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String Height

Hello fellow axemen,
Got a question about sting height. One of my basses is an ESP LTD D-4 and I am trying to find out what the correct string height is and from what fret is this measured. I understand the action depends on the playing style and I am I guess an agressive player. So what is the ideal string and pick up heights for this style. I have the strings at 7/64 at the 12th fret right now and got this info from the ESP manual, but it seems that my A string is not loud enough. Suggestions ???
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Re: String Height

9/16/2008 3:33 PM

Todd Ingram (16004) wrote:

whatever way you like it set up.there is no correct set up just guide lines to go by. it's what you like yourself.i have my action low and i play hard.

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Re: String Height

9/16/2008 4:32 PM

Kasra Saboktakin (7772) wrote:

Don't trust the numbers :)
It's all your feeling. set it the way you feel comfortable. As you're an
aggressive player,you need a bit of action to suit your style ;)



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Re: String Height

9/19/2008 12:36 PM

Albert Wesker (1246) wrote:

Couldn't agree more!
ANy pro would see my setup and faint! The strings don;t even follow the camber of the neck by the book. If they did my bass would feel wrong.

Set it up how you like it. Obviously, follow neck camber slightly but don't feel you must be pro about it. Go high, go low, go in between.
Personally I like medium action.
I used to play sky high but for tapping that just doesn't do. And low action sucks for slap, no space for velocity to build between.

I played my mates guitars that he's had "Professionally setup" and the feel wrong to me.
WAY too low and I'm sorry but the frets buzz, that ain't pro!

Just play around with it.
There are no numbers, just feel.
Basically, like music is.
Make your bass feel like a part of you, not like a mathematical equation.

:-)

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Re: String Height

9/19/2008 4:19 PM

Kelvin Kydrowski (1324) wrote:

There's no hard and fast rules, but on a new bass I typically set the action around 1/8" at the last fret of the neck, get the clearance at the first fret down to .020-.030 and a dial in little relief - like .015 - at the eighth fret. I then play the bass and adjust the setup as needed. I rarely bother with taking a final measurement unless the bass is going to be hauled around a lot and I want to keep the playability constant.

For referance, here's how my primary bass in standard tuning is setup:

Action:
G: 3/64" at 24th fret, .020 at first fret
D: 1/16" at 24th fret, .020 at first fret
A: 3/32" at 24th fret, .024 at first fret
E: 3/32" at 24th fret, .029 at first fret

Relief: .011 measured at eighth fret under the A string

That's LOW in case you're wondering.