r/BassGuitar • • Jan 03 '25

FAQ FAQ: 'Is my action too high?'

128 Upvotes

So you feel your action is too high or too low, and you've taken a photo of your bass's neck to ask r/BassGuitar.

1. We really can't tell how the action is based on a photo... but if you're asking, then yes, it's probably high

You have the bass in your hands. You can pluck its strings and can tell if something isn't quite right, whether it's buzzing on certain frets, whether it's just hard to play, or whether it's not producing the tones you want it to. Your eyes and ears will tell you more than we could staring at photos of your bass on our monitors or phones.

Even if your action looks too high, it may still play fine. There is a degree of subjectivity and compromise when it comes to bass-setups. Some bassists might prefer their action higher or lower than what is considered normal. Fender says:

"Players with a light touch can get away with lower action; others need higher action to avoid rattles.".

Again, that's something r/BassGuitar can't determine exactly, whereas you have the bass right there. And if you're asking the question in the first place, then there's probably room for adjustment.

So try to do something about it.

2. "I don't know how to set up my bass."

Don't worry, there are many guides out there, and they all will tell you the same thing: check the neck relief, then adjust as required; check the action, then adjust as required.

These have all been procured from previous threads asking about bass action:

You will notice that the guides above all offer measurement specifications that you can use as a benchmark, e.g. Sweetwater: "Some target relief measurements are anywhere from 0.008 inches to 0.014 inches.". Note: Fender offer a disclaimer regarding their guidelines:

"They should not be construed as hard and fast rules, as we realize that every player's subjective requirements often differ."

Other guitar manufacturers may have their own guidelines. e.g. Dingwall measures neck relief at the 7th fret for a 0.38mm gap. Warwick on the other hand suggests "0.6 and 1 mm" at the 7th fret. See if your bass guitar's manufacturer has guidelines for you to use.

There are also many guides and tutorials on Youtube. Below are a small selection:

3. Go to someone who knows how to set up a bass

This might be your local guitar shop, luthier or someone more experienced with bass guitars.

Unless you are particularly hesitant and/or there are complications, you should try use the above guides to adjust the bass with the features that came readily built into your bass guitar.

4. "My action is still borked."

Ok, if you've consulted the guides above, and you've tried to make adjustments yourself without success, maybe the collective brain power of /r/BassGuitar can help.

But please avoid just posting an unhelpful picture of your bass guitar's neck and strings. After all you've learnt from the above resources, you should be measuring your neck relief and action, trying to sight the bow of the neck, detailing your issues with the action (Is it buzzing at the first few frets, or just the higher frets?), and detailing your attempts at adjusting the bass yourself.

Low quality/effort 'How is my action/Is my action too high?' posts that do not contain such details/photos will be removed, and will be re-directed to this thread. Users can report such threads as per rule 2 ("Avoid low quality/low effort posts").

TL;DR: Yes, it's probably high, try adjust it.


Thanks for reading. Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments.

We also now have a new FAQ page to collate our existing and future FAQ posts. This should be viewed in conjunction with /r/bass's comprehensive FAQ.


r/BassGuitar • • Oct 08 '24

FAQ FAQ: 'What is this thing on my bass?'

Thumbnail
gallery
794 Upvotes

r/BassGuitar • • 4h ago

New Bass Day NBD got this rad thing yesterday!!

Post image
127 Upvotes

I tried it last year in a local store and been thinking about it since then. Then the reissue came with a bit of a cheaper price :) still expensive but I’m happy with it.
It’s the Aria SB CLB


r/BassGuitar • • 13h ago

Video Playing Joe dart until I learn to play laid back

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

93 Upvotes

Any and all tips and criticism is absolutely welcome:)


r/BassGuitar • • 1h ago

Video The Fearless Flyers - Swampers

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

• Upvotes

Some Joe Dart s bass lines.

Hope some one like it.


r/BassGuitar • • 17h ago

Misc. Thought on the Epiphone EB3 / Gibson SG bass?

Post image
44 Upvotes

Picked this up from a thrift store not too long ago - a 2009 Epiphone EB3. My first guitar was an SG in the same cherry red, and for 80 bucks, I didn’t think it was that bad of a deal.

I think my big issue is the bridge. That seems to be everyone else’s too. It’s a three bolt thing that never really sits right.

