Uneven Neck Bow on a Squier J-Bass pre-setup... No problem or Deep Doo-Doo?

SIx String Chef

SIx String Chef

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Hello, Brethren! I am looking at doing a thorough cleaning restringing and set-up of a Squier J-Bass that belongs to my stepson-in-law. Full disclosure: it's the first bass I work on since I took the dive into serious learning and polishing of guitar-teching and luthiering skills. Well actually, first bass ever... So please bear with me if this turns out to be a "captain obvious" question:

I'm sighting the neck and as I look down the treble (G string) side, the expected bow is very noticeable, maybe even bordering on "a bit too much". However, on the bass side (E string) there is barely any curvature. What am I looking at here and what am I missing? If this is indeed a problem, how bad and how can I solve it?

Thanks in advance for any and all tips you'd like to share!!
 
SIx String Chef said:
Hello, Brethren! I am looking at doing a thorough cleaning restringing and set-up of a Squier J-Bass that belongs to my stepson-in-law. Full disclosure: it's the first bass I work on since I took the dive into serious learning and polishing of guitar-teching and luthiering skills. Well actually, first bass ever... So please bear with me if this turns out to be a "captain obvious" question:

I'm sighting the neck and as I look down the treble (G string) side, the expected bow is very noticeable, maybe even bordering on "a bit too much". However, on the bass side (E string) there is barely any curvature. What am I looking at here and what am I missing? If this is indeed a problem, how bad and how can I solve it?

Thanks in advance for any and all tips you'd like to share!!
Click to expand...
Well, I’m not a professional…but I do all of my own regular maintenance etc. on 30-ish instruments between my band mates and I.
I would start by verifying the difference in relief from the low side to the high side. Tune all strings to desired pitch. While the instrument is held in playing position: Capo first fret, press string at 17th fret, check clearances at 8th fret with feeler gauges. There could be a difference, but it should be a small difference.
sorry if you are already used to this drill, but hey….not everyone is.
:cheers:
 
SIx String Chef said:
Hello, Brethren! I am looking at doing a thorough cleaning restringing and set-up of a Squier J-Bass that belongs to my stepson-in-law. Full disclosure: it's the first bass I work on since I took the dive into serious learning and polishing of guitar-teching and luthiering skills. Well actually, first bass ever... So please bear with me if this turns out to be a "captain obvious" question:

I'm sighting the neck and as I look down the treble (G string) side, the expected bow is very noticeable, maybe even bordering on "a bit too much". However, on the bass side (E string) there is barely any curvature. What am I looking at here and what am I missing? If this is indeed a problem, how bad and how can I solve it?

Thanks in advance for any and all tips you'd like to share!!
Click to expand...
Use a straight edge to measure but,
some necks have 2 adjusters and some have a tilt adjuster too....

But keep in mind that the neck is supposed to have some bow. It's not supposed to be completely flat.
This is because the string vibrates more in the middle than at the ends.

You may wind up with a compromise that is not perfectly matching on both top and bottom strings.
You might be able to make it better than it is but not perfectly matching.
 
Can Squire bass do metal? I am looking to get new bass guitar and I want something that sounds meaty and not clonk sounding ping ping pong….

looking at Jackson Js series…or Squrire p bass…

any ideas? I want low budget bass just ent to do bass end on my songs.
 
Ramo said:
Can Squire bass do metal? I am looking to get new bass guitar and I want something that sounds meaty and not clonk sounding ping ping pong….

looking at Jackson Js series…or Squrire p bass…

any ideas? I want low budget bass just ent to do bass end on my songs.
Click to expand...
Just a guess…pickups should be quiet enough(J style usually hum a bit)…

www.andertons.co.uk

Jackson JS Series Spectra Bass JS3 in Gloss Black

Get the Jackson JS Series Spectra Bass JS3 in Gloss Black from Andertons Music Company today!
www.andertons.co.uk www.andertons.co.uk
 
Thatbastarddon said:
Just a guess…pickups should be quiet enough(J style usually hum a bit)…

www.andertons.co.uk

Jackson JS Series Spectra Bass JS3 in Gloss Black

Get the Jackson JS Series Spectra Bass JS3 in Gloss Black from Andertons Music Company today!
www.andertons.co.uk www.andertons.co.uk
Click to expand...
Dont like the shape of that.
Im between this

www.bax-shop.co.uk

Jackson JS Series Concert Bass JS2 for sale | Bax Music

Buy your Jackson JS Series Concert Bass JS2 at Bax Music and enjoy delivery in 2 business days, a 3-year warranty and our lowest-price guarantee.
www.bax-shop.co.uk www.bax-shop.co.uk

