A question about Saddle Height and Geddy Lee

[Mikata]

Hey guys. I've been recently thinking about it and figured i would ask on here first. The saddles on my Geddy Lee Jazz bass are almost all the way up on the badass bridge, and the top of the little screw is about halfway through the saddle itself. The action plays good, but seems alittle high towards the bottom of the neck. I ask because i got the bass second hand and im curious about bridges and how Geddys setup is.

Does Geddy Lee himself typically has saddles high at the bridge since his action? or does he go with the typically bass setup of a balance between the neck and the bridge adjustments? I know his bass tech was on here and alot of other people are Rush/Gedheads so i figure i will ask about it. Also does Geddy seem to be pretty standard on his bass action setup? He is pretty simple and basic on most things so i figure he would be.

Im just thinking maybe he runs the saddles high so he isnt hitting the strings too hard off the neck because of that hammer hitting index finger technique of his. While i know its part of his sound, its defently done in a controlled way. I bought my GL Jazz second hand and havent played with the bridge, the previous owner did like Geddy but i think he had it setup more for a different style of music. I can nail Geddys tone well and play all of Rush but i dont have as aggressive of a right hand as the man and wondering if it could help me to lower the saddles abit. Im going to give it a shot once i go out and purchase the proper mini hex tool (.050 of an inch if i recalled from another thread). Also the saddles on the bridge dont look like they are balance correct, one if obviously laying crooked and it bugs me out just looking at it. While yes i can play this bass and make it sound great, im looking to see if i can tweak it to get better performance out of it or myself, and to know more about proper bridge setup.

Also if anyone knows good resources and links for bridge setup/adjustment please post them here.

If you can think of a Badass II bridge my saddles arent even laying in the grooves, they are elevated above them. Is this normal? I will upload a picture soon.
I have adjusted the truss rod abit and got the neck straight, the action at the top of the neck is low and perfect, its just becomes very uneven and apparent as you progress down the neck due to the saddles, which hasnt been a huge deal it just makes me curious to what is more perfered.

Also if anyone has an idea roughly of Geddys pickup height on his Jazz and would like to share or post links that would be cool.. again being that my bass is 2nd hand they were adjusted and i've been tweaking them to get them to where they should be. i know there is no right spot >_< and to use your ears but im just looking for feedback at this point after trying myself. I've slowly worked the neck pickup down almost flush with the pickguard but noticeably still above it and the bridge pickup alittle higher than normal. I've tried that and balances between the two, also should i try to go flat from high to lows, or is there a set measurement from the dead bottom of each string?

[darkstorm]

The idea is to set the action as is best for you personally. Lower the saddles if that gives you liked lower action. Theres no reason to think that copying a individual players action setup is gonna be great choice for you. Myself I go for as low action as I can for useing pick and just a little fret buzz with no notes fretting out even for sustained notes. A lot of players prefer higher action then I use, some use a bit lower action then I do. Yes the saddles should be even not slanted to one side or the other. Adjust each saddles height to individual preferance. retweak it a little the next day if desired. This gives the best action and most playable bass for the individual. Better apporach then just trying to copy someone elses action or letting a tech do it for you. cause they are not you and therefor wont get the action ideal for you.

For pup adjustment, sure start with his setting if you want. Then readjust them for best to you tone. Even if thats going for as close to his as possible. Cause you dont strike the strings quite the same way as he does etc.

Personally I liked Geddys tone better when he was useing Ricks. Lol. So any simulation of his tone for me would include adjusting pups, strings, eq, etc for little more of the Rick like clank etc.

[Mikata]

ya i understand your point and understand its all personal preferences. i am just looking for references and guidlines and seeing if others have any advice. at the moment i dont know whats right or wrong, i feel comfortable playing with what i got now so im just seeing if i can tweak it for more comfort so i can be better. thats all... i am going to play with them little by little and learn that way.

[walterw]

go for it. there's no magic "geddy" setting on those basses, they come adjusted just like any other fender from the factory. the previous owner probably messed with it.

adjust the neck to be almost straight (keep the slightest discernible up-curve, like .010"-.012" gap between the string and the middle frets when holding the first and last fret down), then lower the saddles until it feels right without buzzing too much.

[lowendblues]

If straightening the neck doesnt work, I'd try a little bit of shim placed in the heel of the neck closest to the pickups. About a business cards width to start. That will give you a little "tilt" to the neck,.

[Mikata]

thanks guys. im going to try what walter suggested.