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Benefits of High Action?
- Thread starter jnevi9nr
- Start date
No fret noise and you'll get a strong left hand.
Downside: Intonation goes berserk if the action is too high.
Downside: Intonation goes berserk if the action is too high.
Jazzdogg
Less barking, more wagging!
If the strings are too close to the fretboard, there isn't enough room for them to oscillate without colliding with the frets unless you pluck softly. What's the unofficial TalkBass axiom? A bassist's sound starts with his hands.
I'm so used to playing DB and electric basses set up with relatively high action, that I find it frustrating to play an instrument that's set up with action that's too low because of the attendant fret clatter and buzzing; I can't dig in the way I'm used to. When I turn up my amp and pluck softly, I don't achieve "my sound." As a consequence, I prefer action that's somewhat higher than a lot of my TB brethren.
I saw a video in which Rocco Prestia was playing a bass someone else had provided; he was becoming frustrated for the same reason (the action was so low he couldn't dig in), and asked for an instrument that would allow him to play the way he was used to.
I'm so used to playing DB and electric basses set up with relatively high action, that I find it frustrating to play an instrument that's set up with action that's too low because of the attendant fret clatter and buzzing; I can't dig in the way I'm used to. When I turn up my amp and pluck softly, I don't achieve "my sound." As a consequence, I prefer action that's somewhat higher than a lot of my TB brethren.
I saw a video in which Rocco Prestia was playing a bass someone else had provided; he was becoming frustrated for the same reason (the action was so low he couldn't dig in), and asked for an instrument that would allow him to play the way he was used to.
My experience echoes both of these posts above as true. That does not mean you have to set your action really high to hear a difference. For so many, the object of their set up is get the strings as low as possible with little or no fret buzz. But, you would be surprised what raising the action just a little can do for your tone, unless you are going for the crazy-low action, Geddy Lee style fretbuzz and clank. I think that works well for more aggressive styles of music. But, for most music (i.e. classic rock, blues, R&B, etc.), I prefer medium action, maybe even a little higher, so I can dig in when I want to, but still get a clean, fat tone.
But, then it depends on the bass sometimes too. My Cirrus has crazy low action, but it doesn't buzz at all, so I leave it that way because it's easier to play. My Fender, OTOH, sounds a lot better with the action set higher. YMMV.
You pretty much nailed it. People often set basses up to play the way they want ignoring what the bass wants. They're all different and individual and should be setup accordingly.
+100000 for that one!
IME: Higher action might be better for a beginning bass player to start with. Then it can be modified to his/her taste or style. Beginners usually don't understand concepts such as high/low action, fret buzz, intonation. It takes time and training to teach players what that means and the benefits of all of them.
I like low action myself, but I will also agree that some basses do sound or play better when the action is not necessarily low. Many Fe**ers come set up high because that is what the manufacturer suggests. Is it wrong then? I don't know the answer to that one!
R...
Jazzdogg
Less barking, more wagging!
Might be nice if we defined terms: what constitutes "high action?" Does the definition depend on the string gauge as well as your playing style?
I found an article from Bass Player magazine (September, 1996) in which Mr. Sadowsky describes a bass with low action as having 1/16" between the bottom of the G-string and the top of the 12th fret and 3/32" from the bottom of the E-string and the top of the 12th fret while the string being measured is being depressed at the first fret; high action 3/32" beneath the G and 1/8" beneath the E. In the case of the G-string, that's a difference of only 1/32", but it's a 50% increase.
Here's one example from the article: Will Lee used to prefer high action (1/8" on the G, and 5/32" on the E), but now uses 3/32" on the G, and 1/8" on the E.
How do you define low action? High action?
I found an article from Bass Player magazine (September, 1996) in which Mr. Sadowsky describes a bass with low action as having 1/16" between the bottom of the G-string and the top of the 12th fret and 3/32" from the bottom of the E-string and the top of the 12th fret while the string being measured is being depressed at the first fret; high action 3/32" beneath the G and 1/8" beneath the E. In the case of the G-string, that's a difference of only 1/32", but it's a 50% increase.
Here's one example from the article: Will Lee used to prefer high action (1/8" on the G, and 5/32" on the E), but now uses 3/32" on the G, and 1/8" on the E.
How do you define low action? High action?
I'd love to play with a higher action in terms of tone.
Unfortunately it's just not possible if I want to keep playing music for my whole life.
To some low action isn't a choice, it's a requirement.
Unfortunately it's just not possible if I want to keep playing music for my whole life.
To some low action isn't a choice, it's a requirement.
