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EADG
03-13-2006, 05:05 PM
I remember reading once on here that as a general rule, the amount of space you should have between your E string and 12th fret is about the width of 3 playing cards.

I tried this last night and mine can fit about 5-6.

So, is there any truth to this? I am pretty sure I need a truss rod tightening but I would like a second opinion.
hellonearth07
03-13-2006, 05:31 PM
just play with whatever string height your most comfortable with. No use in playin something that you dont enjoy or dont feel like due to it not feeling right
Akira
03-13-2006, 05:44 PM
A. It's what is comfortable for you.
B. Why would you do anything with the truss rod? Just lower the action.
Son of Magni
03-13-2006, 05:48 PM
Three playing cards would be really low, I think even 5-6 is low. But to a large extent it will be dependent on your neck relief.

Now that I think about it, the distance you're talking about sounds more like a relief distance than an action distance. If you hold your E string down against the 1st fret and the 24th fret, then 3 playing cards would be reasonable.
Akira
03-13-2006, 05:50 PM
Three playing cards would be really low, I think even 5-6 is low. But to a large extent it will be dependent on your neck relief.

Now that I think about it, the distance you're talking about sounds more like a relief distance than an action distance. If you hold your E string down against the 1st fret and the 24th fret, then 3 playing cards would be reasonable.
How does the relief affect the string height? I'm just wondering.
Son of Magni
03-13-2006, 06:26 PM
How does the relief affect the string height? I'm just wondering.
Well, I don't have time to go into a dissertation tonight. Need to keep sending boards through my planer :p But I'm sure there's a setup thread here somewhere. In case you can't find it I think there's a couple good links here:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=125382
EADG
03-13-2006, 06:54 PM
B. Why would you do anything with the truss rod? Just lower the action.


It's as low as it can go without buzzing. The only thing left to do to lower the strings is straighten the neck.
EADG
03-13-2006, 06:56 PM
just play with whatever string height your most comfortable with. No use in playin something that you dont enjoy or dont feel like due to it not feeling right


I want it as low as possible. It's too high right now, it feels uncomfortable.
Son of Magni
03-13-2006, 07:05 PM
It's as low as it can go without buzzing. The only thing left to do to lower the strings is straighten the neck.
Just remember that if your neck is too straight you won't be able to achieve a nice low action. There are a lot of factors like your particular bass and your playing style, but if you lay a straightedge from fret 1 to fret 24 you want to see a gap under it at the 12th fret. Usually somewhere between 1/32 and 1/16 inch.
JBass
03-13-2006, 07:12 PM
B. Why would you do anything with the truss rod? Just lower the action.

what do you think tightening the truss rod does? :p
EADG
03-13-2006, 07:36 PM
Just remember that if your neck is too straight you won't be able to achieve a nice low action. There are a lot of factors like your particular bass and your playing style, but if you lay a straightedge from fret 1 to fret 24 you want to see a gap under it at the 12th fret. Usually somewhere between 1/32 and 1/16 inch.


What is that in mm? I'm Canadian.
Son of Magni
03-13-2006, 07:38 PM
What is that in mm? I'm Canadian.
(without using a calculator...) a little under a mm to 1.5 mm, roughly.
EADG
03-13-2006, 07:41 PM
Thanks, I will measure that again.
katana_manatee
03-13-2006, 07:47 PM
People prefer different feels so there is no right or wrong way to how high your action "should" be. And I imagine it would be impossible to create an optimum height for ease of playability without fretbuzz or deadspots because different basses are different. Different size frets, different neck relief... I really don't think a universal height can be agreed on.
darrell
03-13-2006, 08:44 PM
lol...

On my Dean it's probably two-thirds of a deck. :-D

It's f'ed up though. Not even worth fixing at this moment in time. Never again will I leave my bass at another's house.
nicatterberry
03-13-2006, 08:48 PM
Just remember that if your neck is too straight you won't be able to achieve a nice low action. There are a lot of factors like your particular bass and your playing style, but if you lay a straightedge from fret 1 to fret 24 you want to see a gap under it at the 12th fret. Usually somewhere between 1/32 and 1/16 inch.


So I wonder where those ****ers are that argued with me that I was wrong when I said this before.

Thanks, I will measure that again.

Oh wait, theres one.

Thanks asshole.
EADG
03-13-2006, 09:32 PM
So I wonder where those ****ers are that argued with me that I was wrong when I said this before.



Oh wait, theres one.

Thanks asshole.


Who the hell are you, and what are you talking about?
:amaze:
03-14-2006, 12:53 AM
l wkt tl ktr wl >A \





:amaze:
Thunder Fingers
03-14-2006, 04:01 AM
thapch...

Take them strings as low as possible... or as you want... if i hadnt played as hard as i do, i would have done like John Entwistle and placed the strings "on the other side of the frets"....
Akira
03-14-2006, 06:08 AM
what do you think tightening the truss rod does? :p
Straightens the neck?
Hepple
03-14-2006, 06:30 AM
Straightens the neck?
... which results in lower strings. http://www.garywillis.com/pages/bass/bassmanual/relief.html
EADG
03-14-2006, 11:42 AM
thapch...

Take them strings as low as possible... or as you want... if i hadnt played as hard as i do, i would have done like John Entwistle and placed the strings "on the other side of the frets"....


Umm.. what?
eraman75
03-14-2006, 12:23 PM
honestly, the space between the E string and the 12th fret of my 1st bass is about an inch. but i'm still using it. but i think i'll buy a new one.
Thunder Fingers
03-14-2006, 12:53 PM
Umm.. what?

John Entwistle, Bass player for the WHO... he liked the Strings Insanely low.... as he said "I like the strings Low, i like them so low that the strings is on the other side of the fretboard"
EADG
03-14-2006, 05:04 PM
honestly, the space between the E string and the 12th fret of my 1st bass is about an inch. but i'm still using it. but i think i'll buy a new one.


You dont have to buy a new one, just give it a setup.
EADG
03-14-2006, 05:06 PM
John Entwistle, Bass player for the WHO... he liked the Strings Insanely low.... as he said "I like the strings Low, i like them so low that the strings is on the other side of the fretboard"


That's pretty much how I am.
eraman75
03-14-2006, 07:44 PM
i think high strings are good if you want to increse the power of your fingers. i think.
Yahmi_05
03-15-2006, 10:58 PM
i did my bass and i got 6 cards and i like the way it sounds
eraman75
03-16-2006, 08:09 AM
got it! my strings at the 12th fret are .6 inches away from the fret board. but i like to play it. though it hurt my fingers especially my pinky, it did increased its power.
7-Up
03-16-2006, 10:33 AM
i did my bass and i got 6 cards and i like the way it sounds


me too.
JBass
03-16-2006, 05:03 PM
Straightens the neck?

thus lowering the action
kilian
03-16-2006, 05:37 PM
^^Yes. But don't forget that you shouldn't really use the truss rod to lower your action. You should use the truss rod to set the neck right and lower the action with your bridge.

I remember reading once on here that as a general rule, the amount of space you should have between your E string and 12th fret is about the width of 3 playing cards.

I tried this last night and mine can fit about 5-6.

So, is there any truth to this? I am pretty sure I need a truss rod tightening but I would like a second opinion.
Fret your first fret, fret your 15th fret with your left elbow (or right if you're a lefty). Now press the string down with your right index finger, it should only be able to move with the thickness of a creditcard in the middle. This is how you check the neck :thumb: