How is the action?

[pedulla-2007]

After selling numerous basses on Talkbass, I come across an occasional interested buyer wanting to know how the action is. I have never been savy about bass setup, so I just send my basses to be professionally setup for 35.00. Not always do I understand the finished product, but my luthier has 35 yrs of experience, and trust his judgment. Which brings my question, isn’t action height subjective? What is good for me, may be terrible for the next guy, which might cancel the sale. Now I can go and lower the strings to credit card height, and take pictures, for the sake of a sale, but that would be defeating the work my luthier has done. My basses are set up for my playing style, shouldn’t you set up your bass the way you like, when you receive the bass? Can I get some positive input, without angry members chiming in? I hope I have painted an accurate picture, “Is string height subjective to each individual player,”?I don’t sell junk, and I totally understand that the action should not tower over the frets, but as an occasional slapper, I enjoy a little height. I would never pass any problems to other members, Talkbass has been very good to me. Thanks for any input. Can we please keep this peaceful? Thanks

 

[5StringBlues]

Yes.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Yes, action is very much dependent on player preference. Anyone who buys an instrument, new or used, should understand that things WILL need adjusting to make it "theirs". If the instrument comes to them and it is just how they prefer it, all the better, but most times that will probably not be the case. Sadly, way too many people just don't get it.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

After selling numerous basses on Talkbass, I come across an occasional interested buyer wanting to know how the action is. I have never been savy about bass setup, so I just send my basses to be professionally setup for 35.00. Not always do I understand the finished product, but my luthier has 35 yrs of experience, and trust his judgment. Which brings my question, isn’t action height subjective? What is good for me, may be terrible for the next guy, which might cancel the sale. Now I can go and lower the strings to credit card height, and take pictures, for the sake of a sale, but that would be defeating the work my luthier has done. My basses are set up for my playing style, shouldn’t you set up your bass the way you like, when you receive the bass? Can I get some positive input, without angry members chiming in? I hope I have painted an accurate picture, “Is string height subjective to each individual player,”?I don’t sell junk, and I totally understand that the action should not tower over the frets, but as an occasional slapper, I enjoy a little height. I would never pass any problems to other members, Talkbass has been very good to me. Thanks for any input. Can we please keep this peaceful? Thanks

If I were to ever pay someone to do anything other than a fret job, it would be a total waste of money. I'd be messing with it the second I start playing it. Garanteed

 

[SteveCS]

...
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Which brings my question, isn’t action height subjective?
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On the whole, yes, but I think there are physical boundaries. Too high and the intonation suffers to the point that saddle adjustment can't cope. Too low and available noise-free dynamic range is reduced. But within reasonable limits, adjustment to accomodate your style is a fact of life.

...
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Anyone who buys an instrument, new or used, should understand that things WILL need adjusting to make it "theirs".
...
Sadly, way too many people just don't get it.

QFT.

 

[JKos]

interested buyer wanting to know how the action is

I think what they are really asking is, “Is there anything wrong with the bass which artificially limits how low the action can be?” Twisted neck, high fret(s), low fret(a), ski jump, maxed out truss rod, nut slots too low, etc.

 

[pedulla-2007]

I think what they are really asking is, “Is there anything wrong with the bass which artificially limits how low the action can be?” Twisted neck, high fret(s), low fret(a), ski jump, maxed out truss rod, nut slots too low, etc.

Sadly, my last effort to make a sale, ended up in me sending the potential buyer on his way. I had already given him my word that there were no issues with neck,fret, electronics, or finish in writing, as well as sending him a picture of the action at the lower register. He still requested a picture of the action at the 12th fret, which is his prerogitive as a potential buyer. But his request came after he also requested a discount, and I felt a volley of texting was about to ensue, considering personal height adjustment. The little boy in me wanted to go get my allen wrench, and lower the strings to where they were barely over the frets. But the man in me said that would throw my 35.00 professional setup out the window, and be dishonest. Thank you my fellow Bass Brothers’ for taking the time to give positive imput.

