astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
I've never had a reference as far as relief and action.
What's low and comfortable for most bassists?
What's low and comfortable for most bassists?
What's a good set of measurements for setting up a bass?
- Thread starter astrozombie
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blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: What's a good set of measurements for setting up a bass?
As with guitar, whatever's comfortable for you. No rules. I'm sure there's lots of variation.
As with guitar, whatever's comfortable for you. No rules. I'm sure there's lots of variation.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: What's a good set of measurements for setting up a bass?
Man, you really need to check this Website out: www.google.com.
Man, you really need to check this Website out: www.google.com.
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: What's a good set of measurements for setting up a bass?
I'm referring to a lower setup than usual. Fender for instance gives you all those measurements but they're a little high off the fretboard in reality.
I solved the problem already anyway.
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I'm referring to a lower setup than usual. Fender for instance gives you all those measurements but they're a little high off the fretboard in reality.
I solved the problem already anyway.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: What's a good set of measurements for setting up a bass?
One of the main problems I have found on this forum with my little experience here is that people would rather break down what you're asking and convince you it was not worth asking than actually help you like they should. Glad you were able to fix it.
One of the main problems I have found on this forum with my little experience here is that people would rather break down what you're asking and convince you it was not worth asking than actually help you like they should. Glad you were able to fix it.
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: What's a good set of measurements for setting up a bass?
Some people feel the need to take out the anger from their lives onto others. They feel no empathy, it's sad.
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Some people feel the need to take out the anger from their lives onto others. They feel no empathy, it's sad.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: What's a good set of measurements for setting up a bass?
On the one hand, there are no new questions, and the internet is (or at least used to be) a vast library that contains almost all the knowledge you could ever hope for, if you just search for it.
On the other hand, what everyone who immediately links to a search engine blindly ignores is that you cannot search for information without swimming through the polluted seas of advertising. Unless you type "Blue Waffle" and click "I'm Feeling Lucky", the first 10 pages of results of any Google Search are paid ads. Even then, I'm sure by now that Blue Waffle is a keyword for another thousand ads.
On the third hand, there are no laws that demand anyone have empathy, sympathy, or be helpful in any way at any time or for any reason, and damning them for it is not anyone's place. Welcome to the world, these are the people that exist outside your box.
That said, I never understood why anyone has ever considered setting up an instrument to anyone's ideal other than their own. The default factory setup for any guitar or bass is an average based on ancient factory setups that were based on the preferences of the guy who started the whole thing to begin with, be it Leo or Orville or Grover or Wayne, and those preferences grew from what they knew of the instruments they were stuck with. Even Stradivari's setups could be tweaked.
Steve Harris may not like what I set my basses to, and I might not like his setups. It's possible that neither of us would like Bootsy Collins' or Victor Wooten's setups. Jaco's Bass Of Doom could either play like butter or like an air conditioner someone put strings on. We may never know.
There are a few basic concepts to observe, however, the foremost being that higher action generally results in a clearer tone. This is because the strings have less chance of hitting the adjacent frets under max oscillation (such as from a heavy attack). Lower action has a tendency to introduce rattle and clank as the strings contact the frets with aggressive attack. Super-low action is do-able, but you might want to look into flatwound or tapewound strings for that to reduce the chance (or at least the noise) of banging the frets.
On the one hand, there are no new questions, and the internet is (or at least used to be) a vast library that contains almost all the knowledge you could ever hope for, if you just search for it.
On the other hand, what everyone who immediately links to a search engine blindly ignores is that you cannot search for information without swimming through the polluted seas of advertising. Unless you type "Blue Waffle" and click "I'm Feeling Lucky", the first 10 pages of results of any Google Search are paid ads. Even then, I'm sure by now that Blue Waffle is a keyword for another thousand ads.
On the third hand, there are no laws that demand anyone have empathy, sympathy, or be helpful in any way at any time or for any reason, and damning them for it is not anyone's place. Welcome to the world, these are the people that exist outside your box.
That said, I never understood why anyone has ever considered setting up an instrument to anyone's ideal other than their own. The default factory setup for any guitar or bass is an average based on ancient factory setups that were based on the preferences of the guy who started the whole thing to begin with, be it Leo or Orville or Grover or Wayne, and those preferences grew from what they knew of the instruments they were stuck with. Even Stradivari's setups could be tweaked.
