Bass string action

[RockNRoling]

This one is coming from my bass player Nick. How high should pickups be off the bass strings? Is closer better???

 

[Hellion]

Re: Bass string action

I like the pickups as close as you can get them without interfering with the string vibration.

 

[Tom M]

Re: Bass string action

I keep mine much further away than I do my guitar pickups. It depends on the output of the pickup, and the attack of the right hand. If he's heavy handed, back the pickup down to avoid the string smacking the pole pieces. I don't have my bass handy, but I'd say I have 1/4-3/8" between my strings and pickups.

 

[nuntius]

Re: Bass string action

I think mine are just screwed directly into the body with four screws actually through the pickup casing. I don't think you can ajust the height of them :/ But I've not tried...

 

[St_Genesius]

Re: Bass string action

Unless you've got some sort of bass design I've never seen, you can adjust them just fine, Nuntius.

And RnR, just like with guitar, there is no set exact answer for this question. Tell you bass player to move'em up and down until it sounds good to him.

 

[Imp]

Re: Bass string action

yeah, theres a bit of sponge sitting under the pickup that you can compress with the screws..

 

[FAT MIKE]

Re: Bass string action

yeah...it just depends on his style...if he does alot of slapping...i find a little higher string action works, but guys who use a pick often like the lowest action they can get...i'm somewhere in between!

 

[Imp]

Re: Bass string action

when i do play bass, i usually use a lot of slap.. usually pickup height is a case of getting it to the point where it dosen't get in the way of the strings or your popping fingers hehe

 

[Dooogz]

Re: Bass string action

Ill telll soma this to our bassist... he seems to fiddle with action a lot!