mr dave

that's about right though. 'low' action would be just wide enough to slide a single sheet of paper through, 'high' action would be thicker stock like a business card.

but yeah it sounds like it could use some minor adjustments if it's buzzing when you play softly (assuming it gets nastier with more pronounced playing). your options are to either take it back to the store and ask them to set it up (which will likely cost between $20-$50) though i really don't understand why music stores don't offer a free initial setup with an instrument purchase. kind of d1ck move to tack on another charge to new gear but whatever.

if you want to try it yourself you'll need to find a corresponding Allen Key (not unlike the wicked awesome Kyuss song Allen's Wrench) or sometimes called a Hex Key. either way 6 sided. you don't need to twist the truss rod much to make adjustments - it's basically a bolt within the neck. in order to raise the action you'll need to loosen the truss rod. it should feel rather snug and maybe even a little tight to start - that's fine. check the action the way LLSS described after every 1/4 turn until it feels right for you and the buzzing stops. shouldn't need more than 2 or 3 twists max from the way you describe things.

if the truss rod is already loose and doesn't feel like it's gripping anything then your action would need to be adjusted through the bridge saddles and that can easily mess up your intonation (where the 17th fret sounds off from the note at the 5th even though they should be octaves for example). in this case i'd take it to the shop and ask for a setup. it 'can' be done at home but it's WAY more hassle.

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Astronomer

Wow, thanks for all the info mr dave! I do have a corresponding Allen Key but I'm too scared to do it myself so I think I'll go back to the shop and just have a chat to the people there about the set up! They were pretty helpful and accommodating and said to come back if I have any issues, but even if they do charge for a set up I don't really mind paying. Or I'll find a mate who is competent at doing stuff like that.

Anyway, I might just be being picky! I've only had the bass for 1 day anyway, so we probably need to bond more too!

Thanks for the feedback again

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mr dave

no worries

it's normal for brand new instruments to need a setup though. and yeah bonding time is a must as well hahaha

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thomasracer56

i got a blueridge acoustic guitar(6 steel strings), but i can't play because i've got the flu and trying to die down my fever. it's really good quality, with a nice heavy sound on bass strings(nice volume too), and a crisp sound on higher strings. WAY better than the last guitar i borrowed from my brother, and in case i didn't already say in some other topic, horrible sound quality and it went out of tune every 5-10 seconds. it was an old, second-hand guitar from a neighbor.

mr dave

this is precisely why i always ALWAYS stress not paying attention to the name on the headstock and whether or not the instrument functions properly when making purchases.

glad to hear you're satisfied with the new one hope you're feeling better soon, summer flu sucks

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thomasracer56

flu's gettin' close to good, and actually i have had it for a while, so i looked at the brand afterwards, at the time i just loved the sound quality of the guitar. besides, as i said, a neighbor taught everyone and their dog in his family guitar on that one before passing it to my brother. i just took it cause i had better uses for it than he did. in the end, this is nature's way of dissing me whenever i'm on a roll. always has happened.

ElephantSack

One more for the bass. At the moment, I have a Cort B-4 bass, An Epiphone Les Paul 4-string bass, a Peavey Grind 5-string, and my weapon of choice, my Schecter Stiletto 5-string.
I play those through an Ampeg SVT4-PRO with a Hartke 4200 cab for the mids and highs, and a Hartke 215XL for the lows.
Throw in a Boss Bass Overdrive and an Ibanez Weeping Demon Wah pedal, and that's basically my sound.

On a kind of sad note, I'm parting ways with my Peavey and Epiphone. I've got a big move coming up shortly, and I need the money.

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Astronomer

One of my flatmates has a Schecter Stiletto 5-string, it's pretty sweet I have to say. That's sad that you have to sell you basses I know what it's like though when you need the money.

Does anyone else nickname their instruments? My guitar and first bass have names which are kinda lame/amusing... I don't even know how they come about, I think just by messing around with friends and it sticks. My new bass doesn't have a name yet though.

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mr dave

****ty deal. how big of a move is it? coast to coast? taking the band to LA? hehehe


as for nicknames, i've only ever done that to one. my 4 string bass is known as the poké-bass to my friends due to it being covered in pokemon stickers.

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alaebu

I play red pdp mx series drums, 22in bass drum, 10, 12, 14, 16in toms, 12in pork pie little squealer snare drum, zildjian cymbals (two crash, two splash, one ride, hihat) and a wuhan china. hoping to buy an electric set soon for the apartment.