seeing as how i have resolved to learn to do a basic setup (at the very least) this year, what kind of tool setup would people recommend? i’m thinking about just getting one of the all in one music nomad kiss kits. there are definitely cheaper things out there, but i don’t mind paying a little more for something nicer and i like the idea that they have a whole setup system built around it. and i’ve spent more on a pedal so it doesn’t seem too crazy.
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Didn’t replace any for that I rely on a luthier. I had some some fret buzzing on the A and G strings at a few frets when the action was at medium height.. First had to check that it wasn’t fret(s) unseating or rising away from the fret board using a feeler gauge. This wasn’t the issue. I knew from playing I had an issue with high frets in four spots but check all of them using a fret rocker and there were more. From there I used a StewMac fret kisser to level the high frets, then crowned and polished them. (All my other current tools are Music Nomad stuff). It’s really pretty straight forward. While MN has a series of youtube videos on this, I like this one by StewMac:
In hindsight I bought this particular Bass as B stock for $279, with the cost of the tools I got have easily just have bought a regular new model since currently they’re on sale for only $350 
But in any case it plays with nice low-medium action now and I have the tools for life should I ever need them going forward.
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Honestly all you need for a basic setup is a screwdriver and the allen wrenches the bass came with. You absolutely do not need any gauges, rulers, files, or other tools.
Some people like feeler gauges for measuring neck relief but honestly the tap/bounce method Josh describes in his setup video is just fine and IMO leads to as good of results.
Rulers can be nice for measuring action height and pickup height but are not required.
Go for it, this will be fine. If there was one single tool I recommend people buy for this kind of thing, it’s something like the Music Nomad combo ruler/fret rocker.
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but… it comes with really nice cases
thanx for the helpful info as always 
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For just doing a setup other than the tools that normally come with a Bass (truss rod allen tool or wrench, allen tool for the bridge saddle height). A separate screw driver is needed for intonation (moving bridge saddles towards or away from the fretboard) - I’d recommend Music Nomad’s Precision Setup Gauge Set - 6 pc for $65. The kiss kit includes all this though and quite a bit more though retails for over a hundred dollars more too.
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i mean even though i joke about the case i am sick to death of every set of tools i own having 2 of the 5 missing. makes me crazeeee
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MusicNomad kits for the win. They are buy-once/cry-once, all-in-one sets of tools that serve multiple bass maintenance purposes.
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I left all of my tools behind when I moved to this side of the pond, and I have enough different basses, that I decided “what the heck” and bought the MusicNomad Starter Kit Bundle MN609. As you said “cry once”, but I’m fully covered now.
The first half has an English voiceover, but it’s easy to tell what the owner of MN is doing.
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I second (third? forth?) the Nomad kit.
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I have them and I love 'em.
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I use the same feeler gauge that I use to set the points in my distributor!
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Today was my 734’s turn on the bench. I knew my pressurewounds were good to go so no string change but I was going to need to put a lot of relief in the neck. Playing up at 12th fret has been feeling like a workout lately. Took 3/4 of a turn to get the action down to ~2mm or so where I like it (started closer to 3.5mm). Besides that, gave it the spit, polish, oil, and tightened everything up.
My one dumbass move for the day was leaving the capo on when I was adjusting the truss rod and tuning it up to adjust action. Once I fixed me oopsy, intonation required a little adjustment but she’s playing better than when I got her now.
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Old school! Diggin it! The younger folks have no idea what you’re talking about 
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Nah, real old school is how I used to set the timing with a cigarette paper in the contacts!
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The old cardboard matchbook works too!
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Today was my Reverend’s turn on the bench. I realized that I hadn’t done any maintenance on this one since I bought it back in the spring. It was set up perfectly to my liking when I bought it. Truss just needed a quarter turn, string height was perfect, intonation was a few cents off. Other than that, just oiled the fretboard, tightened screws and nuts, and gave it a good wipe down (matte finish so didn’t bother with polish).
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I actually had a dual point distributor in a 428 CJ motor for a while before I swapped to a MSD. I still have a single point distributor brand new old stock in a box for a Ford FE motor!
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Oh yeah, the Mallory dual point was the go to back in the day.
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Wonder if this is why I suck so bad at slapping. Reading through lots of posts but what mm do you guys like to have your action at and do you keep it the same across all strings?
My previous setups I would just set it so it didn’t buzz but at 3.25 either the neck really moved or I must have missed something when I set it up.
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