don't know. No other strings I've had on it have ever really worn the board at all. Even now, 5.5 years of playing with slicks later, the board looks like someone buffed it more than any real wear. At the current rate of wear, this fingerboard will outlive me without having to be redressed.

I've been playing mine for years with Taper Cores: Hasn't been an issue for me.

[Dennis Michaels]

For me it is Smith Custom Balanced Taper Core Mediums.
My fretless is set up with almost no relief in the truss and the strings are laying on the neck almost. This seam to really bring out the Growl factor (not that it needed any help).
My fretted has a hint of relief and are to only give me fret noise when I want it. The slap and R&B tone of this is amazing with out fretnoise. When I am rocking I want a lit bit of fret rattle because to me I don't want it to sound as pretty as Smith's sound totaly clear. It also allows me to bend the neck farther without feeling as tho the neck will go past it's limits. (see you tube video)...lol

One day I'll have a seperate fretted 4 or 5 to set up just for rock.

[Bill Doss]

I set mine by pressing the strings at the 24th fret and allowing about 3.5mm from the top of the pickups. This measurements seem to provide consistent sound between strings and pickups regardless of string height, since you are using the end of the fretboard as a refrence.

I also set my string height by measuring 6/64ths from the top of the 12th fret to the bottom of my B string, 5/64ths on the E to G strings and 4/64ths on the C string of my BSR6EG. I allow a small amount of relief to avoid rattles.

Works for me!

Ken, do you have a magic formula or set up the basses by feel only?

Bill Doss
Myspace.com/EL84