Hobbayne Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 A bass playing mate of mine came round the other day while I was restringing and setting up the Mexican P I got from Lojo. He had a go on it and handed it back saying he couldnt play it as the action was too high. I though that was odd as I like it like that. Anyway we measured the E string height at the 12th fret as it was 5mm. Is this considered high? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 (edited) 5mm Jayzus!! I just checked mine (using allen keys as a feeler gauge) and they are all about 3mm at the moment but thats high for some people and all of mine are due a truss rod tweak due to this humid weather, I would aim for 2.5 at the 12th fret under all my strings when setting up generally. Edited June 30, 2012 by stingrayPete1977 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-soar Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 That's heading towards a high action. Mark King has a 2.9mm @ the 12th, don't know what mine are. But over the years, my gauges have gone heavier and my action has crept up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 5mm is a lot. I cannot stand high action like that. I set mine up around 2mm at the 12th fret with very little relief in the neck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 I suppose it`s what each of us think as high. I always thought I had my action quite high, just measured it, and it`s about 3mm. Anything less than that, and cos I hit the strings quite hard, I just get fret-buzz-mungus! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeh Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 I couldnt have it that high, mine is set to just over 2mm @ the 12th fret. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 Anymore than the 5mm he has already and he would qualify as an Archer rather than a bass player! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Undead Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 I'm a fan of super low action at the 12th - My Fender is G 1.2mm, D 1.4mm, A 1.6mm and E 1.8mm. I had to shim the neck slightly to get it that low but it's worth it! . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 I set each of my instruments up differently according to how they sound best. Whilst the Vigier will go super-low, it chokes a little in the upper registers, so I've raised it to about 2.2 mm beneath the B@12th. The Status sounds great all the way down at <2 mm. As a rule of thumb, I'd say go as low as you can with your playing style without buzz, clang or choke joining the party... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truckstop Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 I like to set mine at 4mm, I have a robust playing style and I also like to press down on the frets rather than giving them a feather touch. Feels weird that way! Truckstop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 [quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1341065261' post='1713399'] A bass playing mate of mine came round the other day while I was restringing and setting up the Mexican P I got from Lojo. He had a go on it and handed it back saying he couldnt play it as the action was too high. I though that was odd as I like it like that. Anyway we measured the E string height at the 12th fret as it was 5mm. Is this considered high? [/quote] High? VERY high! (for me) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted June 30, 2012 Author Share Posted June 30, 2012 I do tend you play rather hard, but I cant get on with that rattley noise you get from low action and thin gauge strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 That ain't high for me - more like a low action... Garry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkpegasus4001 Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 5mm? you can drive a bus under that I'd say that was very high. I like mine set as low as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 [size=5][sup]If it had an action like that I wouldn't even pick it up.[/sup][/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybass 70 Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 [b]Depends on your style of playing dude, if we were all the same the world would be a boring place ,[/b] [b]I've raised my action on all my basses in the last month and the tone has improved massively , [/b] [b]sounds much better in the band mix and i am loving it, [/b] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Vincent Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 All of mine average 5mm at the 12th fret.I do have a fairly robust hitting style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mushers Posted June 30, 2012 Share Posted June 30, 2012 seeing this after a few beers scared the pants off me ! i just checked mine and its about 4mm .. then i realised i was checking the B i would say 5mm is high ive played higher it just takes a bit more effort but i wouldnt want it on my bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassPimp66 Posted July 1, 2012 Share Posted July 1, 2012 5mm.... that would be very high for me. I'm a 2.5mm sort of guy. But, rather than considering whether 5mm is high or not, I would check if this is caused by a high bridge position, or an overly curved neck. If it's 5mm because the neck is too curved, then I would adjust the truss rod. If it's 5mm because of the bridge, then it's your choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolverinebass Posted July 1, 2012 Share Posted July 1, 2012 I tend to have mine as low as humanly possible, which on the buzzard is less than 1mm. After this I find I can't play an instrument properly that's got anything that even remotely resembles a high action. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted July 1, 2012 Share Posted July 1, 2012 The action on my Ibby is currently just under 4mm. I used to have it down @ 2mm & it's a little easier to move around scales with the lower action, but nothing drastic. If it was lower or higher & I struggled to play the instrument, then I think more practice on my part would be required. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted July 1, 2012 Share Posted July 1, 2012 I've always hit the strings quite hard so I was very happy with the high action on the Lakland. When the Lull turned up it had a very low action. My first reaction was to make it the same as the Lakland, but instead of changing the Lull I changed my technique. Now I use a light touch and I find I prefer playing that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lettsguitars Posted July 1, 2012 Share Posted July 1, 2012 [quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1341066297' post='1713415'] I'm a fan of super low action at the 12th - My Fender is G 1.2mm, D 1.4mm, A 1.6mm and E 1.8mm. I had to shim the neck slightly to get it that low but it's worth it! . [/quote]He likes low action, but dead necks dont seem to bother him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted July 1, 2012 Share Posted July 1, 2012 [quote name='lettsguitars' timestamp='1341135551' post='1714065'] He likes low action, but dead necks dont seem to bother [u]her[/u] [/quote] Fixed, but what do you mean anyway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted July 1, 2012 Share Posted July 1, 2012 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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