How high or low is your action set/preference?

[Kmonk]

I've always had mine set as low as possible without getting any buzzing.

 

[gregbackstrom]

For my basses, I adjust the truss rod for a tiny bit of relief, then, with each string depressed at the first fret to take the nut out of the measurement, I set the action to 4/64 on the G, 6/64 on the B, and the others in between following the radius of the fretboard. Then I tweak further for tone and playability. Usually the B can go a little lower, depending on gauge. I think this is Roger Sadowsky’s method, but I’ve done it this way for 25 years, at least.

 

[Watchootognbout]

3/32 off the 21st fret for fretted.
Mostly by feel for fretless.
But around the same as fretted.

 

[Frndmoretti]

Medium-high I guess. Low enough that I don't have to make a lot of effort and high enough that there's no fret buss when I dig in, and I happen to have a heavy hand.

 

[Col the plunker]

I have my strings as low as possible, and the slightest neck relief. When I get buzz, I back off just enough to eradicate it.
Works for me. I don't have a tech or anything, just do what works.

 

[CoffeeLove]

As low as possible without getting any weird fret noise all the way up the neck (very little relief, almost straight), and that can be different for each instrument. I do want the string height to be fairly even from string-to-string in relation to the frets, that is almost as important to me as low action.

 

[Koshchei]

Hello fellow bassists! Just curious how low or high you have your action set. My tech literally laughs at how low I like my action. I have a really lite touch and like to be able to dig in and get some fret buzz when the song calls for it. My 4 string basses are all set at .080 inches at the 12 fret on the low E and .060 inches at the G. From the top of the fret to the bottom of the string. I also tune down a half step and play mostly P basses with medium gauge strings. Is this ridiculous low or just average low? Thanks and let’s hear some of your action preferences. Thanks and stay safe and healthy.

On my Rickenbacker 4003SW, the low E is 1.75mm and the G is 1.25mm at the 12th fret. On my GWB205 fretless, the low B is 1.75mm and the G is 1.13mm.

 

[stratovani]

Probably about medium. I have flats on my main gigging bass, a Franken-P. I'm not about speed or playing a million notes, I'm all about supporting the song, so a medium action without buzzing is just the ticket for me. On my other bass, an SX Jazz, I have DR Sunbeams, light gauge, so the action is lower. It's my backup bass, and doesn't get played at gigs, so it can buzz a little bit.

 

[moreblues]

For my playing style, I like 5/64 across the board at the 12th fret...no more then 6/64 with Minimal relief...less then Fender's and Lakland's relief spec.

 

[4andnomore]

I typically use a feeler gauge to set relief to around .008 or so, and then set string height strictly by feel to what I'd call "medium-high". For intonation I rely on my trusty old '83 Peterson strobe tuner.

That said, I'm experimenting now with "Entwistle" action on one of my basses and am liking it quite a bit. Just a different approach, really.

 

[brian579]

The answer to your question is your action is not weirdly low. I don't know why a tech would literally laugh at it.

Yeah I agree. I would say it’s low but not ridiculous. He doesn’t laugh in a “dick way” just that he has a stronger attack so when he plays my setup it frets out and buzzed like crazy. When I play it’s clean and only buzzes when I want it to

 

[tminus10]

as low as possible

 

[James Collins]

Yeah I agree. I would say it’s low but not ridiculous. He doesn’t laugh in a “dick way” just that he has a stronger attack so when he plays my setup it frets out and buzzed like crazy. When I play it’s clean and only buzzes when I want it to

Maybe he just has bad technique. You should laugh at his playing

Also, you could learn to do your own setup and avoid the interaction.

 

[brian579]

So it seems like my action is low compared to most but not as low as some players. Its interesting to hear how some players go just by feel alone when making adjustments and others like myself go by precise measurements.

 

[dramatwist]

...as low as it'll go with no buzz...

 

[scottfeldstein]

So it seems like my action is low compared to most but not as low as some players. Its interesting to hear how some players go just by feel alone when making adjustments and others like myself go by precise measurements.

I think your action is low. It's just not ridiculously low. I don't think most bases would go lower than that and still play right. It's the way I like it, too. As far as who goes "by feel" and who measures, you're in the right camp. Measure, measure, measure! People cannot reliably feel the difference between, say, 10 thousandths of an inch and 12 thousandths of an inch. They may say they can, but they can't. Measure.

 

[brian579]

I think your action is low. It's just not ridiculously low. I don't think most bases would go lower than that and still play right. It's the way I like it, too. As far as who goes "by feel" and who measures, you're in the right camp. Measure, measure, measure! People cannot reliably feel the difference between, say, 10 thousandths of an inch and 12 thousandths of an inch. They may say they can, but they can't. Measure.

Agreed!

 

[growlypants]

Here in Atlanta, with extremely variable humidity and temperature throughout the year, I find the need to adjust the truss rod(s) twice a year. I keep the action just high enough that no string rattle occurs. Or, would that be "low enough"?

 

[BurtMacklinFBI]

I like mine as low as possible without excessive buzz. I actually like just a hint of the strings brushing the frets, but not so much that you get actual buzz and/or choke off the sound of a sustained note. Just a smidge of rattle right when I hit the string.

 

[cmcbass]

I set my relief until buzz is gone when playing with moderate touch on the lower notes, then I go as low as possible. No buzz playing moderately, a bit of buzz for aggressive tone when digging in.