I just picked up a Lakland 44-01. It had dirty old strings oniy on it. I bought it from a drummer, so it figures he never changed the strings. The action was nice and low with the old strings. The first thing I did was clean the fretboard and replace strings with a set of Fender 7250M nickel plated (.045-.105). This dramatically raised the action. The old strings were light gauge (.040-.100). I really wanted new strings on it and rushed my decision. I want the old low action back so I have 2 choices, change to the light gauge or adjust the action to use the medium gauge set. I'm thinking to swap out for a light gauge set and put the mediums on my Jazz Bass. I prefer low action and don't want the hassle of going through the setup. If I adjust the action I'll lose the original setup even though I'll document how many turns etc. I make from the original settings. I checked out Carl Pedigo's setup videos but I am a little nervous about messing with it. Am I a chicken or should I go for it?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
The day I discovered high action
- Thread starter InternetAlias
- Start date
Setup is pretty easy once you get used to it, and completely reversible. Go for it.
Pretty much my feeling, although I might play a tad higher than normal, as my style is mostly finger funk, and I've got big fingers. I once had a Geddy Lee bass with that narrow, flat neck, with extereme low action. It actually hurt my hand to play it. I don't exactly have a soft touch !
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
I can get a player who likes high action but 5mm is definitely pushing on the edge of unplayable. How is the intonation since that high of action is the equivalent to a pretty good bend by the time you hit the fretboard. You must have some monster forearms to play fast runs using that much energy too. I am lazy, so low action for me.
I like a high action , same reason as the OP. I found when fingering a note, it went a tad sharp, so I adjusted the intonation at the bridge. Since I don't slap, it works fine, just wish I could get that wanky-clanky 4001 Ric sound from my J.
Hey guys, an update. I've changed the action to 2mm (still higher than 1mm I used to play on!) and I've realized that a few weeks of playing immense action made my hands MUCH stronger. As noted above, yes, there were terrible intonation problems that can't be fixed at all, but now I am at medium and it's very enjoyable
Hey guys, an update. I've changed the action to 2mm (still higher than 1mm I used to play on!) and I've realized that a few weeks of playing immense action made my hands MUCH stronger. As noted above, yes, there were terrible intonation problems that can't be fixed at all, but now I am at medium and it's very enjoyable
A little more than 5/64".... that is a much more normal value
when you play upright for a few weeks and then return to electric, the action is fine no matter how high it is.
Almost everyone else's bass that I have played is set too low for me. I don't really go by measurement, but by feel. I'd call my action medium to medium high depending on which bass of mine. That way I can give my notes some meat (think Rocco, Jamerson, Jaco) and they don't clank. On others' basses I play grooves that would be normal for me, and the notes clank and choke all over the place. When I want some grit I change the attack angle of my strikes to push down more and especially my stingray and jazz really spank.
But my P-Basses stay medium. I have no problem with speed.
Oh, I play upright, so any action on an electric feels low to me.
But my P-Basses stay medium. I have no problem with speed.
Oh, I play upright, so any action on an electric feels low to me.
Hey guys, an update. I've changed the action to 2mm (still higher than 1mm I used to play on!) and I've realized that a few weeks of playing immense action made my hands MUCH stronger. As noted above, yes, there were terrible intonation problems that can't be fixed at all, but now I am at medium and it's very enjoyable
Well 5 mm is certainly high action! I love high action and you fix intonation by setting it with fingered notes not harmonics. We doan need no stinkin' harmonics. Who are we? Jaco or Wooten? High notes are what my 7 string is for.
But that said, I love the lazyness of low action too. But I've tried the old "let the amp do the work" thing, and it starts out working just fine. And then I start getting into the music, start including dynamics, including some feeling and "digging in" and it all falls apart. I find I just can't hold myself back enough to have uber-low action work out. So I raise the action. No, not 5mm. You raise it just enough so that when you are really going, the bass is still working right. That's all. It's not THAT much higher than "low" action...more like what people call "normal" action!
