High Action

[Evil Undead]

[quote name='lettsguitars' timestamp='1341135551' post='1714065']
He likes low action, but dead necks dont seem to bother him
[/quote]

Who is "he"?

And I know you're not a Fender fan, but shush! There are a more people on here who love Fenders than don't.

Edited July 1, 2012 by Evil Undead

[stingrayPete1977]

5mm is not unplayable for me, but its certainly not going to be enjoyable, a few songs at a jam night on the house bass would be OK. On the other hand I could manage a high action easier than a super low action, I used to fall into the unplayable camp on any of EBS freaks basses but he has raised up a bit over the years, sounds silly but I really did struggle to get a tune out of them.

[stingrayPete1977]

[quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1341136050' post='1714074']
Who is "he"?

And I know you're not a Fender fan, but this one has no dead spots at all.
[/quote]

I did fix that for him! Im presuming he is suggesting that a neck that needs a shim is shot, which is nonsense anyway.

Edited July 1, 2012 by stingrayPete1977

[gafbass02]

I'm another that likes a crazy low action, I find it almost impossible to play with speed, dexterity and subtlety on high action basses. But many people do and I admire them for it!

[Evil Undead]

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1341136202' post='1714079']
I did fix that for him! Im presuming he is suggesting that a neck that needs a shim is shot, which is nonsense anyway.
[/quote]

I saw that just after I posted, thanks Pete!

Aye. When I got it the action was 2mm which isn't quite low enough for me and there was no room left in the saddle on the E. So I shimmed it. Sounds just as good now as it did before.

[Hobbayne]

[quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1341138424' post='1714117']
I saw that just after I posted, thanks Pete!

Aye. When I got it the action was 2mm which isn't quite low enough for me and there was no room left in the saddle on the E. So I shimmed it. Sounds just as good now as it did before.
[/quote]

Blimey! There must be more rattles than a skeletons disco!

[Evil Undead]

[quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1341139024' post='1714139']
Blimey! There must be more rattles than a skeletons disco!
[/quote]

Nope!

[mcnach]

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1341135931' post='1714071']
E string 12th fret at 5mm sounds fine to me:

Lakland Decade = approx 3mm = very low, IMO
Fender Precision = approx 5mm = slightly low, IMO
Takamine B10 = approx 7mm = not low, IMO
Upright = approx 9mm =

"Couldn't play it 'cos the action was too high" sounds a bit wimpy.
[/quote]


Are you measuring bottom of the string to top of the fret? or the fingerboard?
7mm bottom of string to top of fret is... quite some action!

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1341142100' post='1714191']
Are you measuring bottom of the string to top of the fret? or the fingerboard?
7mm bottom of string to top of fret is... quite some action!
[/quote]
From the fret in the cases of the Decade and Precision, which are fretted.

From the fingerboard in the cases of the Takamine and the upright, which have no frets.

[mcnach]

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1341143103' post='1714200']
From the fret in the cases of the Decade and Precision, which are fretted.

From the fingerboard in the cases of the Takamine and the upright, which have no frets.
[/quote]


ah, but you play upright... you can probably hammer a nail into the wall with your fingers and it'd feel fine to you

my basses vary, but they're generally 3mm-ish.

[gjones]

I used to have super low action on my old Geddy Lee which would play great at home but sometimes, if the room I was playing in was was warm, the neck would move slightly and some notes would end up choking. After playing some other bassists instruments, I realised that it isn't a crime to like a higher action and it does give you a clearer sound without fret rattle. 5 mm is a little high for comfort though and I recommend a little tweak of the truss rod to get the neck a little straighter and allow you to get your strings a bit lower by a mm or two.

Edited July 1, 2012 by gjones

[Dave Tipping]

Just checked my P and the E is a bit less than 2mm .. maybe 1.8? If you gie it laldy you get a bit of buzz, however it sounds SO much better if you don't! With heavy guage strings and heavy pick playing i've had it at around 3mm without any issues.

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1341143898' post='1714214']
ah, but you play upright... you can probably hammer a nail into the wall with your fingers and it'd feel fine to you
[/quote]
I wish I was that powerful.

[BassTractor]

As a noob, I want my basses to be [b]different[/b] first and foremost, from very low to very high action.
I don't want to train on just one technique, but from day one wanted to train my fingers on the differences. I wanna be able to pick up any bass and play it reasonably well. IME this is better than getting very good at one action only.

May I divert this thread for a second to ask what that wrong ruler thingie is called that one uses to measure the action? I ordered one locally, but it never arrived. Now I want to use the interwebs to order one.

[chrismuzz]

I like the sound of the string hitting the frets when I pluck hard. it's part of my sound, so I like a lower action so that I don't have to play every note with maximum strength! I don't have it THAT low though because otherwise I'd get choking and rubbish sustain... It's probably about 4mm

[stingrayPete1977]

I would still class 4mm as a high action TBH

[Oopsdabassist]

Just measured my Jazz, 4mm at 12th fret, and I still get a bit of buzz, best tweak the neck I think. The EB3 has just under 3mm and sounds awsome!

[Spike Vincent]

Just a thought,are we measuring from the finger board or the frets?


My first bass back in the 70's had a string height measured in inches,so that may have something to do with why I find 5mm string height tolerable...

[Gust0o]

Hey, wow! All people are different; all basses are different; all settings are different as a result!

Whodafunkit?

[Hobbayne]

[quote name='Spike Vincent' timestamp='1341168710' post='1714650']
Just a thought,are we measuring from the finger board or the frets?
[/quote]

Hmm! I measured from the finger board in my OP, maybe my action is not that high after all? Just goes to show what a wimp my mate is!

[stingrayPete1977]

I'd say we should all be measuring off the fret to the underside of the string, that allows for fret height and string gauges. 5mm off the boards not so bad then, he is a wimp!

[Dave Tipping]

why would anybody measure action off the board? (unless it was a fretless)

[Roland Rock]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Marlin-Bass-Guitar-/290735930588?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item43b1363cdc#ht_500wt_922

What do you reckon the action is like on that bad boy?

[mushers]

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1341172136' post='1714730']
[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Marlin-Bass-Guitar-/290735930588?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item43b1363cdc#ht_500wt_922"]http://www.ebay.co.u...dc#ht_500wt_922[/url]

What do you reckon the action is like on that bad boy?
[/quote]

wow

[stingrayPete1977]

The Marlin guitars were about the same! Awful awful instruments.