How to Setup a Bass with Legend Guitar Tech - COMPLETE PRO BASS SETUP
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- Опубліковано 5 чер 2024
- Setting up a Bass Guitar with Legend Guitar Technician, Andy Brauer.
Having setup basses for ALL the great pro bassists of our time like Nathan East, Leland Sklar, Louis Johnson, Abraham Laboriel, Neil Stubenhaus, Stanley Clarke, Anthony Jackson (Thanks Scott's Bass Lessons for the clip), Bob Glaub, Mike Pocaro and countless others... he shares with us his industry secrets on how to get a PRO bass setup for that professional sound.
Subscribe: @ExtremeBassGuitar
Time Stamps:
0:00:00 - Andy's Intro
0:03:28 - Neck Adjustment
0:07:23 - Tuner Adjustment
0:09:21 - Fretwork
0:16:21 - Cleaning the Body
0:17:55 - Cleaning the Electronics
0:20:23 - String up and Intonation
0:23:56 - Repair Swollen Wood Strips on Back of Neck
0:25:03 - Pickup Adjustment
0:28:29 - Note Check with Contra "Beat the Game" song
Bass Guitar Setup Tools:
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Sandpaper for Frets: amzn.to/2xwgNpm
Allen Wrench Set (Metric & Standard): amzn.to/35p3gME
Electronics Contact Cleaner: amzn.to/2xq3dnd
Scratch Out Cleaner: amzn.to/3aVTaE7
Smith Pro Formula Polish: amzn.to/2KOA0Wl
Lemon Oil: amzn.to/2VWth2O
See Andy Brauer's Channel:
/ seaginproductions
Grab my "Radiant Brain" T-Shirt:
havethestuff.com/product/mens...
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Andy helps me with another bass in this episode in a more candid way:
ua-cam.com/video/Viq599_X-DQ/v-deo.html 🤣🤣
2:54, Dave mustang from megadeath xDD it's Mustaine* Megadeth*
I made the correction in the next episode.
I clicked this to see a bass setup video, instead I got a free life coach session. You could literally apply his work ethic to any job, goal, or activity. It's like the Art of War for the modern day man.
You can do all this without damaging an instrument like this man has.
Just absolutely CARVING up the back of buddy’s guitar with that razor blade lol.
some people are just in the business long enough to count as "professionals"... Or he just doesn't give a f anymore...
Fuck I was screeeeeaaaaaming
I saw that
This man needs to have a daily tv-show. Just 30 minutes or so and let him babble a bit about stuff that has his interest. It would be great. Better than Dr. Phil anyway. I would watch!
I agree! I've been trying to get Andy to do his own videos but he's not technical savvy so I'll have him featured in a bunch of upcoming episodes. Be sure to subscribe!
How's THIS for a premiere episode of that show: Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick brings in one of his trademark multinecks for a full restoration and setup!!
On today's episode of This Old Bass...
It would be key critical and " Always be in control "
I'm sure he got paid in coke before
This is almost hypnotic to watch. And I should add the phrase "key-critical" to my lexicon.
@@presentrlb 😂😂 exactly
Yeah, I love this guy's voice. It took me 3 attempts to get through the whole video because I kept falling asleep. Its bass ASMR. Ive put this on about a dozen times now when I can't fall asleep. The content is great too.
are we not gonna talk about how he was scratching the hell out of the neck with the razor blade?
Settle down. He said if it was finished, it would need to be buffed out. You can't fix things magically through a finish. 1 min of buffing with a light compound, and those "scratches" will disappear. Or play it for a few hours. Same result.
Always be in control
Lol yup!!
Andy is as passionate about guitars and basses as you can be. Amazing technician, and his resume tells it all. I started in the business with Andy back in 1979 and he taught me so much. Thanks Andy .. and keep on keeping on!
That's so cool to hear!! Thanks for letting us know!! I'm editing another video he's in that should be out within the next week. This guy is hilarious 🤣🤣🤣
@@ExtremeBassGuitar Andy has a heart of gold.
