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What is the 4-string with the best action?
- Thread starter NickInMesa
- Start date
I have my basses setup a different height purposely, depending on what I want out of it.
I have two setup at very low action and that sound great.
I just would like to know what you all think makes a good bass for that type of setup.
My luthier is good, he does a really good job.
From the get go I did say "subjectively" and no, not basses can be made to play well with low action. If it requires a lot of work, then forget it.
Not all basses are created equal, or else we'd all be spending no more than $150 on an instrument.
sounds to me like you want a flat fingerboard more than a low action.i set the action very low on my girlfriends encore 3/4 sized bass because she said she liked the action on my charvel guitar. the bass has a lower action but the radius of the neck throws her, the guitar has a flat board. the lower you go the more buzz you'll get from the board and clicking off the pups.it cant be countered. also, as far as i know, a really low action is bad for the neck.leads to quicker bowing or something?? as for techs, try out a few as some can be half assed, especially with younger clients.
ButI did say subjectively.
All my basses are set up by a pro, but bizarrely my cheapest one, an RBX, has the best action.
How do you know for a fact that your getting the best possible set up from this person?
I'm sorry Nick, but those who answered 'any bass' are really correct.
The reason is variation in manufacturing and materials quality, which all brands are subject to.
Some personal examples: Years ago I bought a cheap MIJ Jazz bass which still plays absolutely perfectly, never needed any fretwork, still doesn't, and has super low action.
I recently bought a brand-new MIA P bass, which required minor fretwork to get the action as low as I like it.
A couple of years ago I purchased a brand-new Status Graphite neck for a project bass, and it required significant fretwork to be playable at all. It plays like a dream now, but it took some work, which would surprise some people.
Then again, several years ago I purchased a brand new Modulus Graphite bass that never needed any fretwork- it's still perfect.
You just never know. Every bass is different.
The reason is variation in manufacturing and materials quality, which all brands are subject to.
Some personal examples: Years ago I bought a cheap MIJ Jazz bass which still plays absolutely perfectly, never needed any fretwork, still doesn't, and has super low action.
I recently bought a brand-new MIA P bass, which required minor fretwork to get the action as low as I like it.
A couple of years ago I purchased a brand-new Status Graphite neck for a project bass, and it required significant fretwork to be playable at all. It plays like a dream now, but it took some work, which would surprise some people.
Then again, several years ago I purchased a brand new Modulus Graphite bass that never needed any fretwork- it's still perfect.
You just never know. Every bass is different.
This is actually a good question. I have a Peavey Cirrus that's a beauty to play. I have a fretless, modded Squier P-Bass that I just had set up and the action is technically pretty low but it's just not as comfortable as my Cirrus. I'm guessing that this has to do with the neck radius and shorter scale? I do a lot of slight bending and vibrato while I'm playing but it's much more difficult on my P Bass.
I`ve found that nut width and, to a much lesser extent, fretbaord radius, have the biggest impact on playability. I do all my own setups and adjusting on my basses, and as long as the nut is close to 1.5in, I`ve gotten favorable results.
I primarily play different kinds of punk, and rock when nobody wants to play punk with me.
I primarily play different kinds of punk, and rock when nobody wants to play punk with me.
Schecter Stiletto? My friend has one, it's a very comfortable bass. Very low action, and actually the most comfortable neck I've ever played on anything that wasn't a Ric.
Hey Mike what Cirrus do you own? USA? Indonesian? Chinese?
Just curious.
And thanks also for a good answer. If my question did not make sense, maybe some did not understand it.
I have seen $1000 basses that could not be setup properly and were not as pleasant to play as my $100 RBX.
And they should also stop questioning my luthier, he's got plenty of work in his shop for a reason and $45 here in AZ is like $100 in New York.
Well it may be the end of the thread for you.
But it does not change the fact that my question made sense.
YES, ALL BASSES CAN BE SETUP IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.
The question is different.
If you look at the reviews on Harmony Central you will see that not all basses have a 10 in action. Granted, they were not all setup properly, but the grading makes sense no matter what.
There are basses you will never get setup right no matter how much money or time you spend on them.
Others have great action not just because of the string height but because of their neck radius, neck and bridge.
And there, again, it's subjective.
Everyone is questioning your luthier because you keep saying that you want low action, and ANY bass that isn't a complete POS can be made to play wonderfully. It all just depends on how much you feel like paying the guy to do the work. My guy charges $45 and will do all sorts of amazing things to my bass for that price. More than anyone else will do at the same price by a mile. But the one thing he doesn't do for that price is replace the nut.
If a bass has great low action at fret 5 but is higher than you want at fret 12, then you will need a new nut that isn't cut as deep to even things out.
Moral of the story:
Tell your guy to get the action as low as he can, and replace the nut if he has to. And pay him when he asks for more than $45.
If a bass has great low action at fret 5 but is higher than you want at fret 12, then you will need a new nut that isn't cut as deep to even things out.
Moral of the story:
Tell your guy to get the action as low as he can, and replace the nut if he has to. And pay him when he asks for more than $45.
That's a real Algonquin Round Table there.
Whoever said any brand bass, within reason, can have low action is right. It's simple physics -- level frets and a straight neck yield low action. Any brand bass can have level frets and a straight neck.
Yes. I was referring to my Schecter Stiletto Elite 4.
It hasn't been seeing much action these days, though, with my SX here calling ym fingers all day. It still ets all my audition time though, because I know it up and down.
My OLP MM Stingray has super high action though, if I lower it, it plays horrid.
My basses have all had pretty low action. Of course, I don't mind a little fret clatter, it's part of my sound.
