Obsessing over low action

[thedemiurge]

Does anyone else obsess over setting up their bass to have the lowest action possible?

Does anyone else constantly worry about changes in the weather affecting that optimal relief in the neck?

My action is as low as the adjustable bridge, nut and saddles will allow. The frets have also recently been leveled and dressed so that may explain why I have a bit more clearence. The neck is pretty straight with a small amount of relief. I am just a tad under 3/32 at the 12th fret all across and an 1/8" at the 24th all across. (top of fret to bottom of string) Is that considered low? I have some light buzzing here and there, but not noticable with an amp. This is a Warwick Thumb BO 4 string.

I know that some people like to play with a higher action and I've read the comments about having more versatile playing dynamics and tone with higher action. I used to pluck away aggressively back in my metal days but now I'm getting into that "Fusion Geek" mode with a light touch and quick fretboard. Hence this really low action thing.

Might it be better to find a middle ground? How do you guys like your setup?

[seanm]

3/32" (6/64") would be about a medium by Fender standards.

And, no, I don't obsess over my action. I set it up and basically leave it until either a) something seems off, b) I change strings, or c) I tend to check it every year or two "just in case".

I prefer a medium action, but I can play with a high action. I changed strings recently on my practice bass and the action was at least 1/4" off the board I lived with that a couple of days just because I didn't have time to do a proper setup.

[calebbarton]

So much so that I do my own fretwork and shem my neck appropriately to achieve what I would consider good action.

[darkstorm]

I only do low action and I also like some musical fret buzz. If I cant get about 1/8 inch at 12th fret the bass needs some work imo. Fret levelling is one of the best fixes and treats one can do to their bass or guitar if it has any problems in that regard. I also find a little bit of rearward neck tilt helps lower action as opposed to when neck is completely horizontal to body top. A few mfg create their neck pockets this way without need for shim. But many dont do that. I adjust each srtring seperately without need for measuring sticks etc then tweak after that if any needed for better string to string arc or whatever itd be called. Lol. Once set I leave it alone cept to adjust truss rod if needed for climate changes. I do neck near dead straight.

[96tbird]

I only think about it when playing alone, in a band setting I never notice it, too much else going on, I just play and all is good. Then I do say "hey, this bass plays nice", then get home and "could it play better?" creeps back in. LOL.

[lowendblues]

"My action is as low as the adjustable bridge, nut and saddles will allow."

Not so. You can always shim the neck pocket to "raise" your fretboard to get more adjustment out of your bridge..

[thedemiurge]

I've heard of using business cards to shim the neck. Any other shimming methods? I'm assuming there are kits available for this? I suppose I could make my own out of thin gauge aluminum or something.

[Rockmusician]

I prefer the action to be as low as possible without buzzing. I hear about people having issues with temperature, humidity, etc, but I can honestly say that in my 33 years of playing, I haven't had many issues. Maybe it's because I am very meticulous about caring for my gear.

[knumbskull]

i used to go for low action, i think it's a result of coming from a guitar playing background. i've since learned to love a bit of high action - higher tension, better note definition, more legroom to dig in without buzz... i like to feel the strings move!

[lowendblues]

Originally Posted by thedemiurge

I've heard of using business cards to shim the neck. Any other shimming methods? I'm assuming there are kits available for this? I suppose I could make my own out of thin gauge aluminum or something.

Just trim off a piece of a business card. and stick it in the heel of the neck pocket. Remember, a little will go a long way. if you dont like it,, just take it out.

[96tbird]

Originally Posted by thedemiurge

I've heard of using business cards to shim the neck. Any other shimming methods? I'm assuming there are kits available for this? I suppose I could make my own out of thin gauge aluminum or something.

picks, folded aluminum foil, cut down feeler gauges, etc have all been used.

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by thedemiurge

Does anyone else obsess over setting up their bass to have the lowest action possible?

Does anyone else constantly worry about changes in the weather affecting that optimal relief in the neck?

Might it be better to find a middle ground? How do you guys like your setup?

