Section 5
– Setting Up Your Guitar
BONGO bass Section 5
- 3 -
2.
string trees should also be lubricated; a small amount of lip balm applied with a toothpick works
well.
5.3
Adjusting the Action
5.3.1
The Nut
Setting the string action that is right for you
starts at the nut. The slots should already
be close, but you might want to make some adjustments.
1.
Push the fifth string down between the second and third fret. The space between the first fret
and the bottom of the string should be about .006 or just about the thickness of two sheets of
paper. If the gap is wider than .006” you should deepen the slot with a small needle file.
DO
NOT FILE TOO DEEP!
Make sure when
you file, the file is angled down
toward the headstock. This will
ensure the string sits on the edge of
the nut closest to the fretboard.
2.
Repeat the procedure for the
remaining 5 strings.
5.3.2
Bridge Saddle Adjustment
This will adjust the height of the strings over the 12
th
fret. Minor adjustments are made by raising or
lowering the individual Bridge saddles. There should be a gradual increase in height from the “G” string
to the “B” string. The question here is how
high to make the bridge. This is personal
choice.
Using the small Allen wrench supplied (#15 on
material list), we will make individual
adjustments for each saddle:
1.
Check and, if necessary, initially adjust the G string height by raising (or lowering) the saddle:
using the Allen wrench, evenly adjust the saddle insert screws to the 3/32” at the 12
th
fret.
Rotating the insert screw clock-wise raises the saddle while counter clock-wise lowers the
saddle, keeping the top of the saddle parallel to the body.
2.
Re-adjust the height until string doesn’t buzz on any fret from being too low, but low enough
that you can play up and down the neck easily. There’s usually a sweet spot where you can just
start to detect some buzzing and you can leave it just a tiny bit higher than that. Be careful if you
use a tool as it is easy to slip and damage the finish on your guitar.
3.
Repeat 1 & 2 for the “D”, “A”, “E” & “B” strings.
reference
…
check out the following
references for adjusting the “Nut Action”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz9UKX2lcxw
TIP…
check out the following
references for adjusting the “Bridge Action Height”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWpnW8ICn-U
TIP…
most factories set action at 3/32" to
7/64" on the G string at the 12th fret and 2/32" to
5/64" on the B string.
