As a pro bass player, who has set up basses for shops and other bass players for 14 years, I can say: Roger's the real deal. He knows what he's talking about. 👍 A master builder, great craftsman, and a kind and generous soul.
Very clear and precise instructions from the expert to the new bass guitar player who starts with it at the age of 67. Greetings from Germany and thanks again!!!
You were the first person i met when i was on tour in the summer of 2010 (i am from india), i took an appointment and met you at your place in Brooklyn and you let me try out your basses and then when i wanted to pay an advance for a bass you told me, "look, its your first day here, look around at other instruments and then make up your mind" you were so honest and straightforward and i really appreciate that and i knew you were doing what you do for the love of it :) Big thanks and wish you the best always :)
I’ve been playing the bass for almost 35 years now and I have a good understanding of how to set them up. I haven’t really been happy with my 5 string lately, especially the sound I was getting from the low B. string. Browsing for some videos on 5 string set up I came across this one of Roger’s. These action measurements really worked great for me… that bass hasn’t sounded so lively and punchy in years. I have somewhat of a heavy attack with my right hand and the tip to depress the string at the first fret to eliminate the nut height I think made all the difference for me. Thank you for taking the time to share your wisdom.
The bit about seasonal movement is spot on. I bought my Sadowsky about 25 years ago from the bassist for a southern rock band because he didn’t like constantly having to readjust the instrument while touring the humid south of the US. He switched to a Modulus bass with a graphite neck, which for his purposes was perfect because the neck NEVER moved, and I got my dream instrument which has served me well ever since.
I've had my NYC 5 for nearly three years now. The last person to set up my bass was Roger himself. Guess what, when I check the set up today after watching his tutorial, it's still perfect.
Thank you as a bass player of 20 plus years this is the best setup video I have seen I've seen other guys with 400,000 hits a million hits and that complicated and act like they really don't want you to do it thank you
When I was a teenager back in the 90s and I got my first Epi bass, I started fooling with the bridge and action. Totally messed up my intonation because well the Internet wasn’t a thing and I was young and dumb. This is a great video.
This is the best Bass set up tutorial video I have ever watched. The way he explained about the Truss rod was very detailed that even for a beginner like me understand it right away. Thank you Roger Sadowsky.
Thank you. I’ve just finished adjusting a brand new Traveler TB-4P which was shipped across the Atlantic and arrived with its action higher than a tree full of monkeys on nitrous oxide. This video and the linked page gave me the confidence to fiddle with everything, truss rod to intonation.
I bought #5181, a Vintage 5, from his shop in 2008 and it has been on literally hundreds of jobs. So glad I saw this video today because I will start including the neck bolt and strap button tightening in my setup regimen. I will also drop $10 on a strobe tuner app to get a more accurate read than my Boss tuner pedal. Still love my Sadowsky bass a dozen years later. This video is really really great. Thanks for posting!
Roger, thanks so much for the help! I am an aging semi-pro bassist who, as you described so wryly, was terrified of dealing with truss rods and setups in general - I just played 'em as I got 'em convincing myself that I actually "liked" (or at least was OK with) high action... More recently with the pandemic and youtube I have learned quite a bit about dialing in my growing guitar collection but very few specifics about the bass. After watching your excellent vid I checked and noted several needed some setting up - it is possible that some were never fully set up in the first place. I was able to improve most of them! I was especially interested in your comments regarding truss rod adjustment and string action at the first few frets. I was a bit disappointed that there was no discussion of measuring and adjusting proper nut slot depth which also contributes to this annoying problem. I use a simple trick: if I can wedge my med-gauge pick in between the bottom of the string and the top of the first fret such that it sticks when let go (with a tiny bit of snugness) kinda like a poor guitarist's quick-and-dirty feeler-gauge, than I am in the ballpark. This is after setting a reasonable neck relief and action at the 12th fret with bridge adjustment. If the pick wants to fall away by itself and/or the string vibrates cleanly with the pick underneath then the nut slot needs to be filed a bit. A more precise recommended individual string action measurement at the first fret from your point of view would be very useful! (real feeler gauges are inexpensive...) Perhaps a vid on fixing/replacing/shaping a nut and best materials and tools for a bass would be a good vehicle? TIA!
