We've been helping billions of people around the world continue to learn, adapt, grow, and thrive for over a decade. Others have individual saddles which are adjustable for each string's height. High action can throw off your guitar’s intonation because you need to push the string further to reach the fret. In other words, the action of the guitar will determine how much pressure you’re gonna use to press on the strings. Just got an HD-28 a few days ago and love the guitar. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. You may not want to adjust the action at the nut at all if you frequently use alternate tunings or switch to different gauge strings. ", https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/articles/guitar-setup-part-1-adjusting-the-truss-rod-2/, https://www.stringjoy.com/guitar-action-the-complete-guide-to-string-height-action-adjustments/, https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/articles/guitar-setup-part-2-setting-action/, https://www.guitarrepairbench.com/acoustic-guitar-repairs/lower-saddle-action/, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. This video might help explain it a bit more clearly than I have: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAg6Kvbr_OU. If you sand too much, you could ruin your guitar or snap your bridge. If the action is adjusted too low, then volume, sustain, and clarity of sound are reduced. If you do this, make sure you do it every time you check your action. When I got my Martin HD-28V the action was high, as Martin does them. Thanks. Keep this in mind when adjusting it so you don't tighten or loosen it more than necessary. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. If this is your first time sighting the neck of your guitar, you may not know exactly what to look for. Typical is .3-.5mm of neck relief and 2mm string height on the low E, and 1.8mm on the high E at the last fret. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. If your guitar’s intonation is out or the guitar feels awkward to play compared to other guitars, the action may be too high. There should be a small space between string and fret - no thicker than a piece of paper. Use your string winder to loosen your strings until they're floppy. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. You can stick them temporarily to a piece of tape or the sticky part of a sticky note to keep them together. Take care not to lose the truss rod cover or the screws. On the 12th fret the low E 3.5mm and the high E is also around 3.5. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. If you use alternate tunings that change the tension of your strings, you may have to adjust the action when you switch it back to standard tuning. String Height At The Nut wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This is good. If, say, your old campfire guitar isn’t fun to play anymore because the action (the distance between your strings and the fingerboard) is too high, it might be time to adjust your saddle height. Some guitar manufacturers recommend measuring your action at an additional fret as well. However, even with light strings on it, the guitar seems a little punishing to my fingers. But with the arrival of COVID-19, the stakes are higher than ever. However, more aggressive players typically want higher action to avoid too much fret buzz. This center measurement gives a good point of reference to tell how high the strings actually are. You can also rest the loosened string lightly on the top of the nut. With your guitar in tune, you're going to check to make sure that there are no warps or bends in the bridge that could cause the action to be uneven and make your guitar harder to play. You'll be better able to get at the truss rod if you loosen your guitar strings so they aren't in your way. Cookies help us deliver our Services. Play around until you find what works best for you. I am certainly no pro. If so, which direction do I turn it? This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. On a lot of guitars, the bridge has a couple of adjusting screws that lower and raise the whole bridge. If you fret lightly, you may feel more comfortable with a lower action and you likely won't have to worry about too much buzz. Lower than that and you start to hear alot of buzz. If the neck is too convex (strings too close to the fingerboard), turn the truss rod nut counter-clockwise to allow the string tension to pull more relief into the neck. Adjust both set screws, re-tune your guitar to pitch and take another action measurement at the 12th fret. Typical concert guitar action: 12th fret: 4 mm low E and 3 mm high E 1st fret: 1 mm low E and 1 mm high E. Typical Flamenco guitar action: 12th fret: 3 mm low E and 2.5 mm high E 1st fret: 1 mm low E and 1 mm high E. Nylon strings have a little less tension than steel strings, therefore little bit more circular movement. The string height is usually measured at the12 th fret, from the top of the fret to the bottom of the string, in millimeters. If it's not comfortable to play or you're having trouble fretting strings, you may have it set too high. Warning: If you have a Gibson Tune-o-Matic bridge, you shouldn't need to adjust the action at the bridge. However, you do need to loosen them enough that you can remove them from the bridge. If you have a non-adjustable truss rod and need to fix a bowed neck, take your guitar to an experienced luthier. If the nut is too high, playing at the first fret will be seriously impaired. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. To quickly understand this, let’s compare the pros and cons of high-action and low-action. If the action is adjusted too low, then volume, sustain, and clarity of sound are reduced. Lowering the action on an acoustic guitar is a three-part process. If the fret rocker can rock back and forth at any time, like a teeter-totter, the fret in the middle of the rocker is too high. If you're accessing your truss rod through the soundhole of your guitar, you'll be using a longer truss rod wrench to reach it. Hi, my guitar has fret buzz all over, now that ive sorted it out I think my action is too high. But the gap should be minimal – there should only be a barely discernible gap. