Hi all,
I've only been playing bass for approx 1 year.I was a Rhythm guitarist prior to discovering that the Bass was always the instrument for me...but i never realised.I started on a Squier 70's modified Jazz,which i still own & is a truly fantastic bass (better that some Fenders I've messed about on),& now i own a 2010 4003 JG!
Anyway,i was wondering how low or high your action is so i have something to compare to.Also,please mention wether you play with a pick or fingers.
Here's my 4003 measuring from the top of the fret to the bottom of the string at the 3rd,12th & 17th frets;
(Please measure in mm if possible as i cannot fathom out Imperial at all )
I play with a pick 90% of the time...quite agressively.
3rd - 1mm
12th - 2.5mm
17th - 3mm
My basses are set up with a string height of about 2.3 to 2.4 mm from the top of the 12th fret to the bottom of the bottom of the E string. The G string is a little closer.
I play fingerstyle 99% of the time.
I think it's harder to get a lower action on the bigger strings if the saddles aren't cut deeper. You can cut the saddle deeper or get taper cores if needed.
Anyways, I am for the lowest possible action before fret buzz begins. On fretless I go a bit lower. I don't have any numbers to share.
Since you asked about Fingers V. Pick, I play with my fingers predominantly but I think it would be harder for a pickstyle player to play with high action because of the bass lines they tend to play. They seem to require a lot of rapid fire moving about, like the bass solo on "Maxwell Murder" by Rancid. I don't see how you could play something like that with high action (I couldn't).
2.5mm on both sides at the 12th fret. Playing with a heavy pick. Could have the action lower on all other strings, but I get a little bit of buzz from the G-string playing down at the 12th if picking hard.
Low enough for a little buzz, but not so low that it smacks the treble surround...
I play fingerstyle, over the neck pickup. Fairly heavy-handed at a lower volume, for a nice aggressive sound. I just can't do that max-volume, barely-touch-the-strings kind of style...
3.3 mm at the octave on my fretted 4003 (fret to string).
5.1 mm at the octave on my 4003FL (wood to string).
For context, 6.7 mm at the octave (wood to string) on my double bass right now. This will increase in the summer by perhaps 1 mm.
Finger style 100% of the time, although I do sometimes use my thumb and index finger to strum as if I had a pick, but I use my index fingernail and thumbnail instead. I keep the G side just about the same height as the E.
Can we have everything louder than everything else?
Approximately 3 mm on the E string at the 12th fret on my everyday 4003. I play fingerstyle 95+% with a heavy hand. I try to set up for a fairly straight neck, and with fret buzz only when I'm approaching maximum dig.
Recently I got out my mapleglo 4003 after not playing it in quite a while, and the action was a little lower than I like it. However, it was kind of fun playing with the buzz and a little amp drive. I'll have to take some time and dial it back in when I get a chance.
It can take some iterations, but you can set them up so it's maximum comfort for you to get your sound and feel.
rickenbrother wrote:My basses are set up with a string height of about 2.3 to 2.4 mm from the top of the 12th fret to the bottom of the bottom of the E string. The G string is a little closer.
I play fingerstyle 99% of the time.
I know that 3/32" for the E string at the 12th fret is a desired benchmark but I simply can't get it that low on my '78 without buzzing through the amp on the third fret (mostly G and C). The lowest I can get it without buzz is 5/32" on the E and 4/32" on the G at the 12th fret from the fretboard to the bottom of the string. I know my neck is dead straight - could it be that the strings are sitting too low in the nut? In other words, I'm wondering whether a new nut would raise the strings up a bit at the first fret thereby eliminating the buzzing at the third fret but allow me to get the action down a tad lower at the 12th fret using the bridge adjustment.
Also, is there any scientific method to measuring the action? I'm simply using a small retractable tape measure lining up the one inch mark to the top of the fretboard on the side of the E string and counting up each 32nd to the bottom of the string. Does anyone have any pics of their 12th fret at a 3/32" or 2.3mm string height? Maybe mine's not so high after all. By the way Joey, the tips on your site continue to be a big help
It still plays like butter so I'm not complaining too much but I could be a little quicker around the upper frets if the action was a tad lower.
Raising the strings at the nut will affect the open string, but as soon as you fret a string you press it down, so..
I have a ’79. My neck is not completely straight, but has a little bit of bow. That bowing raises the strings from the upper frets, and therefore should (I believe) reduce buzz at the upper frets. I.e. due to the bowing the strings will be raised higher above the upper frets than if the neck was straight. (or what
What strings are used may also play a part. Lower tension or more flexible strings will probably need higher action to get buzz free.