What a method. Loves that he gets right down to it and that he's as serious as a heart attack. Totally in control.
This is all this guy lives for!!
I'm a beginner but I've watched many videos on setup and this is the first one I have seen address pickup height in this fashion. It makes a lot of sense and I am going to watch this video many times again. Never ignore when a Master speaks.
Thanks for letting us know Wolf! Keep an eye out for today's new episode where he helps me with another bass with more tips! You'll love it!
The way he talks makes him sound like he has no clue what he’s talking about but he’s obviously a master of his craft.
I enjoyed this program.
Thanks for sharing Adam!
Cook & bass player!?!😱
Omg Adam wassup
@@CyberOrion I had no clue who Adam was until you made this comment, I had to look him up... Holy cow he's the real deal!
Hello there fellow bassist
I have seen a lot of videos. THIS HANDS DOWN IS BETTER THAN THEM ALL. HE REALLY BROKE DOWN EVERYTHING and was "IN CONTROL," THANK YOU SO MUCH BROTHER FOR THIS
18:12
Two things that Impressed me were the pickup height adjustment and the neatness of his bench.
Thanks for sharing your highlights!
I absolutely adore seeing a master being so open and sharing with his process. Top-level guy.
Wow this is the best setup video I have ever seen. Andy is so articulate almost poetic in the way explains what he is trying to achieve with every step. No wonder all the best best players go to him.
This vid is a treasure, no question. Just to watch Andy is a pure art form. Just to be able to live in an age when we can watch the masters at work is a blessing.
I'm a self taught tech, and I was amazed to see Andy doing almost the identical things I do to set up properly. There are just no short cuts. Tone and resonance don't happen by accident.
Wow! This is by far, the greatest bass set up video of time! Such a pleasure to watch a master at his craft. 🤘
At first I thought that Andy had a whole section of southpaw axes off to his right side, but then I realized it was just a mirrored wall!😄
This was so incredibly helpful. Andy is like a full-on instrument yogi
this guy is the real deal. Freaky deeky rock hippe roadie monster-god! Thanks for this. Awesome!!!
Lol That's a good way to say it 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I loved the pickup adjustments for more balanced sound. It was cool watching Andy dial in the sound. I've always loved playing my electric bass acoustically.
Yeah, he's all about getting it to sound right before plugging it in! Makes sense!
It's always a pleasure to watch a pro work.
UA-cam gold right here! Thank you for sharing this experience with such a wonderful human being. You can tell this man is a music instrument tech legend and really enjoys understanding what makes a guitar sing. Bravo!
Such an impressive dude. Not only does he know his craft, he teaches so well.
I dig humans in their element in any facet. Being a bass player, I can see (and hear) Andy is sitting firmly in that Zen mix; mechanically and philosophically. Great vid, thanks!
The family picture on the work bench is just adorable! ♥
Family and music... all you need. He knows.
Wow!!!! Andy, you're a genius. I learned alot from watching you work. Thanks so much man!
@8:52 "...keep your area clear of distractions and everything in its place so you know where everything is to continue working even if blinded or during an outage..." wow this guy is fun to listen to! I think I would rather wait until you could see to focus on the work. Maybe he means if when backstage doing a quick repair in the dark, during a gig? Even then, I don't think you could take that comment seriously. Overall I really did find this to be incredibly great source of detailed knowledge for those inclined to perform these skills.
Love the way this man works. I was having trouble measuring my truss rod relief. This was the easiest way and it works. Thanks for the video. Also a very beautiful bass you have.
Thanks Zacky! Andy will be appearing in today's episode with another amazing bass we work on.
This was fantastic. Thanks for giving us access to the master tech.
You are very welcome!
We filmed a follow up to this last week and will have it out soon. This guy is amazing lol!
Andy is a master. You can see how much wisdom he has. Great video.
Wasn't so sure about this when I started watching, but he had some really great tips in there. Awesome dude. And your breakdowns on some of the things was helpful, too. Subscribed.
