Horrendous schoolboy error with a new bass

[police squad]

Decided to gig my new (it's been replaced under warranty) Fender Steve Harris WHUFC bass, yesterday (just after the hammers game on BT sport, They loved it in the pub)

Tuned it up, left it against the amp (as you do )

not much treble comes from this bass, so I hit the ultra hi button on the ampeg, Yep, sounds about right.

First song

F8ck!!!! The action was WAAAAYYY too low for the way I hit the strings. Clank, Clank, duff duff. Shocking.

So after 2 songs, I apologise to the crowd, citing my problems on another typical West Ham performance. I find the allen key for the bridge and crank up the E. But the allen key only fitted one side of the saddle. In Fender's error, they had put a different allen bolt in one side.

But, it was enough to finish the first set and then, properly tweak everything.

I must say, the 2nd set was ace. Maple neck P basses have a certain 'quack' to their sound and this bass with it's maple body, sustains like something from Spinal Tap.

I have this bass strung with rounds, (the flats were never put on it, they're in the case though) and even with rounds I can hear the Steve Harris sound.

[CamdenRob]

I invariably have to raise the action on every bass I buy... I'm definitely not a string tickler

[Hobbayne]

I like a heavy string gauge and play hard so my action is quite (but not too much) high.

[Oopsdabassist]

Yup I tend to be a heavy hitter too, especially while looning about, makes playing up the dusty end a pain in da butt tho! (intro to Sweet Emotion)