string height affecting sound? physical problems from playing?

[danengland]

Hi Janek
I'm at a college in the UK and usually play around 2-4 hours a day. I get some problems with my hands if I play for much longer than that. I currently use what I assume is a medium/high action on my sadowsky but I think I may lower it because of this..Have you ever had any physical problems from playing?

I was also wondering if you use different action on your fodera compared to your P bass and if you think that different styles of playing/bass tone can only be achieved with a certain setup (i.e high action for jamerson type sound) or whether it is more in the playing technique?

Cheers
Dan

[janekbass]

Dan,

I've only once had a problem with my hands from what I can only imagine is from playing, as that's what I do with my time. It was last year in the spring and happend the day before I went on tour to south america with my own group. it happened for no reason, and went away a week later and has not come back since.

I use as much economy of movement as I can when I play so I don't really use that much energy, and can play for long periods of time without my hands being tired.

My setup on the Fodera and the P-bass are totally different as I use them for totally different things. I do agree that the setup can effect the style you play in, and certain setups enhance certain styles.

But I also work very hard on range of expression on one bass, and can do almost anything I want with one setup just using my fingers to change the tone.

Easy,

Janek