Thanks Moif, I appreciate it!!
I'm attempting to set - up & clean my bass this week, after 6 years of it sitting in the corner, with the help of this video. So, many thanks. Andy's great; he's like Mick to your Rocky!
Awesome, great to hear Toni! I'm hearing the Rocky theme in my head now LOL.
Its a great time to dust off that bass and make some magic 🎶 Please let me know how it turns out and if you have any questions during the process.
Thanks for these bass guru tips and tricks, now my bass guitar sounds brilliant!👍
Absolutely fabulous!!!
This man is great, love his vibe!
Great watch. This guy really loves what he does and is a master.
Agreed! He appeared in today's episode as well with more ridiculousness.
Thank you for the much need key critical adjustments!
You're welcome! More on the way, be sure to subscribe!
thanx for this video. very interesting and informative. I like the love and passion you put in the work.
so this is what a professional looks like. Amazing.
Thanks man for this content! An absolute masterclass🙌🏾 Blessings!
You're welcome Greg, keep on rockin'!! ✊✊
You as well!
Thank you for this video! Im so glad I found it. I was finally able to get the buzz out of my E string and now my bass sounds amazing!
That's what I'm talking about bro!! You are the reason for this video 🙌🙌🙌🙌
Amazing! I had buzzes in my new bass all 4 strings, and I did not learn how to set up my new bass as to how to raise the strings, shortened them, adjust the trussed, or the saddle. A waist of my time!!🥴🥴
I've used a 38/9/357 cal. bore brush for cleaning and burnishing 1/4" jacks for many years. It makes a difference. Thanks for the great video!
Thanks for your tip!
What a legendary man sharing *critical* knowledge - thanks you both so much for sharing this with us 🙏
Wow that blade on the back of the neck😰 did he get those huge scratches out before he gave it back to you. Some of that fret work seemed quite fierce to me too. I don't think I could have watched him do one of mine 👍
Yup, I followed up with this in the last episode he was in last month where it's perfect.
Yeah some of his techniques seemed a little rushed which I guess makes sense on the road. Frets were still diveted after he sanded them and didn't even get the tape residue off. Also his comment about wood veneer affecting pickup sound... Wood / plastic is effectively transparent to magnetic fields. I would assume Bartoloni know what they are doing. None the less he clearly knows his stuff.
He seems like a nut job. Tweeker for sure. All that good coke in the 80s is hard to come by, meth will have to do. He's like "don't rush", proceeds to rush.
What a great video, what a nice guy ... you got a new subscriber just for this video 👍👍
Thanks for the nice comment Leo!!
My next video will be a tour of the Alembic factory 🌟 keep an eye out for it!
Thanks for posting this, it was the most helpful in adjusting the pickups on my son's Squire 5 string jazz bass.
Oh awesome, way to go!!
A real passionate technician and generous of his knowledge. Thank you for sharing. Words to live by: @14:05: Always show respect, for everything you do. This is my motto in 2024! Rock on!
He’s legit!!! Enjoyed myself. “If you don’t have time to do it. WAIT! Until you have time. Lol.
I'm going to have to make a small compilation of all of his life tips lol
It would be amazing to learn from Andy. To get to spend a few months working under him would be cool.
Absolutely, no doubt! I'm very blessed to have this experience. Make sure to subscribe because I have a whole bunch of content of him guiding me through fixing a few of my basses.
He will make another appearance in the next episode, but a little more candid this time.
ALWAYS BE *IN CONTROL*
I love this guy.
WOW!!!! This was awesome!!!!!!!!
10:40 It’s nice to see the proper use of the file ( any file actually) ; always file forward, not forward and backward. Backward movement of the file will dull it much faster.
Great tutorial. Thanks
Ahhh thank you for that little pointer!
