How High Should My Guitar Action Be?
Measuring at the 12th fret (as in the photo), the action height should be 2.6 mm for Steel String Acoustic guitar, 1.8 for electric, 2.0mm for bass and 3mm for a Classical.
How do I know if my guitar action is too high?
If the intonation is off, the action is too high, the guitar buzzes when you fret a note, strings stop vibrating and buzz as you bend them, frets feel sharp, or neck appears warped, then your guitar definitely needs a set-up.
Does Higher guitar action sound better?
The higher the action, the more open your instrument sounds. High action can often increase sustain and give your notes a nicer resonance than a lower action. This is particularly obvious on acoustic guitars. The drawback is that higher action is harder to play than lower action.
How do I know if my guitar action is too low?
If the action is too low, then the strings will rattle against one or more of the frets as they are played. Because the strings and the guitar neck do not follow a straight parallel line, this problem is sometimes more apparent on one part of the guitar neck and the other. Some players prefer a very low action.
How high should the action be at the 1st fret?
Check The String Height At The 1st Fret
Again, using the feeler gauge, measure the gap between the top of the 1st fret and the bottom of the 6th string; the gap should be . 022″ +/- . 002″.
Is Lower guitar action better?
Low action is the most preferred preference. Low action means that the guitar strings are closer to the fretboard and the amount of pressure required to grasp a chord is very little. The lower you can get the action without fret buzz the better.
Will to high of action cause fret buzz?
Action height is a very common cause of fret buzz. We all want to make sure we’re not putting too much pressure on the strings, as we might get fatigued faster. However, the lower the action is, the more susceptible a guitar is to fret buzzing.
How high is too high action?
String Height at the 12th Fret
| Low Action | Medium Action | High Action |
|---|---|---|
| Low E: 1.6mm (.063”) High E: 1.5mm (.059”) | Low E: 2.5mm (.098”) High E: 2.4mm (.094”) | Low E: 3.5mm+ (.138”) High E: 3.4mm+ (.134”) |
Why do cheap guitars have high action?
Some cheap guitars do have a high action because manufacturers don’t put enough time into instruments, in order to make as much profit as possible. After all, time is money, and the less money spent, the better for them. Also, their quality control standards are low, so they sell products for a lower price.
How much action is too high?
But how do you know if the action is too high? What is this? There are two ways to tell if the action on your guitar is too high: intonation and feel. If your guitar’s intonation is out or the guitar feels awkward to play compared to other guitars, the action may be too high.
Why would you want high action on a guitar?
The main advantage to having high action is that your guitar will generally be free of that nasty buzzing I mentioned above. It also allows the notes to sustain freely and naturally, since the string is unobstructed. With high action, having your guitar set up by a pro isn’t as critical.
How low should your action be?
Ideal Action For an Electric Guitar
| mm | Electric | Acoustic |
|---|---|---|
| Action | Low E | Low E |
| Low | 1.25 | 1.75 |
| Low-Med | 1.50 | 2.00 |
| Medium | 1.65 | 2.30 |
Does a low action make it easier to play?
Low action strings should be easier to play than high action (overall). This is because you don’t have to press as hard – allowing you to play fast and smoothly. Low action string is even better if you do a lot of hammer ons and pull offs. You need less pressure and there’s less travel.
Is fret buzz normal with low action?
Fret buzz is a normal thing on low action strings. Guitarists usually say that they like to go as low action as possible without causing any fret buzz. If you have minor fret buzz and your action is low, then it’s very normal and you may have the perfect setup already.
How do you do a perfect action on a guitar?
If you have a desire to adjust your action, there are 5 main ways to do it.
- Raising or Lowering Action by Adjusting the Truss Rod.
- Lowering the Action by Sanding the nut.
- Raising the Action by Shimming the Bridge Saddle.
- Lowering Action by Sanding the Bridge Saddle.
Should you adjust action or truss rod first?
In any setup on a guitar with an adjustable neck, the first step will always be to adjust the truss rod. A guitar neck that is properly adjusted will have a slight amount of relief (not completely flat), which is what allows each fretted note to have a clear shot to the bridge at all points of the neck.
Is Higher action better for tapping?
The lower it is the better for tapping, but in the end your technique will determine how well you can tap.
Do Thicker guitar strings sound better?
Heavier strings have more mass, which means they will cause the guitar to sound louder. This is true of electric guitars, where there’s a greater mass of oscillating metal in the pickup’s magnetic field. It’s also true of acoustic guitars, where more vibrating mass is driving the soundboard through the bridge.
Can high action cause intonation problems?
Guitar intonation issues can be a result of: Faulty or worn out strings. High action/extreme relief (truss rod adjustment needed) Bridge/saddle pieces need adjustment.
Why do my new guitar strings sound tinny?
Guitar Sounds Tinny. Your guitar can sound tinny or metallic due to switching to brand new strings, bad action height, pedal or amp settings, or due to thin-sounding pickups. If you are hearing a tinny sound when recording an electric guitar, it may be caused by your recording hardware.
Are higher end guitars easier to play?
With that said, there is one reason why expensive guitars may be considered easier to play. Higher end guitars are usually built better. This means that you’re less likely to experience fret buzz, even with a lower action. Hence, this can make it easier to hold a note and puts less pressure on your fingers.
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