Complete Luthier Setup for Bass Guitar - Step by Step Guide

Complete Luthier Setup for Bass Guitar - Step by Step Guide
Tuner Wrench - amzn.to/3X9oJTQ
Micro Mesh Fret Polishing Sanding Cloth - amzn.to/3iH3rxQ
In this video, I take you through a step-by-step guide on how to properly set up a bass guitar as a luthier. I cover everything from adjusting the truss rod, to setting the string action and intonation. Whether you're a professional guitar technician or a beginner looking to learn more about guitar maintenance, this video is a must-watch. Ill be using a bass guitar brand new from a factory in China, but the concepts covered can be applied to any bass guitar. So sit back, relax and let's get started on setting up your bass guitar for optimal playability and sound.
KleshGuitars.com
Amazon Links are affiliate links and I will receive a small percentage of anything you buy using my link above thanks! -Shane

[@tomanastasio9748]

The 12th fret harmonic is always in tune. Tune the harmonic to the 12th fret. If they match the bass plays in tune.

[@guillermodelnoche]

That was a great explanation Shane. I had Jim Mouradian in Cambridge Ma. work on all of my instruments for 20 years and they sung like a choir of angels. A proper set up from an amazing tech is priceless.

[@ejr6862]

Very thorough and simple. Excellent explanations. Thanks, Shane!

[@chrishale8924]

Dude, your showing all the tricks. Pretty dang thorough instruction from a professional. thanks .

[@KingLoopie1]

Nice walk thru on a basic setup! Keep up the good work! 👍

[@MadeOnTape]

this is very helpful, but shouldn't you check that 12th fret harmonic with the fretted note? the harmonic will be perfectly an octave higher than whatever the string is tuned to, but the fretted note tells you if you need to move the saddle.

[@yetimountaintrading5859]

Very very thorough walk through awesome sir great stuff

[@djhosfelt9993]

Thank you so much! I do some setup work on guitars, and this totally helped me convert and set up a friend's bass!

[@KleshGuitarsOfficial]

Rock on!

[@Kevin-mx1vi]

Is no-one going to mention the dip in the fretboard under the g string at the 11th fret ?

[@ianwalker6236]

I was wondering when someone else would notice that too ! 👍🏽

[@JjHarrisHONDA]

Love it man

[@MUDSWAT]

That was pretty cool, great video!

[@Madhattressss]

Hey!

[@knowyourenemy66]

Very informative video. Here are my 3 suggestions for a better setup: 1) It takes longer that 10 minutes to properly set up a bass, regardless of it's current condition. 2) The tension on the tuners should be relieved before tightening them. 3) The pickups should be taped over to prevent any metal shavings or dust from attaching themselves. The magnets will attract the shavings or dust as the guitar is picked up from the workbench.

[@TheBassteban]

Good points. As for taping the pickups, you can see in the video that they are factory "taped" but it's good to mentiont it.

[@knowyourenemy66]

The entire pocket should be taped over with painters masking tape. This will prevent any metal shavings or dust from attaching themselves to the pickups , such as the sides. The factory tape only covers the topside. @@TheBassteban

[@TheBassteban]

@@knowyourenemy66 you're right, didn't consider the sides, only thought of the poles and top casing.

[@knowyourenemy66]

@@TheBassteban I learned the hard way. 😊

[@robertborch5868]

Good tips! When I work on my frets, I tape the fretboard with blue painter's tape first, then get out the dremel tool with a buffing wheel and polishing compound. Once that is done I remove the tape and apply Dunlop 65 oil to the fretboard. The frets gleam and the fingerboard comes back to life 🙂

[@phickleprickprospecting]

Well, I just learned something new. If I ever get into playing one, I'll just buy it from you. Your knowledge is impressive.

[@zcarm]

Until now the best presentation regarding a Bass Setup after watching several other videos. Thanks for sharing, really help me a lot to setup my new China Made Fender Squier Jaguar Bass - :-)

[@robertlan6322]

Thanks for best video.

[@KleshGuitarsOfficial]

Many many thanks

[@peezdoc]

Musicians Friend!! I miss that magazine. Do they still mail out actual magazines or is it just a website now?? I thought I was the coolest when I was like 12 because I would get that magazine in the mail. Getting mail with your name on it as a kid used to be one of the coolest things!!

[@KleshGuitarsOfficial]

I assume they do, she said she ordered from Musicians Friend

[@TarnishedViking.]

It's all about that bass! Nice schooling Bro! 💚👍🤘

[@GuitarsZnuff]

Cool video. Just got my first bass 25 years into guitar playing. Its a whole new world, but at least the setup is similar to the guitar. I do like using the notched straight edge to help look at neck relief though.

[@hadleymanmusic]

Glad to see this now I can do my wish dot junk 64$ bass. I did buy another heavier badass like bridge and put on it.

[@mikegreenebass]

Great video. I was hoping you show how you do the string radius if you use a radial tool or another method.

[@KleshGuitarsOfficial]

Thank you!

[@keithclark486]

Setting the pickup height 1'st according to your method then setting the string action will throw the pickup height off. Pickup height should be the last thing. The first thing should be adjusting the neck relief then check for high frets and then nut height.

