Gap between Strings and Fretboard....

bhogiman · #1 06-08-2010, 12:40 AM

Hello Guys,

I've been practicing on the Bass for the past 2 months. Since I am still in the learning phase...I purchased an entry level bass guitar.

Lately I happened to notice that the gap between strings and the fretboard particularly at the last frets is considerably more. It gets harder to play especially with the pinky and ring fingers at last frets. Can someone tell me how much gap should be there between the strings and should i get them lowered.. or is there any advantage if i practice this way until i get a good new costly bass.

TB ROcks.!!!!

1kinal · #2 06-08-2010, 07:41 AM

Follow this:

http://www.garywillis.com/pages/bass...tupmanual.html

Bardley · #3 06-08-2010, 07:46 AM

This is usually referred to as the string "action" of the bass and is fixed with a proper setup.

+1 to the link above or you can also search "setup" on TB to find more info.

Ric5 · #4 06-08-2010, 07:57 AM

you want the action so low that it is easy to play but not so low that you get excessive fret buzz. The exact distance will vary from bass to bass and it will vary as per personal taste.

Also most basses need to be adjusted twice a year.

Bardley · #5 06-08-2010, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric5

you want the action so low that it is easy to play but not so low that you get excessive fret buzz. The exact distance will vary from bass to bass and it will vary as per personal taste.

Also most basses need to be adjusted twice a year.

+1
And that's why it is much cheaper in the long run to learn to do it yourself. It is not difficult and is a skill that I think every player should learn.

Scottgun · #6 06-08-2010, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1kinal

Follow this:

http://www.garywillis.com/pages/bass...tupmanual.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bardley

+1
And that's why it is much cheaper in the long run to learn to do it yourself. It is not difficult and is a skill that I think every player should learn.

+1 to both of the above. The Gary Willis link is the best easy-to-follow setup instruction I've ever seen, and you should learn to do this if you are serious about the instrument.

PSPookie · #7 06-08-2010, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric5

Also most basses need to be adjusted twice a year.

Or more. Some necks are very sensitive to changes in humidity.

bhogiman · #8 06-08-2010, 11:21 PM

Awesome.... thanks a lot for the reply guys..!!!.....I started noticing this problem.. when i started to play the intro part in "for whom the bell tolls".....I could make a clean sound on my acoustic... but when i switch to my bass... i get miss out on a clean transition from G to D strings.... My lead guitarist asked me to lower the strings.. ...but my rhythm guitarist says its better if i keep practicing it this way.. as it will increase my strength......any views on this....?

fearceol · #9 06-09-2010, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhogiman

but my rhythm guitarist says its better if i keep practicing it this way.. as it will increase my strength......any views on this....?

Have the action adjusted to whatever suits and is comfortable for you. Yes, it does take more strength to fret a higher action string, but finger/hand strength comes from continuous playing, regardless of the action.

It is all about personal preference. Some of the more aggressive players like to have the action high to prevent the strings hitting the frets, causing unwanted sounds. Others, who have a light touch generally have the action low.

It's your call.

Scottgun · #10 06-09-2010, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhogiman

Awesome.... thanks a lot for the reply guys..!!!.....I started noticing this problem.. when i started to play the intro part in "for whom the bell tolls".....I could make a clean sound on my acoustic... but when i switch to my bass... i get miss out on a clean transition from G to D strings.... My lead guitarist asked me to lower the strings.. ...but my rhythm guitarist says its better if i keep practicing it this way.. as it will increase my strength......any views on this....?

Personal preference, but I'm of the Jeff Berlin philosophy: Low action, lighter gauge strings (.40-.100), and a light touch. I said the same thing on one of his videos here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6at4jSG3cUc when someone commented on his stamina. According to JB, he plays all day and doesn't have callouses on his fingers. Why kill yourself pulling strings when you can play like this?

craig.p · #11 06-09-2010, 02:43 PM

> my rhythm guitarist says its better if i keep practicing it this way..
> as it will increase my strength......any views on this....?

