FLATWOUNDS + PBASS + HIGH ACTION

didoy123 · #1 04-28-2011, 04:40 AM

i saw a video on youtube,he compared different brands of flats... and he said that the labella flats sits great with a p bass having a high action.

YouTube - Flatwound String Comparison on my P-Bass

is that true?

jmceachern36 · #2 04-28-2011, 06:37 AM

That guy has some great videos. Love the tone he gets. Not sure if I agree that you need high action.... Check out the one where he uses a pick. Made me want to start using one.

DavePlaysBass · #3 04-28-2011, 07:15 AM

You forgot high tension. Signed James Jamerson

bluesdogblues · #4 04-28-2011, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by didoy123

...the labella flats sits great with a p bass having a high action...

For me it's true.

Yes...sacrifice 'some playability' ...but the tone, the sound is perfect...
...again..it's just me...

(sorry I haven't see the youtube clip..maybe later)

fjbass78 · #5 04-28-2011, 07:31 AM

Yeah, it can be a little tough not to have higher action with a set Jamerson flats IME.

bluesdogblues · #6 04-28-2011, 10:01 AM

Actually my P-bass with Jamerson flats, after I adjust the truss-rod a bit, do the setup & intonation a bit, I can have the action pretty low.. much lower than usual (and my picking finger attack is still normally hard, it doesn't buzz).
o yea...even better is: recently I tune them all step down to D-G-C-F... it makes the tension even lower, more playability, the sound/tone is still good if not better...
I'm happy

fjbass78 · #7 04-28-2011, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluesdogblues

Actually my P-bass with Jamerson flats, after I adjust the truss-rod a bit, do the setup & intonation a bit, I can have the action pretty low.. much lower than usual (and my picking finger attack is still normally hard, it doesn't buzz).
o yea...even better is: recently I tune them all step down to D-G-C-F... it makes the tension even lower, more playability, the sound/tone is still good if not better...
I'm happy

I have a '62 reissue Pbass. Maybe the bigger problem for me is the truss rood adjustment on the heel of the neck. I had a set of rounds on the bass at first with lower tension. Then I put on some of the Jamerson flats. There must have a been a 1/4" of space between the neck and the strings. I tightened the truss rod 1/4 turn at a time with the neck on, but eventualy I took the neck off so I could tightned it more. I don't play that bass all the time, so every time i picked it up, it seems the strings were getting farther away from the board. Maybe I should have loosen the strings before i put it back in the case. Anyway, it made a little nervous, so I put some TI flats on it.

GM60466 · #8 04-28-2011, 02:16 PM

I use SIT Power Flats on my P bass. The action is great. Not Hight at all.

BigOldHarry · #9 04-28-2011, 02:21 PM

lord, the title of this thread sounded like a bass nightmare to me...

jmceachern36 · #10 04-28-2011, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

lord, the title of this thread sounded like a bass nightmare to me...

Good one!

Mikhail1 · #11 04-28-2011, 04:13 PM

I know that lot of earlier bass players that made the switch from upright to electric were used to the high action that was required on the double bass and felt that the same action was required on the electric. I don't think it's necessary true today or even back then. As long as the string can "breathe" that is, properly vibrate and not be choked by rattling on the frets, then it will sound good. Higher tension can allow a very low, clean action. I think alot of the stories about Jamerson's high action came later when his bass was falling apart and he frankly didn't care. Remember, he was quoted as saying the "real bass" was an upright, the electric just payed the bills. Now before somebody gets upset, I think Jamerson absolutely KILLED on some tunes. I compare him to Shakespeare, a man who did an excellent job at his craft but didn't understand the effect he would have on the future. Sorry to rave on but I think as you get older, high action and high tension become things you don't want to deal with.

FunkMetalBass · #12 04-28-2011, 04:18 PM

High action does two things, and neither are tonal:
1) Eliminates fret buzz (hardly an issue with flats)
2) Throws off intonation because of the added, unnecessary string stretch when fretting.

The statement might be related to the distance of the strings from the pickups, in which case it's a whole lot easier and more effective to just adjust the pickup height.

Hutzbordello · #13 04-28-2011, 04:52 PM

does high action do anything to tone? ive never heard of someone using it other than for slapping

carlos840 · #14 04-28-2011, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hutzbordello

does high action do anything to tone? ive never heard of someone using it other than for slapping

That is a risky move!

This could end up in a Rosewood vs Maple kinda thread!

I personally think that action influences tone but hey, what do i know!?

fourstringdrums · #15 04-28-2011, 05:59 PM

Some feel higher action affects sustain. I'm not buying it.

DTF · #16 04-28-2011, 06:58 PM

I like my action between 3.5-4mm at the 12th fret , I like the feel and to my ears notes sound fatter

bluesdogblues · #17 04-29-2011, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hutzbordello

does high action do anything to tone? ive never heard of someone using it other than for slapping

IMHO slapping usually done w the low tension.

High tension allows to picks harder. And yes i think it affects the tone more or less.
It suits me. I know most people don't like it.

Yes everybody is different.. That what makes this world beautiful.

dmusic148 · #18 04-29-2011, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

High action does two things, and neither are tonal:
1) Eliminates fret buzz (hardly an issue with flats)
2) Throws off intonation because of the added, unnecessary string stretch when fretting.

Both of these statements are incorrect. Sorry but they are. Don't mean to throw you under the bus but...

Fret buzz is just as much an issue with flats as it is with rounds. I gather you (FMB) don't use flats. If you did regularly use them, you'd know better.
The idea that the extra tension, created by increased fretting displacement, causes intonation problems is folly- the tiny difference it makes is easily compensated for with bridge intonation adjustment.
You may be thinking of the rather famous intonation problems that James Jamerson was said to have had in his later years when tracking- this was actually due to his strings being so old they would simply not play in tune anymore. Nothing to do with high action(which he certainly did have).

What high action DOES do: Gives the strings more room to flop around, when plucked hard, before they can touch down on the frets. This does in fact give a new and different sound, if you pluck hard enough to take advantage of it.

bluesdogblues · #19 04-29-2011, 01:13 AM

^^^^^^
correct & well said

Buxtehude · #20 04-29-2011, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

lord, the title of this thread sounded like a bass nightmare to me...

And the strings were different shades of dull. I started bass when there were only flats and cant believe that people rush back to that sound.