Just a quick poll. Please read.

[mikhay77]

Hi there. Just a question to all bass players. If you bought say a Fender Jazz and the action would appear very high with the truss rod adjusted correctly.Then with the bridge saddles lowered all the way down,with no adjustment left,it was still 5mm at the 12th.Would that be ok?
Cheers

[Horizontalste]

Not at all, sounds like a wrong'n to me.

[Grangur]

No. Take it back if it's new.

Why not add a poll to this thread?

[HowieBass]

That'd be way too high for me; assuming the neck relief is set correctly and the nut has the right depth slots it'd mean the neck would need a fairly substantial full neck pocket shim to raise it or the bridge inset into the body in order to get the action acceptably low. A Jazz with the action you describe is close to unplayable IMHO.

[MoonBassAlpha]

sounds like someone has already put a shim in the neck, just at the wrong end of the pocket!. I had exactly this on a cheap telecaster I bought off ebay recently. Some people, eh?

[hamfist]

Yup. It'll either need a shim, or the removal of an incorrect shim. If this is a new bass, take it back.

[OldG]

A shim would sort it... my Tokai was fitted out with one from new. I'd shim the pocket (at the heel/body end - just covering the rear screws, to tilt the neck in the pocket) ,then refit the neck (just pinched on the screws) and strings. when you're happy the strings are in line with the neck correctly, tighten up/tune up.. when the strings are under tension, back the neck screws off slowly and evenly - until you hear the click of the neck seating against the body. Tighten up the neck a final time then check intonation and set up.

A thin card shim is all that's needed and the neck seating trick needs a good body/neck fit to attempt in the first place ( works wonders for tone/sustain - so well worth a try)

HTH

Edited February 3, 2014 by OldG

[OldG]

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1391263024' post='2355096']
If this is a new bass, take it back.
[/quote]

I was assuming the bass was used - but yes, if new it needs returning for a set up at least....

[Fionn]

Not suitable, no.

[Ou7shined]

[quote name='mikhay77' timestamp='1391260001' post='2355051']
Hi there. Just a question to all bass players. If you bought say a Fender Jazz and the action would appear very high[b] with the truss rod adjusted correctly[/b].Then with the bridge saddles lowered all the way down,with no adjustment left,it was still 5mm at the 12th.Would that be ok?
Cheers
[/quote]

It's way too high. How do you know the tr is adjusted correctly?

[Kev]

Check the neck. Fret the E at the first and last fret, and measure the distance between the fret and the string about halfway up the neck. That is your relief. Anything more than 1mm and the neck is not set correctly.

In any case, you should generally not be able to play a bass with the bridge completely bottomed out as the strings would be laying on the frets. Something is wrong.

[mcnach]

[quote name='mikhay77' timestamp='1391260001' post='2355051']
Hi there. Just a question to all bass players. If you bought say a Fender Jazz and the action would appear very high with the truss rod adjusted correctly.Then with the bridge saddles lowered all the way down,with no adjustment left,it was still 5mm at the 12th.Would that be ok?
Cheers
[/quote]

of course not. It would appear that the neck angle needs to be tweaked a tiny bit: introduce a shim. Simple and painless adjustment.