I Think I suck at bass

kantkeepup · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2003 3:22 am Post subject: I Think I suck at bass

Hey guys, i'm gonna slowly work back into the board, when i have time. unfortunately i'm working like crazy, but i hope i'll have time.... here's the question...

Lately, when i've been playing finger style and sometimes with a pic, I hit the string and it is almost like the string is slapping on the frets or something. Do you think that may have to do with my neck being out of whack? Or am I playing wrong. I don't hit the strings really really hard, but the only time it doesn't do it, is when i play super soft.
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SteveJazz · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2003 11:20 am Post subject:

Kant: If your bass is properly set up, you should be able to pick hard with your fingers or a pick without any problems. Hold your E string down at the first fret and at the highest fret, and look down at the neck. There should be enough room at the midpoint of the neck to slide in a playing card or two. If the strings touch all the way, or stand far off the neck, you need an adjustment. If the bass is old, the frets could be worn. Get it checked out. Do the same test with the G string, flipping the bas so you can look right at the G string. Also, check to see that you are tuned to A440 pitch.

This is not a technique problem, it's an equipment problem. Go play some basses that have been set up in a good music store. I bet the "problem" disappears.

SJ Cool

bassmaniac50 · Rattlesnake Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Posts: 430 Location: Ohio

You can do a decent set up yourself to check that your bass is in good working order, so here's a few sites that explain how to do it pretty well.
http://www.garywillis.com/pages/bass/bassmanual/setupmanual.html
http://www.playrecord.net/resource/articles/bass.html
http://members.rogers.com/dbl-bass/setups.htm
http://traevoli.com/tapbass.php
http://www.hotwire-bass.com/clinic/clinic_eng.html

GreyFox · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2003 6:56 pm Post subject:

good to see ya bak! (work sucks i fell your pain)
:::i would say neck or action, take it to a tech.:::
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