 

[pedulla-2007]

If you will enlarge, and look at the picture in the upper left corner you can maybe see the action. The bass was already packed and ready for shipping, preventing additional pictures.

 

[SteveCS]

...
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He still requested a picture of the action at the 12th fret
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My experience is that it is incredibly difficult to capture representative pictures of action. I've tried on a number of occasions and the parallax always makes it look higher than it really is. Even with good lighting to cast 'helpful' shadows there is little real value in such pictures.
Here are a few of my efforts from my own instruments - none of them really tell the whole story;

 

[pedulla-2007]

My experience is that it is incredibly difficult to capture representative pictures of action. I've tried on a number of occasions and the parallax always makes it look higher than it really is. Even with good lighting to cast 'helpful' shadows there is little real value in such pictures.
Here are a few of my efforts from my own instruments - none of them really tell the whole story;
View attachment 4537775 View attachment 4537776 View attachment 4537777 View attachment 4537778 View attachment 4537779 View attachment 4537782 View attachment 4537783

Wow Steve, those are some remarkable pictures, I am in awe of the clarity, and different angles. It truly shows your greater imagination, and experience. My pics were grainy and dark. Wondering if your pics were taken with a expensive camera and filtered lighting, or just a newer Iphone 13. Thanks for schooling me, on all the possibilities available to me. I am now thinking that I just wasn’t in the mood to jump through hoops that day. Ha!

 

[SteveCS]

...
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Wondering if your pics were taken with a expensive camera and filtered lighting, or just a newer Iphone 13.
...

They are from the standard camera on a 5-year-old Galaxy S7 Edge. Tungsten lighting can add nice warmth, and I try to avoid the flash as far as possible. Other than that, its just a steady hand and allowing the camera time to lock focus.

 

[JW56789]

Setup and how a given neck / action feels to each player is entirely subjective, as individual as a golf swing or how you put a long gun to your shoulder. Generally, a lighter touch is required as the action gets lower and lower, but again, what feels low to this guy may be high to that guy.

Most mass-produced basses have number values that the neck relief, last fret string height, fingerboard /string radius, and nut-slot clearance / depths that are set pre-shipping. These are a complete set of numbers which may suit some guys perfectly, and for the rest be a repeatable starting point to the numbers that work best for them.

Since you don't do your own setups (no harm in that, a lot of guys don't), at least you're smart enough to have them seen to by a pro. I'd simply state your guitars are routinely setup by a professional repairman, have no fret or nut problems, and are set to suit you, and are ready to go in that state. Any other setup required by the new owner will be his repsonsibility, which it is, and state that in your listing.

I've done my own setups for years, and I can tell you, like SteveCS mentioned above, that pictures that would really tell me anything about the bass in the pictures are just about impossible, and useless as far as telling me whether or not I could reel it back if to my liking.

Like several have mentioned above, any new or new-to-me bass comes through the front door with me expecting and knowing I'll live with it for a while if it's 'in the neighborhood' as far as the way it currently plays, and over the succeeding weeks I'll begin to tweak it in exactly for me. That's entirely normal, and any real player will know this, assuming there's no real problems with the bass. That you have yours seen to by a pro would obviously eliminate that.

It's simply impossible for you to set up a bass for a complete stranger before you ship it, and you'll never please the 'tire kickers' that will automatically become a dissatisfied buyer, no matter what you do.

 

[J_Bass]

Almost sounds like a newb question from reading TalkBass, than a question by a player.


You are right, OP, in my opinion. Action is a personal preference.

 

[pedulla-2007]

Setup and how a given neck / action feels to each player is entirely subjective, as individual as a golf swing or how you put a long gun to your shoulder. Generally, a lighter touch is required as the action gets lower and lower, but again, what feels low to this guy may be high to that guy.

Most mass-produced basses have number values that the neck relief, last fret string height, fingerboard /string radius, and nut-slot clearance / depths that are set pre-shipping. These are a complete set of numbers which may suit some guys perfectly, and for the rest be a repeatable starting point to the numbers that work best for them.