And this

www.bax-shop.co.uk

Jackson JS Series Kelly Bird JS3Q for sale | Bax Music

Buy your Jackson JS Series Kelly Bird JS3Q at Bax Music and enjoy delivery in 2 business days, a 3-year warranty and our lowest-price guarantee.
www.bax-shop.co.uk www.bax-shop.co.uk

Not sure shall I save up a bit more and get kelly bird? I really like that one :)
 
Ramo said:
Dont like the shape of that.
Im between this

www.bax-shop.co.uk

Jackson JS Series Concert Bass JS2 for sale | Bax Music

Buy your Jackson JS Series Concert Bass JS2 at Bax Music and enjoy delivery in 2 business days, a 3-year warranty and our lowest-price guarantee.
www.bax-shop.co.uk www.bax-shop.co.uk

And this

www.bax-shop.co.uk

Jackson JS Series Kelly Bird JS3Q for sale | Bax Music

Buy your Jackson JS Series Kelly Bird JS3Q at Bax Music and enjoy delivery in 2 business days, a 3-year warranty and our lowest-price guarantee.
www.bax-shop.co.uk www.bax-shop.co.uk

Not sure shall I save up a bit more and get kelly bird? I really like that one :)
Click to expand...
Your choice then….active(Kellybird), or passive(JS2)…the one I linked to does either/or(you can shut off the active eq with a push pull pot).
 
Amp Mad Scientist said:
Use a straight edge to measure but,
some necks have 2 adjusters and some have a tilt adjuster too....

But keep in mind that the neck is supposed to have some bow. It's not supposed to be completely flat.
This is because the string vibrates more in the middle than at the ends.

You may wind up with a compromise that is not perfectly matching on both top and bottom strings.
You might be able to make it better than it is but not perfectly matching.
Click to expand...
Oh yeah, I'm well acquainted with the raison d'etre for the bow, AMS... What puzzles me a little is the visible difference in degree of bow from the treble edge of the neck to the bass edge. I don't recall ever seeing that particular occurrence before. But then again, this is basically the first time that I take a detailed look at a bass for setup. So far I had only tinkered with six-stringers (and a couple of 12-strings).

But even then, I can tell you that from what I see this one does seem to be pretty standard. I'd be surprised that a Squire would have a double truss rod or a neck tilt adjuster. But, I may be wrong....
 
SIx String Chef said:
Oh yeah, I'm well acquainted with the raison d'etre for the bow, AMS... What puzzles me a little is the visible difference in degree of bow from the treble edge of the neck to the bass edge. I don't recall ever seeing that particular occurrence before. But then again, this is basically the first time that I take a detailed look at a bass for setup. So far I had only tinkered with six-stringers (and a couple of 12-strings).

But even then, I can tell you that from what I see this one does seem to be pretty standard. I'd be surprised that a Squire would have a double truss rod or a neck tilt adjuster. But, I may be wrong....
Click to expand...
That’s the reason I suggested checking relief as I outlined….that isolates how much of the apparent bow is actually in the neck, and addressable via trussrod.
 
SIx String Chef said:
Oh yeah, I'm well acquainted with the raison d'etre for the bow, AMS... What puzzles me a little is the visible difference in degree of bow from the treble edge of the neck to the bass edge. I don't recall ever seeing that particular occurrence before. But then again, this is basically the first time that I take a detailed look at a bass for setup. So far I had only tinkered with six-stringers (and a couple of 12-strings).

But even then, I can tell you that from what I see this one does seem to be pretty standard. I'd be surprised that a Squire would have a double truss rod or a neck tilt adjuster. But, I may be wrong....
Click to expand...

Bass is much more forgiving of these kind of things. Just adjust as you would a standard guitar. A slight negative bow - when tuned to pitch - is all that's needed.

I believe that all the Squire basses are single acting truss rods.
 
Thatbastarddon said:
Well, I’m not a professional…but I do all of my own regular maintenance etc. on 30-ish instruments between my band mates and I.
I would start by verifying the difference in relief from the low side to the high side. Tune all strings to desired pitch. While the instrument is held in playing position: Capo first fret, press string at 17th fret, check clearances at 8th fret with feeler gauges. There could be a difference, but it should be a small difference.
sorry if you are already used to this drill, but hey….not everyone is.
:cheers:
Click to expand...
Hoping for you that the neck is a simple bow and not twisted. I think twisted necks are the bad bad juju
 
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