Fender P Bass Action

[Cosmo17]

Hey guys,

I own a 4 string fender precision and after playing a few of my friends bass guitars I realized that the action on mine was too high. Is the action on the P bass supposed to be somewhat higher than the rest to give it that sound? I'm a guitar player and only started playing the bass last year. My hands are somewhat small and I can manage on guitars but my basslines sound a bit messy because of the high action.

Should I try adjusting the bridge? Will that mess up things?

Thanks.

[tdub0199]

No, the action is personal preference.... you should have a setup done on your P-Bass....

[SurferJoe46]

Here's what I'd do if I din't know for sure what was going on.

Since you are now apparently needing a possible professional setup - I'd try it myself first to see if I could get as close as I need.

If I messed up - then off to a luthier.

BTW: MOST GCs have an on-duty luthier for just this purpose.

Here's the one in the local (to me) shop in Murrietta, California :::



This guy's good and the prices are all set - so there's no Aha! moments when you bring it in. They've prolly seen it all before too.

GC is making a very good move by taking their individual luthiers out from somewhere behind the store to the inside-the-store placement to answer questions and generally curry favor and communication with customers.

It works for me and I have a greater sense of customer loyalty to a store that recognizes me and greets me by my name.

I cannot guarantee this is at all GCs. The one I go to is a lower-mid sized store and they have this going for it, so it may become a lot more available in all their stores later, if not sooner.

[Pilgrim]

There is a sticky post at the top of the forum titled ALL BASIC SETUP QUESTIONS ANSWERED HERE giving you links with complete information on how to do your own set-ups. Please read it - the info you need is there.

[stratovani]

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

Here's what I'd do if I din't know for sure what was going on.

Since you are now apparently needing a possible professional setup - I'd try it myself first to see if I could get as close as I need.

If I messed up - then off to a luthier.

BTW: MOST GCs have an on-duty luthier for just this purpose.

Here's the one in the local (to me) shop in Murrietta, California :::



This guy's good and the prices are all set - so there's no Aha! moments when you bring it in. They've prolly seen it all before too.

GC is making a very good move by taking their individual luthiers out from somewhere behind the store to the inside-the-store placement to answer questions and generally curry favor and communication with customers.

It works for me and I have a greater sense of customer loyalty to a store that recognizes me and greets me by my name.

I cannot guarantee this is at all GCs. The one I go to is a lower-mid sized store and they have this going for it, so it may become a lot more available in all their stores later, if not sooner.

This is a damn good idea! Prices posted for all to see, no haggling or BS, a luthier you can talk to, what's not to like? Here's hoping all GCs go with this idea!

[triplebass]

Hi Cosmo17,
here is a secret, which isnt really a secret. The high action is a typical fender bass
problem, und will see it also on jazz basses. Just look at all the postings on fender action in this forum. I have a fender mexico 5 string. Same problem.
After repairing the neck by myself, I concluded that the truss rod and especially the truss rod nut is a kind of crab. Neck is only one stripe, and cannot withstand the load of 5 strings, probably even 4 strings.
Hence, if you lower the action at one point in time, 4 weeks later you will have the same problem again. Then you repeat this procedure until the truss rod nut is at its end.
If you stop now, then end of game. If you dont stop now, truss rod nut will be destroyed and all hope is gone. This is the latest point where you should visit a luthier, buy a new neck or repair yourself, if you can.
I saw a lot of postings on this issue. For many fender bass players, the action is just something typical which you have to accept. I can say, that I have a lot of basses, from
cheap and simple 4 string to 6 string neck trough. No action problem ever with all of this
stuff. I like my fender because of its sound. But I also say, that good action is absolutely a commodity even for cheap chinese basses - absolutely inacceptable for an expensive fender bass. So trie the luthier and see what he can do...

Manfred

[drewfx]

High action is not a "problem" it's a preference. Action that's too low is a problem for me. YMMV.

[triplebass]

It should be possible for a bass, to satifsfy different requirements on action. Every bass
can be put to high action. But only good basses allow to set low action without any string buzz and keep this action permanently. One example I can give is a Peavey Grind 6, but there are many other examples more...