What's your action?

[InRodweTruss]

I'm obsessing about my action right now...sorry. I've been fudging around with my setup and it seems my playing style demands higher strings. I'm curious to see what others play at...

Right now mine is....(@ the 12th, not depressing 1st)

E/A- 3mm
D/G- 2.5mm

[Nyarlathotep]

At the 12th I can only fit 2 credit cards underneath any of my 5 strings.

And I kinda want to lower it more....

[InRodweTruss]

In that unit of measuement....mine is 2 cc's on treble, 3 cc's on bass

[reverb508]

wow, mine is like 5 mm at the 12th fret. Is that excessively high?

[InRodweTruss]

well everyone has thier own preference...but i sure to some that's too high.

[jschwalls]

I have all my basses set to the exact same height, measured at 7th fret ( for neck relief ) and 21st fret ( which is usually where the neck meets the body )...

E -- 7th fret....2/32 (1/16) just a 'micron' over 1/16 to be exact.
E -- 21st fret...4/32 (1/8)

A -- 7th fret....2/32 (1/16)
A -- 21st fret...3/32

D -- 7th fret....2/32 (1/16)
D -- 21st fret...3/32

G -- 7th fret....1/32
G -- 21st fret...2/32 (1/16)

((NOTE: these are pretty close, the way I actually measure is from the fret to the top of each string. I can get a more accurate reading that way...))

All 3 Yamaha Attitudes are adjusted this way...as well as my Thunderbird ( gotta have at least one classic bass )

My Rickenbacker is set a bit lower as well as my fretless Yamaha.

The Hamer 12 string is a nightmare ( I ain't even gonna go there )
My Yamaha BEX-BS Semi-hollowbody.. is adjusted just a touch higher than the normal measurements... so I will play it cleaner. Found this works better on hollowbody basses.

I just picked up a Ibanez SRX500 ( some kid came in and traded it for very cheap, and I felt i needed a 24 fret bass again ). I have the action adjusted pretty damn low... I haven't played it live yet, so it may change...

These measurements have served me well for a long time... and they are the foundation to all the bass set-ups I do in the shop.. it is definately a LIVE BASS setup.

HAVE FUN,
JSchwalls

[InRodweTruss]

1/8" at the 7th fret on E?!!! That's insane!!! I'll stop complaining now....

[jschwalls]

OH CRAP......... I just realized something.. those measurements are taken at the top of the string not the bottom....

let me remeasure and adjust for the thickness of the string... God, I can be so dumb sometimes...
I revised my original post with a close but slightly less accurate measurement of each string...

I use Rotosound BS66 (110..80..65..43 ) on all my basses here are the measurements I use. Measuring from the fret to the TOP of each string at the location specified.

E -- 7th fret....5/32
E -- 21st fret...7/32

A -- 7th fret....4/32 (1/8)
A -- 21st fret...5/32

D -- 7th fret....4/32 (1/8 )
D -- 21st fret...5/32

G -- 7th fret....3/32
G -- 21st fret...4/32 (1/8).. it is actually set just a hair below the 1/8 mark.

Sorry about the confusion InRodweTruss

[seanm]

At the 12th fret on the E string from top of fret to bottom of string is a good 3mm. I am thinking of raising it a bit though.

[PocketGroove82]

Dragonbass, a setup guy at the sadowsky shop, send me this guide.
His setups are impeccable! Ultralow action that practically plays itself! I received my metro hybrid PJ with his setup and everyone who's played it has been flabbergasted.
I'm not sure this guide will be optimal for every bass out there, since sadowskys have smaller frets than most basses, but I bet it will help you guys if you want to get a more scientific set up.

If you want a great ruler for setups, there are two at Stewart Mac that have 1/64, 1/32, and other useful stuff. They are sorta expensive, but it's worth it if you want to be consistent with your setups.

Ok, here is Dragonbass's guide:



Here's the guide I wrote up for a few other guys....I kept it Pretty straight forward...It's almost what I wrote you last time, but maybe a little more info.

OK...here goes.....

First buy/get a ruler that measures in 32nd's and 64th's. The ones I use in the shop are about $30.00, but I don't know if you need to invest that ..yet!

Have every done any work on them yourself? Do you know how to sight a neck??(have to ask)

1)-Standing with the body resting on a table...
Hold the Bass by the headstock (your right or left hand should be just about under the nut for support).
-Sight down the neck..This will take some practice as to what your looking for...You want a little Bow in the neck {away from the strings...not to much..this is what takes the most time to learn..Try and use the string as a straight edge....if it's too straight it will buzz. To much bow, and the action will be way to high!}
-With the bass laying down if front of you, headstock to the left of you..the truss rod works righty tighty -Clockwise, left loosey -counterclockwise.) Do maybe a 1/4 turn at a time...do not crank the rod..a little goes a long way! Adjust as needed...you will need to sight the neck till you think you have it where you like it. NOTE: the bass side might look strighter than the treble side, this is just the tension of the strings and how the wood reacts.....Once that's done...

-2) When measuring string Height..sitting with the bass in a almost acoustic upright position (works for me... easier to see the reading), Rear strap button should "dig" into your right thigh. Hold down the first fret, measure off the top of the 12th fret (keep the ruler as level as you can.)take the reading from the bottom of the string.

4/5 string..
-"G" 5/64ths
-"D" 5.5 /64ths
-"A" 5.5 /64ths
-"E" 6/64ths
-"B" 6.5 /64ths

** If you want lower action..4 - 5.5/64ths with gradual increments.

-3) Intonation: I recommend a digital tuner...strobe would be great...but expensive!
Play the open note, compare to the fretted note at the 12th fret...

If Flat...turn counterclock wise...this will move the saddle towards the neck...

If Sharp...Turn clock wise..this will move the saddle away from the neck.
-Retune, Recheck....This will/may affect string height, so once the intonation is ok...recheck saddle heights!

-4) Pickup heights...
Hold the bass Same way as doing the string heights,
Holding down the LAST fret..

Under the "G" string Under the "E/B" string
Neck = 6/64" Neck = 7/64"
Bridge = 6/64" Bridge = 7/64"

Try to keep the pickheights even with the body or string.

Of couse this all depends on players, and what your comfortable with....These numbers can change.

Rob

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I hope that helps, and thank's rob!

[CrazyArcher]

About 4 mm, that's how the bass came to me... It plays fine, yet I wanna lower it.

[Ramstien]

I have no idea, it seems really high. All the basses I try out are uber low compared to mine.

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally Posted by CrazyArcher

It plays fine, yet I wanna lower it.

[arnold swartzawatzit]
DO EET!
[/arnold swartzawatzit]

[jschwalls]

Nice post PocketGroove82... I got my measurments years ago when I had my Kubicki sent to Phillip to re-setup the bass.. I bought it used and Phillip Kubicki set it up .... I stole those measurements from his set-up and have been using them ever since.... I was suprised to see how close my specs are to the list you gave...

Over the years i have made minor adjustments to make the setups faster...but still they are close.

And you are correct the basses play perfect with these measurements....

thanks for posting...

Jon

[GeneralElectric]

I don't have any measuring tools handy but I can fit a cigarette under there without touching the strings buy a long shot.