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  #21  
Old 02-04-2007, 01:04 PM
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Ken Smith Ken Smith is offline
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Question FB work

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Branstetter View Post
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?
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  #22  
Old 02-04-2007, 04:22 PM
Bob Branstetter Bob Branstetter is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Smith View Post
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.
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  #23  
Old 02-04-2007, 05:23 PM
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Cool Semantics..

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Originally Posted by Bob Branstetter View Post
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.
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  #24  
Old 02-04-2007, 05:37 PM
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Cool Differences..

Whew.. now that I finished cleaning off my shoes after stepping into that debate, lets get back to topic.

I have used spacing as tight as 23.5/24mm and as wide as 27 mm. The 27mm is recent as Arnold likes that for Bowing and does from 26-27mm on my Basses that might go up for sale after I break in the Bass. This would be an orchestra set-up. Last week I had a visitor that played Jazz, acoustic only with Gut strings and preferred wider spacing and higher string height. His set-up was close to the highest and widest I have seen and he plucks at the edge of the FB towards the bridge. He plays hard and loud and loves the oldies like Blanton, S.Jones, Chambers, R.Brown and Mingus etc.

On the opposite note, I still have the Bridge from my old Italian Bass that I played both Jazz and Classical styles on and the spacing is about 23.5-24mm per string center-to-center.

This was what I meant about there being no standards. Brian Bromberg and Stanley Clarke prefer ultra low action while others are up there with the classical guys height wise. Also, while most Classical players prefer higher action, there are some that like it lower and tighter.
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  #25  
Old 02-04-2007, 11:08 PM
Bob Branstetter Bob Branstetter is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Smith View Post
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!
A musician can consider it anything he wants, but when you are running a shop that caters to a wide range of customers, you have to have a (shop) definition of what the term setup means. You, as a customer/musician, are welcome to specify anything you wish, but that does not change my shop definition of what work will normally considered part of a normal setup. If you call me asking about a "setup", I will tell you what that normally entails. If you want more than that (and are willing to pay extra for it), I'll gladly do the work. However, MY Shop defintion of what a normal setup consist of is unchanged.
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  #26  
Old 02-06-2007, 09:06 AM
Arnold Schnitzer Arnold Schnitzer is offline
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Thumbs down

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Smith View Post
Also, while most Classical players prefer higher action, there are some that like it lower and tighter.
Did you say "Action"?
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  #27  
Old 02-06-2007, 09:46 AM
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Talking Action, action..

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Originally Posted by Arnold Schnitzer View Post
Did you say "Action"?
Yes, I did and for a reason. It's the easiest most common single word to describe the string height and feel without writing a short story to make someone understand what you are talking about concerning the UPRIGHT Bass.. Action on the Upright!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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  #28  
Old 02-06-2007, 12:48 PM
Arnold Schnitzer Arnold Schnitzer is offline
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I quit. Pick up all your stuff.
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  #29  
Old 02-06-2007, 09:44 PM
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Unhappy sniffle..

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Originally Posted by Arnold Schnitzer View Post
I quit. Pick up all your stuff.
And I just got another Bass to keep you employed for the rest of the year.. What a shame..
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  #30  
Old 02-07-2007, 11:57 AM
Bob Branstetter Bob Branstetter is offline
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Originally Posted by Arnold Schnitzer View Post
Did you say "Action"?
Hey Arnold, atleast he didn't say "fretboard"! Oh, I forgot, that's Warburton's hot button.
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  #31  
Old 02-07-2007, 12:14 PM
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Ken Smith Ken Smith is offline
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Talking Fretboard..

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Originally Posted by Bob Branstetter View Post
Hey Arnold, atleast he didn't say "fretboard"! Oh, I forgot, that's Warburton's hot button.
Don't laugh Bob. Believe me, I was thinking of throwing that in as well.

"The words we don't wanna here on the TB side"
Fretboard
Action (but I like this one!!)
Stand-up Bass
Headstock
Scale Length (added).. Isn't String length a description of the scale of the Bass? Are we that snobby over here?

Any more guys?

Last edited by Ken Smith; 02-07-2007 at 03:44 PM. Reason: addition
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  #32  
Old 02-07-2007, 02:52 PM
Jim Gullen Jim Gullen is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Smith View Post
"The words we don't wanna here on the TB side"
Fretboard
Action (but I like this one!!)
Stand-up Bass
Headstock

Any more guys?
Please refrain from "Scale length"....

....Mensure sounds so much more sophisiticated!

Best regards!

Jim
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  #33  
Old 02-07-2007, 03:48 PM
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Wink additions..

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Gullen View Post
Please refrain from "Scale length"....

....Mensure sounds so much more sophisiticated!

Best regards!

Jim
Mensure? Sounds like a female thing. I would almost prefer scale length..lol

Also, when I ask, what's your measurements, I have to be careful who I ask. Might get a slap if I'm not careful.

No Miss, I mean your bouts, rib depth and string length..
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  #34  
Old 02-08-2007, 06:59 AM
Jim Gullen Jim Gullen is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Smith View Post
Mensure? Sounds like a female thing. I would almost prefer scale length..lol
I think it's more a leopard can't change his spots kinda thing. Admit it, you're REALLY just an EBG guy, hanging out with us more sophisticated types!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Smith View Post
Also, when I ask, what's your measurements, I have to be careful who I ask. Might get a slap if I'm not careful.
Does this bass make my butt look fat? ...

Best regards!

Jim
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  #35  
Old 02-08-2007, 08:50 AM
Greg Clinkingbeard Greg Clinkingbeard is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Gullen View Post

Does this bass make my butt look fat? ...

Best regards!

Jim
Nope, I saw your butt before you got the bass.
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