String Height Tool for Bass

[rainbowreality]

I came across this great tool but unfortunately they don't make a version for bass (boo!) - does anyone know anywhere that does?

https://www.guitarbuilding.solutions/product-page/luthier-tools-string-action-gauge

[Hellzero]

A Stratocaster neck at the octave is 52mm wide and a Precision is 56mm wide, so according to the overlap I see on the photo, it will work for both with the progressive radius height.

[rainbowreality]

4 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

A Stratocaster neck at the octave is 52mm wide and a Precision is 56mm wide, so according to the overlap I see on the photo, it will work for both with the progressive radius height.

Thanks for the help!

 

I'd emailed the company and they replied to say that it's not compatible with bass  (and they've since added a not on the description).  Not saying you're wrong at all but strange they didn't make the same observation, maybe I'll email them again with what you've said! 

[Hellzero]

You can do the same as this with an Allen wrench of 1.5mm (or whatever reference string height you use).

 

Simply put the Allen wrench under the highest pitched (G or C) string of your bass and raise or lower the saddle until the action is at the desired height.

 

Repeat this for all other strings and set the intonation.

 

And then simply add a fourth of turn to each of the two height saddle screws on the next lower string, then half turn for the next one, then 3/4th of turn on the following one, then a full turn for the other and a full and a fourth turn for the B if you own a sixer bass: This will make exactly the same as this radius gauge at a deliriously low cost...

 

I've been setting up all my basses this way since more than 3 decades.

 

Adding 1/4th turn more than the previous ones simply perfectly raises the height according to the exact radius of your instrument's neck.

[PaulThePlug]

Maybe 'guitarbuilding' are basing(!) the Not For Bass on the basis that Guitar are ballpark 2 / 1.5mm and a Bass ballpark 2.5 / 2mm...

 

But, i likes @Hellzero simplicity, and savings as well as suiting all radii...

 

Saddle screws M3 have a 'pitch' of 0.5mm, so half a turn extra per string saddle would add 0.25 of a mm in height.

EDIT: At the bridge... so about half that at the 12th fret...

So Full Turn 0.25 at the 12th.

Edited 16 minutes ago by PaulThePlug

[rainbowreality]

12 minutes ago, PaulThePlug said:

Maybe 'guitarbuilding' are basing(!) the Not For Bass on the basis that Guitar are ballpark 2 / 1.5mm and a Bass ballpark 2.5 / 2mm...

 

Good point but you can raise he string height by going down a fret or two with their thingymejig

Edited 2 hours ago by rainbowreality

[rainbowreality]

28 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

You can do the same as this with an Allen wrench of 1.5mm (or whatever reference string height you use).

 

Simply put the Allen wrench under the highest pitched (G or C) string of your bass and raise or lower the saddle until the action is at the desired height.

 

Repeat this for all other strings and set the intonation.

 

And then simply add a fourth of turn to each of the two height saddle screws on the next lower string, then half turn for the next one, then 3/4th of turn on the following one, then a full turn for the other and a full and a fourth turn for the B if you own a sixer bass: This will make exactly the same as this radius gauge at a deliriously low cost...

 

I've been setting up all my basses this way since more than 3 decades.

 

Adding 1/4th turn more than the previous ones simply perfectly raises the height according to the exact radius of your instrument's neck.

 

That's so obvious when you explain it!  I'm going to try it, thank you!