Since you don't do your own setups (no harm in that, a lot of guys don't), at least you're smart enough to have them seen to by a pro. I'd simply state your guitars are routinely setup by a professional repairman, have no fret or nut problems, and are set to suit you, and are ready to go in that state. Any other setup required by the new owner will be his repsonsibility, which it is, and state that in your listing.

I've done my own setups for years, and I can tell you, like SteveCS mentioned above, that pictures that would really tell me anything about the bass in the pictures are just about impossible, and useless as far as telling me whether or not I could reel it back if to my liking.

Like several have mentioned above, any new or new-to-me bass comes through the front door with me expecting and knowing I'll live with it for a while if it's 'in the neighborhood' as far as the way it currently plays, and over the succeeding weeks I'll begin to tweak it in exactly for me. That's entirely normal, and any real player will know this, assuming there's no real problems with the bass. That you have yours seen to by a pro would obviously eliminate that.

It's simply impossible for you to set up a bass for a complete stranger before you ship it, and you'll never please the 'tire kickers' that will automatically become a dissatisfied buyer, no matter what you do.

Mr Wilson, your post reeks of education, I am jealous of Your command of the English language, Ha! What incredible input, You have just said everything that I wished I could have said, and didn’t say. So funny, I find myself reading your post over and over. Thanks for picking my brain, you have summed it all in a nutshell. Thanks Bass Brother!

 

[JW56789]

You're Welcome.

All the Best,

JW

 

[Altitude]

Action on a bass should be adjustable to the player’s preference. If it can’t be there’s something wrong with the bass. And such issues can be hidden on a bass that happens to be set up with high action. Therefore the questions. I don’t see them as unreasonable.

 

[ahbradot]

Tell the buyer you'll also throw in that Lubriderm lotion so the bass will play like Butter.....

 

[lfmn16]

Why don’t you just measure the action and send him the measurements? I’m not sure why this has to be complicated.

 

[truand85]

View attachment 4537766 View attachment 4537767
Sadly, my last effort to make a sale, ended up in me sending the potential buyer on his way. I had already given him my word that there were no issues with neck,fret, electronics, or finish in writing, as well as sending him a picture of the action at the lower register. He still requested a picture of the action at the 12th fret, which is his prerogitive as a potential buyer. But his request came after he also requested a discount, and I felt a volley of texting was about to ensue, considering personal height adjustment. The little boy in me wanted to go get my allen wrench, and lower the strings to where they were barely over the frets. But the man in me said that would throw my 35.00 professional setup out the window, and be dishonest. Thank you my fellow Bass Brothers’ for taking the time to give positive imput.

I'm gonna play devil's advocate here and say no. BGs with no issues should be able to be setup with medium to low action at the worst. Based on the second picture in your post, there seems to be quite the bow on this neck and action at the 12th fret seems really high. Doesn't mean the truss rod can't be tightened to lower it, but I wouldn't buy the bass sight unseen because of it, particularly if this picture was taken after a professional setup.

Questions about action are pretty standard in my opinion. "How low can you get the action without any fret buzz?" is something that matters because it gives a good idea of whether the bass has potential issues like neck warp or bad frets, when you're unable to test it out before buying.

 

[pedulla-2007]

I'm gonna play devil's advocate here and say no. BGs with no issues should be able to be setup with medium to low action at the worst. Based on the second picture in your post, there seems to be quite the bow on this neck and action at the 12th fret seems really high. Doesn't mean the truss rod can't be tightened to lower it, but I wouldn't buy the bass sight unseen because of it, particularly if this picture was taken after a professional setup.

Questions about action are pretty standard in my opinion. "How low can you get the action without any fret buzz?" is something that matters because it gives a good idea of whether the bass has potential issues like neck warp or bad frets, when you're unable to test it out before buying.

Apparently in your rush to judgment, you overlooked the 3 picture of the bass on the scale? If you have time could you please look at that picture, and read what I said? Even with my old eyes the strings are lying almost on top of the frets. Enlarge the top left corner. This is exactly the discussion that I didn’t want to have with the perspective buyer.