Setting up my BassVI and snap!

[davelowell]

There goes my 9 something dollar high E!!!!  What the?  I could not believe it!!!  This set was just put on in December.  The shitty thing is, I FINALLY got a great sound out of it, but only for about two minutes.

So, this leads to my real question for you offsetters...  How do you set the trem lock when you string up from no tension?

Here's what I did.  I took off the gaff tape that was around my bridge posts (please, don't ask).  Then, I used a pencil and colored in the nut slots.  OK, great.  Now, time to tune it up.  I got it all tuned up and holy crap, it sounded effing great, better than I have heard it ever, basically, like it should but mine never did.  Then I looked at the bridge and saw that the sleeve that holds the trem arm was higher than normal.  I touched it ever so slightly and kerrang!!!  Out of tune and out of good tone! 

What happened? Do you set the lock first, then tune.  Or, do you tune it up, then set the lock?  It seems like I got a better sound when I set the lock and then tuned, but forgot to actually lock it?

Maybe I effed myself by trying too many things at once.  My bassvi really has sounded, just dull, especially the low e and a strings since I got it.

I have toyed with the idea of shimming the neck to get more tension, but tonight I had it for a few minutes and it was great.  Such is my luck.

Any help and guidance is appreciated!!!

Later fellas, Dave.

[DB]

The basic idea of the trem lock is that if you set it right your tuning will only go down by using the trem, but if you pop a string you won't lose tension and go out of tune.  There's a great guide on the net that shows how to set it -- I'll find it and post it here.  If you set it up this way and lose a string, you'll still be in tune.  It does mean that you can only use the trem arm to bend notes down in pitch, not up, but that works fine for me.

DB

[sookwinder]

Although I must have only changed my bass VI strings 5 or 6 times (in general bass VI don't snap) I have just tunbed it like any other string instrument ... like any other jaguar or JM.
I just stick the trem lock button in the position closest to the neck (ie not engaged or being used) and then ....  string the instrument.  Assuming you have stnadrd BASS VI strings on it and you haven't adjust the spring in the trem since you alst strung the bass, the setting should be almost the sane as you previously had it.

I've never had a problem.

Then I looked at the bridge and saw that the sleeve that holds the trem arm was higher than normal.

from a physics point of view, this says the strings had nore comnbined tension thatn the spring in the trem , comapred to your normal  set up.

So....

Are the string the same as previously used (or at least in the same ball park as far as tension)
Had you previously adjust the spring in the trem
you were tuning correctly (tuner not set a couple of tones up ? )

[1946dodge]

I never use the trem lock in my JM or Jag. I just leave it alone and tune it up. You can adjust the tremlock according to the instructions linked above, but it seems to be too much trouble to me. If  a string breaks, I either replace it right away or the whole set.
I thought the tremlock was just a Leo Fender gimmic, and never bothered with it. I think I went through the trouble once of setting it up right, but it didnt make me any happier so the hell with it.

[davelowell]

This whole thing had me on a search for possible reasons that my VI didn't sound very good on  the lower strings.

So, what I was doing was taking the bridge out to remove the tape I had wrapped around the posts.  All I really did to the strings was just loosen them enough to get the bridge out.  But it did seem like the trem had moved.

Also, one more thing about the trem.  When it was in the higher position, and I pressed it down to, you know, trem, it kinda felt like it was hitting something inside.  Like it was catching on something.  I know this can't be right, but is it something I should mess with?

Maybe I am just overreacting, too, but I would like to do any fixes myself. 

Edit...  I took the other strings off this morning and removed the trem assembly.  I found that the very rear of it had a little routing done to the body.  Seems like this is the "catch" I was referring to above.  Also, I noticed that the screw for the spring tension was at its' lowest, so I tightened that up a lot, screwed it all together and although I did not restring, seems to be smoother now, without the noticeable catch in the travel of the trem arm. 

It also seems like the lock on mine is useless.  When I had it apart, I tried locking it and I can still engage the arm.  This is also the case when I put it on the guitar, I can still press it down, and without a lot of force on my part.  Hmmm...

Thanks for any suggestions and if you think of anything else, please let me know.  I did find a jag/jazz tutorial out there, and I also have a 3 or 4 page file saved from some guitar mag about the jag/jazz setup, so I'll look through that and report back.

Later, Dave

[davelowell]

The basic idea of the trem lock is that if you set it right your tuning will only go down by using the trem, but if you pop a string you won't lose tension and go out of tune.  There's a great guide on the net that shows how to set it -- I'll find it and post it here.  If you set it up this way and lose a string, you'll still be in tune.  It does mean that you can only use the trem arm to bend notes down in pitch, not up, but that works fine for me.

DB

So it's normal to be able to engage the arm down with the lock on?  I guess I thought that it locked up the whole thing and it wouldn't move at all.  If this is the case, disregard my earlier post on this subject.  Maybe mine isn't useless.

[sookwinder]

Dave,  given your last posting I think you may have had the trem incorrectly set up previously.  It should not be  rubbing against anything when you use the whammy bar.  It should be smooooooth.

Check out this infor on webrockers site... perfect for instructions on setting up the trem

linky

[sookwinder]

with the trem "locked" you can still push down but not pull up

[davelowell]

I think you're right, sookwinder.  I thought of that over my morning coffee.  It did come to me with the strings loose, so that's most likely correct. 

And, the string broke at the tuning peg, which I thought was odd.  I would think a break at the bridge more likely than anywhere else.

[thewizardofaz]

Are you using La Bellas? I have a set of those for final, but am going to use the D'Dario (how do you spell it?) for setup.

[davelowell]

Yep, LaBella's.  I've been in contact with their customer support, but they're kinda slow.  He keeps asking me where it broke, even though I've told him three times

[thewizardofaz]

I got mine from juststrings and at 54 bucks, they're a quite an investment I must say. I'm getting ready to paint mine. It'll be shot in a couple of days.

Rick

[davelowell]

I got mine from juststrings and at 54 bucks, they're a quite an investment I must say.

Rick

No kidding!  I'll hold off judgement though, until I see what they are going to do about it.  Seems like at the very least, a new high e string should be sent to me free. 

[dain]

Are you using La Bellas? I have a set of those for final, but am going to use the D'Dario (how do you spell it?) for setup.

i'm doing the same.  i don't want to put those labellas through the constant tension/notension crazyness of getting the bridge and trem setup.  i gotta say those labellas are heavy though!  they could probably take it better than any other string...they're like upright bass strings!

[davelowell]

Small update...  After about 6 emails back and forth, the LaBella salesman called and verified which string I broke and said "I'll send them out tomorrow."  I wonder if this is several "e's" or a new set?