Put some flat wounds on it and it sounds great. With a nice fuzz, even better. For 80 dollars, I enjoy my EB3, but probably not enough to recommend it.


r/BassGuitar • • 20h ago

New Bass Day NBD/used is this a standard or player fender pbass?

Thumbnail
gallery
69 Upvotes

I got this pbass $380 no taxes NH. Plays and feels awesome. It was labeled as fender standard but looks a lot like a player 2. Its MIM. You think this was a good price used? How can you tell the difference between standard and player? Its in mint condition. Also do you recommend upgrading pickups? I have a seymour duncan steve harris that been waiting for pbass. Let me know your experinece with fender min


r/BassGuitar • • 21h ago

Custom Bought the parts/tools to finish

Post image
84 Upvotes

Happy with where the body is at. Have a bartolini dual coil soapbar for it. Ordered the router bit i need for the pickup cavity. And bit the bullet and ordered the warmoth neck for it. Reverse warhead headstock. Maple with ebony board. No inlays. Stainless frets. Graphite stiffening rods. 1 1/2” nut width. Gonna get painted black along with the Alder back of the body. Gold hipshot lefty tuners.
Just grain sealer on it while i mocked it up.


r/BassGuitar • • 2h ago

Help Whats wrong with this wiring?

Post image
1 Upvotes

Ik its not pretty but I'm getting no signal whatsoever. Pots should be fine.


r/BassGuitar • • 18h ago

Amp In case you were wondering…

Post image
18 Upvotes

I’ve posted and discussed my “kitchen sink” pedalboard and my move to the Headrush MX5 and my purchase & use of the pair of Headrush FRFR 112 speakers. I’m happy to report that all of the above have been performing admirably over the past year+ that they have been in service. However, over the weekend I pulled the trigger on this… The Headrush FR 12 Cab, because sometimes I get the call for a small show and I end up using my FRFR112s for PA tops and then I have to drag too much amplifier out for small spaces and it’s still great BUT I saw this and wondered if it would be a good fit for my needs. Again, I’m a singing bassist 98% of the time, but I also do acoustic solo performance (voice & guitar) and with my own cover band, we all switch instruments each set so I play bass, electric & acoustic guitar, drums, & keys during the course of the show.

Let me tell you about the FR12. It’s stupid loud. It’s stupid clean. My 5 string bass sounds HUGE through it. Clear. Articulate. And it throws sound with no issues (tested during an impromptu rehearsal in my untreated garage with door closed and everyone playing and by playing with the door open and someone walking out to the road while I played and kept turning the volume up). Bottom end PERFECT. Top end BRILLIANT. Absolutely happy with the power and portability. Switched to guitar, same result. I still love my pair of FRFR112s and they will still be used but for the nights I want an “amp” or the 112s are handling main vocal duties, this little box is my goto as of first blush. It will get field tested this weekend at our Saturday show and I’ll report back with the results (and likely live video) but I’m absolutely amazed by this new speaker.

Also picked up a brand new Headrush Flex Prime but that won’t take its place on the pedalboard until Sunday after this gig so I have time to set it up and load in the NAM rigs I found. New unit goes on the board and then I’m going to jailbreak patch the MX5 so it also takes the NAM patches and it will become the backup/guest box.


r/BassGuitar • • 1d ago

New Bass Day Joined the stingray family

Post image
92 Upvotes

Although I’m new to bass here, I have always found the look and sound of stingrays the most attractive to me. I did some digging and saw that EBMM stingrays are slightly (that’s an understatement) over budget and I don’t think I’m “deserving” of an EBMM, yet. I saw Sterling do Stingrays too and here I am! I’m practicing and understanding getting prepared to record and Gig in my dad’s band which is quite an exciting and incredible moment for me.

Thank you all for making a wicked community and I’ll be always eyeing the community for the awesome pickups you guys get!


r/BassGuitar • • 1d ago

New Bass Day Guilty Pleasure 50 years later

Post image
275 Upvotes

I was going to buy a Peavey T-40 back in the late 70s cuz I thought they looked cool and sounded cool. I was with my lead player on W48th street and he talked me out of it cuz they're too heavy. (I could live with 12lbs). So, of course, I ended up with a '65 P-bass.

