Lights, Camera, Guitar Action..

[Jonny]

I never really noticed how much action matters, now I do, because me being a person with tiny fingers and playing fast, technically or even slow tempo'd music does not like the string buzz against the fingers nor do I like missing strings etc. and I was tuning my guitar and trying to fiddle with the two screws at the back to move the bridge about, my action was reasonably high and I didn't want to waste my evening fixing it so I just tuned and palyed on, miserably..

And just to get a topic going/talk to you folks I thought I'd just ask here rather than Google cause that's just uninteresting and I'd rather have a good chat on what people like their action at and what not.

So! How do I fix my action and what action do you like?

Movie puns allowed.

[dave_mc]

i like it low enough that i can play fast, but still dig in for bends and vibrato etc. i realise that's not a particularly technical explanation... :lol:

[Oli]

I don't particularly like low action, something more 'middle to high' for me, if you can quantify that :)

[Fourth Feline]

Hi Jonny,

I would first suggest that you set the neck tension / truss rod, before relying on the bridge adjustment.  There will be plenty on Google about that - and I found the Dan Erlewine book ' How To Make Your Guitar Play Great' an interesting and instructional read, even after I had started 'dabbling' with my own guitars.

My preference is 1/32 " =  0.8mm  at the 12th fret for my Jazz guitar - and as close as possible to that ( usually 3/64" = 1.2 mm ) on guitars where I need to bend the strings a lot.  For me , this equates to relaxed playing - as opposed to overt speed, although relaxed does equate to improved dexterity for me . Being relaxed also 'feeds' the way in which I like to play.

I prefer both low and high 'E' to be as low as possible, without fret rattle at any position - at medium pressure of  pick attack .  I was surprised ,  for example -  that Twinfan ( although a fast player when needed ) - likes a higher action than I would, even on the very highest quality guitars.  I was also surprised to find out that one of my own guitar heros ( Larry Carlton ) likes 1/16" = 1-6 mm or higher at his 12th fret, and he is considered a somewhat laconic player.

Sometimes a cheap far east copy ( see my avatar ) sets up lower and slinkier - ( with or without fret leveling )  than some  high $ American guitars.   I mention that last point , not out of inverted snobbery - but rather to emphasise that good things can be acheived - even on a guitar that one might initially expect far less of.

I hope things turn out good for your own set-up.  :)

(* Edit *)

I forgot to mention, that when in the final stages of setting a guitar up, I am constantly going between the last fraction of truss rod adjustment and bridge height adjustment ( whilst constantly re-tuning to re-check I am setting the whole lot up against the 'working' tension ) - and  letting it 'settle in' overnight.  As a result , the 'patient' often sits with the truss rod key inserted on the guitar stand for 2-3 days , before 'going to press'.

This brinkmanship has often yeilded great results - and has (for me ) been well worth the extra time and care taken .   Your mileage may vary - as an O.C.D approach does not work for everyone ... 

[FELINEGUITARS]

1) put a capo on at the first fret
2) hold down e strimg at 16th fret
3) see gap between top of 7th fret and underside of string
4) adjust truss rod till there is only just a bit of a gap there 9paper thickness)

5)Leave capo on
6)take some thing that is about 0.046" thick (a low E string or a purple Dunlop tortex pick) or feeler gauge
7)Set action by placing the  item between 12th fret on low E and 17th fret on high E and adjust bridge height till string just touches top of pick (or whatever you used)

Simples!

[Jonny]

1) put a capo on at the first fret
2) hold down e strimg at 16th fret
3) see gap between top of 7th fret and underside of string
4) adjust truss rod till there is only just a bit of a gap there 9paper thickness)

5)Leave capo on
6)take some thing that is about 0.046" thick (a low E string or a purple Dunlop tortex pick) or feeler gauge
7)Set action by placing the  item between 12th fret on low E and 17th fret on high E and adjust bridge height till string just touches top of pick (or whatever you used)

Simples!

1. I'll see you soon for a set up on the Indie maybe.
2. Not you too with the 'Simples' thing! Noooooooo!