Am I cheating myself?

fryBASS · #1 12-24-2006, 08:03 PM

Hi everyone. I've been adjusting my string hight and stuff a lot lately, just expirimenting with stuff. Its noteably harder to play (especially in the upper registers) with the action higher ( even a little bit).

Am I cheating myself by keeping the action really low?

jenderfazz · #2 12-24-2006, 08:14 PM

Not at all. Adjust it to where it's comfortable.

I understand where you're coming from, though. I like digging in so I have medium action. When I play a bass with low action and light strings, I fly! In that sense your action can be a limitation, but I see no problem unless you constantly use basses with higher action than your own (which is pretty much rare haha).

JimmyM · #3 12-24-2006, 08:44 PM

You're not cheating yourself but don't go too extreme with lowering the strings. There's a fine line between comfortable and mushy, and a mushy action will cause you to play too soft, and bass is an instrument that I believe requires the ability to dig in and use some force at times.

Bassist4Life · #4 12-24-2006, 09:11 PM

Does anyone find that when your action is too high, chords don't play in tune in the upper register?

Joe

Poop-Loops · #5 12-24-2006, 09:24 PM

They shouldn't. You have to press down on the strings, and since you don't magically get more string out of them, the ones you do press down have to stretch out, which makes them sharper.

Bassist4Life · #6 12-24-2006, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

They shouldn't. You have to press down on the strings, and since you don't magically get more string out of them, the ones you do press down have to stretch out, which makes them sharper.

But they have to travel further to the fingerboard, right? Doesn't that change the tension? I'm a real intonation freak. Playing a major 3rd on a fretted bass drives me nuts. It always sounds SO out of tune. I know that the 3rd needs to be lower to sound in-tune, so I end up bending the root pitch to make it sound right. It's a curse...

Joe

Poop-Loops · #7 12-24-2006, 09:39 PM

They shouldn't [play in tune]. You have to press down on the strings, and since you don't magically get more string out of them, the ones you do press down have to stretch out, which makes them sharper.

How's that?

markjazzbassist · #8 12-24-2006, 10:13 PM

i need to lower my action. it's too high and i dig in too much and my arm hurts. low action rules. now i just need to motivate myself to spend an hour setting up my bass.

jsbass · #9 12-24-2006, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

i need to lower my action. it's too high and i dig in too much and my arm hurts. low action rules. now i just need to motivate myself to spend an hour setting up my bass.

An hour? Takes me WAY less than that to get a nice set up.

Poop-Loops · #10 12-24-2006, 11:29 PM

Relief = 5 minutes

Bridge height = maybe 10 to get it perfect

Intonation = another 10 or so.

BrandonBass · #11 12-25-2006, 02:07 AM

well, its up to preference.

usually you want to go as low as possible without fret buzz. You can go lower, and itd sound alright....and its easier to play

lower = easier playing
higher = harder to play, better tone

Poop-Loops · #12 12-25-2006, 02:13 AM

"Better" tone is subjective, but "easier to play" is obvious for all.

BrandonBass · #13 12-25-2006, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

"Better" tone is subjective, but "easier to play" is obvious for all.

well not really true, i can say that both can be subjective too

some people likes their strings harder to press, like jamerson for example

Poop-Loops · #14 12-25-2006, 02:17 AM

I'm pretty sure he did it for the tone. You'd have to be pretty stupid to want to have a harder time doing something.

BrandonBass · #15 12-25-2006, 02:20 AM

not really true, if your action is very low then yea, itd be easier to press and tap etc. but itd be harder to feel if your string is muted etc.

Plus, there ARE indeed people who likes to play with higher action because of the feel. Of course we're not talking about ridiculous high, just higher than say a typical shredder's set up

i dont see whats so 'stupid' about that. i guess people who prefers fret buzz'd or clickity clack tone must be 'stupid' too?

Poop-Loops · #16 12-25-2006, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrandonBass

not really true, if your action is very low then yea, itd be easier to press and tap etc. but itd be harder to feel if your string is muted etc.

Plus, there ARE indeed people who likes to play with higher action because of the feel. Of course we're not talking about ridiculous high, just higher than say a typical shredder's set up

i dont see whats so 'stupid' about that. i guess people who prefers fret buzz'd or clickity clack tone must be 'stupid' too?

I bolded the key words. James Jamerson had ridiculously high action, to simulate a double bass. Most people don't do that. And if they do, it's for the tone.

If you want to really dig in to the strings, higher action is obviously needed. But there's a point at which higher action just starts being painful and not helpful to your plucking. At that point if you want even higher action, it really has to be for the tone. I mean, why would you want it so high that it's harder to play with no benefit?

visa · #17 12-25-2006, 06:05 AM

both of you are correct. =D

fryBASS · #18 12-25-2006, 07:28 AM

well, its like i want less fret buzz, but i dont want my action any higher

user101 · #19 12-25-2006, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fryBASS

well, its like i want less fret buzz, but i dont want my action any higher

then go fretless. Low action, 0 fret buzz

ninnlangel · #20 12-25-2006, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

I'm pretty sure he did it for the tone. You'd have to be pretty stupid to want to have a harder time doing something.

I disagree. I think having to fight the instrument for every note (just a little) forces you to pick them with more care, and play them with stronger intent.