Low Action - beware, not toooo low!!

PJSShearer · #1 05-14-2009, 07:03 AM

Some years ago I was working on a Cruise ship out of Miami and booked for a Recording Session in Fort Lauderdale Florida as a favour to a friend. In honour of this auspicious occasion, I did a setup on my bass the day before - usual stuff - I changed the strings, tweaked the truss rod, adjusted the saddle heights, set the intonation, adjusted the pups for even output and a low action. I played it at the gig that evening and all was fine - felt good & sounded great.

The next morning my Bass went from an Air Conditioned Environment (the Cruise Ship) to the boot of a car in mid-summer Miami (90+ degrees, 90+% humidity) then 30 miles or so to Ft. Lauderdale and then into an Airconned recording studio. Nett result = the neck went doolally and one unplayable Bass with the strings hard against the fretboard!!. Luckily they had one I could borrow until everything equalised and I could get a note out of it!!.

So beware, not toooo low!!

NS2A · #2 05-14-2009, 07:43 AM

Happened to me a month ago when we went from cold dry air to warmer more humid air.

Of course an allen wrench goes a long way. Why didn't you just adjust it before the gig?

Mrdak · #3 05-14-2009, 08:02 AM

A 30 mile trip in the trunk of a car!

And all you learn from this is........ Beware, don't set your action toooooo low?

O_______K

fullrangebass · #4 05-14-2009, 08:49 AM

Or get a graphite neck equipped bass

I have saved myself the embarrassment 10yrs ago by bringing a Status Graphite Empathy at the 40C evening summer gig

Buskman · #5 05-14-2009, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJSShearer

The next morning my Bass went from an Air Conditioned Environment (the Cruise Ship) to the boot of a car in mid-summer Miami (90+ degrees, 90+% humidity) then 30 miles or so to Ft. Lauderdale and then into an Airconned recording studio. Nett result = the neck went doolally and one unplayable Bass with the strings hard against the fretboard!!.

These kind of extreme temp/humidity changes are going to make a bass' neck go "doolally"

, regardless of how low or high your action is set (action has nothing to do with it).

Did you wait a little while once in the studio before opening the case (if it was in a case)? An instrument has to adjust to environmental changes.

Illbay · #6 05-14-2009, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJSShearer

The next morning my Bass went from an Air Conditioned Environment (the Cruise Ship) to the boot of a car in mid-summer Miami (90+ degrees, 90+% humidity) then 30 miles or so to Ft. Lauderdale and then into an Airconned recording studio.

Next time let your axe ride up front, and put your girlfriend in the boot.

bongomania · #7 05-14-2009, 09:57 AM

Yeah, doesn't sound to me like the action height had anything to do with the problem.

JLS · #8 05-14-2009, 11:10 AM

"The next morning my Bass went from an Air Conditioned Environment (the Cruise Ship) to the boot of a car in mid-summer Miami (90+ degrees, 90+% humidity) then 30 miles or so to Ft. Lauderdale and then into an Airconned recording studio."

You did WHAT?! And were SURPRISED?

excane · #9 05-14-2009, 11:17 AM

Yes, wood expands and contracts.......much like.....ah nevermind.

Zooberwerx · #10 05-14-2009, 11:19 AM

Doesn't take much to send it over the edge, eh? I keep a complete tool kit in my truck for these little emergencies (I can also fix eyeglasses!). Most..but not all...of my basses will show an immediate response with a truss rod tweak.

Riis

chicagodoubler · #11 05-14-2009, 11:29 AM

I don't know a studio professional who doesn't keep every tool necessary to completely adjust his bass on him at all times. For that matter, I'm not sure I know any working professionals who would put their instrument in the trunk of a car in Florida for any reason.

For that matter, your gig bag should also include yummy stuff like 9v batteries, a music stand, a tuner, a flask....

Buskman · #12 05-14-2009, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicagodoubler

a flask....

+1!

gregoire1 · #13 05-14-2009, 12:20 PM

Same think happened to me. (unplayably high action) I made an emergency truss rod adjustment to get it playable, then the next day the strings were flat against the fretboard! I made small adjustments over the next few days til it set in!

unclejane · #14 05-14-2009, 01:01 PM

That's what you get for going to probably the most brutal climate on planet Earth, much less voluntarily living there when you don't have to.....

My L2000 requires pretty regular truss rod adjustments according to changes in temp, so I always have hex wrench of the right size around when I use it (it's got the #8 neck on it so it's pretty skinny).

My L2500 doesn't need it to that same degree but it does from time to time. My tobias 6 string never needs adjusting but it's also got a 5-piece laminated neck the size of an aircraft carrier deck....

LS

xLowEndx · #15 05-14-2009, 01:05 PM

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

That surprised smiley was what did it for me. HAHA IllBay

PJSShearer · #16 05-17-2009, 10:41 AM

It turned out fine in the end - after about 30 minutes things evened up and we were good to go - with a tweak on the truss rod. I would have had the Bass in the car with me but then the drummer would have had to walk. ... The Trumpet and Sax Players were fine though, they just pushed in or pulled out...