Setting String Height – Adjusting Your Action
So, to the business of setting up a Bass Guitar. Tuning aside – do start with that first! – string height is the number one adjustment on a bass. There are all sorts of reasons that string height adjustment is needed, from changing string type and fret wear to changing weather conditions and playing style.
Before we start, there’s no point adjusting the string height if the neck relief (the bow in the neck adjusted by the truss rod) is out. For now we’ll assume it is good, check out the upcoming post on neck relief for more on that. The neck pitch also needs to be right too, but I’ve yet to come across a bass where the neck pitch (angle of the neck to the body) is adjustable, so we don’t need to go there.
The two signs of incorrect string height are:
- Fret buzz when playing – deeply unpleasant rattling that generally doesn’t go along with more playing styles!
- Having to press the strings ‘too far’ – the strings end up a long way from the neck and the bass becomes harder to play.
The string height, or action, is set by the bridge saddles that hold the strings. Older basses have flat head (slot) screws that enable you to adjust the setting, newer basses tend to use allen (hex) keys. Turning the screws further in raises the action, unscrewing them (anti-clockwise) lowers the action, letting the strings get closer to the frets and the pickup(s) – something to watch, you don’t want the strings too close to them!
The shape of the bass fretboard has a slight curve to it, drawn along and imaginary radius. The bridge saddles will generally follow the same arc. Severe changes to the bridge height can affect the intonation (the internal tuning if you like), but little tweaks shouldn’t be a problem. You can check the intonation later.
The super bright out there will have realised that the string height is also affected by the nut at the other end of the string. Generally the setting at the nut is fine out of the factory. Over the years the nut can wear down, which usually means time for a new one. In a few decades of bass playing I’ve never needed one, but I’ve never owned a bass older than me, so it isn’t out of the questions. The nut is not generally a do-it-yourself change. Likewise if the nut does happen to be too high, it is time to call in an expert. Some basses dispense with nut and have a so called “zero fret” where it would have been. This is personally my preferred set up, but generally only seen on higher-end basses (although it doesn’t mean that a bass is higher end).
Fret a string at the highest fret. Obviously there’s never going to be any fret buzz here (there aren’t any more frets!), but it is the point on the neck where the action is highest. Slide down and play at the 12th fret. If there’s fret buzz here, you’ll want to raise the string, just a little. Try fretting at different frets until you are reasonably buzz free. For a lower action, there will be some buzz, so don’t fret (as it were). If you get buzz in one place but not others, this is a sign of uneven fret wear. Again, time to head to an expert to have the frets refinished.
Adjust the height of each string, and don’t forget to check the open strings too. That’s it. You’re done.
ive got a brian moore bass. action was fine until recently, when i cant play any string between the 13th and maybe 19th frets. action is pretty low, but is this a problem with uneven fret heights?
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I own a lower end Maxtone bass (24 frets, soapbar pickups, basic P-Bass bridge). I get buzzz at the first fret, never the 12th or 24th of my E string. I set the action just high enough to slide a card below the first fret.
thoughts?
If you have yet to come across a bass where the neck angle is adjustable,I guess you haven’t ever seen a Fender? 😉
LOL, Oh yes, I’ve come across those ;). Not quite a hex-key adjustment 🙂
@Sekou sounds like your neck relief is out, but get an expert to look at it. Another possibility at the lower (more frequently used) frets is fret wear. If the lower frets are more worn than those higher up the neck, you’ll get some buzz.
thanks Ben…I got the problem fixed. Turns out my Maxtone needed the frets dressed. I kept lowering the action and it got worse. My frets were uneven as hell!! LOL
[…] It is an important finishing touch, but more on that in a moment. If you followed the comments on setting string height and adjusting your action, you’ll have seen that fellow reader Sekou’s fret buzz problem was cured by a good fret […]
The original Musicman basses have a hole in the back where you can use a hex wrench to adjust the tilt of the neck. Unfortunately, I have yet to find a repair person who understands this, even though I explain it. They still insist on using shims to adjust the neck angle, which leads to a neck that shifts. When I get the time I’ll have to pull the neck off, ditch the shims, and adjust the thing correctly.
My impression is that neck pitch only needs to be adjusted if you run out of adjustment for string height at the bridge. Is this correct?
Thanks Rob! I didn’t know that about the Musicmans.
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Thanks for the realy good explanations about this. In my opinion this is really important. TX.
So what is the story on the neck angle? How do I set it correctly? Before a tech messed with my bass it had extremely low action with no buzz. It played so easily no one could believe it. Since they messed with the angle and truss rod, I have not been able to find anyone to even get it where I’d consider it playable (for more than maybe 20 minutes. Big difference. Would neck angle have nothing to do with this? I really want my beloved bass back!
Bad action can make a $5000 bass feel like a $50 bass. Learn how to do this and save yourself money and the frustration.
Just found my first Fender Jazz bass [ have an old fretless P bass] I have a buzzing problem with the top G string . This jazz is only 5-6 years old and it has a badass bridge with the G string at least a 32nd of an inch lower than the rest . EAD are fine. Help needed to raise that knuckle up a bit .Thanks Andrew in new england [ hailed from Liverpool area a long time ago
[…] It is an important finishing touch, but more on that in a moment. If you followed the comments on setting string height and adjusting your action, you’ll have seen that fellow reader Sekou’s fret buzz problem was cured by a good fret […]
Hi,
Really enjoying your blog. I notice that you talk about adjusting string height but don’t follow up with the fact that changing string affects intonation. I was surprised to find you didn’t address that in the same post.
Remembering how I first started messing with string height and knew nothing at all about intonation, and I really screwed things up pretty royally.
But since I’ve just run across your blog today, haven’t yet had the chance to delve more deeply. Perhaps you’ve already addressed how to set intonation. Can’t wait to check it out.
Thanks for a great blog!
Tim
My bad. I see I missed it before.
Cheers!
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This is a little tricky thing to adjust right strings setting. Thanks for the post.