Action Preference

[PIZZAcato]

I'm taking a poll to see what type of action the majority of bassist prefer.

IMPORTANT: Post whether you use a Pick, Fingers, or Both. thx

EDIT: Many people have asked "where is medium?" Well for my purposes here medium is not so much a height as a feel.

This being said High is high enough that Low players have a hard time pressing the strings to the fretboard. Low is low enough that High players buzz the bass. And Medium is a middle-ground where Low feels it is higher than it should be and mabey can't go as fast and High doesn't buzz but isnt quite comfortable... and Medium is just right and can usually go between High and Low without too much difficulty.

Hope this makes it clear. thx

[PIZZAcato]

I voted medium because I believe it gives me the optimum range of dynamics and is not too high for slapping.

[Jeff Martinez]

Definitely as low as possible. I use fingers and picks.

[Thursday]

Both. If I can find a pick

[MysticMichael]

Low action. I play mostly fingerstyle, occasionally with a pick as well...

MM

[agreatheight]

As low as she'll go! Finger style and pick.

[GabeN]

Low for me as well. Just as long as it doesnt buzz. Finger, Pick, Slap.

[HELLonWheels187]

as low as possible withoug getting fret noise

[driver800]

chose "high" - as i tend to prefer medium to high.

>90% finger-style and I play aggressively. So I get too much fret clicking with low action. i've tried lowering the action and playing softer, but I just did not groove as well. i think i play with my whole body. (don't read anything into that.)

[flatwoundfender]

I set mine at what is probably considered rather high. It's 6mm at the 12 fret on the g, and this is actually lower than usual. It allows me to dig it and gives a bigger, beefier sound with no metal in there. I don't play with a pick, but if I did I wouldn't change my action.

[nowontonsforme]

low to medium low
fingerstyle, strum, tap, slap

low action is a necessity for tapping and strumming for me, but I need it a touch higher than the lowest possible so I can still slap.

[ChiliPepper]

low- for fingerstyle , tapping etc.

[Akami]

Originally Posted by HELLonWheels187

as low as possible withoug getting fret noise

+1

[fretless Bob]

i put medium but really i like medium low, only because my basses buzz a lot when they are on the deck, otherwise i wold have them flat as a pancake.

and i play fingerstyle, palm mute and slap, no pick for me


Dave

[SOA_bassist]

low, but lately no matter how i set up my rod or my bridge i get buzz right at my E 4th fret lol.

i play with my fingers mostly, mess with a pick sometimes.

[Figjam]

Low.

[Rumblejohn]

Originally Posted by PIZZAcato

I voted medium because I believe it gives me the optimum range of dynamics and is not too high for slapping.

I agree, I have a fairly light touch, and low side of medium works for me. I handed my jazz to a friend, who had just broken a string on his Sterling fretless during a show, it took him a second or two to figure out why the harder he dug in, the lower the volume. The harder you play, the higher the action needs to be, to keep the strings off the frets.

John

[markjazzbassist]

high. i play only fingerstyle and i really dig in hard, so i gotta have it high. 5mm on the E and A strings and 4mm on the D and G strings at the 17th fret.

[ogrossman]

+1

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

high. i play only fingerstyle and i really dig in hard...

[Papersen]

As low as possible. I have a light touch, so high action is a problem sometimes.