Hobbayne Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 I cant get the saddles on my Nate Mendel P Bass any lower. Its not a Badass bridge, (I think they were only fitted to the early models) but a Fender type. I cant get the truss rod set and the action set together. Would a shim be my best bet?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 [quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1489753736' post='3259469'] I cant get the saddles on my Nate Mendel P Bass any lower. Its not a Badass bridge, (I think they were only fitted to the early models) but a Fender type. I cant get the truss rod set and the action set together. Would a shim be my best bet?? [/quote] Possibly. If you do shim then you are better off getting one of the StewMac full pocket ones so there's no risk of ski jump later on, and you don't lose any contact between neck and body. They do .25 .5 and 1 degree as a set for a P bass pocket size Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 I got a set of shaped and unshaped ones - they really are very good. Needed a little bit of tweaking with a sharp blade to fit my P absolutely perfectly, but its solid as a rock and I've noticed absolutely no difference between shimmed and unshimmed. Often, you notice a big difference, I find. I used the Shaped .25 degree and it raised my saddles by about 1.5 - 2 mm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted March 17, 2017 Author Share Posted March 17, 2017 Cheers for that. I was just gonna use an old piece of card but I will check those out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 They aren't cheap with shipping and customs from the US, but they are so much better (and safer) than a bit of card Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 I have a similar problem with my MIM Fender Geddy Lee Jazz, so these suggestions are useful. Where would one get these shims of which you speak? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 (edited) [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1489761160' post='3259594'] I have a similar problem with my MIM Fender Geddy Lee Jazz, so these suggestions are useful. Where would one get these shims of which you speak? [/quote] Stewmac in the US. They have a shipping to the uk deal on at the moment. Edited March 17, 2017 by Bridgehouse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 Here you go: http://www.stewmac.com/Materials_and_Supplies/Bodies_and_Necks_and_Wood/Electric_Bass_Bodies_and_Necks_and_Wood/Bass_Necks/StewMac_Neck_Shims_for_Bass.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1489762099' post='3259616'] Cheers [/quote] You're welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyquipment Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 I used an old credit or membership card. Cut that down and shimmed using that. Worked alright for me and cost nothing 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 [quote name='tonyquipment' timestamp='1489788634' post='3259967'] I used an old credit or membership card. Cut that down and shimmed using that. Worked alright for me and cost nothing 😁 [/quote] The issue is that all of the neck plate doesn't contact the whole length of the pocket. There's a step. As the wood is under tension via the screws it can warp a bit over time. Some say you lose a bit of sustain at the same time. It's not definitive, but it is a risk. And losing some sustain is certainly possible - after all why have through necks at all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yank Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 I had my Jazz shimmed by my local luthier. I just told him that I wanted one of wood, full pocket. He made the shim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 I've never noticed any difference in sound or sustain using a shim of card, on either basses or guitars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 [quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1489837743' post='3260199'] I've never noticed any difference in sound or sustain using a shim of card, on either basses or guitars. [/quote] I definitely have. And I've played a few old ones with a shim that have had a definite ski jump above the 14th fret.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 I've mentioned this before and it upset some owners but most musicman basses come with a factory shim made of plastic, at the same time I've never heard of one having the ski jump neck issue, then they do have six bolts spread across a larger area than fenders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1489843398' post='3260265'] I've mentioned this before and it upset some owners but most musicman basses come with a factory shim made of plastic, at the same time I've never heard of one having the ski jump neck issue, then they do have six bolts spread across a larger area than fenders. [/quote] Dunno if 6 bolts makes a difference, but it might. To be fair most 70s Fenders came with a factory shim. I guess I'm reluctant to shove a bit of old plastic in the neck pocket when I can get one that fits and is made out of a decent tonewood. Placebo? Maybe. To me it's noticeable. For the sake of 10 quid I think it can't do any harm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbyrne Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 Surely it's not beyond the wit of some UK manufacturer to produce shims equivalent to StewMac's? And at a reasonable cost, too. G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 [quote name='geoffbyrne' timestamp='1489849582' post='3260320'] Surely it's not beyond the wit of some UK manufacturer to produce shims equivalent to StewMac's? And at a reasonable cost, too. G. [/quote] Presumably the margins are very slim? (Ha ha) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 You could swap out the bridge for a standard fender bbot that would give you a bit more play unless I have read it wrong lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted March 18, 2017 Author Share Posted March 18, 2017 [quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1489860972' post='3260422'] You could swap out the bridge for a standard fender bbot that would give you a bit more play unless I have read it wrong lol [/quote] Yes, that is another option I,m thinking of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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