Who plays with a really low action? Pics please?

[Discount Bassy]

Get familiar with your instrument. It's yours. Adjust it to your liking. If you can't and don't have the gumption to do the research/obtain the tools, have someone else do it that you trust. If you don't like the change, have it returned to the way it was or change it again. Don't base your assessment after an adjustment on a few light string plucks at the service counter, play the thing for at least a few hours at home and then play a gig. Whatever feels/sounds right to you is correct for you. There are plenty of resources available to learn the basics of setting up an instrument.

 

[Marty Forrer]

Get familiar with your instrument. It's yours. Adjust it to your liking. If you can't and don't have the gumption to do the research/obtain the tools, have someone else do it that you trust. If you don't like the change, have it returned to the way it was or change it again. Don't base your assessment after an adjustment on a few light string plucks at the service counter, play the thing for at least a few hours at home and then play a gig. Whatever feels/sounds right to you is correct for you. There are plenty of resources available to learn the basics of setting up an instrument.

Yep, it's not rocket science. I've even taught myself to do fret levelling and crowning, electronics, shielding and successfully repaired a broken neck on my acoustic upright.

 

[songwriter21]

Here's my Spector Euro 5. The side shot of my strings' height is focused on the treble side at the 12th fret. Also notice, with my neck set flat and low action on the saddles, that there's still enough room on the saddles to have the strings literally be on the frets (if you play that lightly). There's nothing worse than bottomed-out saddles with the action still not being low enough, and God knows enough basses, both low and high(er)-end basses exhibit this. Of course, I won't rant about those brands, as I don't want to hear butthurt whiners.

Spector does their neck-thrus right.

 

[fourstringdrums]

I do. I've sold a few basses here where the buyer commented on how low my action was and asked how I played it lol

 

[SteveCS]

...There's nothing worse than bottomed-out saddles with the action still not being low enough, and God knows enough basses, both low and high(er)-end basses exhibit this.
...

I've not really seen to much of that with fretted basses, but I've seen plenty where that is the case with the fretless model because is the neck is essentially the same dimensions as the fretted neck but without frets, rather than having a thicker fingerboard to put the playing surface in the same place as the fret crowns would otherwise be.

 

[songwriter21]

I've not really seen to much of that with fretted basses, but I've seen plenty where that is the case with the fretless model because is the neck is essentially the same dimensions as the fretted neck but without frets, rather than having a thicker fingerboard to put the playing surface in the same place as the fret crowns would otherwise be.

You'd be surprised, with how many fretted basses that I've tried, where the saddles max out too high.

 

[Hypercaffium]

Here's my Spector Euro 5. The side shot of my strings' height is focused on the treble side at the 12th fret. Also notice, with my neck set flat and low action on the saddles, that there's still enough room on the saddles to have the strings literally be on the frets (if you play that lightly). There's nothing worse than bottomed-out saddles with the action still not being low enough, and God knows enough basses, both low and high(er)-end basses exhibit this. Of course, I won't rant about those brands, as I don't want to hear butthurt whiners.

Spector does their neck-thrus right.

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I guess if you measure the action at the 17th fret you'll get around 2 millimeters, even less. I think it's around 1.75. That's too low for my stile of playing, but if it works for you it's great.
I have 2.5 millimeters on all the strings, on all of my basses. I tried to go both down and up and realized I prefer having more range. 2.5 seems perfect for me.

 

[songwriter21]

I guess if you measure the action at the 17th fret you'll get around 2 millimeters, even less. I think it's around 1.75. That's too low for my stile of playing, but if it works for you it's great.
I have 2.5 millimeters on all the strings, on all of my basses. I tried to go both down and up and realized I prefer having more range. 2.5 seems perfect for me.

I've never measured action...no tools whatsoever for that. I eyeball it, because from years of trial and error, while measurements can stay constant, wood doesn't. As long as it plays and feels right to me, that's enough. Roscoe Guitars follow this simple practice, too.

 

[SteveCS]

You'd be surprised, with how many fretted basses that I've tried, where the saddles max out too high.

I guess I don't get my hands on too many fretted basses. But either way, I think the geometric starting point for them all should be such that bottomed-out saddles puts the strings firmly on the deck, and I struggle to think of any good reason for designers not to do that.

 

[Tim1]

You'd be surprised, with how many fretted basses that I've tried, where the saddles max out too high.

That's what shims were invented for, I have pulled apart many old basses with a pick, sandpaper or what have you in the neck pocket. Certainly doesn't seem to have prevented them from being good basses. I must admit I do like the (considerably more expensive) Stewmac full pocket tapered shims as it always worried me that perhaps a small shim at one end could add to the developing of a ski ramp since the screws then pull the neck against itself. Mind you, it certainly did not adversely affect my 63 J.

 

[Stranger Danger]

Low action is completely subjective and can be achieved on most any bass in degrees of "low". If you prefer such - just do it. It's not a contest to see who 'has the lowest action' - why? What's the point? Who cares?

If you want to know how it's achieved - there are you-tube tutorials and lots written on the subject. A little research goes a long way.

Responses like these are exactly what’s wrong with talkbass. Musta been a bad day four years ago.

 

[JIO]

Attempts to educate are what's wrong w/tb?