I agree 100% with this view. I keep my action WAY high on my Charvel/Jackson which helps keep my finger strength up. I also have a beat-up Ric with a moderate-to-low action, and though I can fly on it after having played the Charvel for several days in a row, I find if I play the Ric exclusively for more than a week my left hand will begin to get "lazy" and I actually won't be able to do what I was doing on the Charvel a week prior. So, I find my playing actually gets better over time if my left hand has to make a bit of a fight of it each and every day.

I'm not saying this is the right way to go for anyone else but me. But it might work for you.

You do have to be patient, though, and not over-exert each day.

If you do decide to stick with a high action, get your high action from a straight neck and raised bridge saddles, not from a bowed neck and low bridge saddles.

stflbn · #12 06-09-2010, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhogiman

...but my rhythm guitarist says its better if i keep practicing it this way.. as it will increase my strength....

Does your rhythm player also have intollerably high string height? Odds are no.

.

bhogiman · #13 06-10-2010, 10:45 PM

Intersting views here..!!.....

@fearceol .. Yes. you are right...when it comes to playing some aggressive notes on bass.....it really helps if the strings are high.....eg: Battery....!!
but as @Scottgun was mentioning.....there is no way one can play what Jeff Berlin played with a higher action.
@craig.p ...I am just waiting to try my hand on a good low action Bass..soon...
@stflbn..haha...yes..... my rhtyhms guy has a very low action piece....

Thanks so much guys.. you are awesome..!!!!

macaroni tony · #14 06-15-2010, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhogiman

my rhythm guitarist says its better if i keep practicing it this way.. as it will increase my strength......any views on this....?

60% of the time, guitar players are wrong....every time

94Stanger · #15 06-16-2010, 07:44 AM

Why would you want to play with high strings? Doesn't make any sense - the easier it is to play the more you will enjoy the Bass. Finger strength - will not increase by two fold, that comes over time - work on accuracy and form. Bass playing is supposed to be relaxing and fun - if you need to strengthen your fingers buy a hand grip. Spend your time perfecting the instrument - learn the sound you like from day one - I agree 100% that you should learn to adjust your own strings - it will make Bass playing that much for fun. Remember you shouldn't have any sort of cramping in your wrist or fingers. Avoid injuries and why put extra stress on your hands when you don't need to - hope this helps. Don't buy into I play with high action and switch over to another Bass with close action bit - you should be able to set your own action and play at that level all day long. Good luck - I've been playing for almost 20 years and started setting my own action early on. It was a great learning experience. Get yourself a reference on the net and correct tools..

bhogiman · #16 08-16-2010, 12:14 AM

aah.. thanks a lot man..!!!.....its high time i need to get a good bass..!!!!

randaddy · #17 08-17-2010, 01:19 PM

If you play with unusally high action for the purpose of developing hand strength, and it puts enough stress on the hand so that soreness develops, it could lead to problems that you have to deal with for weeks, or months, or the rest of your life.
There is no need to push your hands that way. (In my opinion)
The amount of strength needed to play bass develops while practicing the way you will actually perform.

Also, why develop a technique for high action and then perform with low action and have to adjust your technique? Practice the way you will perform. (Again my opinion)

John Wentzien · #18 08-17-2010, 01:29 PM

This might help also.
http://www.fender.com/support/bass_g...etup_guide.php

bhogiman · #19 08-24-2010, 11:10 PM

@randaddy @John.. thanks so much.!!!!

totallyfrozen · #20 08-24-2010, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhogiman

...my rhythm guitarist says its better if i keep practicing it this way.. as it will increase my strength...

Don't listen to this rhythm guitarist he has no idea what he's talking about. High action will make you/keep you slow and lead to tendonitis. Playing music shouldn't be a workout. I'm serious, you should ignore any advice that guitard gives you and find a good teacher. The first red flag you should have seen was that he's not following his own advice. Taking his advice is going to get you hurt. I've had tendonitis. It takes more than a year to go away and if you don't rest the hand and let it heal, it leads to carpal tunnel syndrome--and that NEVER goes away.