I need help with string height

[l3asu]

Hi, I am trying to adjust the height of my strings to have a nice round tone. I'm thinking James Jamerson sort of setup where the strings are very high. Does anyone have an idea of how high the strings should look?

I'm using a four string fender p bass.

[leswatts]

Hi,

I've been messing with Jamerson stuff too. I read everything I could find and listened to the isolated bass tracks floating around.

Many say his "funk machine" p bass was set up in a virtually unplayable state. Listening to tracks I think it was not just high bridge height, but huge relief as well. I say this because even notes on the first few frets sound like they have plenty of left hand damping when he wanted it.

I'm not sure exactly how much action height and relief it was, but I guess it was enough for most to consider it "badly set up".

Dirty old flat wounds of course.

What I can't figure out is how he did that stuff with one finger.

A few seconds here and there showing jamerson playing live are here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9KC7uhMY9s

Les
L M Watts technology

[Madcity Fats]

Yep, Jamerson played with what most people would describe as extreme neck relief and high action. He also played with the pickup and bridge covers on his bass, which might mean he was also using the foam mute that could be installed under the bridge cover. I seem to recall reading somewhere that was the case, but don't quote me on it.

Otherwise, yeah, never change your strings (LaBella flats were his brand) and never clean your fretboard. "It keeps the funk," as James used to say.

Good luck!

[ThunderLizard]

13-
After a certain height, should it really matter? As long as you're not clanking against the neck I don't see where increased string height does anything. Perhaps the string distance from the pups? Let us know how your experiment works out.

[JustDavid]

Jamerson came from Upright playing, where you had to pull the snot out of a string to get usable level. And might well have kept that setup when switching to Electric.

There are many good things about Jamerson to emulate. There are also things best not emulated; ungodly high action is one to pass on.

Flats will help a lot. Fender? LaBella? Tapes? The Strings Forum will give a short range of answers with a quick search.

[leswatts]

After a certain height, should it really matter? As long as you're not clanking against the neck I don't see where increased string height does anything.

Right...I don't think it's crucial to have ungodly high action. Just high enough to get some left hand damping when desired.

I think action is not by any means the big contributor to that round jamerson sound. For me the big ones are:

1) flat wounds
2) string damper as madcity mentioned (I forgot about that)
3) overloading amp input stage a bit then a lot of high cut
4) oh...a P bass!

I find Fender flats do pretty well at about half the price of Labellas.

Les