Bass setup tips for an Ibanez RD707 anyone???

[jazzedout]

I am not a bass player and I have this RD707 bass for demo recording, messing around, plus it looks nice among my other Ibanez's . It plays nicely but I need some kind of reference in order to set it up properly, more importantly string height and neck bow. Something like the tech setup section that we have here on Jemsite but for bass....
At the time being I have the neck set up almost flat with just a slight relief above the 7th fret, as I do with my guitars. The string height on the last fret is appr. 1.5 times the thickness of the string...
Any guidelines? Thanks!

[nuno]

Originally Posted by jazzedout

Any guidelines?

there must be no guidelines in guitar/bass setups. the only guideline is that you must set it up to your liking and NOT follow any measurements you find anywhere, because any single guitar and bass has its own setup measurements, that don't match those from another guitar or bass, even the same model.
setup principles are pretty much the same in guitar and bass, so, if you like your RD setup, then you're set, if you don't like it, twinkle it a bit as you would do on your guitar.

[jazzedout]

I agree with your point but when I started setting up my Ibanez's, for example, I had an idea of the neck relief that works best, or the clearnce between the frets and the strings on the 12th and the 24th....
Then, using these as a reference I saw and understood what works best for me and the instrument.
For instance almost all my Ibanez guitars have apprx. 2mm - 2.5mm clearance at the 24th fret. My S540 less but still doesn't buzz.... What would be such a reference for an Ibanez Bass? Should it be 2mm? Or should it depend on the thickness of the strings used?
I hope you understand my point.

[nuno]

Originally Posted by jazzedout

I hope you understand my point.

sure. well, if you just need some "thumb" references, i can tell you i usually set action on bass about 3mm on the lower string at the last fret, never less. BUT i never measure it with a rule, i just go by eye. and yes, it depends on the strings gauge, as well as the tuning and the picking or fingering style of the player. bass strings oscillate a lot more than guitar strings, and any "eye" meaurement must be increased a bit (action and neck relief). hope this helps

[jazzedout]

It sure does!