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What is your sting height at 12th fret?

shawshank72

shawshank72

Mar 22, 2009
5,493
8,311
Canada
#1
Im getting myself out of whack trying to set up a bass i have, you know the one " ive done this a million times but now im doubting myself "
I know height is what feels comfy but im wondering what others have their string height at.
Top of fret to bottom of string.
Mine is at 1/8 or 3.175mm
Just seems high to me.
 
#2
shawshank72 said:
Im getting myself out of whack trying to set up a bass i have, you know the one " ive done this a million times but now im doubting myself "
I know height is what feels comfy but im wondering what others have their string height at.
Top of fret to bottom of string.
Mine is at 1/8 or 3.175mm
Just seems high to me.
Click to expand...

For most of my basses, it's
6/64th - B; 5/64th - E; 4/64th - G. The A & D strings are adjusted between the E and G string heights. All are measured from the top of the fret to the bottom of the string.
 
#3
Why are you measuring at the 12th fret? I take my string height from the last fret. My C is around 1.65mm and my B is around 2.25, at least I start there and raise or lower as necessary. G string around 1.8mm and E string around 2mm. These are all approximate.

Also, don't forget to accommodate your basses radius. I use radius gauges personally for best results.

Your strings are so high from the sound of it that it might actually impact the intonation when you fret the strings.
 
#10
Action on my P-bass (with a 9" radius neck) ranges from 6/64" on the low E, to 5/64" on the G, both measured at the 17th fret. Action on my J-bass (with a 7.5" radius neck) is 1/64" higher. These are in line with Fender recommendations and they work for me...could probably get away with lower since the P sports high tension flats and if I don't mind a little fret buzz on the J. Anyone know why a slightly higher action is recommended for basses with a smaller neck radius?
 
#16
Wow those are some low actions above! Speaking of which, this past weekend I lowered the action on my Jazz to 5/64" on the E and 4/64" on the G...it's OK if I play with a light touch, then the buzz starts as I dig in. Neck relief is about 0.014" at the 8th fret. Was inspired to do this by listening to Darryl Jones' J-bass tone on the Miles Davis' "Decoy" CD which sounds buzzy...thought that going really low might actually help me to slap better...jury still out on that.
 
#20
I just setup both my P and J yesterday. And painstakingly took the time to do my best to set them up identically.

Measurements were taken from bottom if the string to top of 12th fret, capo at 1st fret.

E - 5/64
A - 4/64
D - 4/64
G - 3/64

Neck relief set so when fretted at first and last frets, a bank card can just barely be held in place at the 8th fret.
 

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