What's a "Perfect Set- Up" ??

[Bobbo 77]

Mi Hermano's,
In your opinion's, what constitute's "A perfect Set- up "? Does a high end bass still buzz if the action is LOW? I mean, I like my action pretty low, but I'm heavy handed ( A poor man's Rocco!), and no matter if I bring the action up, I still get buzzes. Will ALL basses buzz, no matter if it's a Fender or Alembic?, even with a Pro Set-up?

Bobbo 77'

 

[armybass]

It is more in your technique. I like it low to and I adjust my playing for each instrument. Any bass will buzz if you set the action too low and dig in real hard.


But with that being said.....


You can relieve this by placing your right hand closer to the bridge and by making sure that you left hand fretting fingers are as close to the frets as you can. Get really snug up behind the fret and play back towards the bridge. THis will really help kill the buzz as it were.

 

[Figjam]

PLaying by the bridge definitely helps. On my sterling, teh action is low and no buzz when playing over the pickup and its great. On my godin, teh action is medium-low and if i play on the neck pickup, it buzzes some if i play on frets 12+ but if i play on the bridge pickup its fine. ALl about technique and where you play and how hard.

 

[Bobbo 77]

Thank's Cat's!

Those suggestion's make a lot of sense!

I guess I've never played a bass, high end Boutique, that was set up by a Pro tech. I guess I've alway's wondered if cat's like Victor, or Stanley, or Marcus have this happen with there basses. I know there Technique and muting help's them, but I alway's wondered if there basses buzz too!

Bobbo 77'

 

[armybass]

The funny thing is that Ken SMith sets his basses pretty high from the factory. I paid around $3,000 for a Smith 5 last year and it was new from the shop and the strings were like twice as high as I like. So I lowered it and all was fine. I was told later that Ken Likes his action pretty high. I guess he is heavy handed too. BUt Ken is an upright player and lots of guys I know that were upright guys before they played electric like thier action up there.

 

[skabassist13]

you could train your left hand to use less force on the neck. and then take the force that you were using to dig in to player faster.

 

[spectorbassguy]

The funny thing is that Ken SMith sets his basses pretty high from the factory. I paid around $3,000 for a Smith 5 last year and it was new from the shop and the strings were like twice as high as I like. So I lowered it and all was fine. I was told later that Ken Likes his action pretty high. I guess he is heavy handed too. BUt Ken is an upright player and lots of guys I know that were upright guys before they played electric like thier action up there.

Wow when I bought my '98 BT5G used the action was LOW-LOW-LOW. And no buzz. Sold it to a friend of mine. I still get the chance to play it now & then but it just doesn't have the edge a SR5 has.

 

[dlloyd]

The funny thing is that Ken SMith sets his basses pretty high from the factory. I paid around $3,000 for a Smith 5 last year and it was new from the shop and the strings were like twice as high as I like. So I lowered it and all was fine. I was told later that Ken Likes his action pretty high. I guess he is heavy handed too. BUt Ken is an upright player and lots of guys I know that were upright guys before they played electric like thier action up there.

What I have some difficulty with is the amount of relief he recommends... up to 5/64 (about 0.078"... jeez)

 

[armybass]

Yeah, I love his basses but not his setup job.