Bass Guitar setup and service

MNM7

I had a bass for probably over a year now and I want to take it to be serviced and restrung, the whole nine yards. But I have a question. Does a bass guitar get setup the same as an electric guitar. like does it have a truss rod. I can get that the action needs to be set. I figured that as the bridge on my bass looks similar to a bridge that you would find on a strat. But some one please enlighten me.

Bob-Dubery

The bass guitar should have a truss rod. In fact with those strings and the resulting tension it MUST have some form of reinforcement in the neck.

AlanRatcliffe

It's a guitar - just the bass version. All the usual setup things apply - action, intonation, truss rod, strings and pickup heights.

Jack-Flash-Jr

What kind of bass is it? Fender has pdfs available that do basics and include recommended string height off fretboard and pups etc.

MNM7

It is an Oldish Ibanez bass. not sure of the model atm of post. It's not a Ibanez geo. That I'm sure of.

DDR4LYF

If you are the 'diy/handyman' type it will probably pay to learn how to get it set up yourself (mostly). The only thing that I needed to get done at a music shop was to get the frets filed properly, I have no idea where to start with something like that.
I have found that it's worth getting to grips with your instrument and understanding what a setup will do. That way, you have some expectation when sending it in to be set up and can really appreciate where your R400-R500 for the setup (without strings) has gone to. I am a student, so that kind of money is a little more precious to me. Just do a bit of research on the web, there are plenty of people/establishments who will show you how to restring, set intonation, set action, adjust truss rod (not to be messed around with), etc.
Once you've gone as far as you can, I think a professional setup really is worth it!

Tokai-SA

DDR4LYF wrote: If you are the 'diy/handyman' type it will probably pay to learn how to get it set up yourself (mostly). The only thing that I needed to get done at a music shop was to get the frets filed properly, I have no idea where to start with something like that.
I have found that it's worth getting to grips with your instrument and understanding what a setup will do. That way, you have some expectation when sending it in to be set up and can really appreciate where your R400-R500 for the setup (without strings) has gone to. I am a student, so that kind of money is a little more precious to me. Just do a bit of research on the web, there are plenty of people/establishments who will show you how to restring, set intonation, set action, adjust truss rod (not to be messed around with), etc.
Once you've gone as far as you can, I think a professional setup really is worth it!

I'm confused, I'm not understanding your post.
Are you telling him to learn to set it up himself or are you telling him to have it setup professionally?

MNM7 - If you want it setup professionally then I recommend Grant Fouche at TOMS Sandton.

DDR4LYF

Tokai SA wrote:
DDR4LYF wrote: If you are the 'diy/handyman' type it will probably pay to learn how to get it set up yourself (mostly). The only thing that I needed to get done at a music shop was to get the frets filed properly, I have no idea where to start with something like that.
I have found that it's worth getting to grips with your instrument and understanding what a setup will do. That way, you have some expectation when sending it in to be set up and can really appreciate where your R400-R500 for the setup (without strings) has gone to. I am a student, so that kind of money is a little more precious to me. Just do a bit of research on the web, there are plenty of people/establishments who will show you how to restring, set intonation, set action, adjust truss rod (not to be messed around with), etc.
Once you've gone as far as you can, I think a professional setup really is worth it!
I'm confused, I'm not understanding your post.
Are you telling him to learn to set it up himself or are you telling him to have it setup professionally?

MNM7 - If you want it setup professionally then I recommend Grant Fouche at TOMS Sandton.

Sorry... My point was that he should try to set it up himself as much as possible to get it to play better. But when he has some idea of what a professional setup will do (that he can't do (like filing frets)), he will appreciate what difference a proper setup makes.

Does that make a little more sense?