Tell me about your action! (DB forum thread)

RhinoBass · #1 03-18-2011, 09:55 AM

After 20 years of hemming and hawing, I finally bought a second-hand double bass (Englehart EM-1). The previous owner bought it from Bob Gollihur and said that he had it set up by a professional, so I felt good about it and bought it.

It just seems to me that the action is pretty high on it (I'll have to measure, but I am guessing 7/8").

How high is your action?

What are the positives and negatives of lower action?

Thanks!

drurb · #2 03-18-2011, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RhinoBass

After 20 years of hemming and hawing, I finally bought a second-hand double bass (Englehart EM-1). The previous owner bought it from Bob Gollihur and said that he had it set up by a professional, so I felt good about it and bought it.

It just seems to me that the action is pretty high on it (I'll have to measure, but I am guessing 7/8").

How high is your action?

What are the positives and negatives of lower action?

Thanks!

7/8" is 22.2 mm. That would be quite high! String heights (not action) on the DB are measured from the surface of the fingerboard (at the bridge end) to the bottom (or the middle) of the string. The heights typically vary across the strings. For example, my string heights are about 6.5 mm at the G and about 10+ mm at the E.

As far as the pros and cons of different heights, I suggest that you do a search and peruse the many threads on this topic. The heights one chooses depend upon playing style, desired sound, the particular strings, and a host of other factors. There's no right or wrong to it. As a reference, the heights I quoted above are pretty close to typical, +/- 1-2 mm.

George700DL · #3 03-18-2011, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RhinoBass

After 20 years of hemming and hawing, I finally bought a second-hand double bass (Englehart EM-1). The previous owner bought it from Bob Gollihur and said that he had it set up by a professional, so I felt good about it and bought it.

It just seems to me that the action is pretty high on it (I'll have to measure, but I am guessing 7/8").

How high is your action?

What are the positives and negatives of lower action?

Thanks!

My D string is nearly an inch from the fingerboard, other strings a bit less. I play very heavy gut strings (both arco and pizz) and this type of height is pretty much a requirement for my kind of music.

George

Eric Hochberg · #4 03-18-2011, 10:30 AM

At the other end of the spectrum, mine are 5-8mm. Different flavors for different playing styles and requirements.

Lower string heights mean more agility and less work. Maybe less acoustic volume. I couldn't gig everyday with a more demanding setup. As it is, my hands feel like they've been through the ringer!

bigolbassguy · #5 03-18-2011, 05:00 PM

Currently, I set mine up @ 7, 8.5, 9.5, 10mm. I play mostly pizz, and I use the bow a bit. The middle strings are a bit higher for better bow clearance.

The arch of the fingerboard and the bridge arch can differ significantly when dealing with arco, especially with beveled fingerboards. They tend to have a pretty flat arch.

Rebop · #6 03-19-2011, 08:18 AM

My gut bass has about 15mm string height all the way across. For steels I like a maximum of about 10-12mm across and a minimum of about 7mm.

mr mastodon · #7 03-19-2011, 11:31 AM

i use a method that my teacher said was ron carter's advice on the subject. basically be able to stick a number 2 pencil between the fingerboard and string and have the pencil clear it. i raised it a bit since then, but dropped it back down to the pencil rule yesterday. just became too much of a strain on my hands (with my current strings anyway) where i could tell it wasn't muscle growth it was just my hands and joints aching.

the only thing that sucks now is i lost a lot of acoustic punch and volume. and the strings feel like spaghetti now, comparatively anyway.

off-topic · #8 03-19-2011, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr mastodon

stick a number 2 pencil between the fingerboard and string and have the pencil clear it

Same here.

tstone · #9 03-19-2011, 04:28 PM

And for reference, a Dixon Ticonderoga No. 2 yellow pencil measures 0.275" across the flats, or right around 7 mm.

I like mine at 6/7/8/9, G to E.

BagelBruin · #10 03-19-2011, 04:46 PM

I don't get enough action

Oh wait....

DC Bass · #11 03-19-2011, 07:38 PM

Nice Don!

Just measured my string height, it's about the same as yours tstone.

Joe

Bass · #12 03-19-2011, 08:11 PM

Ha, swell!

I haven't had any action in ages!

I set up my p-bass with butter smooth action, by getting the strings low as possible. Start wirh the neck straight and let the strings vb pull the neck forward.

My string hwight is about 7 mm across the fingerboard.

I think rhe luthier setup the other bass wirh string height between 7 to 11 mm from G to E.

Sent from my Droid

Don Higdon · #13 03-20-2011, 02:20 PM

String height: G 5mm E 9mm

P.S. The bass luthiers I know don't say "action".

RhinoBass · #14 03-21-2011, 11:05 AM

OK, I went back and measured and it looks like it's about 11, maybe 12mm all the way across on mine, so I was waaay off on the guestimate. I contacted a local guy about installing an adjustable bridge and he quoted me a price of $250 to Git R Done.

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #15 03-21-2011, 07:04 PM

Thread cleaned. This is the DB forum, folks, so we're talking about the string heights normally associated with double basses, not guitars.

Back on topic, Jake DeVidadhlzkdjfbLZdbrs created a nice poll about this which is probably the most comprehensive thread on the subject in the archives. Those interested can find it Here. My own string heights are 7-10mm when healthy, 6-9 when I've got an ailing limb (using Dominants).

Jake deVilliers · #16 03-21-2011, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

Thread cleaned. This is the DB forum, folks, so we're talking about the string heights normally associated with double basses, not guitars.

Back on topic, Jake DeVidadhlzkdjfbLZdbrs created a nice poll about this which is probably the most comprehensive thread on the subject in the archives. Those interested can find it Here. My own string heights are 7-10mm when healthy, 6-9 when I've got an ailing limb (using Dominants).

That's pretty good spelling there DURRL - you might not believe this but I've seen my name mangled worse!

ctxbass · #17 03-21-2011, 11:41 PM

G-9mm to E-12mm, guts.

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #18 03-22-2011, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

That's pretty good spelling there DURRL - you might not believe this but I've seen my name mangled worse!

I can dig it. I've been thinking of having mine legally changed to Fizxtzlxgrhelfhld for years now. Heck, I've got Welsh blood in there somewhere... why not honor it?

Jake deVilliers · #19 03-22-2011, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

I can dig it. I've been thinking of having mine legally changed to Fizxtzlxgrhelfhld for years now. Heck, I've got Welsh blood in there somewhere... why not honor it?

bigolbassguy · #20 03-22-2011, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RhinoBass

OK, I went back and measured and it looks like it's about 11, maybe 12mm all the way across on mine, so I was waaay off on the guestimate. I contacted a local guy about installing an adjustable bridge and he quoted me a price of $250 to Git R Done.

Not a bad price. It's not a particularly easy job.