Josh Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Now, is it just me or do any of you get a bit touchy when it comes to non-bassists who will pick up your bass and proceed to play very hamfistedly and then complain about your action being too low/high? We all know its a personal preference and from one bassist to another our basses are going to play very differently and we accept that, I respect that we all have varying degrees of technique which will affect how the bass responds as well. I'm not one to tell a guitarist how their action should be or complain about how easy it is to play, it's not my instrument and most guitars I have played the action has seemingly been fine but that might be down to bassists having a stronger left hand. Much the same for drummers, I'm not going to play on someone's kit and then proceed to tell them how they should set it up and what height the hi-hats and cymbals should be at. Am I wrong to get tetchy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 I think I am too long in the tooth to give a **** about such trivialities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dingus Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 I pick up my own bass and grumble the action is too low , too high , too much fret buzz , not enough fret buzz , too high from the twelth fret up , too low from the twelth fret up ... I could go on . There is nothing anyone else could say to me about my bass that could even come near what I have tormented myself with the past thirty -odd years . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len_derby Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 [quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1375626155' post='2163565'] I think I am too long in the tooth to give a **** about such trivialities. [/quote] Ditto. Anyone who says that sort of thing isn't really worth your time or respect. I tend to adopt sarcastic indifference when someone tries to pull something like that. 'well, personally I don't like your shirt but I'll just have to try to get over it' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyfisher Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Ditto ditto. There's only person who needs to be happy with a bass. No one else matters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted August 4, 2013 Author Share Posted August 4, 2013 (edited) I guess I should explain with some more conext. This is down to my drummer who is a great drummer and I love the guy to bits, but he is also a producer/engineer and as such he does our demos and E.P's, I understand perfectly that having a 0.0mm action is horrible for recording as is a 4ft high action but it's just he feels the need to always comment on it not being high enough for him for when he rips it out of my hands, whacks the treble all the way up and starts playing old school Blink 182 songs. There have been somewhat heated discussions over recording certain basses and when I decide to move a bass on, I know it is ridiculous but trying to get the point across to him that the action on MY bass is set up for ME, not for him as I'm the one who spends most days playing it and I don't want to give myself an injury forcing myself to play on a higher action seems to go over his head. And for a long time now I've been somewhat at peace with the action on both of my basses, I can safely say that my action has been slowly moving up a mm every few months and I look back on how I had my previous basses set up and I'd even say they were too low. Live & learn and all of that Edited August 4, 2013 by Josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Sit at his kit and re-arrange the heights/angles on the cymbals, toms and snare. Then tell him they weren`t set up properly. Then if the penny hasn`t dropped by the end of the rehearsal, tell him why you did it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTractor Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1375629176' post='2163610'] Sit at his kit and re-arrange the heights/angles on the cymbals, toms and snare. Then tell him they weren`t set up properly. [/quote] That was some lame advice! Get a grip on yourself! Of course he should adjust the height and angle of the throne as well! (...and, though technically mentioned, just to make sure: he should not forget the tom that is called kick drum and the cymbals that are called hi-hat either.) best, bert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 [quote name='Josh' timestamp='1375625692' post='2163561'] ....is it just me or do any of you get a bit touchy when it comes to non-bassists who will pick up your bass and proceed to play.... [/quote] Nobody touches my bass....! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 (edited) [quote name='Josh' timestamp='1375627828' post='2163593'] This is down to my drummer who is a great drummer and I love the guy to bits, but he is also a producer/engineer and as such he does our demos and E.P's, [/quote] ......but he is NOT a bassist. Personally, I would not bother having "heated discussions" or trying to reason with him. Not worth it IMO, from what you say. You are the bassist in the band and you are happy with your set up........'nuff said. Edited August 4, 2013 by Coilte Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder652003 Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 i thought this thread was going to be right up my street re: not getting any action Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertbass Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 I'm left handed so not a problem I ever encounter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia Bluejay Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 [quote name='bertbass' timestamp='1375656937' post='2164052'] I'm left handed so not a problem I ever encounter. [/quote] Sounds familiar... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telebass Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 If someone - anyone - ripped my bass out of my hands, I'd rip their head off their shoulders... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-bbb Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 next time he comments sidetrack the conversation and ask him if he prefers a P or a J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-bbb Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 and shouldnt your thread be titled DRUMMER WOES ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted August 5, 2013 Author Share Posted August 5, 2013 [quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1375685963' post='2164121'] and shouldnt your thread be titled DRUMMER WOES ? [/quote] The same thing has happened with guitarists and vocalists at Uni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Vincent Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 [quote name='bertbass' timestamp='1375656937' post='2164052'] I'm left handed so not a problem I ever encounter. [/quote] Yes...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iceonaboy Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 I always think my action is too high, but if I bring it down , I get fret buzz, so I just leave it . Every time I see anyone else's, theirs is always quite high too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gust0o Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 [quote name='Josh' timestamp='1375627828' post='2163593'] I guess I should explain with some more conext. This is down to my drummer who is a great drummer and I love the guy to bits, but he is also a producer/engineer and as such he does our demos and E.P's, I understand perfectly that having a 0.0mm action is horrible for recording as is a 4ft high action but it's just he feels the need to always comment on it not being high enough for him for when he rips it out of my hands, whacks the treble all the way up and starts playing old school Blink 182 songs. [/quote] Have you considered sitting down with his drums and repeating the experiment? I imagine that a few minutes of [i]adjusting[/i] is set-up, whilst wondering out loud which [i]cretin [/i]could have thought these drums [i]playable, [/i]should do the trick nicely - and probably prompt a half-hour of grumbling and re-adjusting, as he attempts to recreate his perfect set-up. People learn by experience. Let him experience his own behaviour and learn from it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 [quote name='iceonaboy' timestamp='1375689288' post='2164169'] I always think my action is too high, but if I bring it down , I get fret buzz, so I just leave it . Every time I see anyone else's, theirs is always quite high too. [/quote] It sounds like a tweak of the truss rod is required one way or the other (depending on where the buzz is) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1375633926' post='2163685'] Nobody touches my bass...! [/quote] Er... this. And the few people I would allow to play it certainly wouldn't be making crass comments about my set-up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iceonaboy Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 [quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1375690727' post='2164193'] It sounds like a tweak of the truss rod is required one way or the other (depending on where the buzz is) [/quote] what! on all ma basses? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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