Adjusting action on a guitar.. help please!

immoral_angeluk

Not sure if this is the right place but couldn't see anywhere else it could go...

Basically the action on my bass guitar is too low. It's causing lots of fret buzz especially on the A and D strings and you can hear it through the amp, so I need to raise it a bit. Trouble is I've never done it before and can't afford to take it to a shop for someone to rip me off so could someone talk me through it?
Any advice would be grately appreaciated.

Thanks

IA x

Donnie

(Slightly raised eyebrows) First of all you have to check as to whether you neck is bowed, by placing the body on the ground in an upright position and looking straight down the neck.

If there is excessive bowing, that needs to be adjusted with an Allen Key, using the bolt between the head and the neck.

Once completed, any final string height adjustments can be made with a smaller Allen Key on the bridge and tailpiece assembly.

immoral_angeluk

the truss rod is fine as there's no bowing visible to the naked eye and I've checked it using a ruler so I know that doesn't need adjusting..
I know where to adjust it and what with.. just after advice on how to actually go about doing it, by how much etc.

Not sure what the need for the 'slightly raised eyebrows' was though? Could you explain?

Donnie

Hmmmm.... As a Bass player, I was surprised that you not only neglected to mention the make and model of the instrument, but did not know how to make the necessary adjustments.
Especially as you are already playing in a band. Hence the raised eyebrows.

Either way, I tried to help, given the information provided.

I have two Basses. They have different methods for raising the action.

Both of them have bridges adjustable with Allen keys..

For accurate instructions, I would need to know the make and model.

Example: http://www.shergold.co.uk/hwbridges.html

or a Steinberger bridge:

immoral_angeluk

Sorry. Although I play I've never actually needed to adjust the action.. I suppose I've been very lucky with my basses! lol. I know the logic of it... using an allen key to adjust it but as it's my first attempt I thought I'd get advice first before I went and wrecked my beloved..lol.
My bass is an OLP Traben tb4 which looks like this



from what I can see it's a case of a tiny allen key job.. but as I'm not 100% sure I wanted to get advice first.

Thanks... sorry for sounding naive

Donnie

That's ok.
As it's my instrument, I'm sensitive to these things.

Don't worry, you won't do any harm. Just de-tune the strings slightly before beginning.

immoral_angeluk

Sounds like a daft question but which way do you turn the allen key to raise the strings?? clockwise? anti clockwise??

God I'm rubbish aren't I... :rotfl:

Donnie

Don't worry. Just de-tune the string first and then experiment. You won't do any harm.

Without taking my Bass out, I would assume clockwise. Don't be afraid to try both ways, just de-tune first.

immoral_angeluk

Thanks for that, appreciate it. I know I sound really daft and naive! lol.
Wish me luck :rotfl:

Donnie

You won't need it.

Alternative scenarios, in specific cases, involve the filing down of frets or some sort of adaptation of the 'nut'.
You could even do the filing yourself if necessary.
But, I think this is unlikely to be necessary in your case.

immoral_angeluk

Thanks... I think raising the action should sort it as I only really ever get fret buzz from below the 7th fret.... will give it a go anyway and let you know how I get on.
Thanks for your help.