action limit your abilities

tttmmoorree · #1 03-06-2010, 06:35 PM

so i've got an american jazz and i've never adjusted the action or truss rod since i've had it, but here lately i just feel like the action is too high and that it is preventing me from playing to my full potential. sometimes i feel like i'm fighting the instrument.

anyone else have experiences like this or some input?

Ric5 · #2 03-06-2010, 06:44 PM

Adjust it dude ... turn the rod and adjust the bridge ... You will probably need to do a setup at least twice a year.

RickenBoogie · #3 03-06-2010, 06:50 PM

+1 heck yeah it affects your playing, get it set-up straight away. Learn to do it yourself, too. Every bassist should be able to do his/her own set ups.

stoolpigeon · #4 03-06-2010, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

+1 heck yeah it affects your playing, get it set-up straight away. Learn to do it yourself, too. Every bassist should be able to do his/her own set ups.

+11...knowing how to care for your instrument is as important as knowing how to play your instrument

Jazzerbone · #5 03-06-2010, 07:54 PM

+1

Also keep in mind that being set up too low can cause problems too. Everyone has their preferences, but do some reaearch on what a normal setup looks like.

spade2you · #6 03-06-2010, 07:58 PM

Knowing how to do a good setup is key, but not all basses have the same tolerances. As fate would have it, I started out on the Peavey Cirrus and it had such phenomenal action that a lot of other stuff seemed like a workout.

**colcifer** · #7 03-06-2010, 08:00 PM

Important to keep it in check. It happens so slow you hardly notice it... Damn us, proverbial frogs!

taygunov · #8 03-06-2010, 08:05 PM

I ain't no sissy but definatly. With bad action your playing will DEFINATLY be limited

HalfDayClosing · #9 03-06-2010, 09:15 PM

It all depends on what you're going for. Speed, ease of playing, tapping, slapping etc yes low action is wonderful, but there is a certain 'fatness' to a bass with high action that I love.

walterw · #10 03-07-2010, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HalfDayClosing

It all depends on what you're going for. Speed, ease of playing, tapping, slapping etc yes low action is wonderful, but there is a certain 'fatness' to a bass with high action that I love.

true, but there's "high action" and then there's bad action.

a neck that's still fairly close to straight and with a nice low nut, but with higher saddles, will let you "dig in" for that tone without being too hard to play.

a neck with a big up-bow and a tall nut will be a bitch to play, will throw intonation out, and sometimes will still buzz! this happens when the saddles are lowered to try to compensate, giving you the worst of both worlds.

PilbaraBass · #11 03-07-2010, 04:54 PM

The key to this whole thing is that you sometimes feel like you are "fighting the instrumen"t.

This is in sharp contrast to the comments you sometimes hear on instruments with good setups where people say that the "instrument plays itsself".

I like the comment that there is high action, and then there is bad action. This is very true.
High action is fine if you are comfortable with the high action. Conversely, low action can be bad if aren't comfortable with it.

Action must fit your style and approach to the instrument.

Yes, high action CAN limit your abilities. It can limit your ability to play with a light touch.

But if your approach to the instrument is to really dig in a pound it out, low action isn't for you.

Learn to do your own setups and set the instrument up so that it is right for you.

All of this said, action is just one aspect of a good setup. ALL instruments should have proper relief, a properly cut nut, and good intonation, REGARDLESS of your action preferences.

Meatrus · #12 03-07-2010, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tttmmoorree

so i've got an american jazz and i've never adjusted the action or truss rod since i've had it, but here lately i just feel like the action is too high and that it is preventing me from playing to my full potential. sometimes i feel like i'm fighting the instrument.

anyone else have experiences like this or some input?

I'm sure plenty of peoples ability would be limited if they didnt ever get a setup!!! Basses and guitars arent a one setup for life deal. You need to either pay for one, or learn how to do it.

Its a little difficult to have sympathy for someone with this, or a similar situation.

tttmmoorree · #13 03-07-2010, 07:27 PM

i play with my fingers and pluck extremely softly, as soft as possible. i play a lot of ghost notes and staccato lines. it mainly reduces my speed, when i say it feels like i'm "fighting my instrument" i basically mean it prevents me from playing as fast and fluently as i can on other basses.

and thanks for all the input everybody.

lonote · #14 03-08-2010, 10:05 AM

That's why all the adjustments are there, to set up the bass so you can play comfortably.