Hig Action vs Low Action

dejm1 · #1 08-30-2006, 10:19 AM

Just got a 1982 Washburn B-20 and the action is really low - much lower than I usually play my basses but thought I would give it a shot. I tend to play somewhat hard but can hear all sorts of clicking noises.

Just wondering what the advantages (and dis...) are for low and high action. Is it worth chaning my technique to learn to play lower action or should I stick to my guns and keep playing high action?

Ale · #2 08-30-2006, 10:26 AM

IMO , A little higher action makes the playing more rytmical , and every tone much more dynamic , since you need to work more while playing .. You can do a lot more rytmical stuff with high action ..
Though it may depend on what you play ..
Just try different settings , good luck !

Matthew Bryson · #3 08-30-2006, 11:18 AM

The best thing about super low action, IMO, is that if anybody else picks up your bass (guitar player or whatever) nobody else can even get a clean sounding note and they ask "how in the heck can you play this thing?"

Seriously, I think I like my action nice and medium. I like it as low as I can get it, and still play nice and hard.

sloppyjaloppy · #4 09-14-2006, 04:22 AM

i have my action set as low as possible, its all just personal preference. i like it low just cause its super-fast, and i find it much more comfortable to slap.

Bruce Lindfield · #5 09-14-2006, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew Bryson

The best thing about super low action, IMO, is that if anybody else picks up your bass (guitar player or whatever) nobody else can even get a clean sounding note and they ask "how in the heck can you play this thing?".

Actually - isn't it the other way round - so it's well-documented how James Jamerson's bass had action so high that people would say - how in the heck can you play that thing!!??

Bruce Lindfield · #6 09-14-2006, 05:03 AM

Read about it here :

http://www.backstage-lounge.com/stor...storycode=5623

Michael Henderson:
"Live, he’d use his Ampeg B-15 or blue Kustom 200 with two 15s, and he would turn the amp almost all the way up, so he could control the volume and dynamics from his P-Bass and with his fingers. His strings were dead flatwounds, and his action was so high, you had to get your friend to help you play Bb! "

Chuck Rainey:
Coming from his upright background, James plucked mainly with one finger, using all upstrokes. His heavy touch, high P-Bass action, and “real man” attitude resulted in strong, singing notes. I remember showing him my back-and-forth index-finger plucking technique, and he laughed and said, “that’s sissy stuff right there.”

momo · #7 09-18-2006, 09:14 AM

My warwick is so low that if you don't have a super light touch, you will just fret it out. I can still get good dynamics out of it. My fenders are medium to low. I like them low, and I don't feel that I have anything to proove by playing a bass with high action. I am an upright guy as well.