I did an aggressive setup on this puppy the other day. I brought the neck relief down to about 8 thou. Then I brought the saddles down to about 1 mm on the G and D, 1.25 on the A and E, and 1.5 mm on the B. No buzz anywhere on the fingerboard. This is some quality fretwork. Also, I understand that the neck has graphite reinforcement rods, giving it extra stability. All I know is, I can get this baby low and slinky and it’s gorgeous.
I even get that Scott Devine “rasp.” That aggressive, almost slap sound you get from the string bouncing off the fingerboard in your attack–just by digging in a little. So good.
I set the intonation tonight. The G, D, and A were all spot on. The E and B were flatter than piss on a plate, but a few turns of a screw and all is well.
On a tangential note, a prominent TalkBass member made a throwaway comment about old guys using “geriatric” padded straps made by Levy. This prompted me to buy one. Black leather. Holy cats, are they comfortable. I may never use anything else.
Further tangent. I am not replacing the stock strap buttons with locking Schallers. Instead I am using Ernie Ball “strap blocks.” They’re just rubber washers that go on after your strap and are supposed to keep it from popping out. So far, I like them.
One more tidbit. This instrument is made with five distinct types of wood. The neck is made with alternating pieces of Maple and Walnut. The top is Walnut. The “wings” are Ash and Okoume. The fretboard is Jatoba with abalone inlays. It may look like an old woody station wagon, but the superior mechanics of this instrument are undeniable.