Setup Question (Strings)
Question:
Damn, I thought I was the only one who did that. Kirk
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Trevor, > After attaching the ball end of the string on the bass, I take the loose end > of the string in my left hand. > Place the bottom edge of my hand on top of the post that I am stringing. > Then, I extend my left thumb pointing in the same direction of the loose end > of the string, then cut the string at the top of my thumb. It works pretty > well for me. hth > — > Ron > "I have to go practise now" > I am pretty inexperienced with setting up the electric bass guitar. I am > about to change my strings. I got burned last time because I cut the > strings a little bit too short and the A string on my Fender Jazz rings > when > I play an open nut (the string isn’t wound tight enough so it floats in > the > nut slightly). I am about to change strings again and I don’t want the > same > thing to happen. How much extra string length should there be when I cut > the string? Also, if anyone has a link to a bass setup tutorial or > something of the kind I would greatly appreciate it.
Response:
> That is a great link, thanks. I did everything correct except for > winding the strings from top to bottom. I fixed that and the A string still > rings when I play it open. If I put light pressure on the string behind the > nut it does not ring anymore. Any ideas? I am wondering if there is a way > to fix this short of installing another one of those round thingies to put > the strings under (I don’t want to modify the bass unless I NEED to).
Three ideas: If you have high-profile tuning machines, you might be able to increase the break angle by installing low-profile tuners. You may have too much side-to-side slop in the nut slot — you can try filling the slot with epoxy or super glue and then re-filing the slot. You should not attempt this without having a specific nut-slotting file (this I learned the hard way). You might be able to use larger-gauge strings, which might reduce the slop in the nut slot. Your idea about another string tree is a good thought, too. Try to get one of those three-holers that Fender uses, instead of those ones that look like a nickel with a screw through it.
Response:
> > http://archive.bassplayer.com/gear/install.shtml > — > O> > /() > ^^ Slidell, LA > Kloka-mo, > That is a great link, thanks. I did everything correct except for > winding the strings from top to bottom. I fixed that and the A string still > rings when I play it open. If I put light pressure on the string behind the > nut it does not ring anymore. Any ideas? I am wondering if there is a way > to fix this short of installing another one of those round thingies to put > the strings under (I don’t want to modify the bass unless I NEED to).
If the bottom wrap of string looks like it is as far down as it can/should go, then the slot in the nut might be either too low, or too wide. If it’s cut too low, you should hear it rattling on the first or second fret when playing an open A. Press down at the third fret, and check for a gap between the bottom of the string, and the first fret. I check the gap by simply pushing the string down onto the first fret. For *MY* tastes, there should be only the slightest bit of gap possible. More likely, the slot is too wide. Try wiggling that A string, close to the nut. Can you feel any… slop? It shouldn’t wiggle at all. There are a few *fixes* for that. A new nut, cut to size. Perhaps larger strings. If you like that string gauge, you might consider a few thin layers of super glue in the slot, in an *attempt* to build it back up. If you’re going for the new nut, it might be a workable last ditch effort that may or may not last. (is that a big enough disclaimer?) 
Cheers Trevor! — O> /() ^^ Slidell, LA
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I am pretty inexperienced with setting up the electric bass guitar. I am > about to change my strings. I got burned last time because I cut the > strings a little bit too short and the A string on my Fender Jazz rings when > I play an open nut (the string isn’t wound tight enough so it floats in the > nut slightly). I am about to change strings again and I don’t want the same > thing to happen. How much extra string length should there be when I cut > the string? Also, if anyone has a link to a bass setup tutorial or > something of the kind I would greatly appreciate it. > http://archive.bassplayer.com/gear/install.shtml > — > O> > /() > ^^ Slidell, LA
Kloka-mo, That is a great link, thanks. I did everything correct except for winding the strings from top to bottom. I fixed that and the A string still rings when I play it open. If I put light pressure on the string behind the nut it does not ring anymore. Any ideas? I am wondering if there is a way to fix this short of installing another one of those round thingies to put the strings under (I don’t want to modify the bass unless I NEED to).
Response:
> How much extra string length should there be when I cut > the string?
About four inches.
Response:
Trevor, After attaching the ball end of the string on the bass, I take the loose end of the string in my left hand. Place the bottom edge of my hand on top of the post that I am stringing. Then, I extend my left thumb pointing in the same direction of the loose end of the string, then cut the string at the top of my thumb. It works pretty well for me. hth — Ron "I have to go practise now"
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I am pretty inexperienced with setting up the electric bass guitar. I am > about to change my strings. I got burned last time because I cut the > strings a little bit too short and the A string on my Fender Jazz rings when > I play an open nut (the string isn’t wound tight enough so it floats in the > nut slightly). I am about to change strings again and I don’t want the same > thing to happen. How much extra string length should there be when I cut > the string? Also, if anyone has a link to a bass setup tutorial or > something of the kind I would greatly appreciate it.
Response:
> I am pretty inexperienced with setting up the electric bass guitar. I am > about to change my strings. I got burned last time because I cut the > strings a little bit too short and the A string on my Fender Jazz rings when > I play an open nut (the string isn’t wound tight enough so it floats in the > nut slightly). I am about to change strings again and I don’t want the same > thing to happen. How much extra string length should there be when I cut > the string? Also, if anyone has a link to a bass setup tutorial or > something of the kind I would greatly appreciate it.
http://archive.bassplayer.com/gear/install.shtml — O> /() ^^ Slidell, LA
Response:
> I am pretty inexperienced with setting up the electric bass guitar. I am > about to change my strings. I got burned last time because I cut the > strings a little bit too short and the A string on my Fender Jazz rings when > I play an open nut (the string isn’t wound tight enough so it floats in the > nut slightly). I am about to change strings again and I don’t want the same > thing to happen. How much extra string length should there be when I cut > the string? Also, if anyone has a link to a bass setup tutorial or > something of the kind I would greatly appreciate it.
Enough for at least 3 turns for correct nut pressure. http://www.mrgearhead.net/faq/basssetup.html covers all of that and more… cb
Response:
I cut them so they have 4 windings around the post.
Response:
ps: I cut them 2.5 posts past the tuner. Example: On a Jazz with 4 inline tuners I cut the E string halfway between the D&G string posts or roughly 4.5" past the E string tuner. Steve "Dude" Barr http://www.schoolofbass.com May 6th – 9th 2004! http://www.TheDudePit.com http://www.VintageBass.com
Response:
> I am pretty inexperienced with setting up the electric bass guitar. I am > about to change my strings. I got burned last time because I cut the > strings a little bit too short and the A string on my Fender Jazz rings
when Mount first, then cut. Jay
Response:
> I am pretty inexperienced with setting up the electric bass guitar. I am > about to change my strings. I got burned last time because I cut the > strings a little bit too short and the A string on my Fender Jazz rings > when > Mount first, then cut.
Can’t poke em down the hole that way…. cb
Response:
I am pretty inexperienced with setting up the electric bass guitar. I am about to change my strings. I got burned last time because I cut the strings a little bit too short and the A string on my Fender Jazz rings when I play an open nut (the string isn’t wound tight enough so it floats in the nut slightly). I am about to change strings again and I don’t want the same thing to happen. How much extra string length should there be when I cut the string? Also, if anyone has a link to a bass setup tutorial or something of the kind I would greatly appreciate it.
Response:
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