• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

High Action Club

For all of your TB'ers that like your strings sky-high! Post and I'll assign you a number. I'm # Pi, so there's still room for #1. Personally I've always loved high action because I started out playing double bass (still do).

Stickk - Pi (founder)
Phalex - 2
Sundogue - 137.5
 
What constitutes high? Is there a figure we have to meet to qualify? I like a bass with thick stiff strings that don't just lay on the top of the frets. The guys around here that like to slap, hate to sit in on my bass. In their defense, I hate their set ups too, with their flat necks, uber low action and skinny little strings.

So, I don't know if I qualify as a high action guy, but I certainly am not a low action guy.

Do I qualify for a number, or do you require more clarification?
 
What constitutes high? Is there a figure we have to meet to qualify? I like a bass with thick stiff strings that don't just lay on the top of the frets. The guys around here that like to slap, hate to sit in on my bass. In their defense, I hate their set ups too, with their flat necks, uber low action and skinny little strings.

So, I don't know if I qualify as a high action guy, but I certainly am not a low action guy.

Do I qualify for a number, or do you require more clarification?

Sure, why not. What number do you want?
 
I don't like the strings so high off the neck that I could fit another bass neck under the strings, but I don't like them lying right on the neck either.

I play way too heavy to have extreme low action.

But yeah...how high is high? I probably have a gap of 1/8"-3/16" or more between the fret and the strings at the 12th fret.
 
I don't like the strings so high off the neck that I could fit another bass neck under the strings, but I don't like them lying right on the neck either.

I play way too heavy to have extreme low action.

But yeah...how high is high? I probably have a gap of 1/8"-3/16" or more between the fret and the strings at the 12th fret.

Sure, you can join, what number do you want? Personally I can almost stick my fingers in between the fretboard and the strings on my basses.
 
Sure, you can join, what number do you want? Personally I can almost stick my fingers in between the fretboard and the strings on my basses.

I want No. 137.5

I had a bass like that once. I got rid of it because no amount of truss rod adjustment helped. ;)

Personally I don't mind even really high action...though mine is usually lower. I don't know how anybody plays with strings lying right on the neck. I don't even play guitars with action that low.
 
Sure, you can join, what number do you want? Personally I can almost stick my fingers in between the fretboard and the strings on my basses.

Yikes, that would count as high :eek: I keep mine medium, so I can't belong to the club :hmm:

If you follow the guidelines laid out at Invalid Link Removed you will get a good medium action. I would argue you need at least 1/8" action for it to be considered high.
 
As for measuring - I just converted millimetres into inches (I'm from Europe)
As for Plek - In my experience one can have unpleasant sound while playing rounds even with high action as rounds tend not to forgive poor fretwork (and especially problems with nut slots).
As for number - I take #13