Sadowsky Setup guide (low action)

[ics1974]

I tried out Sadowsky's setup as what he calls "low action" and I have to say my bass Fender P Bass feels really good but I always thought what he call's low action is a little high to me. When I take the capo off and measure at the 17th fret I get around 7/64 E, 6.5/64 A, 5.5/64 D and 5/64 G

Here is from the article I found

To adjust the action, Roger depresses the string at the 1st fret (with his finger or a capo); this takes the string height at the nut out of the measurement. He then uses a 6" rule graduated in 32nds and 64ths and measures from the top of the 12th fret to the bottom of the string. Roger defines low action as 1/16" on the G string and 3/32" on the E string. High action specs are around 3/32" (G) and 1/ 8" (E). To set the height of the A and D strings, he radiuses them to the fingerboard based on the G-string and E-string specs. “If the G is at 1/16" and the E is at 3/32" , the A and D need to be in between—around 5/64" each.

Do you consider Rogers low action setup as low in your opinion?

 

[lz4005]

Low and high are relative terms. They mean something different to every person.

 

[ics1974]

Low and high are relative terms. They mean something different to every person.

I agree. Just having some fun and curious what it means to different people. What would this mean to you?

 

[Arie X]

not much unfortunately, too many variables.

fwiw, many people generate "numbers" or "specs" but very few (or none) discuss the sustainablilty of the set-up.

 

[Paulabass]

I set my action slightly above it's lowest playable setting because I know that I play harder live than on a stool at my workbench.

 

[Turnaround]

I tried out Sadowsky's setup as what he calls "low action" and I have to say my bass Fender P Bass feels really good but I always thought what he call's low action is a little high to me. When I take the capo off and measure at the 17th fret I get around 7/64 E, 6.5/64 A, 5.5/64 D and 5/64 G

Here is from the article I found

To adjust the action, Roger depresses the string at the 1st fret (with his finger or a capo); this takes the string height at the nut out of the measurement. He then uses a 6" rule graduated in 32nds and 64ths and measures from the top of the 12th fret to the bottom of the string. Roger defines low action as 1/16" on the G string and 3/32" on the E string. High action specs are around 3/32" (G) and 1/ 8" (E). To set the height of the A and D strings, he radiuses them to the fingerboard based on the G-string and E-string specs. “If the G is at 1/16" and the E is at 3/32" , the A and D need to be in between—around 5/64" each.

Do you consider Rogers low action setup as low in your opinion?

This is only part of Roger's spec. The other part is the amount of relief in the neck which will affect how the sting height appears when the string is fretted at the first fret. To me the complete spec represents something I would consider to be a very workable medium-low action. But that's a comparative term. So compared to my basses it is medium low. One of my basses I would consider to be low. I would have considered it very low until I had to work on a local pro's bass. He liked his so low that I couldn't play it. He played it fine and cleanly - no buzz - and has many recordings to his credit with that bass. So I decided that I would consider his action very low, which put the Sadowsky measurement in the medium-low range.

High is another matter. Some of my clients make their living playing double bass, and they play electric on the side. Many of them can't handle an electric unless the action is super sky high. In fact that description is probably understating it. So you really can't rely on descriptive terms like "low" as having any significant meaning. Context is critical.

 

[mikewalker]

I think 'Sadowsky low' is indeed low, for players that are really digging in.

A 'slightly lighter touch fingers player' should be able to go a little lower than that, without any fret rattle. Assuming a PERFECT fretboard and fret leveling, and a perfectly functioning truss rod system, then the hard physical limits will depend on string gauge and construction... all things being equal - a stiffer, less pliable string should exhibit less excursion, as will one that tunes to pitch with a higher tension. Finding that golden mean depends a lot on what kind of feel you prefer!

 

[andruca]

With an almost straight neck (1-2mm relief) I'm usually around 3mm for the low B and 2mm for the high G at fret 12 so I'm within Sadowsky's boundaries (Stingray5s and a Schecter CV-5).

Still you migh want to consider NUT HEIGHT. A low nut (doesn't have to be any higher than a fret really) goes a long way in improving playability (and low frets intonation). You can have a string hanging low around fret 12 but if the nut is too high it'd still be hard to fret at the lower register, therefore feeling like "high action" (the string is pretty high there in fact). A usually overlooked aspect, but high nuts are VERY common in production basses, I've had to file down slots on almost every nut on every sub 1000$ bass I've owned, except for the aforementioned Schecter (best factory setup I've got). With a low nut, Sadowsky's suggested heights should be pretty low action.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

I tried out Sadowsky's setup as what he calls "low action" and I have to say my bass Fender P Bass feels really good but I always thought what he call's low action is a little high to me. When I take the capo off and measure at the 17th fret I get around 7/64 E, 6.5/64 A, 5.5/64 D and 5/64 G

Here is from the article I found

To adjust the action, Roger depresses the string at the 1st fret (with his finger or a capo); this takes the string height at the nut out of the measurement. He then uses a 6" rule graduated in 32nds and 64ths and measures from the top of the 12th fret to the bottom of the string. Roger defines low action as 1/16" on the G string and 3/32" on the E string. High action specs are around 3/32" (G) and 1/ 8" (E). To set the height of the A and D strings, he radiuses them to the fingerboard based on the G-string and E-string specs. “If the G is at 1/16" and the E is at 3/32" , the A and D need to be in between—around 5/64" each.

Do you consider Rogers low action setup as low in your opinion?

Sadowsky's low action is high to the extent of virtually unplayable to me. I have my two Squier Standard PJs set up with .100 strings and 1.5mm action. One has the D open buzzing as I'd previously lowered the nut slot a bit too much. I have nothing over 2mm and one fretless was at 1.2mm, but that was pushing it a bit in the other direction!

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

I tried out Sadowsky's setup as what he calls "low action" and I have to say my bass Fender P Bass feels really good but I always thought what he call's low action is a little high to me. When I take the capo off and measure at the 17th fret I get around 7/64 E, 6.5/64 A, 5.5/64 D and 5/64 G

Here is from the article I found

To adjust the action, Roger depresses the string at the 1st fret (with his finger or a capo); this takes the string height at the nut out of the measurement. He then uses a 6" rule graduated in 32nds and 64ths and measures from the top of the 12th fret to the bottom of the string. Roger defines low action as 1/16" on the G string and 3/32" on the E string. High action specs are around 3/32" (G) and 1/ 8" (E). To set the height of the A and D strings, he radiuses them to the fingerboard based on the G-string and E-string specs. “If the G is at 1/16" and the E is at 3/32" , the A and D need to be in between—around 5/64" each.

Do you consider Rogers low action setup as low in your opinion?

Those numbers are pretty in line with my own although I think a low E string is closer to 2mm, not 2.3mm.

Also, I live in the civilized world. We don't take measurements in fractions.

 

[craigmack1979]

I agree. Just having some fun and curious what it means to different people. What would this mean to you?

It’s 5 yrs later but your ? Caught my attention. One persons low action could be high action for next person . I like my action as low as possible where there is no fret buzz . My action is so low I don’t have to exert too much energy to play . I don’t do harmonics that much so I’m good . Typically to get extremely low action requires higher quality bass unless you get lucky