does anyone on here like their action high?

[bolophonic]

I have never EVER seen anyone on here mention that they prefer their action set medium or on the high side. Am I the only bass player in the world who doesn't sound good playing with low action?

The last time I had a setup, the guy gave me my bass back and bragged about how low he had gotten the action... I hadn't asked for that and when I started playing it, all I could hear was the strings slapping on the frets and popping off the pickups. My style is a little on the wild side.

 

[Bevo1995]

You aren't the only one. It's been mentioned a time or two before.

I have pretty high action on my P and my Hagstrom, but low on my J.

 

[StereoPlayer]

I like it on the low side.....I play fretless.
But to quote John Entwhistle, "I like my strings on the other side of the frets"

 

[LaBassGuy]

For me, low action + loose strings=unplayable. I just odn't have a soft touch.

 

[Joe.shaffer]

I keep a fairly high action on my basses so I can really dig in.

 

[jordie65]

love a high action, allows me to really dig in without fret buzz

 

[Frankjohnson]

My Low is still high to many other people - but I dig the feel, tone, and playability. Its a trade off - I'll take it.

 

[Jazz Ad]

I prefer a pretty high action, 4 to 5 mm. It sounds better and preserves from wankiness.

 

[michael_atw]

The last time I had a setup, the guy gave me my bass back and bragged about how low he had gotten the action... I hadn't asked for that and when I started playing it, all I could hear was the strings slapping on the frets and popping off the pickups. My style is a little on the wild side.

You might want to let him know that next time.

 

[bolophonic]

You might want to let him know that next time.

I was so annoyed... I explained the way I play, but I guess he plays it low. I threw his phone number away, so I wouldn't even know how to find him again.

 

[onda'bass]

I prefer a pretty high action, 4 to 5 mm. It sounds better and preserves from wankiness.

ouch...

 

[João Bourgard]

I change Tunning a lot... my band uses standart, drop-D and D tunnig A LOT.. so yeah.. i like my action pretty high

 

[seanm]

I like my action medium.

 

[ninepoundjammer]

I like my action on the medium to high'ish side so I get a nice full tone without fret buzz. The action on my double bass is sky high, so the electric is always a joy to play with any reasonable action.

 

[woolysock]

I like my action medium+.
Low action limits the opportunity to dig in and utilize a dynamic range.
Loose strings, DR High Beams for example, exacerbate this problem.
That's why I switched to DR nickel-wound Low Riders. The higher tension means each string travels in a tighter formation, giving less fret buzz.
IMHO medium action plus higher tension is a winning combination. Then every note is what it is.
Cheers!

 

[rmkesler]

I could probably pick up some speed if I didn't play as hard and used lower action. Oh well.

 

[JonahTheAmazing]

At what point is action considered low and high? By measurement? Just a newbie question.

I play with higher action, but my current bass needs a proper set up to stop buzzing. If I set it up correctly, medium to high would be fine. I've never played with low action, so I think it would be uncomfortable.

 

[madmatt]

I hear a lot of people saying they like their action high, but nobody has given a measurement.
My high may be someone else's low.

 

[FunkMetalBass]

At what point is action considered low and high? By measurement? Just a newbie question.

I play with higher action, but my current bass needs a proper set up to stop buzzing. If I set it up correctly, medium to high would be fine. I've never played with low action, so I think it would be uncomfortable.

It's totally a feel thing. If you're a person that prefers your strings to be nearly touching the frets, then most other basses will probably have action that feels too high for you.

I prefer really heavy strings because I tend to play a bit aggressively. In turn, they don't vibrate as freely as light gauge strings do, so I'm able to keep low action.

 

[michael_atw]

I generally like my action low, early, and often...with a little string foreplay and ALOT of sleeping afterward.