Roger, I remember figuring out how to do my own set ups from an instructional article by you back when videos were not so common. Now I'm brushing off some dust with this video. I really admire how clear and articulate you are when communicating. Thank you for being such an inspiration in the music world. Peace!
Hey Roger I have one of your Jazz basses NYC Custom JJ-4 I bought it used I just want you to know how much I love this bass it is absolutely incredible
This is hands down the best bass setup video I've seen, well done! So many other videos rush through crucial details or don't go into as much depth as you have.
thanks!~!!!!!!!!! i worried about my p-bass neck for a month....... and i was terrified..... but all i needed was 1/2 turn tight and my bass is perfect...... sooo satisfying.... i was gonna take it to the damn shop..... not now :)
Hey Roger, just wanted to say thanks so much for the intel, you did a great job with explaining everything. I have been doing my own set ups for years but never got this deep into it so this will be a big help. I've never had the opportunity to play one of your guitars but sooner or later I will. Dudeman - bassist for Backseat Driver
This is a fantastic video. If you're setting up your bass you can't go past the experience of Roger Sadowsky, I have to say it just works. BTW, Roger mentions a thick business card is about as far as you'd want to go with neck relief if you play hard. That's about 0.014" or 0.35mm if you are using feeler gauges.
Im a Fender guy since the ear 80's as a young child! And I just love the look of your basses, like many, Jason Newsted is to blame lol! But you have some fine looking instruments, and hopefully one day I can get one!
Thank you for posting this video - You provided a lot of good information and your presentation of the material has inspired me to attempt setting the truss rod. Best wishes
This was really helpful. I managed to get my action down to 2mm at the 12th fret which is perfect for me. Just one observation: if the truss rod is adjusted from the headstock end the rotation direction is anti clockwise for loosening and clockwise for tightening.
It's the same direction, whichever end you adjust it. Think of it as a rod with a threaded end with a nut screwed onto it. It's always clockwise to tighten it, whatever the orientation.
Really enjoyed the video, but I would like to see a bit on pickup height. I know that can vary with taste from player to player, but it would be nice to see some starting points. Very small nit to pick, I"ll agree. But I did enjoy the video and learned a few things.
So I can get this right, when you're checking the neck relief by fretting a string at the first and 12th fret, and then tapping the string at around the 7th fret, should the string be touching the fret so that there's no bounce at that point? Or are you looking for a little bit of bounce and clearance between the string and the fret, but not much? If I do the measurement with a business card, are you looking for the business card to go in snugly, or be able to move freely in between the string and the fret, or should it be so tight that the business card just can't insert between them? And yes, I'm a little bit nervous at this. I just got my beautiful Sadowsky, and I've never adjusted a neck truss rod before And If I'm understanding correctly, the recommended string height is somewhere around 4/64ths on the G string and 6/64ths on the low B string?
Noticed the he recommended tightening the truss rod while under string tension. Is that a general rule off thumb? I've actually broken a truss nut when tightening under tension in the past, and since then have changed my approach to always release string tension before tightening the truss rod. So far as I can tell, the only drawback is some extra retuning. It's also a necessity on some older style instruments that have truss access at the body and no recess provided to access it there, meaning that you need to remove the neck entirely.
for my strap locks i use a very tiny dollop of loctite(243 Threadlocker Blue). with a firm grip and a good philips head you can still take the screw out.
I’m new to the Bass world coming from the Percussion world and this video really helped me understand better than most I’ve seen. Thank you so much!!! Now, I’m getting a 6 string this week (which is a gift from a friend) is there a difference in height like 2/32 and 3/32? Just because of the high C string?
As a pro bass player, who has set up basses for shops and other bass players for 14 years, I can say: Roger's the real deal. He knows what he's talking about. 👍 A master builder, great craftsman, and a kind and generous soul.
Very clear and precise instructions from the expert to the new bass guitar player who starts with it at the age of 67. Greetings from Germany and thanks again!!!
You were the first person i met when i was on tour in the summer of 2010 (i am from india), i took an appointment and met you at your place in Brooklyn and you let me try out your basses and then when i wanted to pay an advance for a bass you told me, "look, its your first day here, look around at other instruments and then make up your mind" you were so honest and straightforward and i really appreciate that and i knew you were doing what you do for the love of it :) Big thanks and wish you the best always :)
I got to meet Roger and hang in his shop and try out some of his basses a few years ago. One of the nicest people you will ever meet.
