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Higher Action on an Ibanez?

Nazrex

Nazrex

May 2, 2020
66
45
Atlanta, GA
#1
I got an Ibanez SR250.

I took it to a professional guitar tech (no not Guitar Center) and had them put on some new strings I wanted to try and asked him if he could give it a proper setup. Told him I was getting a lot of fret buzz I didn't like.

He responded saying "Yeah. Ibanez basses usually like to have really low action." -and promised to give it a good setup.

Well it definitely sounds better but still getting some annoying fret buzz.

So my question.

Why do Ibanez basses "prefer" low action and would it harm anything if I were to try to raise the action? As I thought the setup depended on the player and not the instrument?
 
#3
Raising the action won't harm your bass. That said, it's worth learning how to set up your bass yourself so that you understand the interactions between each stage of the setup. Raising the action affects more than just the string height.

I've never heard of a specific brand of bass "preferring" a specific height. If anything, action would vary more between models within a brand than between brands themselves, and the biggest differences there are due to obvious things like a lack of frets. The player determines the setup at the end of the day.
 
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#5
Nazrex said:
Why do Ibanez basses "prefer" low action
Click to expand...
No truth to that.

Nazrex said:
would it harm anything if I were to try to raise the action?
Click to expand...
No. But you'll need to check and adjust the intonation, as well.

Nazrex said:
As I thought the setup depended on the player and not the instrument?
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It's instrument, strings, and player. The instrument and string combination will limit how low the action and how flat relief can be achieved for a given player. The sky and intonation are the limit for raising the action.

Could you take some measurements so you (and we) know where you are right now?
 
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#7
Appreciate everyones replies so far!

Though one thing...

JKos said:
Could you take some measurements so you (and we) know where you are right now?
Click to expand...

Not... entirely sure, how to go about doing that.

Which is the main reason I decided to take it to a professional guitar tech in the first place.

I didn't want to try making such adjustments myself for the first time and end up with the end result being an unplayable instrument cause I screwed it all up by doing something stupidly wrong and not knowing which step I might have done wrong and not being able to reverse it.

But for reference, I had this set of DR Black Beauties put on it. While they do sound pretty good on it, and look great with the soda blue & black finish and all black hardware... I'm not entirely sure they're my final string set of choice yet, as I also eventually want to try out some EB Slinkys; and maybe some Rotosounds at some point.
 
#8
Nazrex said:
I didn't want to try making such adjustments myself for the first time and end up with the end result being an unplayable instrument cause I screwed it all up by doing something stupidly wrong and not knowing which step I might have done wrong and not being able to reverse it.
Click to expand...

As a newbie myself, I get this. However, when sending it in, I would have measured string height prior, then after, to at least see what was done. I'd also try to understand the relationship between neck straightness and truss rod settings, and ask the tech if there were adjustments made there also, and why.

How to measure string height and neck straightness is something we probably should know regardless of who does the actual work.
 
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#13
The closest I can come to understanding your tech's point of view is that when Ibanez first started coming out with their own designs in the US, they tended to have slim necks which were liked by players that liked low actions. That said, set it the way you like it.
 
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#16
has nothing to do with the bass and everything to do with your playing style. i play with super high action because of how hard i pick (also probably due to learning on 'poorly' setup basses)
as mentioned. do some reading/youtubing on bass setups and set it up to what works for you. on the plus side now you'll save yourself some bucks
 
#18
I did my 1st setup using the Carothers videos. They take you step-by-step and are very easy to follow. You’ll need a feeler gauge and the tools for your truss rod and bridge. Luckily I’ve never had to adjust a nut but feel I could do it if needed. When I change strings now it takes me about 15 minutes to adjust the truss rod, string height, and intonation. Easy Peasy.

Joe
 
#19
Nazrex, you should raise your action until all the fret buzz goes away. If you feel the action at this point is too high, you will need to adjust the truss rod to straighten out the neck.
 
#20
Carol Kaye plays an Ibanez with a high action. She has always preferred high action on any bass she has played. She uses a pick almost exclusively.
I have an SR900 with the action as low as I can get it with almost no neck relief, because that’s the way I like it. I play finger style 90% of the time.
My Fender Jazz is setup the same, both with Labella Deep Talkin Bass flats, 45 to 105.
Set the way you like it.
 

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