Higher action when using pick??

[jayk]

Hi i have just about got my bass set up its just my action that im having trouble with. When using just my fingers i am able to have a rather low action but with a pick i have to set it a fair bit higher else i get abit of buzz when alternate picking. Is this normal? what kind of height am i looking at setting it for playing hard rock with a pick? pictures would help me a lot if anybody has some, but, all information is welcome!
Hope someone can help me, thanks.

 

[Tim C.]

Other people's settings aren't necessarily going to be very useful for you. Reportedly, John Entwistle had his basses setup so each string was under a millimeter at the end of the fretboard and he still used a pick.

Have you tried picking closer to the bridge, where the strings are more tense? Or perhaps picking lighter? Does the fret buzz choke the string's sustain and can you hear it through the amplifier? Not all acoustic buzz is amplified.

 

[David Jayne]

I alternate between fingers and pick all the time. My action is medium-lowish I suppose(don't have measurements handy).
Maybe your additional buzz comes from picking closer to the neck than when playing fingerstyle? Or perhaps you pick a bit too hard? It really shouldn't be a problem, with enough practice.

 

[jayk]

its not amplified too bad it, my tone becomes slightly distorted but not too noticable picking lighter does work but im not too used to it so im going to have to practise abit lighter for a while haa

 

[Tim C.]

Okay, and this is a real issue you have to consider - are your frets and fretboard level?

No bass is immune from the possibility of uneven frets, even the super expensive ones. Have you had the frets checked by a pro before?

 

[jayk]

no i havnt its never been looked at, how can i check the frets?

 

[JLS]

Other people's settings aren't necessarily going to be very useful for you. Reportedly, John Entwistle had his basses setup so each string was under a millimeter at the end of the fretboard and he still used a pick.

Have you tried picking closer to the bridge, where the strings are more tense? Or perhaps picking lighter? Does the fret buzz choke the string's sustain and can you hear it through the amplifier? Not all acoustic buzz is amplified.

John Entwistle played extremely lightly, with his fingers, the solo on, "My Generation" notwithstanding.

 

[JLS]

no i havnt its never been looked at, how can i check the frets?

If you have to ask, you need to take it to someone who knows.

 

[electracoyote]

If the bass does not fret buzz with fingers, but then starts buzzing with a pick, then the string is vibrating wider when you are using the pick. You're digging in harder and possibly using a different angle of attack with the pick than with your fingers. In other words, you would either need to lighten/alter your touch with the pick or raise the action.

How high to go with the action? Until the buzzing stops. No pictures or measurements will help you with your particular bass, it's trial and error.

 

[Tim C.]

John Entwistle played extremely lightly, with his fingers, the solo on, "My Generation" notwithstanding.

jayk, like the others said, make sure you're not hitting the strings with the pick much harder than you do with your fingers. Don't "dig in", and just practice trying to hit the strings with just the tip of the pick. Finesse is the name of the game.

 

[steelhead2]

just went thru several`P's this winter(squiers or copys et al),one was really sweet,n,low nice strait setup pickplayed like a dream but i had trouble clanking when finger picking,just me i know and my main bass is not as low a setup,,,i also went to thin guitar picks instead of thick triangles,,more me

i bet 12 guys will have ten answers for you

 

[Gord_oh]

i normally use my fingers close to the neck, but pick closer to the bridge.
regardless of action, which i have several, this works out well for me at least.
i have a heavy right hand at times, so i i find myself using finger plucking near the bridge,
but i dont get as good of tone, visa versa with picking near the neck.

 

[Webtroll]

Use the pick near the bridge and you'll get more string tension. I tend to play with my fingers near the bridge as well, then move further up the string when I want a warmer than usual tone. I like low action as well but it takes a different attack on the strings than high action allows.