Hey folks, i'm thinking of getting a new bass and was wondering which ones youve enjoyed playing etc etc. Ive got a black Ibanez Iceman bass which sounds awesome but feels a bit stiff most of the time... on the other hand my uncle gave me a shot of his F bass BN5 a few months back and after about five minutes (to get my head round the blasted extra string..) i was in awe. Any suggestions that wont entail me selling vital organs to pay for an F bass?
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Best action on a bass....
- Thread starter reeder=god?
- Start date
I have a P-Bass i got from a TB member and it was set up GREAT!
I had a Thumb NT that was awesome, also I had Grabber set up well too.
My worst has to be a Gibson Ripper, the neck on that thing was messed up. Also the DJ bass i had was terrible.
I had a Thumb NT that was awesome, also I had Grabber set up well too.
My worst has to be a Gibson Ripper, the neck on that thing was messed up. Also the DJ bass i had was terrible.
W&T (Woodandtronics, hand made in Italy) - period!!! The best among my other basses (Sadowskys, MTDs, Fenders etc.).
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I got my Jazz Bass from the shop with amazing setup. The strings are so low, I've even been told by my guitarist friend that they are too low, considering he plays guitar and uses very low action. No fretbuzz, at least not more than you'd want from a Jazz Bass. Sounds awesome, too.
- Jun 19, 2004
- 4,782
- 83
- 42
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist, Schroeder Cabinets
The best action I've played was on my old Modulus. Zons and Carvins also have great action. I have the action very low on my MTD, also. I come from a classical guitar background and play with a very light touch, using my amp for volume, rather than playing harder, and can't stand high action. You might check out a carbon-fiber necked instrument.
jeezo, wasnt expecting this many replies.. thanks guys, im sure my folks will be chuffed if i can find a relatively cheap but good bass as itl be my 21st bday present =)
- Jun 19, 2004
- 4,782
- 83
- 42
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist, Schroeder Cabinets
Could you define what "best action on a bass" means to you?
And if you say "lowest it can be without buzzing" get out of town while you still can.
There are several variables and many instruments can be setup to play properly with your touch.
Or you can adapt your technique to fit the setup.
And if you say "lowest it can be without buzzing" get out of town while you still can.
There are several variables and many instruments can be setup to play properly with your touch.
Or you can adapt your technique to fit the setup.
I think you can see by the responses, there are a lot of options. As Dave said, budget will definitely play into it. You really just have to go out and play the basses. In general, you should expect basses in the $2K andup range to be setup well with low action. That definitely does not mean this is always the case. I have seen $200 basses that play better than $3K basses. There are definitely some great gems that can be found on a budget. Go out and play them and enjoy!
Best action is too subjective to taste. You also have to take into account the neck shape & width and how and where the neck is mounted to the body- example if you have to reach to far the neck is uncomfortable and effects your opinion of the playability.
My Gibson LP bass has a slightly chunky neck, that at first was uncomfortable till I got it professionally set up. No it's one of my favorites necks/basses for playing. Part of it also is the smaller body and easy access to the neck.
My Gibson LP bass has a slightly chunky neck, that at first was uncomfortable till I got it professionally set up. No it's one of my favorites necks/basses for playing. Part of it also is the smaller body and easy access to the neck.
Best action is too subjective to taste. You also have to take into account the neck shape & width and how and where the neck is mounted to the body- example if you have to reach to far the neck is uncomfortable and effects your opinion of the playability.
My Gibson LP bass has a slightly chunky neck, that at first was uncomfortable till I got it professionally set up. No it's one of my favorites necks/basses for playing. Part of it also is the smaller body and easy access to the neck.
Hmmm. Any neckdive on the LP? And is that a Shiba Inu (or mix)?
An important warning to you:
If you are trying out basses at a music shop, dont judge their action then!
When dozens of people come in and play the same basses in the shop, the workers wont bother to set up their instruments properly, or through excessive playing, the basses set-ups will drop out of whack. All the basses i have tried at my local music shop have had horrible action and dead strings :scowl:. This just proves that ALOT of a bass's playability is in it's setup. Stable necks, such as graphite reinforced, etc. will lend themselves to beter setup, but in the end, it is the setup itself hat counts.
cheers, JT
If you are trying out basses at a music shop, dont judge their action then!
When dozens of people come in and play the same basses in the shop, the workers wont bother to set up their instruments properly, or through excessive playing, the basses set-ups will drop out of whack. All the basses i have tried at my local music shop have had horrible action and dead strings :scowl:. This just proves that ALOT of a bass's playability is in it's setup. Stable necks, such as graphite reinforced, etc. will lend themselves to beter setup, but in the end, it is the setup itself hat counts.
cheers, JT
