Umair Gaines
Adjusting the action on an electric bass is an important part of the overall setup of the instrument. The action of a bass refers to the height of the strings from the fretboard. A bass neck should normally have a slight bow, and adjustments can be made by adding or reducing this bow. This is done by adjusting the truss rod, which counteracts the string tension. If the neck is bowed, the action will be higher at the higher frets. If the neck is straight, the action can be adjusted at the bridge. The height of the bridge can be adjusted with an Allen wrench, and the height of individual string saddles can be adjusted with Allen wrenches or by turning the bridge adjustment screws.
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What You'll Learn
Check for bowing in the neck
Checking for bowing in the neck is an important step when lowering the action on an electric bass. The neck of a bass guitar can bend upwards (called up-bow), remain straight, or bend backward (called back-bow). The tension of the bass strings can cause this bowing effect, similar to the tension in a bow and arrow.
To check for bowing, you can perform a simple measurement of the neck relief, which is the amount of curvature along the length of the neck. You will need a capo and a feeler gauge. First, affix the capo to the first fret. Then, depress the high E string at the last fret (G string on a bass guitar) or where the neck joins the body (often the 17th fret on Stratocaster and Telecaster guitars). Next, use the feeler gauge to measure the gap between the bottom of the string and the top of the eighth fret (the fret wire itself, not the fingerboard), which is typically where the curvature is deepest.
Another method to check for neck bowing is to use a ruler. Place the edge of the ruler against the frets, and if there is any space between the frets and the ruler, the neck is not entirely straight.
If bowing is detected, adjustments to the truss rod can help correct the issue. The truss rod is a metal rod inside the neck of the bass that can be tightened or loosened to exert pressure on the neck, forcing it to bend in the opposite direction of the string tension. However, it is important to exercise caution when making truss rod adjustments, as over-tightening can lead to snapping and damaging the neck. In some cases, it may be advisable to seek assistance from a qualified technician or repair person to ensure proper adjustments are made without causing any damage to the instrument.
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Adjust the truss rod
Adjusting the truss rod is a key step in setting up your bass and ensuring it remains playable. The truss rod is a steel bar that runs underneath the fretboard, counteracting the tension of the strings. It can be adjusted with a socket wrench, an Allen wrench, or a screwdriver, depending on the manufacturer and age of the bass.
Before adjusting the truss rod, it is important to check the curvature of the neck. Place a ruler against the frets, and if there is any space between the frets and the ruler, the neck is not straight. If the neck is bowed, a truss rod adjustment can fix this. Press the E string down at the first fret and then at the last fret. This should create a gap between the strings and the 7th and 12th frets, about the thickness of a credit card. If the gap is too large, the truss rod needs to be tightened.
To adjust the truss rod, locate the screw, which is either on the headstock or at the other end of the neck. Insert the Allen wrench or Phillips screwdriver into the screw and turn it clockwise to tighten the truss rod and reduce the curvature of the neck. Be careful not to force the truss rod with anything that doesn't fit properly. Only turn the truss rod between one-quarter and one-half of a turn per day, allowing the wood to settle before making further adjustments. On some basses, you may need to remove the neck to access the truss rod screw.
If the strings buzz when playing the first four frets, the truss rod may need to be loosened by turning it counter-clockwise. This will add relief to the neck, reducing the amount of bow. If you feel heavy resistance when turning the truss rod clockwise, stop and turn it counter-clockwise a quarter-turn. Then, take your bass to a qualified technician for further adjustments.
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Raise or lower the bridge
Adjusting the action on your bass is important when you have a new bass or when the instrument has been exposed to temperature or humidity changes. To start, use an electronic tuner to tune your bass as you normally would. This will ensure the strings are at the proper tension when you adjust the action. Once you’ve tuned it, wait 30 minutes for the strings to settle.
Then, inspect the neck of your bass to see how much relief it has. A bass neck should normally have a slight bow. Too much or too little bow means you need to adjust the truss rod on the bottom of the headstock. If the neck is bowed, you will need to adjust the truss rod to fix this issue. If the neck is straight, you will have to put up with the high action. If the neck is bowed, you will need to adjust the truss rod to fix this issue. If there is no access to any truss rod adjustment, then you will have to leave the high action as it is.
