What is the 4-string with the best action?

[NickInMesa]

According to you (be as subjective as you can), which is the 4-string that has the best action, and by that I mean the easiest to play, with the minimum amount of pressure on the string.

I am looking for a 4-string that has the strings really close to the frets, without buzzing.

And if you could tell me that type of music you play, that would be great!

Thanks!

 

[Murder_Worship]

perhaps setting up the bass you have already?

 

[burtonfanchris]

hey, epiphone sg basses aren't too bad. the strings are kinda closer together, but the playability is really good. i got mine for 300 bucks... i play metal, alternative, blues, and progressive.

 

[NickInMesa]

perhaps setting up the bass you have already?

?!?

My basses are all setup by a pro, $45 a setup, thanks a lot.

Now, to answer my question...?

 

[scottice]

Yep, $100 set-up can even make an SX sing.

Play Death Metal!

 

[bstringkyle]

Musicman sterling, I love the Action on that thing,

 

[Darkstrike]

Never got 'em lower than my Roscoe Beck, but my Cort C4H came close.

Oh, and I play a lot of things, mainly rock/metal, and melodic chords/tapping stuff.

 

[euronymous]

Every Ibanez I have ever owned (a bunch of soundgear and a few srx) I have been able to drop the drop the strings to the frets. I had an esp f series that I could do the same with. I play mostly metal.

 

[Burlington]

Almost any guitar can be set up with low action, with the right set up.

 

[DeanT]

There's no such thing as a bass with the best action. The action can be set however you like (within limits) on any bass.

 

[Phalex]

It's all in the setup. Rics are supposed to set up with dead flat necks, so I'm goin Rickenbacker for the hell of it.

 

[dealbreaker]

Subjectivity aside, the bass that fits the description you've given is one that has been set up that way. With the exception of basses that have inadequate, damaged or malfunctioning components, any bass should conform to that desired style of playability if set up with that in mind.

 

[Gintaras]

I like a low action but after getting my T-40 back from a setup, I needed to raise is a bit.

 

[Korladis]

It's all in the setup. Rics are supposed to set up with dead flat necks, so I'm goin Rickenbacker for the hell of it.

Same.

But really, most good basses can be set up with really low action.

 

[mccartneyman]

I think almost any quality bass can be made to have low action. But not everyone wants to play with a light touch, or to have strings very close to the fretboard. I actually prefer my strings higher than many players.

 

[NickInMesa]

Subjectivity aside, the bass that fits the description you've given is one that has been set up that way. With the exception of basses that have inadequate, damaged or malfunctioning components, any bass should conform to that desired style of playability if set up with that in mind.

But I did say subjectively.

All my basses are set up by a pro, but bizarrely my cheapest one, an RBX, has the best action.

 

[ParadigmBass]

Tobias or MTD I think have the best action of any basses.

I mainly play metal.

 

[EagleMoon]

Tobias or MTD I think have the best action of any basses.

I mainly play metal.

+1 with MTD

My basses have the strings practically laying on the frets, but no fret buzz. Part of that is due to the correct setup but MTD's have very flat radius necks which seems to be easier to get lower action.

 

[5string5fingers]

I'd say ibanez but I've played some peaveys with super low actions. I personally don't like low rider actions,my finger style is on the heavier side don't like to here clackity clack clack

 

[NecroticImbecil]

Seriously, any bass that isn't defective or crippled by design flaws. Some may take no more than a few turns of an allen wrench, others may take neck adjustments and fret work, but anything decent should be capable of very low action. "Set up by a pro" doesn't necessarily mean set up for the lowest action possible. For $45 you're probably getting a quick saddle height adjustment and possibly a minor neck tweak.

You want the lowest action on any bass, at any cost? Possibly a Status all-graphite instrument, they were a favorite of a famous pro whos dream it was to have action so low the strings were behind the neck.