I've always thought that while using a metal file (as opposed to a wood file), one should always file in one direction only, and that it's not critical if that one direction is forward or backwards, so long as the strokes are consistently in one direction only. I believe what happens with filing in both directions is that the file gets "clogged" with metal filings and quickly losses it's effectiveness. This is something that I seem to recall learning in high school shop classes, so I may not be 100% correct, as my memory isn't as great as it once was....
TRUSS ROD. ITS A TRUSS ROD DUDE
It’s IT’S, dude.
Awesome video mate.thanks
Andy should have his own channel … this is fantastic. Thanks for putting it up.
"support the neck, so you don't bust yours"
Wise words! :P
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Fantastic! I've watched so many bass setup videos over the years, and this one is the best by far. Real world advice and so many little nuggets of info, such as the easy way to check/deal with warbling when setting pickup height (something I was trying to sort out on a bass of mine). So simple it made me slap myself in the head for not thinking of it, but that's the great thing about this vid. All the little "simple" things that are only simple if someone with experience has shown you them, and they all add up to make a big difference. Cheers!
Thank you for the amazing comment!!! I'm going to be making a whole series of videos going in depth to some of the points that he talked about and or missed. Be sure to subscribe and let us know if you have questions!
Totally AGREE 💯💯💯👍👍👍
I am so glad this came up on my feed. What a great video!!! 💯
Thanks Darren! Andy makes another appearance in a new episode today you may enjoy: ua-cam.com/video/Viq599_X-DQ/v-deo.html
Excellent video! Thanks Sir! I am bookmarking this now, as I royally screwed up some of my basses on my last setup attempt!
Hey, sometimes that's how ya learn right lol!
HAHA LOVE THIS SOO MUCH! SAGE WORDS. ALWAYS BE IN CONTROLLLLLLLL
🤣🤣🤣🤣 unforgettable!
This guy is great.
Andy Brauer, ladies and gentlemen!! 👏👏👏👏👏
Thank you! I now enjoy my bass. My action was so high that when I tightened the rod where it needed to be, my truss saddle for low E wouldn’t go back far enough for intonation. There was enough room for it to go back but I actually had to shorten the adjustment screw to get it back there.
Awesome!! Glad this could be a help for you!! Got some more videos coming out with Andy, be sure to subscribe!
Excellently done
To organize your desk so that you know where everything is with closed eyes, is what I learned when doing darkroom photography. I still use this technique in what ever I do and it works so much faster and intuitive. Also you'll learn to put on the desk what you really need and prevent losing or scratching things.
Nice!
Great video!
The Pickup part in this video is where some magic is happening.
I'm not sure what he is listening for. I think he is looking to minimise warble for the neck pickup adjustment, but the difference is hard to hear for my untrained ear. I don't understand what is done for the bridge pickup.
For the next video, maybe you can ask him to explain a little bit more what exactly to listen to?
Thanks!
That's a really great request and I am planning to answer that question with a new bass that has a perfect example where this can be heard very clearly!
Be sure to subscribe, it's going to be done with a 7 String Conklin.
That's a really great request and I am planning to answer that question with a new bass that has a perfect example where this can be heard very clearly!
Be sure to subscribe, it's going to be done with a 7 String Conklin.
And thank you!
Living Legend such a joy to watch so informative I thank you so much for this man
You are very welcome! We filmed a follow up to this recently, keep an eye out for it!
This was VERY helpful
Coming from a beginner with a brand new bass, I just followed each step and the instrument was set up perfectly in a way I have nerver been able to do with my guitars
Tuning and Intonation ended out being perfect and huge rattling on my E string was gone
Thank you!
All musicians should learn as much as much as possible about working on their own instruments.
It’s not rocket science and it all can be learned, if you invest the time.
Be self sufficient. Don’t depend on anyone. You’ll be very glad you acquired repair skills, somewhere down the road.
I worked as a bass player aboard cruise ships, for many years. When you’re crossing the Atlantic Ocean and something in your Bass goes south, you’d better have your shit together as a guitar tech, because there will be ‘no one’ to help you.
When you’re on the road, land or ocean, Murphy’s Law rules all.
Depend on yourself, always...