I’ve watched a LOT of bass set up videos on here but this is the best - thank you Roger!
I was just about to say the same thing.
Agreed
Your messaging is in simple english, concise wording, great videoing exampling and relaxing calm voicing. Thank you.
I’ve been playing the bass for almost 35 years now and I have a good understanding of how to set them up. I haven’t really been happy with my 5 string lately, especially the sound I was getting from the low B. string. Browsing for some videos on 5 string set up I came across this one of Roger’s. These action measurements really worked great for me… that bass hasn’t sounded so lively and punchy in years. I have somewhat of a heavy attack with my right hand and the tip to depress the string at the first fret to eliminate the nut height I think made all the difference for me. Thank you for taking the time to share your wisdom.
The bit about seasonal movement is spot on. I bought my Sadowsky about 25 years ago from the bassist for a southern rock band because he didn’t like constantly having to readjust the instrument while touring the humid south of the US. He switched to a Modulus bass with a graphite neck, which for his purposes was perfect because the neck NEVER moved, and I got my dream instrument which has served me well ever since.
I've had my NYC 5 for nearly three years now. The last person to set up my bass was Roger himself. Guess what, when I check the set up today after watching his tutorial, it's still perfect.
Wow...... that would be amazing, what an Incredible Gift to have Roger himself set your instrument. Congratulations!
0:00 Intro/Tighten screws
1:28 Tune
1:55 Adjust Truss Rod
5:45 Adjusting the Action at the bridge
10:56 Intonation
11:47 Break output jack and/or cable connector.
He did lay it down on a mat
Thank you as a bass player of 20 plus years this is the best setup video I have seen I've seen other guys with 400,000 hits a million hits and that complicated and act like they really don't want you to do it thank you
Definitely the clearest Set-Up video that I've seen.
Thank you very much Mr Sadowski.
I really liked how he smiled at the very end, you can clearly see his passion for instruments. And btw that bass in the back is a real beauty
The man, the bass, the answer! I've been apprehensive about trying this on my own for a while. Thanks Roger!
The best hands down bass adjustment, tutorial, on TH-cam..now i must purchase a sadowsky bass
he was hoping you would! great helpful vid!
When I was a teenager back in the 90s and I got my first Epi bass, I started fooling with the bridge and action. Totally messed up my intonation because well the Internet wasn’t a thing and I was young and dumb. This is a great video.
I bought my Sadowsky Vintage 5 from Grasshopper in Florida Bass Centre many years ago and its been superb ever since - incredible workmanship
Fantastic! Thank you Roger. The best video of it's kind that I've seen. I'll be referring players to THIS video when asked about this stuff. Woot!
This is the best Bass set up tutorial video I have ever watched. The way he explained about the Truss rod was very detailed that even for a beginner like me understand it right away. Thank you Roger Sadowsky.
What a treat and a luxury to get this tutorial from such a master guitar maker.
Thank you Roger !!
Thank you. I’ve just finished adjusting a brand new Traveler TB-4P which was shipped across the Atlantic and arrived with its action higher than a tree full of monkeys on nitrous oxide. This video and the linked page gave me the confidence to fiddle with everything, truss rod to intonation.
Thank you Roger, so nice to see this from such a legendary builder. And my goodness, I have to say you really build a beautiful instrument!
This is most clear and down to the point setup tutorial I've ever seen! Many thanks Roger, you got my guitars done nicely! :)
Thanks so much for this video. You truly are the "Mister Rogers" of the bass world.
if you love him so much then why don't you marry him?
@@_Majoras LOL! I'm a loner Dottie, a rebel.
I bought #5181, a Vintage 5, from his shop in 2008 and it has been on literally hundreds of jobs. So glad I saw this video today because I will start including the neck bolt and strap button tightening in my setup regimen. I will also drop $10 on a strobe tuner app to get a more accurate read than my Boss tuner pedal. Still love my Sadowsky bass a dozen years later. This video is really really great. Thanks for posting!
The first time I ever seen a Sadowsky bass is when Jason Newsted had one in Metallica's "I Disappear" video and that was over twenty years ago.
Roger, thanks so much for the help! I am an aging semi-pro bassist who, as you described so wryly, was terrified of dealing with truss rods and setups in general - I just played 'em as I got 'em convincing myself that I actually "liked" (or at least was OK with) high action... More recently with the pandemic and youtube I have learned quite a bit about dialing in my growing guitar collection but very few specifics about the bass. After watching your excellent vid I checked and noted several needed some setting up - it is possible that some were never fully set up in the first place. I was able to improve most of them! I was especially interested in your comments regarding truss rod adjustment and string action at the first few frets. I was a bit disappointed that there was no discussion of measuring and adjusting proper nut slot depth which also contributes to this annoying problem. I use a simple trick: if I can wedge my med-gauge pick in between the bottom of the string and the top of the first fret such that it sticks when let go (with a tiny bit of snugness) kinda like a poor guitarist's quick-and-dirty feeler-gauge, than I am in the ballpark. This is after setting a reasonable neck relief and action at the 12th fret with bridge adjustment. If the pick wants to fall away by itself and/or the string vibrates cleanly with the pick underneath then the nut slot needs to be filed a bit. A more precise recommended individual string action measurement at the first fret from your point of view would be very useful! (real feeler gauges are inexpensive...) Perhaps a vid on fixing/replacing/shaping a nut and best materials and tools for a bass would be a good vehicle? TIA!
This is by far the best bass setup video I've seen. Thank you.
Incredible video. I love it! 👌🏿
My neck is a graphite neck, which helps in times of weather changes.
Greetings from Uganda 🇺🇬👊🏿🖤🤍
Roger,
I remember figuring out how to do my own set ups from an instructional article by you back when videos were not so common. Now I'm brushing off some dust with this video. I really admire how clear and articulate you are when communicating. Thank you for being such an inspiration in the music world. Peace!
My God, that is absolutely my dream j-bass. That is absolutely gorgeous and the black hardware totally highlights the top.
This is excellent! Comprehensive but not overdone with great explanations. Thank you Sir!
That was great, thanks. All of us watching were cringing a little as you balanced the instrument on the plug while you were setting intonation.
Hey Roger I have one of your Jazz basses NYC Custom JJ-4 I bought it used I just want you to know how much I love this bass it is absolutely incredible
Total set-up newbie, after watching this, I feel more than ready to do it myself.
Great Stuff! Thank You! 🙏🏻
Thanks Roger. Great video. This all starts to make sense now. The buzzing is the key for truss rod adjustment.
This is hands down the best bass setup video I've seen, well done! So many other videos rush through crucial details or don't go into as much depth as you have.
AMAZING, thanks Roger for this clear step by step guide! I managed to overcome my fears and getting my hands dirty with my bass guitars 😀
apart from resting the bass on the jack cable its the best step by step video about setup (Y)
He didn't even mention pickup height or nut height, though.
Takes the mystery out of keeping your bass up. Thanx
Fender bass neck box on the shelf behind Roger's legs, lol!
thanks!~!!!!!!!!! i worried about my p-bass neck for a month....... and i was terrified..... but all i needed was 1/2 turn tight and my bass is perfect...... sooo satisfying.... i was gonna take it to the damn shop..... not now :)
Haven't seen this in quote a while. Good reminder on how to manage your gear!
Thanks Roger, you just saved me $60+ . Subscribed.
As a mechanical engineer that's the first time i have heard anybody say two thirty seconds and 4/32"❤
Thanks for mentioning to tighten the bass' neck screws before starting anything else. One of the screws in my Ibanez was loose!
How cool is Roger! I have learned so much from watching his videos. Thank you sir for sharing your knowledge.
wow, finally... an easy to understand informative video. Can't wait to setup my bass
Hey Roger, just wanted to say thanks so much for the intel, you did a great job with explaining everything. I have been doing my own set ups for years but never got this deep into it so this will be a big help. I've never had the opportunity to play one of your guitars but sooner or later I will. Dudeman - bassist for Backseat Driver
Those are some beautiful bass guitars! My preference would be the darker one stood up, but they are both amazing 🤩
This is a fantastic video. If you're setting up your bass you can't go past the experience of Roger Sadowsky, I have to say it just works. BTW, Roger mentions a thick business card is about as far as you'd want to go with neck relief if you play hard. That's about 0.014" or 0.35mm if you are using feeler gauges.
Very simple and informative. Thank you!
Excellent video. What a pleasant guy. Would love to be using Sadowskys, really nice basses.
