Help with 5 string action

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Sean150

Jul 18, 2018
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#1
I got a stingray special 5 a few months ago and as much as I love the bass I can’t get the action of the B and E string low enough to play comfortably. I have tried setting the truss rod to both MM and Fender spec and lowering the action to where the strings are not hitting the frets on a moderate pluck but it always ends up to high.

I am thinking that I would just prefer higher tension strings to get lower action but part of me is wondering why Ernie Ball would use strings that require such high action. I am mainly a 4 string player so I am wondering if I am missing something on setting up a 5 string?
 
#2
The Music Man bass setup guide recommends 3/32" to 7/64" (2.38 to 2.77mm) for the E string and 7/64" (2.77mm) for the B string at the 12th fret. This is certainly not a low action, but it is not overly high either. If you play hard close to the fingerboard, this may not be enough. Which strings and gauge are you using?
 
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#3
Vinny_G said:
The Music Man bass setup guide recommends 3/32" to 7/64" (2.38 to 2.77mm) for the E string and 7/64" (2.77mm) for the B string at the 12th fret. This is certainly not a low action, but it is not overly high either. If you play hard close to the fingerboard, this may not be enough. Which strings and gauge are you using?
Click to expand...
I put Super Slinky 45-130s on it which are what MM lists as standard.
 
#4
Vinny_G said:
The Music Man bass setup guide recommends 3/32" to 7/64" (2.38 to 2.77mm) for the E string and 7/64" (2.77mm) for the B string at the 12th fret. This is certainly not a low action, but it is not overly high either. If you play hard close to the fingerboard, this may not be enough. Which strings and gauge are you using?
Click to expand...
I took a look at the string height again and it was set as you mentioned. On a whim I tried lowering it a touch and as expected I got fret rattle, but, when I plugged it in and played it didn’t so obviously I pluck more aggressively when I am doing a setup.

Thanks for your help.
 
#6
Necrothread revival -

I go .145 minimum for the low B. It was a revelation when I swapped up from a .130

I can get 6/64" action on the B @ 12th fret to play extremely clean with one, even on my Sire where the fretwork is ok but a little sus with a couple slightly high frets. I'm convinced that once I do a level, I'll be able to go 5.5/64" with zero buzz or rattle and maybe even lower.

Frankly, I'm probably going to go even heavier than .145 eventually so I can go back to the Andrew Gouché tuning I'm used to without a lot of flop and buzz from strings vibrating against the forward frets from fingerstyle.
 
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