Set up differences/jazz and classical players

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Arnold Schnitzer

I think the main point Bob was making, to which I applauded, was this: very often, the fingerboard is a mess, and no amount of adjusting to the bridge, nut, post, or camshaft will make that bass play well. No disrespect meant, Ken.

I agree 100% with that especially in your business which is why they came there in the to begin with. If it wasn't broke, they wouldn't need it fixed in the first place.

Again, my point in set-up is set-up and not repair. I agree that the FB must be right to do the best set-up but if the FB is ok and you make all the other adjustments needed for the player or desired style of playing, isn't that setting up the Bass as well?

Bob? Arnold? Jeff?

Lets make a menu of all the points concerning the set-up, shall we? Also, what if the FB is thin and re-cambering will not be as effective on a thin board as it would be on a new thicker board. Would putting a new board on the Bass be part of set-up? Would a new Bridge be part of set-up?

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Again, where is the camshaft on a bass?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Greg Clinkingbeard

Again, where is the camshaft on a bass?

As the saying goes, "if you have to ask, you can't afford it"...

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

As the saying goes, "if you have to ask, you can't afford it"...

You elitist snob.....................

[Arnold Schnitzer]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Lets make a menu of all the points concerning the set-up, shall we?

1) Fingerboard
2) Nut
3) Bridge
4) Soundpost
5) Tailpiece
6) Strings

Have I missed anything, fellas?

[Ken Smith]

[quote=Arnold Schnitzer;466]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Lets make a menu of all the points concerning the set-up, shall we?

1) Fingerboard
2) Nut
3) Bridge
4) Soundpost
5) Tailpiece
6) Strings

Have I missed anything, fellas?

The Camshaft, aka 'End Pin'. Can't play without one..

And, what if the Neck is too thick and needs to be carved down for the player or the Neck is too weak and needs Graphite reinforcement rods and then a new FB. Would the Neck in itself be part of the set-up if it needs to be worked on?

Or, how about the Neck stand or pitch. If the Neck set causes the Bridge to be low or it is hard to Bow a 5 1/2" tall bridge with 1/2" string height and not hit the C-bouts, is correcting the Neck stand/Pitch/Bridge height factor part of the set-up or a Repair in itself?

So, where do we draw the line here between Set-up and Repair or alteration? That, is the question!

Or, is Set-up in itself actually a Repair that doesn't require the Top to come off or a crack patched from the outside?

[Bob Branstetter]

The 6 items Arnold mentioned (Fingerboard, Nut, Bridge, Soundpost, Tailpiece, & Strings) covers what I consider to be normal setup work. IMO, the neck work that Ken mentioned is repair work that would be done prior to or in addition to normal setup work.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Bob Branstetter

The 6 items Arnold mentioned (Fingerboard, Nut, Bridge, Soundpost, Tailpiece, & Strings) covers what I consider to be normal setup work. IMO, the neck work that Ken mentioned is repair work that would be done prior to or in addition to normal setup work.

Bob, at what point if any is anything to do with the FB an actual repair and not set-up?

Also, how many times have you seen an over cambered FB be the result of a week Neck under the FB or due to an overly thinned FB. Is putting on a new FB a repair if it helps to strengthen the Neck because it can't be corrected in the Camber or is it still set-up because you didn't actually re-carve or put Graphite rods in the Neck?

[Bob Branstetter]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Bob, at what point if any is anything to do with the FB an actual repair and not set-up?

Also, how many times have you seen an over cambered FB be the result of a week Neck under the FB or due to an overly thinned FB. Is putting on a new FB a repair if it helps to strengthen the Neck because it can't be corrected in the Camber or is it still set-up because you didn't actually re-carve or put Graphite rods in the Neck?

I think this is largely a matter of semantics. IMO, Replacing a fingerboard, regluing a loose FB, or neck work are not part of the setup itself, although it is sometimes necessary to do these repairs before a normal setup is possible.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Bob Branstetter

I think this is largely a matter of semantics. IMO, Replacing a fingerboard, re-gluing a loose FB, or neck work are not part of the setup itself, although it is sometimes necessary to do these repairs before a normal setup is possible.

Yes, semantics was exactly what I was getting at. You and Arnold regard set-up as mentioned in the earlier posts while a musician taking his Bass in may just consider his Bass needs to be fixed!

Also, I regard set-up as to what a Bass player with some knowledge can do on his own if he has some training if the FB it properly cambered. I have re-cut or re-slotted most of the Bridges on my Basses and re-filed the Nuts as needed. On occasion I have made, re-spaced, shimmed or even put on a false nut to alter the String Length. This I call set-up as well.