Well said!
Great video! What about String Height adjustment from the Bridge? What are his specs for Low - Medium - High actions?
That's a good question. This really comes down to the player's preference.
I personally want the action almost as low as possible for ease of playing fast and complicated parts.
Some people who play very heavy or with a pic like a higher action to make room for lots of string movement.
This is why I'm a big proponent of knowing how to set up a bass yourself so you can tinker with different setups.
This video is awesome. What a great teacher ! Thanks a lot
Wow, top f**cking notch setup. Love the amount of attention he put into it, and he was never rushed 👏🏽
nice instrument man.. mr Andy is an interesting character to watch :}
Thank you Durox!! Be sure to subscribe because I have more Andy videos coming out soon!
@@ExtremeBassGuitar Any idea how soon? I really loved this video and I'm excited to hear how he adjusts a two-truss rod neck as I've heard some slightly unnerving stuff about adjusting two-truss rod necks.
I consider some procedures from this video to be too invasive. Luthiers usually do not use fret flies to clean frets, because they might take off too much fret material. Steel wool or ultra fine grit sandpaper works very well. Also, scratching the back of the neck with a razor blade, I would have done this with ultra fine grit sandpaper. Not the way I would do it for sure!
I was talking with a guitar repairman the other day and he was saying the same sort of things lol.
I appreciate you mentioning this!
@@ExtremeBassGuitar There are a million ways to skin a cat, I would bet most long time luthiers have practices that work fine for them, that others may cringe over. IMO, In the end, if it looks right plays right, and the customer is happy, it's all good.
I hear that. Another invasive technique example is using the razor blade on the back of the neck to make the wood even.
I've done this on another bass of mine that really needed it after I bought it, and it turned out great.
But apparently there's a better blade to do this with than your normal razor.
I appreciate you guys chiming in so we can become better at maintaining our instruments.
@@ExtremeBassGuitar The skunk stripe was sticking out, so the razor blade was perfect
I’m late to the party, but have to say I couldn’t find something wrong!
With the fret crowning file he recrowned the frets just a touch after that soft levelling. If you noticed, he did not apply pressure. By the sound of it I can tell it was a very fine file or pretty worn out. He just called it „cleaning“, he did not ment an actual cleaning… (I use that term myself for slight touch ups or fine work).
If you have materials of different hardness close together (like the skunk stripe out of purple heart and maple), using a blade is the best tool to even it out. That’s what he’s dine, he scraped along both edges of the skunk stripe. Sandpaper would take more off from the softer material, letting the harder material sticking out even more. Those milky scratches are easily gone with some hand palm grease.
Dragging slightly a round smooth metal along the fret ends and wood, will flatten the edges giving a more worn in fell. (I could not hear the tipical scratching noise of file teeth…). He‘s a pro and wouldn‘t use a sharp file to scratch the edges… I do that too with a screwdriver and not much pressure.
So, I think he did a fine job!
I doubt if I have the ear, but I’m going to try like hell to use his method of setting pickup height
Thanks for posting !!
Fascinating watching a master at work
Great tip with the champagne cork!
Definitely!
He appeared in a new episode today with more tips you may enjoy: ua-cam.com/video/Viq599_X-DQ/v-deo.html
Should you do truss rod and saddle bridge adjustments before changing strings or after changing strings?
Great question, afterwards especially if you're changing to a different gauge.
This Video Rocks!!! I really enjoyed the Intro! ;) And Andy is Such a Legend!!! 🙌💖✨🙏✨✨✨🌅
Thank you Michael for the info with a guitar tech legend....
You are very welcome Ernie! We filmed a follow up to this last week, keep an eye out for it!
"Dave Mustang," "ZZ Top's bass player"... shame lol
Dave Mustaine would have worked better. Billy Gibbons isn't the bass player. Yes, it's a shame!
How embarrassing!
When he took the razor blade to the backside of the neck it looked like he left some scratches in the finish. Were those easy to buff out afterwards?