Steve Harris may not like what I set my basses to, and I might not like his setups. It's possible that neither of us would like Bootsy Collins' or Victor Wooten's setups. Jaco's Bass Of Doom could either play like butter or like an air conditioner someone put strings on. We may never know.
There are a few basic concepts to observe, however, the foremost being that higher action generally results in a clearer tone. This is because the strings have less chance of hitting the adjacent frets under max oscillation (such as from a heavy attack). Lower action has a tendency to introduce rattle and clank as the strings contact the frets with aggressive attack. Super-low action is do-able, but you might want to look into flatwound or tapewound strings for that to reduce the chance (or at least the noise) of banging the frets.
Diminished Triad
New member
Re: What's a good set of measurements for setting up a bass?
My experience with musicians is most are willing to share their knowledge and answer questions. This may not be everyone's experience. And it's not always the case here where it sometimes seems like you will run across some sensitive members that rather than ignore a question they believe to be a waste of time, they will take the time to respond to a question but not really answer the question. Instead they claim to be upset because there is no "best" only "preferred" and claim that "as long as you are pleased it's fine." That's not the case in medicine, mechanics, or music. But life would be great if it were all simply about individual preference (especially for some who have very little experience which is why they wisely ask those they believe might have an actual answer based on experience) but usually there is a real difference and a right way to do something.
Many good and helpful members here who provide incredible info and that's why I keep reading and now and then still ask what some might believe to be silly questions. The SD company (and employees) is/are simply the best (the politically correct word is "preferred"). The sour, unfriendly types who also jump in or after those posting a question (not associated with SD) are at least creating a small moment of joy for themselves, unfortunately it can be at the expense of others (if you take them seriously LOL). I've been fortunate to have great members in the bands I've belonged to and it's hard to imagine keeping an unfriendly/moody/grouchy/negative musician in a band. Especially if he/she can't answer a simple question about music!
My experience with musicians is most are willing to share their knowledge and answer questions. This may not be everyone's experience. And it's not always the case here where it sometimes seems like you will run across some sensitive members that rather than ignore a question they believe to be a waste of time, they will take the time to respond to a question but not really answer the question. Instead they claim to be upset because there is no "best" only "preferred" and claim that "as long as you are pleased it's fine." That's not the case in medicine, mechanics, or music. But life would be great if it were all simply about individual preference (especially for some who have very little experience which is why they wisely ask those they believe might have an actual answer based on experience) but usually there is a real difference and a right way to do something.
Many good and helpful members here who provide incredible info and that's why I keep reading and now and then still ask what some might believe to be silly questions. The SD company (and employees) is/are simply the best (the politically correct word is "preferred"). The sour, unfriendly types who also jump in or after those posting a question (not associated with SD) are at least creating a small moment of joy for themselves, unfortunately it can be at the expense of others (if you take them seriously LOL). I've been fortunate to have great members in the bands I've belonged to and it's hard to imagine keeping an unfriendly/moody/grouchy/negative musician in a band. Especially if he/she can't answer a simple question about music!
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: What's a good set of measurements for setting up a bass?
+1. LOTS of variation. Whatever's comfortable for your style of playing. Same thing with string gauge, and whether you use flatwound, roundwound, or semi-round. THERE IS NO RIGHT WAY, THERE IS NO BEST WAY. We're humans, not robots. Music is a creative, personal thing. Instruments are supposed to fit you, not the other way around.
+1. LOTS of variation. Whatever's comfortable for your style of playing. Same thing with string gauge, and whether you use flatwound, roundwound, or semi-round. THERE IS NO RIGHT WAY, THERE IS NO BEST WAY. We're humans, not robots. Music is a creative, personal thing. Instruments are supposed to fit you, not the other way around.
Lewguitar
New member
Re: What's a good set of measurements for setting up a bass?
I set the action on my electric guitars, my acoustic guitars, my mandolins, my mandolas and on my bass as low as it will go without buzzing.
If I get any fret buzz, even a little, then the action is to low and I raise it up.
That's about it.
I set the action on my electric guitars, my acoustic guitars, my mandolins, my mandolas and on my bass as low as it will go without buzzing.