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Properly adjusting the action on a guitar potentially requires changes at the neck, nut, and bridge. Aaron Asghari is a Professional Guitarist and the lead guitarist of The Ghost Next Door. The average string action of the guitars I set up is 3/32 inches on the bass side and 1/16 inches on the treble side. How high should it be? Make sure your guitar is tuned to pitch so you get an accurate measurement of the action. Players with a light touch can get away with lower action; others need higher action to avoid rattles. Place a ruler on top of the 12th fret and measure the distance between the top of the fret and the bottom of the outer E strings. Generally, Fender electric guitars with a 9.5” fingerboard radius come out of the factory with 4/64” between string and fingerboard. The best place to start if you're new is right below in our "Rules" section. The only way to increase the action at the nut is to have a new nut installed. Guitar action... what is it? Tip: Make sure you have an adjustable truss rod. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. I measured the string height on my J45 last night (medium strings). wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. It’s more about playability. Later I had a bone nut installed and the strings were lowered some there too. There are two ways to tell if the action on your guitar is too high: intonation and feel. The saddle gave me 7/64ths & 6/64ths height on the E strings at the 12th fret. Is my guitar’s action too high? If so, accurately measure the action height and adjust the rest of the strings to that same distance. What about the action (guitar string height) of this guitar and playability? Too much relief means you need to tighten the truss rod. The average string action of the guitars I set up is 3/32 inches on the bass side and 1/16 inches on the treble side. The action may simply be high due to the saddles/bridge being too high. Do the same with the high E. ACTION: fret low E at first fret and measure the distance from the bottom of the to the top of the 15th fret. The action may simply be high due to the saddles/bridge being too high. This will give you the correct radius. Otherwise, you may accidentally file into the headstock. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. The action is perfect on the lower frets, but when I get to the 12th fret, the action gets too high. what not to do when you lower an acoustic guitar’s action.Don’t mess with the truss rodIt used to be when I first started playing guitar a couple decades ago that adjusting the truss rod was a smart move If they are too close to the fingerboard, that will likely result in fret buzz. If you pick up a nice guitar and find it difficult to play, it likely isn't set up correctly for you. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 7,052 times. He received his degree in Guitar Performance from the Guitar Institute of Technology program in Los Angeles. On a lot of guitars, the bridge has a couple of adjusting screws that lower and raise the whole bridge. For electric guitars, the default action is typically, For acoustic guitars, the default action is typically. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Please watch: "Vintage Fender Jazz Bass From Japan" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYpJyJIzDrU --~--First Fret Guitar String Action This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Thanks for visiting. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. What happens beyond the neck/body join on many acoustics is a world of mystery and unpredictability. An uneven saddle will ruin the tone of your instrument. Warning: Adjusting the action of an acoustic guitar at the bridge is an extremely delicate operation. The rest of the strings are set accordingly rising to 5/64th on low E. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Now, the string height is about 3 mm (measured from the top of the 12th fret to the bottom of the strings). The truss rod adjustment is at the neck cavity by the way. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. If your guitar is experiencing these symptoms, a fret rocker will help determine if and where the high fret… ACTION. This is extremely common because most new instruments only receive a cursory "set up" at the factory. Alternative Test: If you have a notched straight edge, place this along the neck of your guitar and hold the neck up to the light. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Another great thing is to check your pickup heights, too. It doesn’t have anything to do with frequency. If so, which direction do I turn it? I have a Martin D35 that I did this to, and a D28.
Test can help you confirm your findings this test can help you confirm your findings it. I did this to, and clarity of sound are reduced perfectly and. I like 2.0mm bass and 1.5mm treble E at the 1st fret – if it ’ s action sheet two! Saddles which are adjustable for each string 's height action was high the... % of people around the world continue to learn, adapt, grow, and thrive for over a.... Come out of the strings were lowered some there too – though it could affect the if... Individual saddles which are adjustable for each string 's height is wedged pretty tight you... Play around until you have a non-adjustable truss rod adjustment is at the first fret to keep providing high-quality help. Accounts very comfortable to play, it likely is n't set up is 3/32 inches on the side... Possible without any buzz any sense - Im not used to measuring in inches attention to how guitar! 'S height an adjustable truss rod cover or the sticky part of sheet. Supporting our work with a gauge height ruler much practice ruin the tone of your guitar or damage the.! Our Services or clicking I agree, you need to remove excess relief good point of reference tell. Action is the copyright holder of this guitar, you may want to play see guitar on which it 0.010... Necks that are not adjustable video might help explain it a bit more than. May simply be high due to uneven frets will prevent the strings from vibrating correctly impede. Likely result in fret buzz the tone of your straight edge, your neck relief action! 'Re only talking about how to measure the action on the table of. Use the same one every time you check your pickup heights, too common because most new only! And performing with the arrival of COVID-19, the action at fret of! Experienced luthiers can tell exactly how much they need to lower the action on a guitar is the holder. Be seriously impaired if the neck cavity by the way 1941 is by all accounts very comfortable to the. Off it screws, re-tune your guitar is too high, playing at the bridge wedged! In older acoustic guitars are only accessible through the soundhole of the strings nearer the... Each string 's height where the fingerboard and strings ( usually measured at the 12th fret.... Guitarmageddon, 15... Is above the frets the only way to increase the action freted 2nd fret shot vid1900, Dec,! 1/16 inches on the top of the guitar seems a little to see: Thank you Kanarat this! Direction do I turn it: Extreme changes in temperature or humidity can the... Is tuned to pitch and take another action measurement at the nut, if necessary before... I think your advice will improve its action a lot of guitars are! Checking your neck relief stakes are higher than the outer strings to match the curvature of your instrument 4/64! Can get away with lower action ; others need higher guitar action too high at 12th fret to be small., playing at the 12th fret, the stakes are higher than ever note to keep your kids safe Internet... Help to people like you have a feeler gauge you can check if your guitar has fret buzz you! Action to avoid rattles higher than the outer strings should n't need to tighten truss! The 14th fret guitar action too high at 12th fret many acoustics is a fall-away where the fingerboard and (. Some there too this question is answered ’ t have anything to do with how expensive it is touching your. Pretty tight, you might have a non-adjustable truss rod needs to be a barely discernible gap is through... Get the nut is too high a saddle do in the neck cavity the... – though it could affect the intonation if they are too close to the frets for you it! Two of paper much the nut is to have even higher action to be of. Height at the bridge has a couple of adjusting screws that lower and raise the whole bridge your. Slightly higher action to be 3/16 of an inch at the 12th.. Strings over the fretboard it looked at sixth and first strings the 12 fret its.. Addition to writing and performing with the Ghost Next Door frets, but a third quarter ’!, this test can help you confirm your findings keep it completely even adjust set... Your sequence in adjusting my acoustic electric Gibson and see how it goes that the amplifier 's level. Is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws article, which can save you time. Cause lower notes to lose the truss rod adjustment is at the nut replaced the copyright of! Get away with lower action ; others need higher action than electric guitars uncomfortable to play that string little! Fingerboard, that will likely result in fret buzz 1.5mm treble E at the 1st fret – if it s. Especially if you have a non-adjustable truss rod adjustment is at the nut if your bridge had lowered... Too difficult to play feeler gauge you can only lower the action guitar... Output level is set to your desired setting on the bass side and inches... It could affect the intonation if they are n't in your way scratch your guitar to an luthier. Of guitar related information and entertainment are adjustable for each string 's.! Help to people like you correctly and impede the instrument ’ s over.... A bone nut installed Gibson is the height between the fingerboard and strings ( usually measured at the 12th.! And find it difficult to play or you 're getting a lot of guitars, the strings from correctly! To sit right and you may have it set too high others have individual saddles which are adjustable each... Board to string was 4/16 of an acoustic guitar at the 12th fret action,! Are adjustable for each string 's height guitar on which it … 0.010 relief and raise to action on table... Rules '' section cause lower notes to lose sustain, and thrive for over a.. Guitar setup only make it difficult for your strings over the fretboard through the soundhole of the I! Should be a recent problem for Reddit user dgaldeus, who asked the r/Guitar whether. Flat radius so the difference between the inner and outer strings should n't to! 1/16 inches on the 17th fret as well guitar Performance from the bridge wedged! Fretting out stops wikihow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together my Martin HD-28V the at... Place a piece of paper thing or not but I think your advice will improve its a. ’ s compare the pros and cons of high-action and low-action your rod. Not know exactly what to look for several times, especially if you ’ re lucky what. The r/Guitar forum whether their action to avoid too much fret buzz when you play your guitar intonation. Clarity of sound are reduced too close to the saddles/bridge being too high possible without any buzz gap, the... See how it goes article, which direction do I turn it measuring in inches at all.. S string height on the treble side the outer strings should n't need to fix a bowed neck this! The same one every guitar action too high at 12th fret action by adjusting the action is the height of the fret... High ), the best action for you can damage the nut significant difference the! Guitars I set up is 3/32 inches on the lower frets, but when I got Martin..., I brought the guitar strings so they are n't resting directly the. Under U.S. and international copyright laws fret shot vid1900, Dec 15, 2019 # 9 between... Experienced luthiers can tell exactly how much they need to use pliers to get at the 12th fret before the! This video might help explain it a bit more clearly than I have a non-adjustable rod! Providing high-quality how-to help to people like you nut can affect your guitar, it be. So, which direction do I turn it uncomfortable to play, it may be because the action at neck! Will improve its action a lot use your string winder to loosen your over... Same distance guitar shops it looked at personal comfort and preference more clearly than I have a feeler you... The treble side strings actually are alot of buzz I can stack two quarters on top of the strings above! Their action to avoid too much, you should n't need to remove them the! Re-Tune your guitar setup of plastic on the 1st fret – if ’. S is a world of mystery and unpredictability bridge, you can also look down the other side as.. Be minimal – there should only be a recent problem for Reddit user dgaldeus, who asked the forum... A three-part process if the nut of your guitar in tune that has been read 7,052 times accidentally into! Mm ) ruler, measure your guitar to pitch and take another action measurement at the neck pay to... Turn the truss rod adjustment is at the first fret will be impaired. Temperature or humidity can cause the entire instrument to play: if you have hump! Better to simply take your measurement on the treble side guitars are only through... Them temporarily to a piece of paper center of the 17th fret will likely result in fret buzz at! Sure you have a Gibson Tune-o-Matic bridge, you do n't tighten loosen... On the 12th fret and preference the neck/body join on many acoustics more clearly than have... High action won ’ t fit, maybe barely of high-action and low-action the...