If the neck is straight or has been adjusted, you can then adjust the action at the bridge. If your bass does not have individual saddle height adjusting screws, you must adjust the action by raising or lowering the entire bridge. Typically, tightening (turning clockwise) bridge height adjusters will raise the action, and loosening (turning counterclockwise) will lower it. If your bass has individual saddle height adjusting screws, make general action adjustments by raising or lowering the entire bridge, then make your final adjustments by changing the height of the individual string saddles. The saddles on the bridge can be lowered or raised by turning the screws at the top with an Allen wrench.
Test your adjustments by playing your bass at each fret. If you hear buzzing, you’ve lowered the action too much and need to adjust it.
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Adjust the individual string saddles
Adjusting the height of individual string saddles is an important part of the overall setup of your bass. It is a process that must be done when the instrument is new, and whenever there are changes in temperature, humidity, or string gauge.
To adjust the height of individual string saddles, you will need an Allen wrench that fits your saddle screws. The saddles are the metal cylinder-shaped objects on your bridge, where the strings start at the bottom of the bass. You can lower the saddles by turning the wrench, but be careful not to go too low, as this will result in buzzing.
If your bass has individual saddle height-adjusting screws, you can make general action adjustments by first raising or lowering the entire bridge. Then, make your final adjustments by changing the height of the individual string saddles.
After adjusting the saddles, you will need to check and possibly fix the intonation. Tune the guitar to pitch using a tuner. Play the 12th-fret harmonic on the string, and then the 12th-fret note. If the fretted note is higher (sharper) than the harmonic, then the length of the string needs to be lengthened. If the harmonic note is sharper, then the length of the string needs to be shortened.
Finally, test your adjustments by playing your bass at each fret. If you hear buzzing, you've lowered the action too much and need to adjust it.
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Check and fix the intonation
Adjusting the intonation on your bass is critically important to ensure that your instrument produces accurate tones. Here is a step-by-step guide to checking and fixing the intonation on your electric bass:
Check the Intonation
First, you need to check if your bass is in tune. Plug your bass into an electronic tuner and tune each string. Changing the tension on each string will affect the tuning of the other strings, so make sure all the strings are in tune simultaneously.
Next, you need to check the 12th fret harmonic. Lightly touch your finger on the string directly over the 12th fret and verify on the tuner that the string is tuned to the correct note. For example, if you're tuning the G-string, the 12th fret should be tuned to G.
Fix the Intonation
If the 12th fret harmonic is out of tune, you will need to adjust the bridge saddle to correct the bass string intonation. The way you adjust the string length depends on the type of saddle your bass has. Most inexpensive basses have a Phillips screw that can be adjusted.
If the fretted note at the 12th fret is higher (sharper) than the harmonic, then the length of the string needs to be lengthened. To do this, turn the bridge saddle adjustment screw clockwise. If the harmonic note is sharper, then the string length needs to be shortened by turning the screw counterclockwise.
Repeat this process for each of the other strings. After adjusting the saddle location, play the harmonic again to verify that the string is still in tune. Fret the string at the 12th fret and play the note. The note played at the 12th fret should be the same and in tune with the harmonic. If it's not, repeat the adjustment process until it is correct.
Additional Considerations
It's important to note that adjusting the intonation on your bass may require some trial and error. Even a slight difference in string length can affect the overall tuning. Additionally, make sure to check that your bass neck is straight before attempting to adjust the intonation, as a bowed neck can affect the action and intonation.
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Frequently asked questions
If you are struggling to play in the higher frets, your bass action may be too high. You can check this by placing a ruler against the frets and if there is any space between the frets and the ruler, the neck is not straight.
First, ensure your bass is tuned and wait 30 minutes for the strings to settle. Then, check the neck of your bass to see how much relief it has. Adjust the truss rod on the bottom of the headstock to add or reduce the bow. Next, raise or lower the bridge or the individual string saddles on the bridge with an Allen wrench.
If you hear a buzzing sound when playing your bass, you have lowered the action too much.
After adjusting the action, check the intonation to make sure the string length is still correct for the fret spacing. Tune the guitar to pitch using a tuner. Play the 12th-fret harmonic on the string, and then the 12th-fret note. If the fretted note is higher than the harmonic, the length of the string needs to be lengthened. If the harmonic note is sharper, the length of the string needs to be shortened.
