So what is the consensus on how high your strings should be off your fret board?

Holy War · #1 05-12-2009, 11:03 PM

A measurement I mean. Ive been learning how to do my own set ups and just want to get an idea of how high my strings should be. Right now I have them set so that they dont buzz, but they may be a bit high.

I know that on my jazz they are closer to the fret board near the first fret and get further and further away as you go up the neck, is this normal? Its not by much at all, but noticeable...

fivestringgecko · #2 05-12-2009, 11:11 PM

Subscribed.

I can do a decent setup on my basses, but I want to learn how to get my action lower. I had a lesson with Ray Riendeau a couple weekends ago and he let me play his Zon... OMG, that's the lowest action I've ever seen and that's what I want!

I know that doesn't really answer your question though. There's a few Youtube videos out there that might help, I found this one that does a pretty good job of explaining the basics. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GKqiTzACwA

5sg.

PBass101 · #3 05-12-2009, 11:16 PM

As far as I'm concerned, any bass can be set up with a decent action as long as the neck is managable, the frets are even, and the nut isn't filed too high or low. I don't think there is any reason to ever have an action higher than 2mm at the 17th fret, but that's me.

I play with mine as low as I can get them because when I play fingerstyle - about 90% of my playing - I can use a light touch to tap the strings against the frets. It's a percussive, articulate and unique sound that works great with my rock band, but in order to get that kind of action, I need my neck dead straight, the strings all under 1mm at the 17th, and the nut filed for minimal clearance at the first fret.

It's a fairly uncommon approach to setting up a bass, but it's how I like it.

Slax · #4 05-12-2009, 11:30 PM

After relief is set, I set the action height where's comfortable for me at the time. I seem to vary from year to year a bit. All in all, the action is pretty much up to personal preference. (Granted the rest of the setup is done properly and aren't skewing your view.

)

PJSShearer · #5 05-13-2009, 07:28 AM

There's no "right" answer to this one, it depends mainly on how you play - if you have a lighter touch and/or tend to pluck "across" the strings (parallel with the top of the Bass) then you can set the action lower. Heavier touch and/or more "into" the strings then you'll need a higher action. The amount of fret buzz you can stand is likely to be the limiting factor :-).

I've found that a higher action gives a more "open" tone. Pickup height can be a factor as well.

Basically - you have to experiment to find your ideal - and have fun finding out.

unclemeat · #6 05-13-2009, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJSShearer

There's no "right" answer to this one, it depends mainly on how you play - if you have a lighter touch and/or tend to pluck "across" the strings (parallel with the top of the Bass) then you can set the action lower. Heavier touch and/or more "into" the strings then you'll need a higher action. The amount of fret buzz you can stand is likely to be the limiting factor :-).

I've found that a higher action gives a more "open" tone. Pickup height can be a factor as well.

Basically - you have to experiment to find your ideal - and have fun finding out.

Yep, the closest to a real consensus is that higher action is typically not a big deal on a properly adjusted neck. Higher action also yields more string vibration, longer sustain.

That said, I play with a super light touch and my action is around 3/64" to 2/32" - which is pretty low for a guitar.

elBandito · #7 05-14-2009, 12:22 AM

I like ~2.5mm at 12th for the E and little less for the A. Any lower and I get too much clack. D and G stay at around 2mm.

JumboJack · #8 05-14-2009, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unclemeat

Yep, the closest to a real consensus is that higher action is typically not a big deal on a properly adjusted neck. Higher action also yields more string vibration, longer sustain.

That said, I play with a super light touch and my action is around 3/64" to 2/32" - which is pretty low for a guitar.

2/32?

rumblethump · #9 05-15-2009, 07:27 AM

I like mine a bit higher 4/64

wildhorse · #10 05-15-2009, 07:45 AM

I set mine a little less than 2mm at the 17th fret all across the board. This keeps your strings even with the radius of the fretboard. They will have a tendancy to be a little lower on the higher strings. But not by much.

Illbay · #11 05-15-2009, 07:54 AM

"Consensus?"

I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.

Orangeclawhamme · #12 05-15-2009, 07:56 AM

“I like my strings on the other side of the frets.” J. Entwistle

I wonder how close anyone ever got to that.

El Barbero · #13 05-15-2009, 08:42 AM

If your looking for concensus on this subject you'l have a long wait. There is a great article on the Sadowsky website telling you HOW to do a set up, but not where to set to. Thats really your own personal choice.

I would say though that quite apart from what you may have been told the height to which the nut is cut is critical to get good intonation all over the neck. I recut the nut on my Squier to the same height as on my Sadowsky and that transformed the bass. Originaly it was cut at 0.095in and would intonate high or low either side of the 12th fret. After recutting to 0.045in it intonated correctly at each and every fret.

Good luck with the search for YOUR perfect set up, it can be a journey.