[@KleshGuitarsOfficial]

Yeah I start at the Nut and work my way down to the saddles. The pickup height should be adjusted after the string height correct.

[@phishy96]

I have no idea what your doing or talking about..but thoroughly enjoyed this video.

[@larryhaynes7298]

He is making a guitar multiple guitar an he plays really well to i dont know how to play im a drummer so i know about harmonics an how different wood makes different sounds

[@larryhaynes7298]

Ok so most vids on this channel now is little adventures he went to new york city check that vid out pretty cool

[@rastaralph7154]

This is very interesting and I feel clueless because I didn't know anything about what you just did. Don't suppose you have any spare amp parts or know what I need to get. I've got a small Peavey Vypyr 15w modelling amp and it works ok for plugging an aux in but when I plug the guitar in I can hear static but no guitar sound. Every lights up and works but no guitar! I've looked online for the new input board assembly but can't find the right one and someone said it's fairly universal and can put other ones from other amps in but I don't know which ones. I was buzzing when I got that amp and my big 90 w bass amp and guitar. Not bass yet but I thought even I would be able to make cool sounds coming from the sound effects but I can't get it going so just keep putting it to the side for another day. The bass amp switches off after a little while and I think it must be full of dust and smoke tar and overheating so can be fixed by hoovering like most other amps I've had that problem with. It's a carlsbro and looks like it's worth a few Bob. I got both for about £30. Any help would be appreciated cheers 👍👌❤️💛💚

[@KleshGuitarsOfficial]

Unfortunately I know just about nothing on amps, i'm just a woodworker

[@MahoneyCZ]

I can see the split coil pickup is angled on this bass - ie. the pickup side closer to the headstock sits deeper than the saddle side, is this normal for this type of pickups? I can see lots of photos with both angled and perfectly even pickups so I am just not sure about this.

[@mikeortega6072]

i've been setting my intonation all wrong, just as you did. A harmonic at the 12th will not set intonation, you have to play the note at the 12th! I found this out the hard way and had to fix all my basses.

[@trevaudio]

Correct….also, flat = forward !! A lot of misinformation here ! I have never seen anybody measure the relief at the twelfth fret….or use “shadows” to measure

[@Madhattressss]

Thanks buddy! I played part of the video for him and he hasn't realized it's his yet. LOL. Good yob!

[@Robert-dt3is]

Great video! I was curious because I’ve seen so many different opinions on this but when TIGHTENING the truss rod do you leave the strings at tension? Or do you tighten with the strings loose?

[@KleshGuitarsOfficial]

It doesn't matter if the strings are tuned to pitch, or no strings at all when adjusting the truss rod. As long as you re-tune after, you'll be good to go.

[@DrCHILL69]

Great vid, but for intonation the harmonic will always be in tune with the string; it's just the node at half the string. You have to fret the 12th fret to check intonation, not play the harmonic.

[@KleshGuitarsOfficial]

correct, and I am using a strobemeter for intonation

[@TheSonsOfSimon]

Great info. Question - would you need to check the pickup heights after adjusting the saddle?

[@trevaudio]

Yes..always

[@user-tq6kx2lv8t]

What kind of oil?

[@dirtdigger949]

Can you tell me what oil you used on the fret board thanks.

[@KleshGuitarsOfficial]

Dunlop 02 fingerboard oil

[@BeesWaxMinder]

You need to loosen the strings BEFORE you tighten the neck and THEN bring them back up to pitch again to test the action👍

[@dirtdigger949]

I wish you would have showed the tuning process maybe next.

[@kootenaystringworks1765]

Show us a scarf joint that has failed please. I was under the understanding that a scarf joint is much stronger than not having one.

[@KleshGuitarsOfficial]

I don't have any broken ones (i fixed them all) but any neck with a scarf joint on the neck (below the volute/nut area) are almost always the breaking point when a guitar falls. To be more specific, it's not the joint itself, but the area directly surrounding the glue joint. A good example is Dimbag Darrel's lightning Dean. I've inspected this guitar personally and saw at least two repairs to this section of his famous guitar.

[@rossmuir4609]

Sorry guys , while there are good points here, there are some points which are not sound e.g. setting the pickup height before adjusting the bridge saddle height; changing saddle heights will change the strings distance from the pick up. Cheers, Ross

[@KleshGuitarsOfficial]

Yeah pickup height should be adjusted after string height for sure. Apologies if I missed that

[@luciasabrinadimaria614]

You can only do so much depending on the quality of the instrument...

[@digikaininja5]

great video but please make the intros shorter

[@mycofairbanks3321]

Ahh no... if the twelfth harmonic is sharp you need to move the saddle back in the bridge direction. Make the string longer. Who will disagree with me?

[@richarddigeorge8249]

If the intonation is sharp, you have to make the string longer at the saddle. If it's flat, make the string shorter.

[@first2find]

You are correct.

[@trevaudio]

Flat = Forward ! Simple

[@3tlfv9qjz2wjskv9n4ak]

This is what I hope they don't do when i pay for a professional set up

[@dirtdigger949]

Please show proof life.

[@KleshGuitarsOfficial]

What's proof life?

[@stephenpersaud9406]

this guy doesn't know what he's doing