If I get any fret buzz, even a little, then the action is to low and I raise it up.
That's about it.
Re: What's a good set of measurements for setting up a bass?
greatly depends on bridge type and neck profile... My favs for feel atm are, strangely, high-ish action on a superslim wizard-like 80s ibanez (RD707 - the "RG bass", basically - heavier cast bridge, ashtray-ish with adjustable saddles) and superlow action on a megabeefy neck'd kahlerized Fame (Tokai-built premium line for Hondo)
Variance is so great in bass that there isnt really a one size fits all solution. That Fame neck is easily 2.5x chunkier than the Ibby, for example, and various weirder bridges like that recessed cam-roller kahler bass tremolo just behave totally differently than the "saddles on a plate" garden variety... And then there are the raised thick cast slab ashtrayish ones like BadA$s or the Chushin Japan OEM from the 80s, where saddles tend to bottom out unless compensated for - whether by manufacturers neck pocket specs or by hand (shim the pocket for a teensy downward slope of the neck, headstock tilted back). Etc etc etc
greatly depends on bridge type and neck profile... My favs for feel atm are, strangely, high-ish action on a superslim wizard-like 80s ibanez (RD707 - the "RG bass", basically - heavier cast bridge, ashtray-ish with adjustable saddles) and superlow action on a megabeefy neck'd kahlerized Fame (Tokai-built premium line for Hondo)
Variance is so great in bass that there isnt really a one size fits all solution. That Fame neck is easily 2.5x chunkier than the Ibby, for example, and various weirder bridges like that recessed cam-roller kahler bass tremolo just behave totally differently than the "saddles on a plate" garden variety... And then there are the raised thick cast slab ashtrayish ones like BadA$s or the Chushin Japan OEM from the 80s, where saddles tend to bottom out unless compensated for - whether by manufacturers neck pocket specs or by hand (shim the pocket for a teensy downward slope of the neck, headstock tilted back). Etc etc etc
Re: What's a good set of measurements for setting up a bass?
PS also, fret size and neck radius change things up too - sometimes what you'll need to get decent hammer-on and slapping capability will seem kinda counterintuitive...or an otherwise perfect feeling fast and low setup will be practically unhammerable and unslappable. Check for that if you need that functionality. If you find it lacking, mess around with raising individual strings action and following/not following the radius.
Might also consider wildly different actions between strings depending on your needs. Set the most desirable action on E and A and max out capabilities at the expense of low action on D&G, that sorta thing...or, perhaps, the comverse - max capabilities and tone with high action elsewhere, but a very low action on your first string to give you a chance to do speedy guitar lead-like licks on the highest frets
...as many said, just too much variance to definitively generalize!
PS also, fret size and neck radius change things up too - sometimes what you'll need to get decent hammer-on and slapping capability will seem kinda counterintuitive...or an otherwise perfect feeling fast and low setup will be practically unhammerable and unslappable. Check for that if you need that functionality. If you find it lacking, mess around with raising individual strings action and following/not following the radius.
Might also consider wildly different actions between strings depending on your needs. Set the most desirable action on E and A and max out capabilities at the expense of low action on D&G, that sorta thing...or, perhaps, the comverse - max capabilities and tone with high action elsewhere, but a very low action on your first string to give you a chance to do speedy guitar lead-like licks on the highest frets
...as many said, just too much variance to definitively generalize!
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: What's a good set of measurements for setting up a bass?
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Awesome response thank you!!
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uOpt
Something Cool
Re: What's a good set of measurements for setting up a bass?
Unfortunately everything depends on the strings.
For lowest action with minimal fret buzz all along the neck (if that is your thing) you will need different neck bow depending on what strings you use. Especially with round versus hex cores there are significant differences, and not limited to that. Some string just take much wider swings.
Unfortunately everything depends on the strings.
For lowest action with minimal fret buzz all along the neck (if that is your thing) you will need different neck bow depending on what strings you use. Especially with round versus hex cores there are significant differences, and not limited to that. Some string just take much wider swings.
Re: What's a good set of measurements for setting up a bass?
What have yoy found to "swing narrowest"? Never did know the bass recipe for that, and its WAAAY too expensive to experiment aimlessly... Price of one non-cheapo set could get youa dozen premium guitar string sets, after all (GC string club for 20, another 15-20 to make up the diff for using it to buy higher end $6-7 sets each month).
