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String Height Question

Discussion in 'Hardware, Setup & Repair [BG]' started by BassBob185, Jan 17, 2009.

  1. Jan 17, 2009 #1
    BassBob185

    BassBob185 Guest

    Oct 25, 2007
    Rocking Chair
    Hello,
    I'm doing some setup on a few of my basses and have a question. With a generally flat neck (not much bow) on the bass below here are my sting heights at the 12 fret for the E string.

    Fender Jazz = .100
    Ibanez SR505 = .110
    SX PJ = 120
    SX Short Scale = .090

    Opinions vary but are these strings heights considered high?

    Thanks
     
  2. Jan 17, 2009 #2
    Ostinato

    Ostinato Guest

    Feb 7, 2005
    Toronto ON
    100mm? 100cm? 100 sheep? cows etc.
     
  3. Jan 17, 2009 #3
    BassBob185

    BassBob185 Guest

    Oct 25, 2007
    Rocking Chair
    Stew Mac action gauge.
    Decimal in front of all of them so mm
     
  4. Jan 17, 2009 #4
    202dy

    202dy Supporting Member

    Sep 26, 2006
    The gauge is marked in thousandths of an inch. So .100 = one hundred thousandths or one tenth of an inch.

    Most books and websites call for string heights of 6/64" and 5/64" bass and treble respectively measured from the top of the fret to the bottom of the string at the twelfth fret. That translates as .09375" and .078125" or roughly 2.5mm and 2mm. This is considered as low action. Many players like their basses set up lower, at 5/64"-4/64" and sometimes even lower. Many older players or guys that like to pull hard prefer the string heights higher.

    There is no right or wrong when it comes to string heights and action. There is no optimal, other than what you find to be optimal for you. If you like what you have then it's great. If you don't, someone has some work to do.
     
  5. Jan 17, 2009 #5
    BassBob185

    BassBob185 Guest

    Oct 25, 2007
    Rocking Chair
    Thanks for the info. very helpful.