12th fret on E string - about 2.1-2.3mm, or just a little under 3/32". Slightly lower on the G string side. I've filed the nut slots to get the action as low as possible on the lower frets too and I have the neck set up almost straight. It's a 1975 4001 and I like the feel and tone with a lowish action, I'm more 'at one' with it like that you could say. I play both fingerstyle and with a pick, although I have to play fairly lightly with the pick to avoid fret buzz. It has quite bad and uneven fret wear (from a heavy handed previous owner) so I've had to do a little filing to eradicate one or two fret buzz trouble spots.
SMR 78 wrote:I know that 3/32" for the E string at the 12th fret is a desired benchmark but I simply can't get it that low on my '78 without buzzing through the amp on the third fret (mostly G and C). The lowest I can get it without buzz is 5/32" on the E and 4/32" on the G at the 12th fret from the fretboard to the bottom of the string. I know my neck is dead straight - could it be that the strings are sitting too low in the nut? In other words, I'm wondering whether a new nut would raise the strings up a bit at the first fret thereby eliminating the buzzing at the third fret but allow me to get the action down a tad lower at the 12th fret using the bridge adjustment.
Also, is there any scientific method to measuring the action? I'm simply using a small retractable tape measure lining up the one inch mark to the top of the fretboard on the side of the E string and counting up each 32nd to the bottom of the string. Does anyone have any pics of their 12th fret at a 3/32" or 2.3mm string height? Maybe mine's not so high after all. By the way Joey, the tips on your site continue to be a big help
Scott, do you have any pics of the nut? Maybe you can place a sliver of a matchbook cover at the bottoms of the nut slots to raise the strings and see what happens. That would be an okay temporary fix.
For measuring string heighht, best to use a machinists ruler to measure. Only about $2 at any hardware store for the 6" size. Make sure it measures in 1/32" increments, even better if it can do 1/64" increments as well as mm. Radio Shack also has machinists rulers, but I think they only go down to 1/16" increments. I can try taking a pic this weekend. I can't promise how good it will come out. I'm not quite Jeffrey Scott or Paul Yan with a camera.
Thanks Joey - I think Wiker might be right with regard to the buzzing - it probably shouldn't matter about the nut once I've fretted the string. I have no buzzing on the open strings so it's probably not a nut issue. I'm wondering if my measurement is slightly off so I'll take your suggestion about the machinists ruler.
Chris at POTR has already done his usual fantastic job setting up this bass - he's got it dialed in and playing better than it has ever played. I'm almost resistant to messing with a good thing and lowering the action even further might not bode well with my occasional aggressive fingerstyle play. I'm seeing him this Saturday to pick up my C64 that he's setting up and will get his opinion. I'm also looking forward to getting one of his 2010 4003s in my hands .
SMR 78 wrote:Thanks Joey - I think Wiker might be right with regard to the buzzing - it probably shouldn't matter about the nut once I've fretted the string. I have no buzzing on the open strings so it's probably not a nut issue. I'm wondering if my measurement is slightly off so I'll take your suggestion about the machinists ruler.
Chris at POTR has already done his usual fantastic job setting up this bass - he's got it dialed in and playing better than it has ever played. I'm almost resistant to messing with a good thing and lowering the action even further might not bode well with my occasional aggressive fingerstyle play. I'm seeing him this Saturday to pick up my C64 that he's setting up and will get his opinion. I'm also looking forward to getting one of his 2010 4003s in my hands .
That's true about the buzzing, sorry, I'm not quite me, these past few daze.
Chris does an excellent job with setups!
SMR 78 wrote:Thanks Joey - I think Wiker might be right with regard to the buzzing - it probably shouldn't matter about the nut once I've fretted the string. I have no buzzing on the open strings so it's probably not a nut issue. I'm wondering if my measurement is slightly off so I'll take your suggestion about the machinists ruler.
Chris at POTR has already done his usual fantastic job setting up this bass - he's got it dialed in and playing better than it has ever played. I'm almost resistant to messing with a good thing and lowering the action even further might not bode well with my occasional aggressive fingerstyle play. I'm seeing him this Saturday to pick up my C64 that he's setting up and will get his opinion. I'm also looking forward to getting one of his 2010 4003s in my hands .
That's true about the buzzing, sorry, I'm not quite me, these past few daze.
Chris does an excellent job with setups!
When i bought my 4004 Cii from POTR last year, Chris set it up with a medium action to start. We talked about my playing style (akin to a ham handed gorilla) and the fact that I like my action low. Knowing that I like to do my own work, he told me to give it a few weeks to get a feel for it before making any big changes. He then set me up with a truss rod adjusting tool, taught me how to use it, told me to make small adjustments, and to have fun! After a few weeks I decided I wanted a string change so I switched to a set of D'Addario 105s. I worked on the nut a little bit to get the new strings nestled in just right and got the action down to "just above buzz." It's absolutely the best playing bass I've ever owned. I guess my formula is: Low action + Fat Strings + Gorilla Hands = total bliss!!
"The credit belongs to the man in the arena..."
'75 450/12 BG
'78 4001 AG
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