Dan Erlewine's Guitar players repair handbook is a must for anyone looking to work on their guitars. I set my action to 4/64th's.
Since I'm relatively new to the guitar and even more so to electric I was curious as to what you prefer the action to be at the 12th fret on your electric guitars? And do you have the action set different on the different guitars that you have to accommodate the style you tend to play?
Any other tips you can offer for setting up action? Any good websites geared toward electric guitar set-up?
Mark
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Dan Erlewine's Guitar players repair handbook is a must for anyone looking to work on their guitars. I set my action to 4/64th's.
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One of the best books out there...it is a must have for any guitar player. I also set mine to 2/32"Originally Posted by Mark
Guitars: 2003 and 2004 American series strats, Squier Classic Vibe 50's Strat, Squier Deluxe Strat.
Amps: Line 6 Spider IV 120, Vox AD50VT 212, and Peavey Transtube Bandit 112.
Pedals: Digitech Bad Monkey.
wouldn't that be 1/16"? What's that in millimetres ?
My action is pretty high, but I'm pretty ham-fisted, being a bass and acoustic player most of my life and fairly new to 'lectric. Learning to like a lower action , but I set it pretty much by eye and by feel. Depends on my mood
One of these days I'm gonna learn how to set this thing up properly.
Trev
Electrics: Hagstrom Ultra Swede (Gold Eagle Burst) Gretsch 5120 Electromatic (Orange) Custom Nashville Blackout Telecaster (Black, Stat mid/neck p'ups; Lil Puncher (Modern Vintage) bridge p'up; Wilkinson Compensated Bridge w/ 3 brass saddles, Warmoth Vintage Modern Birdseye Maple Neck) Fender MIM Stratocaster (Blue Agave, Rosewood Fretboard, Fender Tex-Mex p'ups; GFS Trem/Block Kit) Highland Spitfire (semi-hollow, flame maple top w/ bubinga inlay)Acoustics:Washburn D10CEQSB, Yamaha FG160E
Bass: Westone Spectrum ST, Warwick Rockbass Corvette Basic Active
Amps: Vox NT15H/V112NT Night Train, Peavey Bandit 112, Hartke HyDrive 210C Bass Amp, Vox DA5
Holy Fret Buzz Batman! If I had my action that low on my acoustic I would never be able to play it. I have my relief set at .012' and my action is 6/64 on bass and 5/64 on high E. I do get some buzz at this setting. Anything less would make the guitar unplayable.Originally Posted by TS808
Guitars:
Electric: Washburn HB-30, Squier Tele Custom Deluxe, Jay Turser Strat.
Acoustic: Seagull S6.
AMPs: VOX AD30VT, Peavey Envoy 110.
Modelers: V-AMP 2, Digitech RP-100A.
Pedals: Boss RC-2 Loop Station, Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble, Digitech Bad Monkey, Ibanez DE7 Delay/Echo, DOD VFX40B 7-Band Graphic EQ, Ibanez CS-5 Super Chorus.
I set it by feel, I don't measure. I use my eyes first, and then play and adjust until I am happy, which means as low as it gets without buzzing.
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I'm with you on this one, Robert. Once I get the action to where it feels right when playing without buzzing, then I just fine tune the string heights for consistency.
On most of my guitars, the action is set at about 3 to 4/64" at the 17th fret, on the high E string, with a capo at the first fret. This is something I learned from Dan's tapes, of course.![]()
I measure this using a small ruler I got from Stewmac. I prefer low action since I have a rather light touch. In case the guitar buzzes or frets out with such low action (I need to be able to do at least a 3 semitone bend anywhere on the high E), then that means it needs fret leveling and dressing. Which I do.
All my guitars have radii of 9 1/2 to 14, should a have a vintage Fender (for example) I should compromise for higher action.
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- EBMM 25th Anniversary hardtail
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- Squier CV Tele (Reliced!)
- "Relic Wallpaper Squier ’51 (heavily modded)
- Custom made Precision type bass with EMG pickup and custom paintjob
Amps
- THD Univalve
- Tech21 Trademark 10
- 2x12” Tube Town "flexi-back" cabinet, with Celestion Speakers
Effects, etc
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I'am with Robert and Bloozcat.
