String action on your Musicmans

[jb90]

Hello ! It's my 1st post on this forum ! I'm a happy user of Musicman StingRay 4 (2005 Natural Finish) from Poland. I think that these basses are the best in the world ! I also have a Ampeg SVT4Pro Amp and 410HLF cabinet and with my SR sound fantastic !

I want to start some discuss about your's sting action. Do you prefer rather low or high string action in your's basses ? My string action is about 2,5 for E string and 2 mm for G string, but i try to lower my string action a little more

Sorry for my poor English

 

[Manfloozy]

Welcome!

I like my action as low as possible without noise, on my 25th that is basically on the board. Love it!

 

[keko]

Welcome to the forum!

My setup is very simple,

...tune all strings first with digital piezo tuner, than correct octaves with saddle screws using the same tuner, re-tune again whole bass, than turn truss rod wheel until fretboard is straight like a marble block, than lower string saddles on the edge of the "zing" (each string separately), but must not make a zing sound at all, than correct strings tune one more time, ...and rockin'!

Of course, this is one time action, when make first time setup, ...later just correct truss rod if necessary (weather, winter, summer, moisture, etc...)

 

[five7]

Welcome and nice setup! On my bongo I like no buzz but on my sub, I like a little buzz. I can always roll highs off if it is too much.

 

[syciprider]

I lower it until it buzzes then back off until the buzzing barely stops. I'm okay as long as the buzz doesn't amplify.

 

[tkarter]

Welcome and I like my strings higher and loser than a lot of MM folks. I think they sound better that way but that is just me.

There is no better sound out of a bass to be found. Once you heard a Bongo.

tk

 

[oli@bass]

I like the action as low as it can go with just a small amount of buzz when I dig in harder. However, different instruments, even of the same model, require different setups, so it's hard to go by any single measured distance alone.

 

[strummer]

Welcome to the forum!

My setup is very simple,

...tune all strings first with digital piezo tuner, than correct octaves with saddle screws using the same tuner, re-tune again whole bass, than turn truss rod wheel until fretboard is straight like a marble block, than lower string saddles on the edge of the "zing" (each string separately), but must not make a zing sound at all, than correct strings tune one more time, ...and rockin'!

Of course, this is one time action, when make first time setup, ...later just correct truss rod if necessary (weather, winter, summer, moisture, etc...)

Ok, I must speak up now. The above is wrong, a stringed instrument neck needs relief or else you will not get very low action. The amount of relief will vary according to player preferences as well as string gauge, but without relief you won't get low action at all.

By the way, I tend to go with string height a hair lower than factory setting.

 

[keko]

Ok, I must speak up now. The above is wrong, a stringed instrument neck needs relief or else you will not get very low action. The amount of relief will vary according to player preferences as well as string gauge, but without relief you won't get low action at all.

By the way, I tend to go with string height a hair lower than factory setting.

That's Your point of view my friend , but I setup my basses like this for about 30 years. (this year I have 30th anniversary of playing a bass)

That makes life interesting, everyone is a different person, so I suppose everyone has got his own favorite setup!

I just love when my neck (fretboard) is stright like a solid marble block!

 

[mfallmann]

I like my action set up rather high, due to digging in rather hard with fingers, thumb and pick ...

 

[strummer]

That's Your point of view my friend , but I setup my basses like this for about 30 years. (this year I have 30th anniversary of playing a bass)

That makes life interesting, everyone is a different person, so I suppose everyone has got his own favorite setup!

I just love when my neck (fretboard) is stright like a solid marble block!

Well, I've played for about that long too, whatever that has to do with anything
Now, you might prefer to set your basses up like that, but honestly you are then in a very small minority, and not even a notorilously light toucher like Gary Willis advocates a straight fret board.
The reason you need relief (the neck bends ever so slightly forward) is to accomodate string vibration. With an arrow straight neck you need either a very high nut (which will mess up intonation and playability at the lower frets) or strings high enough off the fretboard to avoid buzzing. And that will leave you with higher action. Simple physics.
As I said earlier, the amount of relief needed varies with player preferences and string gauge, but without relief your setup will suffer.

 

[five7]

I agree with strummer. Relief is needed for the best possible action. Congrats to both of you for playing for 30 years! Keep it up!

 

[rizzo9247]

I used to be an "as low as possible" type of guy until I started recording with my Bongo. A simple turn of the trussrod brought the action higher to elimnate almost all buzz and a very slight curve in the neck. Especially for those of us that like to dig in a little bit, the higher action is needed.

 

[drTStingray]

I like the action as low as it can go with just a small amount of buzz when I dig in harder. However, different instruments, even of the same model, require different setups, so it's hard to go by any single measured distance alone.

How do you guys set your Ray fretless basses - I find mine has an almost flat board to give the best action - and on fretless IMO it's good to be able to get a bit of string thwack against the fretboard when you want to dig in.

Just curious really and probably a little off the subject of the OP.

I totally get the point of a v low action on a fretted Ray causing potential problems if you dig in - doing this on my Classic Ray sounds like I'm trying to play Stanley Clarke style, especially on the G - a finger-style popping sound where you're not actually meaning to pop the strings at all - I've heard it on a live recording of a band I play in and whilst it may be a cool trick in a solo it wasn't what I meant it to sound like at all

 

[DBtoys]

I lower it until it buzzes then back off until the buzzing barely stops. I'm okay as long as the buzz doesn't amplify.

I have noticed i get a little buzz in my chromes but it does not come out the amp is this normal??

 

[syciprider]

I guess it's normal as long as it doesn't interfere with your playing. All my EB basses are setup with very slight buzz. I like em like that due to my playing style. Some bassists play like King Kong, some play like Tinkerbell.

 

[bob atherton]

IIRC James Jamerson liked really high action on his Precision. I guess this might have helped the fantastic tone he got.

 

[Moondog]

Only a twinge of neck relief and saddles lowered until I get the clicketty-clack and buzz I absolutly LOVE on my StingRays. Not to the point that the notes decay prematurely - but ring out w/sustain and fret noise . . .mmmmmmmmmmm

 

[DBtoys]

Thankx

 

[3674]

I like my action high for some reason. When I first bought my classic 4, it sounded great in store, but after playing a few days at home, I had it set up. Turns out, I like my action so high that it takes several turns to get the foam mutes to even touch the strings. I've loved my tone ever since so I haven't altered it. I even printed more set-up/neck adjustment instructions from the EBMM website but can't bring myself to change it because I'm so in love with the sound...