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Flatbag
Username: Flatbag

Registered: 09-2004
Posted on Tuesday, January 10, 2006 - 8:47 am:   

Hey guys, hopefully someone here can give me some pointers as to what to look at when scoping a 2nd hand bass - just want one that I can muck around on, but still functions as a bass should. One I'm looking at is a 70s MIJ jazz replica for $99, logo has been sanded off the headstock. As a guitarist I know what to look for in guitars, but basses I haven't really paid much attention to. The one I saw today had a bow in the neck which when the low e string was fretted at 1st and 17th fret, left a gap of over 1mm at the 7th fret between string and fret. Is this amount of neck relief pretty standard in basses, or would this suggest need for fret dressing/replacement or something? Being that the bass is about 30 years old, I don't know how much (if any) adjustment is left in the truss rod either - and I don't think pawn shop owners would take too kindly to me attacking their guitars with an allen wrench finding out. It had quite a lot of fret buzz when played acoustically, but that is really an indictment of my lack of bass technique, as pretty much every bass I've ever played buzzed like hell in my hands.

Also, generally speaking what is a desirable/acceptable action on a bass?

Any other tips/suggestions would be most appreciated.

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