A couple of other things to think about.

First, it is possible the action is too high -- "factory settings" on guitars, for instance, are often atrocious. Have someone who really knows look it over. And have it adjusted for the kind of playing you want to do.

Second, the method of plucking a stand-up bass string is slightly different from the technique for a Fender Precision Bass. Stand-up bass strings are more struck with the end of the finger than plucked as such. That is, the finger comes "through" the string, plucking by moving past the plane of the string, not sideways like on a fretted bass. Think of the classical guitarist's "rest stroke," where the finger comes to rest on the next string, as opposed to the "free stroke," where the finger plucks upward and does not hit the next string. To get a good tone from a standup bass, try to pluck toward the top, with your finger going right through the position of the string. This is hard to describe, but easy to see -- and hear -- in real life. In order to use this technique, the string should not be too close to the fingerboard. Another reason for higher action.

But if it's too hard to physically fret the strings, then, yes, the action is too high. How much too high is open to interpretation.


Bob