Low Action vs. Lighter Strings

[Poop-Loops]

No idea where to put this, so I'll just put this here, since it's "general".

Tighter strings let you get lower action, correct? Since they don't vibrate as widely as looser strings, you can put them lower. But which is easier to play? Thick strings that are low, or thinner strings that are higher? I have smallish hands and want something that's easy to play. I'll figure out tone later.

[JAUQO III-X]

I use very light gauge strings on my none sub contra basses(110 .080 .060 .040 .030 .025)I like extremely low action and my strings are almost as flexable as rubber bands and I get all the mids,highs and lows I need,no fret buzz at all and I also have small hands

It all has to do with how the bass is set up,you can barely get a business card under my strings.

[ibnzneksrul]

I like tight flatwounds (medium gauge) set to low action.

[Poop-Loops]

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

I use very light gauge strings on my none sub contra basses(110 .080 .060 .040 .030 .025)I like extremely low action and my strings are almost as flexable as rubber bands and I get all the mids,highs and lows I need,no fret buzz at all and I also have small hands

It all has to do with how the bass is set up,you can barely get a business card under my strings.

Well... I'm playing an SX bass. So the construction isn't exactly top-notch. I've tried getting my action real low, but some frets start buzzing way before others, and it just messes everything up. I'll play around with it some more, but I doubt I can't do much to it.

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

Well... I'm playing an SX bass. So the construction isn't exactly top-notch. I've tried getting my action real low, but some frets start buzzing way before others, and it just messes everything up. I'll play around with it some more, but I doubt I can't do much to it.

I'm not being sarcastic nor am I knocking the Bass that you're playing but that does have a lot to do with you having the problem that you're having with your ability to get the action that you desire.

[Lorenzini]

Jauqo... .110 for your B string? .080 for your E?

Yes, that is really low!

[Poop-Loops]

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

I'm not being sarcastic nor am I knocking the Bass that you're playing but that does have a lot to do with you having the problem that you're having with your ability to get the action that you desire.

I know, I know. That's why I can't have it both ways. I'm saving up for a Dingwall, so someday I'll get to have a .110 B like you do.

[JimmyM]

There really isn't any better or worse. I prefer thinner strings with medium low action. Someone who plays heavier might like heavier strings with high action. It's something you have to find your own way to make it work for you. Using Jauqo as an example, if I were to pick up his bass, I'm sure I couldn't even play it. I would get nothing but fret noise and I'd miss notes from not being able to feel the strings. But it works great for him.

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by Lorenzini

Jauqo... .110 for your B string? .080 for your E?

Yes, that is really low!

Yes very low action and just the right amount of tension,which for me helps prevent the possibility of developing problems that can be caused by putting to much unnecessary stress on my arm,wrist,hands and fingers,I believe that I shouldn't have to struggle or wrestle with the instrument just to get the sound out of the instrument that I desire.

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

I know, I know. That's why I can't have it both ways. I'm saving up for a Dingwall, so someday I'll get to have a .110 B like you do.

A 110 will sound and play beautifully on a Dingwall and I also use a 110 Low B on all of my 34" 5 strings as well.It all come down to the quality of the instrument and how I choose to have the strings feel.

Originally Posted by JimmyM

There really isn't any better or worse. I prefer thinner strings with medium low action. Someone who plays heavier might like heavier strings with high action. It's something you have to find your own way to make it work for you.

Exactly,I totally agree one simply has to really spend time finding what really works for them.

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Using Jauqo as an example, if I were to pick up his bass, I'm sure I couldn't even play it. I would get nothing but fret noise and I'd miss notes from not being able to feel the strings. But it works great for him.

Most people who pick up my basses to play hands them back very quickly because all they get is fret noise and missed notes,they are baffled as to how I'm able to play with action as low as I have and not get fret buzz when I play and they always comment on how clear my basses sound,especially in the studio where every little anything is so magnified.

David Meadows of Audere preamps had a chance to play my Wilkins 5 string and he could not believe how low the action was and he commented that all he was getting out of it was a bunch of fret buzz.

Alphonso Johnson also played my Wilkins and he could not believe how well it played and how nice the 110 B string felt and sounded.

Dal Lakin is always teasing me about how thin my string gauges are and how low my action is,recently he asked me if he could check out my fretless 4-94D,his first reaction was wow!this action is really low(he was already familiar with my string gauge and low action on my fretted basses)and he said you can't play this thing and I said yes I can,so he hands me the bass and says let me hear it and when I played it he commented with a big smile saying "wow and it sounds great"

It all comes down to our individual touch and how we want the strings to sound in accordance to what the string tension may feel like,for me personally if I want long playing mileage out of a gig,me having not to fight with high action and high tension strings places me so close to Heaven

[abngourmet]

It all depends on how one plucks the strings. I say this because I'm a light gauge guy (.40-.100 DR Hi Beams). The lighter the gauge, the lighter the attack IMHO. If you don't want to use a lighter attack (and I don't for the most part), you need to move your right/left hand positioning (depending on whether you're right or left handed) closer to the bridge where the tension is tighter. If you don't, you get a lot of fret "clack." When I move my had closer to the neck, I have to pluck/pick much lighter or else I risk a lot of fret buzz/noise.

For me, I generally keep my right hand (my plucking/picking hand) anchored to the bridge pickup. It allows me to use these lighter strings, with what I consider decent action without buzz/clacking.

My two cents,

Alan

[alembicguy]

I run 40-95 on my Stanley Clarke and have very low action and very light tension tuned to A-440.I get all the lows and highs I need on any amp with EQing set flat.

[Poop-Loops]

Let me rephrase my question: I want to be able to fret the strings as effortlessly as possible. However, my SX limits my setup options. So would it be better to get a thicker gauge and lower action, or thinner gauge and higher action?

I already play with a light pluck. It just goes a lot easier than trying to dig into the strings.

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

Let me rephrase my question: I want to be able to fret the strings as effortlessly as possible. However, my SX limits my setup options. So would it be better to get a thicker gauge and lower action, or thinner gauge and higher action?

I already play with a light pluck. It just goes a lot easier than trying to dig into the strings.

A thinner gauge will be perfect for effortless fretting.

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

Well... I'm playing an SX bass. So the construction isn't exactly top-notch. I've tried getting my action real low, but some frets start buzzing way before others, and it just messes everything up. I'll play around with it some more, but I doubt I can't do much to it.

You may want to consider getting the frets dressed and a good setup done to your bass.

I tend to play high action sometimes I would like lower action, but overall I like it high so I can dig in when necessary.

[Poop-Loops]

I was thinking about going all out and modding my SX, but I'd rather save up every penny and get a high-end bass, like a Dingwall.

I had a dream, though, that I went to Bass Northwest and tried one of their 6-string Dingwalls (that they don't have in stock at the moment) and I couldn't play it, it was so big. Horrible nightmare.

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

I had a dream, though, that I went to Bass Northwest and tried one of their 6-string Dingwalls (that they don't have in stock at the moment) and I couldn't play it, it was so big. Horrible nightmare.

What model Dingwall are you getting ?

[Lorenzini]

It is largely personal preference, obviously.
My tech assists me in keeping low action. He lowers each fret lower than the previous, using just the right relief and bridge saddle height, for a seriously low action and wonderfully playing bass.

I've found that if a bass is setup correctly, low action does not hinder the sound coming from the player & instrument.

[machine gewehr]

Jauqo,how much is the relief on your bass?

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by machine gewehr

Jauqo,how much is the relief on your bass?

The neck is very close to being completely flat.

[machine gewehr]

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

The neck is very close to being completely flat.

Thanks.I tried that and didn't work for me (or my bass).