Btw, did experiment on guitar though...there it seems like roundcore roundwound allnickel is one way to get low travel and decent softness w/ good tone on med.-heavyish strings at crazylow action. Wonder if the same applies for bass?
On guitar, though, they had a potentially painful downside: low travel strings mean actual numerical string tension is way higher, though you never feel it in your fingers if going from regular fare to roundcore pure nickel winds... Feel or no feel, though, got to break out the pipe wrenches and scrounge up 5 of the hardest tremolo springs ya got, else your neck might shift noticeably and your floyd will try to float itself right up and out of your axe... Somehow, the idea of a similar jump in string tension on a thin & narrow built for speed modern 5 stringer bass sounds kinda terrifying. (best not even try unless its usa or japanese - korean and indo necks have been known to show some crazy shifting, groans and creaking aplenty, at the slightest bump in gauge, so thicker AND specialized high tension wind could be a recipe for disaster...or injury, since tension changes can snap the ubiquitous non-stainless cheapo screws they tend to use to mount everything, necks and bridges included)
What have yoy found to "swing narrowest"? Never did know the bass recipe for that, and its WAAAY too expensive to experiment aimlessly... Price of one non-cheapo set could get youa dozen premium guitar string sets, after all (GC string club for 20, another 15-20 to make up the diff for using it to buy higher end $6-7 sets each month).
Btw, did experiment on guitar though...there it seems like roundcore roundwound allnickel is one way to get low travel and decent softness w/ good tone on med.-heavyish strings at crazylow action. Wonder if the same applies for bass?
On guitar, though, they had a potentially painful downside: low travel strings mean actual numerical string tension is way higher, though you never feel it in your fingers if going from regular fare to roundcore pure nickel winds... Feel or no feel, though, got to break out the pipe wrenches and scrounge up 5 of the hardest tremolo springs ya got, else your neck might shift noticeably and your floyd will try to float itself right up and out of your axe... Somehow, the idea of a similar jump in string tension on a thin & narrow built for speed modern 5 stringer bass sounds kinda terrifying. (best not even try unless its usa or japanese - korean and indo necks have been known to show some crazy shifting, groans and creaking aplenty, at the slightest bump in gauge, so thicker AND specialized high tension wind could be a recipe for disaster...or injury, since tension changes can snap the ubiquitous non-stainless cheapo screws they tend to use to mount everything, necks and bridges included)
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: What's a good set of measurements for setting up a bass?
I dunno. I'm not a low action chaser.
Round core definitely takes a wider swing than hex core.
I think that a high core to wind ratio will make it swing less, that means a thicker core and thinner wind.
I would email the guy from bassstringsonline, the name escapes me right now. For technical questions like that he is excellent.
I dunno. I'm not a low action chaser.
Round core definitely takes a wider swing than hex core.
I think that a high core to wind ratio will make it swing less, that means a thicker core and thinner wind.
I would email the guy from bassstringsonline, the name escapes me right now. For technical questions like that he is excellent.
threechordcharlie
RedTruckologist
Re: What's a good set of measurements for setting up a bass?
This may sound cheesy but I put a quarter on the 12th fret, lower the top and bottom string to it, and then adjust the middle stings so it looks like an arch when viewed from the behind the saddle.
This may sound cheesy but I put a quarter on the 12th fret, lower the top and bottom string to it, and then adjust the middle stings so it looks like an arch when viewed from the behind the saddle.
Powdered Toast Man
New member
Re: What's a good set of measurements for setting up a bass?
It REALLY depends on the individual player. Much more so on bass than guitar in my experience. I for example, prefer a bit higher action because I play with a pick and use a fairly aggressive style. Someone who plays with fingers and has a light touch can probably use much lower action than me without getting fret buzz. So in answer to your question, it depends. The recommended settings from Fender are a good starting point. Just fine tune from there.
It REALLY depends on the individual player. Much more so on bass than guitar in my experience. I for example, prefer a bit higher action because I play with a pick and use a fairly aggressive style. Someone who plays with fingers and has a light touch can probably use much lower action than me without getting fret buzz. So in answer to your question, it depends. The recommended settings from Fender are a good starting point. Just fine tune from there.