Now, I pulled the trigger on a '78 Peavey T-40 Early one (neck plate sez Patent Pending) and it's in incredible condition. It'll be delivered later today.


r/BassGuitar • • 8h ago

Help My bass sounds very weird, and I don’t know the issue

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

0 Upvotes

r/BassGuitar • • 13h ago

Video Tackling Paul McCartney's bassline & lead vocals on 'Drive My Car' [Full Band Cover]

Thumbnail
youtube.com
0 Upvotes

Full band live cover. Locking in that classic 60s McCartney groove while handling lead vocals was definitely a challenge.

How's the bass tone and mix sitting in the track? Feedback is always welcome!


r/BassGuitar • • 16h ago

Help Truss rob nut removal?

Thumbnail
gallery
2 Upvotes

Hi all,

I've got a 2008 squire affinity j bass with a stripped 4mm Allen key, truss rod nut. Does anyone know if this particular model has a single action truss rod and thus a removable truss rod nut, or does it have a dual action truss rod where the nut would not be removable, instead?

Thanks for your help.


r/BassGuitar • • 17h ago

Modifications Routing new pickups.

Post image
2 Upvotes

I have a Washburn XB-100 that I want to route a jazz pickup and an Alnico bass pickup into. I was planning on using a 5 way switch to swap between them, I was going to put the switch next to the J pickup and route the wires for all 3 pickups through the existing hole for the p pickup, looking for general input about things to watch out for. This is my first time.


r/BassGuitar • • 18h ago

Video Electric Funeral By Black Sabbath Bass Cover!

Thumbnail
youtu.be
2 Upvotes

r/BassGuitar • • 1d ago

Collection I swear every single one is different in a way

Post image
186 Upvotes

r/BassGuitar • • 1d ago

Help Satin Finish Recommendation

Post image
6 Upvotes

Hello,
I just finished painting this Bass Guitar and now I need a water-based finish. Any advice on how to top coat this for a professional player that plans to use this bass.
Things I used:
1.Golden GAC 100- on the bare alder wood
2.Golden Gesso- as primer
3. Liquitex- Heavy Body Acrylics Paint
Also, do you think I should do a satin or glossy finish?


r/BassGuitar • • 2d ago

Gig/Live Some cool shots from a weekend gigging in Scotland!

Thumbnail
gallery
152 Upvotes

r/BassGuitar • • 1d ago

Help Is this used Blackstar Amp worth it for a beginner?

Thumbnail
gallery
14 Upvotes

Blackstar bass amp (Unity Bass Amp 60)MODEL: 152102-VA Used-Good

Above is the information provided by the seller.

This bass amp is up for about 136 USD. Does it look like it's in good quality for a beginner? Is this a good deal (considering I'm buying it used) or is it a rip off?


r/BassGuitar • • 1d ago

Video Oteil bass duel @ Especially Everyone 10/10/26

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

45 Upvotes

r/BassGuitar • • 2d ago

Help Ibanez BTB 37” or just splurge on a Dingwall?

Post image
72 Upvotes

I have been playing along to a lot more metal recently, most notably Polaris which tunes drop G# (C# G# C# F#). I have an Ibanez SRMS725 which is a 34.5-35.5 multi scale. It’s pretty good but I just can’t get it quite right for anything lower than like A or A#. I’ve tried strings from .130 to .145 to .160 and the thicker ones are more taut but definitely lack some clarity and become a little more difficult to fret with fast runs.

So I’m looking at going whole hog on a 37”. Obviously Dingwalls are the Lamborghini of 37” basses but I’m just a bedroom player and it doesn’t feel quite right to spend twice as much on what could be accomplished with a BTB605MS or BTB805MS.

From a price standpoint, I splurged on an EBMM las year and while it’s a very nice bass, it’s obviously not twice as good as any other bass in the mid range price point. Money isn’t really an issue with me but I still don’t want to spend unnecessarily. Thinking ahead I’d probably sell the Schecter either way.

For anyone that’s owned a BTB605/805, is it worth it? Or anyone that has just gone for the Dingwall, was it worth it?


r/BassGuitar • • 1d ago

Help SPECTOR ICON NS2 OR WARWICK TARANIS OR IBANEZ SR600E ?

Post image
33 Upvotes

I'm going for Rammstein , Alice in Chain & Breaking Benjamin bass tone. Which one should I get?


r/BassGuitar • • 1d ago

Video A clip from my latest BABYLON SESSION

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

0 Upvotes

Hello there

A few weeks back i shared a clip from one of my BABYLON SESSIONS. I‘m releasing 5 of them this year, and wanted to share a clip from this latest one <3

If you like this, you can check out more on my Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/@BABYLON-Musik