Fretless Action - High or Low?

[rarisgod]

I know this has probably been discussed, but I'm wondering if it's better for a fretless sound to have the action higher or lower, generally speaking.

I'd like to set it lower, for comfort reasons, but before I do I figured I'd ask whether it's a good move or not.

[kesslari]

Lower gives you "mwah". Too low makes it unbearably buzzy.
Go low, but not too low.
Just low enough.

[Mushroo]

Set it high is if you want a thumpy, upright-bass kind of sound.
Set it low if you want that 'mwah' sound.

I like it low

[rarisgod]

Alright, the 'mwah' is more of what I'm hoping for, though I wonder if I'll miss the thumpy, upright-bass kind of sound. Oh well, lower it is! Thanks guys!

[perfektspace6]

Go low!

One of the things I love about my fretless is how low the action is. It feels so effortless compared to my fretted bass. Maybe it's just in my head...

[CapnSev]

As low as it will go brother.

[Rickett Customs]

As low as humanly possible. Otherwise known as "ALAHP"

[SGD Lutherie]

make sure you set the neck very straight too, and then get it as low as you can stand it.

[rarisgod]

I set it to its lowest possible position, and it's been great so far!
I really want to get some lighter gauge strings as well, as I find them much easier to play and I think it'll give me more tone.

[JustOpenYourMind]

Originally Posted by Mushroo

Set it high is if you want a thumpy, upright-bass kind of sound.
Set it low if you want that 'mwah' sound.

+1

Different setups for different sounds.

[the low one]

Everything said above sounds good.

On my Jazz fretless I set mine to about 3 mm from the bottom of the string to the fingerboard. Reading other threads I’d say that’s about a medium action.

[unclejane]

Originally Posted by the low one

Everything said above sounds good.

On my Jazz fretless I set mine to about 3 mm from the bottom of the string to the fingerboard. Reading other threads I’d say that’s about a medium action.

Agreed on as low as possible.

I set the action to where it's just high enough to not buzz too much on the heel, i.e. at the last few "fret" positions. Usually the lower strings have to have a little higher action than the others.

Once that's set, I start to tighten the rod until the buzz at one position somewhere is too objectionable and then back off just enough to fix that. I usually have to repeat this a few times to get it right and consistent everywhere....

Low action gives a fair bit of grunt to the tone without having to really whack the strings hard. I pluck close to the bridge anyway so I can live with an extremely low action....

LS

[bassteban]

I put the strings on the back of the neck. Now THAT is low...

Seriously, I also like it low. But I won't say that's *better*, just my preference.

[peakdesign]

Originally Posted by the low one

Everything said above sounds good.

On my Jazz fretless I set mine to about 3 mm from the bottom of the string to the fingerboard. Reading other threads I’d say that’s about a medium action.

Nah, that's a high action! A medium action is where the strings touch the fingerboard at all times, a low action is where the strings are super-glued to the fingerboard. For a very low action you need an epoxy coating. A very low action is where the strings are embedded in the epoxy like flies in amber .

[Paul K]

Low. And with only the tiniest amount of relief on the neck.

And with a nut that's also cut low; basically in line with the fretboard. The nut about only keeps the strings from wobbling side to side. THe nut is always cut too high from the factories. Always. Always. Always.

[Lesfunk]

Flat board. Low Action.

[the low one]

Tony Franklin says on another TB thread that he likes a medium high action, and here's an interview with Percy Jones where he says he likes a high action:
http://www.percyjones.net/interview.htm

Both have great tone that comes from their technique, and well set up instruments.