Double Bass Need Help with Setup for Rockabilly/Psychobilly

[Mike Law]

Thanks for your replies. I don't mind filing down the my current bridge grooves carefully to get the action lower. I had read somewhere that people go with 10mm gap at the fingerboard edge or sometimes less for psychobilly slapping.. hmmm.... am I on the right track?

10 mil decent start - its not a science though. All has to do with feel, tone and songs. If you are playing slap mostly open notes then yes this is a good start - if you are slapping while playing tunes in a higher position you will have to raise that action up for sure. 3/8" is pretty universal i believe. Good luck. Use feel as your number one action guide!

 

[Slaphound]

As you progress and get better at slapping, you may look to lower your action because all you really want is to be able to get just the balls of your fingertips under the string to snap it. The high action then becomes an obstruction to playing.