Guitar/ Ibanez GAX 70, Squier standard Strat, Epi plus top Honey Burst
Amps/ Epiphone Blues Custom 30, Fender XP Vibro Champ 5 Watt tube Amp
Randall RX 15
Bad Monkey
I hear you guys on electric setups. I am close to the measurement you have stated, but I do get a slight buzz when barring. You players must have a touch as soft as angel's breath. But my acoustic really buzzes which is why I don't play it that often.
Guitars:
Electric: Washburn HB-30, Squier Tele Custom Deluxe, Jay Turser Strat.
Acoustic: Seagull S6.
AMPs: VOX AD30VT, Peavey Envoy 110.
Modelers: V-AMP 2, Digitech RP-100A.
Pedals: Boss RC-2 Loop Station, Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble, Digitech Bad Monkey, Ibanez DE7 Delay/Echo, DOD VFX40B 7-Band Graphic EQ, Ibanez CS-5 Super Chorus.
I don't have anything accurate enough to measure. I like my action on the low side though. After much tweaking, I think I've finally dialed my Floyd in where I like it.
Axen: Jackson DK2M, Fender Deluxe Nashville Telecaster, Reverend Warhawk 390, Taylor 914ce, ESP LTD Surveyor-414
Amphen: Jet City JCA22H and JCA12S cab, Carvin X-60 combo, Acoustic B20
Effecten: "Thesis 96" Overdrive/Boost (aka DVM OD2), Hardwire DL-8 Digital Delay/Looper, DigiTech Polara Reverb, DigiTech EX-7 Expression Factory and CF-7 Chorus Factory, Danelectro CF-1 Cool Cat Fuzz
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I play high action and a high string gauge.
The big advantage:
No one wants to play on my guitars
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Tim,Originally Posted by Tim
I'm not sure of you experience level and don't take this as criticism because I have the same problem. A lot of times people try searching for the source of the buzz and eventually realize (though not always) that it is actually a result of poor fretting. I suspect that because of your reference to barring. If you are like many, your barring is a weaker part of your skills and could be the cause.
As for your acoustic buzzing, that may be an issue with a truss rod adjustment and/or putting the saddle a little higher. Of course you still want the action to be at the most optimal height. On my acoustics I always had them at 3/32.
Mark
* Loud is good, good is better!
Funny you should mention barreing tonight, Strum. I was just practicing my barreing earlier tonight on the WD32SW (I must give her a name!!).Originally Posted by just strum
To emphasize how important it is to pinch the neck when barreing, I make this offer to anyone I attempt to help with their guitar playing: while I am playing, at any time, tell me "Stop" and I'll do so, stand up, and hold the guitar like the pendulum on a grandfather clock, allowing it to swing.
You should continue to hear the chord clearly as the guitar swings back and forth. If you aren't pinching the barre chord adequately, it will mute immediately, that is assuming you can hold onto it at all.
What I found particularly important about barreing is to make sure the thumb never leaves the center of the back of the neck. Not only does it open up the hand for fretting, but it positions the hand perfectly for "pinching" those barre chords.
Since I was "swinging" the WD32SW tonight, perhaps I ought to call her "Swinging Sally"???
I'm willing to entertain suggestions for a name, guys. In case you haven't heard, I took advantage of Strum's generosity when he decided to sell the guitar I'm mentioning. Did you have a name for her, Strum (I mean other than "guitar 1", "guitar 2", etc.)???????
Dugly![]()
"You should continue to hear the chord clearly as the guitar swings back and forth. If you aren't pinching the barre chord adequately, it will mute immediately, that is assuming you can hold onto it at all."
Of course this is all taking place in the dark, correct?![]()
"Did you have a name for her, Strum (I mean other than "guitar 1", "guitar 2", etc.)???????"
Nope, just guitar 1 or sometimes 2 (named based on current ranking)
Mark
* Loud is good, good is better!
DugyOriginally Posted by just strum
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I just checked my two main guitars and they seem to be set at the right height and play well for my style.
Both the Ibanez ARC300 and the Epi Dot at the 12 th fret are set the same:
Low E = 5/64
High E = 2/32
I am able to strum chords with decent force without buzz and I can play notes without any problems.
Mark
* Loud is good, good is better!