Action/string height vs. Tone: Any Relationship?

[bobalu]

I was wondering if the string action has any impact on the tone or sound. For example, all else being equal, does a higher string height equate to a more "full" sound, or more volume than a much lower string height? I've heard the theory of the strings having more room to vibrate/move with a higher action. Not sure how true this is.

Any techs. out there know for sure?

 

[longfinger]

Yes action does impact tone. Higher action allows a player to get more amplitude on the string vibrations. Remember, 'pickups' are not 'generators', they are pickups. Amplifiers are not 'creators' they are amplifiers. The only thing that generates and creates is the vibrating string set in motion by the player. Higher action allows a harder pluck-through and gives a different 'attack-sustain-decay' response than a softer pluck-through. Lower action only allows softer pluck-throughs before buzzing happens, but allows others things to happen moving note to note.

Experiment with your bass setup to find out what you like.

 

[mozilla314]

James Jamerson from the Motown stuff was known for having his action so high that other bassists couldn't even play his bass. Perhaps he was used to this because he played upright bass for years until the Fender bass was invented. I think his high action had something to do with the "Motown" sound as well.......

 

[bobalu]

Thanks guy's, I thought I was hearing a difference between my several bass's (not all set-up the same), but I figured it was just in my head. The higher action ones all sound "better" to me (all jazz bass single coils). I wanted to lower the action/string height on the nicest sounding one but didn't want to wreck the awesome sound. I guess its all about compromise.

 

[darkstorm]

Absolutely. I think a bass allways sounds better with low action. If its low enough to create musical fretbuzz aka Entwistle or Squire, even better tone.