SETUP your bass like a PRO with NO SPECIAL TOOLS!!!

Instagram @gunsandguitarsofficial

This is a video you guys have been requesting for a long time, how to set up your bass guitar to play like a professional high end instrument. A lot of these steps are similar to how I set up a guitar, but since guitars have much more complex bridges and tremolos, I’ll save guitar setup for a different video later. But if you have a guitar with a hard tail bridge similar to a bass bridge, then you can follow these steps and it will work pretty well for you. These steps will get you the best results if you first level and crown your frets. If you don’t know how to do that, I recommend you check out this video here when you’re done watching this video where I show you how to make your own pro luthier tools out of regular tools you already have, and I show you how to use them to level and crown your frets:
I also have a video that shows a cheap and easy home made tool for faster, better, and more consistent fret crowning and polishing:
Once you’ve done watched those videos and done those steps, return to this video and setup your bass. I guarantee your bass will feel, play, and sound like a whole new instrument! These are the steps I use when building custom guitars and basses both for myself and custom builds for clients. All my clients comment the same thing when they receive one of my builds, “I can’t believe how good this thing plays!” I hope you have the same comment after following these steps yourself. Good luck and have fun!

[PicksPaints]

Great video Dan. Something I noticed that you did but didn't point out was this. When you set intonation, relief, etc.. you checked it in the playing position which is ABSOLUTELY the correct way. I would like to add a couple of things. You should drop tension on your strings when you're adjusting the saddles for height and intonation. I know it's a pain, but it is hard on the screws and tools when done under full tension. One other thing of note, when you pop the nut out, the nut slot should be cleaned of glue, and checked to make sure it's flat and clean. 2 more tips... A credit card makes a great gauge when setting nut slot depth, and neck relief they run around 0.8mm thick. And using a capo on 1st fret makes setting neck relief a breeze because it frees up a hand. On a side note, I do all of my setup in playing position minus setting nut height.

[saltrocklamp]

Sections for quick reference:
Nut: 3:11
Neck relief (truss rod): 6:46
Saddle height: 9:17
Pickup height: 13:00
Intonation: 20:06

[aredt]

you're pretty much the only dude on youtube that gives a decent explanation

[frank-the-tank]

Thanks for not trying to be funny or entertaining. Can't stand all these guitar videos where people just act like fools with all this new age editing and bad jokes etc. I just want a guy who talks straight and gives the info, like you. You earned my sub.

[janneboman]

5:17 some nut slots are not flat, they follow the radius of the fretboard. For that, you need to put sandpaper tight on the fretboard and sand the nut there. That way you keep the radius on the bottom of the nut.

[richardpalladino]

I have been playing bass for over 30 years, you know what you are doing . Great video!

Wow I can't thank you enough for the easy to follow instructions. Just got my first bass two days ago. I couldn't for the life of me imagine playing it would be so hard. Couldn't get any good tones out of it either. And yet it's a short scale. Granted out of the box for a Gretsch 2220 made in China it was to be expected. Just finished all the steps. Took me a long time but oh so worth it. It's like I've just received a new bass! Night and day!!! Bless you mate!

[per-magnusmansnerus]

Followed the easy steps. This in mind.... I'm a complete noob and had a hard time to play and get the sound most gets on the basses. Now the bass is 100% easier to play on! 🙏❤
Great!!!

[TKDFORCEART]

"The bridge pickup it's obviously closer to the bridge"
-Dan, guns and guitars, 2018

[souldustpro]

I've watched a lot of setup tutorials, and I love how much you emphasize that all of this is subjective. My Warwick has a very high string action, and it works for me. My ESP just came from a pro shop setup, and the action is too low for my playing style so I need to raise it...
"You're not looking for something pretty, you're looking for something in tune..." Awesome...!!! 🤙🤘

[onemanband]

Dude, thank you so much! After five and a half decades of playing guitar, I finally bought my first bass. I set it up after watching your video and I'm really happy with it.
I like your style, no waffle about how fantastic you are, just helpful facts. Voted and subbed. Thanks once again.

[calyodelphi]

I REALLY love how thorough this video is as a complete bass setup guide. <3 I'm definitely saving this for future reference when I can get my own first bass and need to check and tweak its setup.

[samuelobregon]

I'm not going to complain or give any points, I love you video and all the info you released. I did help a lot of us that are not pros and don't trust a lot of techs that do this job, simply because they might adjust it to their likes not the customer's. God bless you bro keep on doing this kind of videos. The video is s keeper😄😄👍

[bertrandmajorik]

Got myself a Groove tech multitool, it

[allenquartermane]

This is the best vid on YT for dealing simply with a bass. I was a session drummer in the 70's and now as an old guy still playing find myself doing a lot of bass work also and have an inexpensive Peavey bass that I like but needs work and can't afford to send it out and like to do the work myself. I wish I had never gotten rid of my P bass back in 69, but had to get a drum kit and pay Thanx for this video you do a great job at teaching and I hope others check you out too.

[evanpeters]

Thank you for this video, I’ve played guitar for quite a few years, bought my first bass today and this had me setup and going on no time!

[Starkripper]

Man, I swear that I've been trying to get that sweet low action for the last hour and then this video pops up. Thank you.

[radmapatis]

This really was the video to watch for an at home set up. Just got my brand new p bass and was intimidated by all the videos with very specific tools. Thanks for the help!

[MrRafabro]

By far the best and most useful video for bass setup I've seen so far. Thank you so much man

[chrispatterson]

Guns and Guitars! My two favorite things all in one place!!!