New saddle, bad pickup & no relief :: 2008 Kinal Kompact Bass [4.5 lbs]

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New saddle, bad pickup & no relief  :: 2008 Kinal Kompact Bass [4.5 lbs]

Here's a 30" short scale acoustic bass that came through the shop recently for a setup.  The low E was having some low-output issues that I tried to correct with a new properly fit bone saddle (the original was way too loose).  I tried every trick I know but ultimately could not improve that string's output.  Ultimately I found that the B-Band undersaddle pickup was damaged under the E string (pickup was delaminated) and needed to be replaced.

The player strung this bass with super-low tension Thomastik-Infeld Acousticore strings #AB344 (0.041" -0.086").  These soft-feel strings did not have enough tension to pull the neck into a favorable forward bow (relief) and the neck needed to be heat-pressed into relief.

Ibanez AEF18EBK1201 :: troubleshooted “ghost thunder” in the preamp and setup

Ibanez AEF18EBK1201 :: troubleshooted “ghost thunder” in the preamp and setup.

This has the worst saddle design I have seen yet, especially for an undersaddle pickup.  The saddle comes up out of the bridge and then has a shelf that breaks 90 degrees towards the pins (think angle iron).  And it is a split saddle (two pieces).

Oh, and that model name just flows off your tongue.