I have a schecter C-7 Deluxe. When you’re just checking your guitar’s action, it’s not really critical to measure at the 1st fret too. Honestly, I get the string height at the 1st fret as low as possible without string buzz. I mostly do this for curiosity since its not important to have that height so accurately. Instead of spending $50, I’d rather order a gauge and string winder and give it a shot myself. For acoustic guitars, we’ll want to go just a bit higher than this: For acoustic guitars, our recommendation bumps up to 7/64th of an inch (2.78mm) on the bass side and 5/64th of an inch (1.98mm) on the … Actually i have reduced the length of the string as much as possible but it s still flat. Reduce the feeler gauge stack by a couple of thou and go again. Thanks. When I was a teenager, I attempted to spot level a high fret (had the same kind of buzzing as you–in just 1-2 spots) and screwed it up. On the 1st Fret the Low E is around 2mm. 4.0mm string height measured at the 17th fret and neck relief .20 measured at the 7th (with capo at 1st fret and finger on the last. You don’t want premature string breakage, especially during a gig. But, then I also noted that I could lower my action a good bit at the bridge. Don’t forget to tell me what kind of guitar you have (electric, acoustic, or Classical). Here’s the thing: if it feels good and sounds good down there, and your intonation is good, then it IS good. For that, the bridge will give you the biggest bang for you buck. Thank you once again for being so helpful. Hi Kes! How to measure your guitar’s string height, including the tools you’ll need (not many) for the job. I heard nothing but good things about their guitar so I decided to give it a try. Adjust each string until there is a 1.6 mm (0.063 in) gap on the 12th fret. To lower the action on an acoustic guitar, you have to physically sand a bit of height off the bridge saddle. Even the high-end Martins, Taylors, etc. Hi, thanks, I realise that the shim has to go under the saddle and not on top. When I was a beginner I had the same exact problem and it discouraged me from wanting to learn guitar. Hi, I have a tricky situation. Modifications of the specs may also be made (within limited parameters) to adjust for your individual playing style or application (i.e., how hard you pick, finger, slap, pop or fret the bass). You can go as low as needed as long as there’s still enough of an angle behind the saddle (from the saddle to the bridge pins) to maintain good downward pressure on the bridge saddle. However, if you’re just going from 13’s down to 12’s or even 11’s, there’s not much of a difference. When it comes to measurements, the guitar world seems evenly split right now between imperial (inches) and metric (millimeters). Firstly, guitars are made to be played and, as I said above, frets wear out. Some players like medium action, and some like it high. You didn’t specify what kind of guitar you have, but it’s safe to say that with action THAT high you need a proper setup. Hi Mike. Higher string height makes the strings harder to press down, which in turn can cause discomfort over prolonged periods of guitar playing. I think that this is working. Classical guitars will have some of the highest action measurements. Technically, we players shouldn’t have to do things like this to get a guitar to intonate properly. Hi Harry. I’ve known a few Classical guitarists who kept a “winter saddle” and a “summer saddle” in their guitar case. Since I’m using a plastic nut on a cheaper guitar, I’ll try further shaving and see how it works out. You can use a ruler to measure the distance between both E strings and the 12th or 14th fret of your guitar … How to Clean and Polish Guitar Frets [Step by Step], Action! I’m not sure what you mean by “muted barre chord”… I’d need to see/hear what’s happening. Here’s a video that gives an overview of the technique, but please heed my warning above before you try something like this yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8egzm_Gwuyc. Going to insert it and then see. Do you need to learn how to set up your guitar? However, whether you use baking soda or bone, this is actually just stop-gap measure. It’s hard for you to see here due to the quality of the photo, but my string is sitting right on the 1.5mm line, so my string height on the treble side is exactly 1.5mm. That said, my acoustic’s relief is .005″ (0.13mm). Totally valid question, because when you’re new to guitar you really have no frame-of-reference for what a “good action” is or what it feels like. If you’d like to learn more about this topic, I recommend one or both of these books. The core metal used for strings is an important variable to consider. 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