1) No, not worth the bother.

2) No, not worth worrying about when it's so simple to adjust.

3) Yes, obviously. Get a nice playable action that won't go bad if the humidity shifts 20 points.

I get it comfortable and call it good. I don't always use feeler gauges, just tweak until it's low enough to work for me. I do find that Stew-Mac's string height gauge can be handy, but at age 61 it's pretty hard for me to even see the tiny marks for 64th inch measurements.

Shimming is also really easy - doesn't matter whether you use a biz card, masking tape, aluminum or sandpaper as long as you cinch the screws down well. It does get old taking the neck on and off to get the shim right. Start with no more than a single biz card thickness and work up.

[Gyver]

I do obsess over low action. I always get it just about right and then the obsessing starts and I mess with it until I screw it up. I have sold several excellent basses because of "low action obsession" lol. I set my G string at 1.5mm (12th fret) and set each successive string ever so slightly higher to the E which is about 1.75mm. 1.5mm is 1/16 I believe. My fretboard is also just the smallest fraction short of being dead straight. My MM Sterling handles this setup like a champ and shall never be sold!

[Turnaround]

Originally Posted by thedemiurge

Does anyone else obsess over setting up their bass to have the lowest action possible?

I certainly want the instrument to play the best that it can for me - why should I settle for any less?

Each of my basses is set differently because they all behave differently. I can feel the difference when the relief changes by a few thousandths of an inch so I always have the tools at hand to adjust the neck. In each instrument case is an appropriately sized hex key and a feeler gauge of the thickness I like for that bass. While the band tunes up, I play up and down the fingerboard and If it's not right, I adjust the truss rod using the feeler gauge to put it exactly where I like it. It's part of tuning as far as I am concerned. Anything less is "out of tune" - not sonically, but in terms of playability.

[seanm]

Originally Posted by Turnaround

I certainly want the instrument to play the best that it can for me - why should I settle for any less?

Each of my basses is set differently because they all behave differently. I can feel the difference when the relief changes by a few thousandths of an inch so I always have the tools at hand to adjust the neck. In each instrument case is an appropriately sized hex key and a feeler gauge of the thickness I like for that bass. While the band tunes up, I play up and down the fingerboard and If it's not right, I adjust the truss rod using the feeler gauge to put it exactly where I like it. It's part of tuning as far as I am concerned. Anything less is "out of tune" - not sonically, but in terms of playability.

Ok, *that* is obsessive

[JLS]

Originally Posted by thedemiurge

I've heard of using business cards to shim the neck. Any other shimming methods? I'm assuming there are kits available for this? I suppose I could make my own out of thin gauge aluminum or something.

"Shimming Kits"--now, that's an entrepreneurial niche to be filled!

There's already ebay sellers that charge a small fortune for four machine screws and four threaded inserts.

[slaphappychappy]

I like a little buzz, but comfort. Too low and the bass dies I find. I'm an aggressive slapper and if its too low there is no bounce back. I'm a heavy plucker more than a light walker if that makes sense so I adjust til its comfy then leave it. Although always always have e lower than a.

[maumari]

I like lowest action possible, but now I'm finishing the second of a 6 string bass series and I can't replicate the (impossible) action of the first one: 0,76mm at 12th fret on C string, just the thickness of a credit card, without any buzz at all.
On the second bass I've leveled and dressed the frets about 4 times, but with that action still remains some buzz from 10th to 15th fret on C.... damn

With lowest action I use to pluck string softer and I can play longer, working better on note definition and speed.

[john grey]

Originally Posted by JLS

"Shimming Kits"--now, that's an entrepreneurial niche to be filled!

There's already ebay sellers that charge a small fortune for four machine screws and four threaded inserts.

About 20+ years back they had brass shims with the thickness written on them. The same company made kits for cutting reeds and repairing bows (might have been from the UK). They were not a poor product by any means but I doubt that they are easy to find. They would not be sold a large commercial retail, sales oriented guitar store chains.

[turbo chicken]

nope ... only adjusted when strings change