Im a Fender guy since the ear 80's as a young child! And I just love the look of your basses, like many, Jason Newsted is to blame lol! But you have some fine looking instruments, and hopefully one day I can get one!
I just love these demos ...
Thanks for the reference to using a strobe tuner; I have always used a needle tuner and these are frustrating for getting proper intonation.
Excellent, precise and interesting. Many thanks, Roger
Superb video
This was really helpful. I had some annoying fret-buzz in the first few frets and loosening the truss rod just a bit did the trick!
Great to see you Roger.
Thank you for posting this video - You provided a lot of good information and your presentation of the material has inspired me to attempt setting the truss rod. Best wishes
My brother bought one off you. It's absolutely gorgeous.
Excellent video. Everything clearly explained and easy to follow. Awesome basses, too! Can't get better than that!
Just wonderful! Thanks for your expertise and clarity.
Great Setup Video, Thank you!
That's one beautiful bass
Great information. Beautiful instrument.
I have a Sadowsky 4 string bass MIJ. The intonation is perfect.
explained like a true pro! thanks for the video
Very clear and easy to understand video - thanks much!
Thank you! The best bass set up vid I've seen. 😊❤👌
Roger is the best, i play nothing but fenders, but there is no denying id own a sadowsky in an instant if i could afford one.
thank u as i use this on my fender 5 string so thank u alot ive also done setups for 6 years but this clarify what i have had question marks on
This was really helpful. I managed to get my action down to 2mm at the 12th fret which is perfect for me.
Just one observation: if the truss rod is adjusted from the headstock end the rotation direction is anti clockwise for loosening and clockwise for tightening.
It's the same direction, whichever end you adjust it. Think of it as a rod with a threaded end with a nut screwed onto it. It's always clockwise to tighten it, whatever the orientation.
Very helpful....thank you.
I'm 43, don't even have a bass yet, but I've saved this vid for future reference
Can someone in the name of the holy Bass God tell me what Sadowsky it is this man is holding? The wood and texture is magnificent...
I'm a simple man, i see a video in 60 fps i click like
This is very helpful. Thanks, Roger!
I've always wanted a Sadowsky bass.
Excellent instruction... thank you!
Great video Roger! Thank you!!
Really enjoyed the video, but I would like to see a bit on pickup height. I know that can vary with taste from player to player, but it would be nice to see some starting points. Very small nit to pick, I"ll agree. But I did enjoy the video and learned a few things.
Can you please post a video on adjusting the pick up height.
This video is pure gold, thanks a lot!
Roger, many thanks for this. Really thank you.
Roger, you are a legend
So I can get this right, when you're checking the neck relief by fretting a string at the first and 12th fret, and then tapping the string at around the 7th fret, should the string be touching the fret so that there's no bounce at that point? Or are you looking for a little bit of bounce and clearance between the string and the fret, but not much? If I do the measurement with a business card, are you looking for the business card to go in snugly, or be able to move freely in between the string and the fret, or should it be so tight that the business card just can't insert between them? And yes, I'm a little bit nervous at this. I just got my beautiful Sadowsky, and I've never adjusted a neck truss rod before
And If I'm understanding correctly, the recommended string height is somewhere around 4/64ths on the G string and 6/64ths on the low B string?
Noticed the he recommended tightening the truss rod while under string tension. Is that a general rule off thumb? I've actually broken a truss nut when tightening under tension in the past, and since then have changed my approach to always release string tension before tightening the truss rod. So far as I can tell, the only drawback is some extra retuning. It's also a necessity on some older style instruments that have truss access at the body and no recess provided to access it there, meaning that you need to remove the neck entirely.
Outstanding.
Great Roger
Thank You, I needed this.
Thank you So Much for making this video!
Great basses great bloke
Thank you Roger, great job!
Thank you, Sir!
for my strap locks i use a very tiny dollop of loctite(243 Threadlocker Blue). with a firm grip and a good philips head you can still take the screw out.
I’m new to the Bass world coming from the Percussion world and this video really helped me understand better than most I’ve seen. Thank you so much!!! Now, I’m getting a 6 string this week (which is a gift from a friend) is there a difference in height like 2/32 and 3/32? Just because of the high C string?
I hope one day that I'll be able to afford one of your bass guitars.
Thankyou Roger