Bothered me a bit as well :)
When I send my Kubicki Factor to get set up at the Kubicki facility... they do the same thing .. if you play professionally your bass neck gets gummy ... if you get everything done
. They completely remove the clear cut soft sand it .. they replace the clear coat... the also remove any scratch that are not gouges too ..
He specifically states at 24:27 "And of course if there is a finish on the instrument, you'll need to buff it out afterwards". This applies to clear coated, painted, or oil treated necks. In which the finish (whatever it may be of) should be redone.
There was no need to buff or anything. Today like a year later it's perfect. No scratch lines ever lasted. I will show this in an upcoming episode.
I hit Thumbs Up 5 minutes in. Didn’t need to get to the end. Great video and Andy Brauer has such a HUGE personality which I like.
Stay tuned we have more content with him coming! Thanks for the support 🙌
the man is a legend! Awesome video, thanks!!
Thank you!
Dave Mustang 🤣🚀🤟
Freaking spell check! I corrected this in today's video release: ua-cam.com/video/Viq599_X-DQ/v-deo.html
If you are not an expert like him, I wouldn't recommend a fret crowning file to clean your frets! Use steel wool
I made that same choice today! Good call!
@@ExtremeBassGuitar 1200 grit fret eraser from stewmax works perfect.
*Chants*
Buff-ing Wheel!
Buff-ing Wheel!
Dremel Tool works nicely for those unable to afford the beloved buffing wheel. Otherwise I'll put in the elbow grease with a fret eraser. Steel Wool just too messy.
Edit: I had forgotten because it's been a while since I used it last, but the Music Nomad Frine fret polishing kit is awesome too!
I was thinking of this the other day when I was working on another bass, glad to know it's a real method!
@@ExtremeBassGuitar are your comments automated?
Man! What a great video. Thank you Mr. Brauer Thank you Michael!
Thank you Horacio, he appeared in today's new episode you will probably enjoy as well!
This reminds me a bit of one of them whacky 80's info-documentaries when the tutorial video first became a thing on VHS. The ones with all the psychedelic imagery and warped synth sounds. Loved it! xD
This was great. I've watched several videos like this and everyone does it a little different. It clearly is as much an art as it is a science. What happened with the low fret you had taped? Did the fret work even it out or did it still need the tape?
After he leveled and filed the frets It made it better. I'll be doing a more focused video on that topic in the future, be sure to subscribe!
awesome, but "Dave Mustang" and "ZZ Top's bass player"...? come on :)
I fully address this in the next episode, thank you for keeping me on my toes!
This is very nice of you thank you!
Thank you! If you liked this video you'll probably like today's episode that was released that Andy also makes an appearance in.
Holy crap this was amazing....I can't wait to go re-setup my bass
Also: that bass sounds fantastic. I imagine it could only sound even better with uncovered pickups and a non-tremolo bridge (would the bridge make an audible difference? I don't know).
Yeah the bridge definitely makes a difference in the sound, if you're looking for the pure tone I think it does sound better without it. But I have to do that wacky crazy stuff lol
@@ExtremeBassGuitar makes sense. But I'd say no harm done since it still sounds great.
This is an extremely useful video, thanks a lot for making it
Appreciate the comment! We have a follow up to this video coming soon, it's ridiculous lol.
Beautiful work!
Thanks Daniel!
This is some Mr. Miyagi shit! I feel like ive been trained by a Kung fu bass master!
That's a good way to put it!
Interesting how he adjusted pickup height. Didn't quite hear what he heard, perhaps you had to be there.
Yeah it wasn't easy to hear this with that demonstration. I ask him about this in a conversation we had last week and explains it further.
Be sure to subscribe and notify, it'll be out soon!
This was fascinating to watch.
I will never evert let him use a blade on my bass
I know it looks super invasive. I have a new episode coming out soon where I follow up on this and show how my neck and how it still looks and feels great from that technique.
this guy is a butcher. razor blades on back of neck? file over frets including finger board. no fucking way.