Setup height and tonage

[jay43]

I havnt messed too much with my string setup height and or distance between the strings and pups. Just wonder will this change the tone of the instrument?

[mongo2]

Originally Posted by jay43

I havnt messed too much with my string setup height and or distance between the strings and pups. Just wonder will this change the tone of the instrument?

Yes.

[darkstorm]

Yes it will. As will adjusting each of the pups for best to you sound and string to string balance. Lower strings so you get some musical fret buzz (but no notes fretting out) really improves the tone to my ears. But some dont like that tone tweak. Is something more suited to those into modern tone or at least the clank and grind of early players like Chriss Squire.

[Oreomeister365]

There's a difference between fret buzz and fret click. I pick somewhat hard above or in front of the neck pickup. I have the action set up so all strings consistently click against the fretboard when I pluck with normal strength, yet they do not buzz beyond the initial click each time I pluck, it's about setting the truss rod right. Compare it to how slap bass is pretty much acheived by having the string click against the fretboard...it's kinda like that. I love the tone but no buzz. And if I pick further back, between the bridge and neck pickup, the click mostly goes away.

I didn't discover this until earlier this year, despite playing for 8 years, and lo and behold, it was the big secret to the tone I always looked for. I was always high action, I thought the click wasn't supposed to be there, but on a whim I made it so the click was always there and hey.

[96tbird]

John Paul Jones has spoken of the click when playing right at the base of the neck and that its a big part of his sound. I have done it for 30 years and wondered if it was bad, but always liked the percussion, after all bass is a rhythm instrument.