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 treble side. These are just rules of thumb, of course. There is a considerable amount of leeway in choosing the right action height, depending on your instrument and playing style.
How do I know if my guitar action is too high?
There are several telltale signs that a guitar is in need of a set-up. 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.
What is a good string height?
A good, average action height for most electric guitars is about 1/16” on the high E string and 3/32” on the low E string.
How far should strings be from fretboard?
The distance between the strings and the neck at the 12th fret should be about 1.6 millimetres (0.063 in), or the width of a dime. Hold the flat end of a ruler against the neck and measure how high the strings are. If the strings are further than 1.6 millimetres (0.063 in), (high action) you need to lower the bridge.
What is considered low action on an acoustic guitar?
Steel string acoustic guitars tend to require slightly higher action than electric guitars, so you’ll see higher measurements here.
String Height at the 1st Fret.
| Low Action | “Normal” Action |
|---|---|
| Low E: 0.51mm (0.020”) High E: 0.30mm (0.012”) | Low E: 0.76mm (0.030”) High E: 0.41mm (0.016”) |
Should the top of an acoustic guitar be flat?
The top of a standard steel-string acoustic guitar is flat or mostly flat when first purchased. However, most guitars will eventually buckle under the string tension between the neck and the bridge. Luckily, if your old acoustic guitar’s top begins to warp, a luthier will be able to fix it.
Should guitar strings be the same height?
Most guitarists who play purely, or mostly, bottleneck keep their strings much higher than is comfortable for standard playing, and that height makes slide work a breeze. If your style blends slide and standard fretting on the same guitar, experiment to find a happy medium.
How is string action height measured?
Measure string action (the height of the string above the fret) at any point by placing the gauge behind the string. The string height markings are at increments of . 010″ (ten thousandths of an inch). When the bottom of a mark aligns with the bottom of the string, that measurement is the string height at that point.
What is considered low action?
Most agree that low action occurs when the string height is at, or less than 3/32 inches, on the bass side and 1/16 on the treble.
Why are my guitar strings touching the fretboard?
There are three common causes of fret buzz: Frets are not level with each other (some are taller, some are shorter) String Action is too low. Neck does not have enough “relief” (neck is too straight, or bowing backwards)
What is the easiest acoustic guitar song to play?
8 Easy Guitar Songs For Every Beginner
- “What’s Up” by Four Non-Blondes.
- “Love Me Do” by The Beatles.
- “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison.
- “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley.
- “Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus.
- “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
- “Bad Moon Rising” by Creedence Clearwater Revival.
- 20 Responses.
Why are Martin guitars so hard to play?
Old Martin Guitars
Back in old days, acoustic guitars didn’t have an adjustable truss rod, which now helps them keep necks from warping constantly. Instead, they used different reinforcement methods, which made the guitars feel bulkier, heavier, and even more difficult to play.
Does higher action give better tone?
The “action” of your guitar — meaning the height of the strings off the fretboard — definitely affects your guitar tone. 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.
How thick should an acoustic guitar top be?
Top thickness targets for classic guitars are given as around . 100” (2.5 mm) for spruce and . 110” (2.8 mm) for softer wood such as cedar. For steel string guitar the recommendation is 1/8” (.
What causes guitar belly bulge?
The tension of the strings will cause belly bulge. Changes in humidity and temperature will also contribute. Generally speaking, don’t leave your guitar any place that you would be uncomfortable. Definitely not in you car or the trunk; winter or summer.
Can you fix a warped guitar?
If there is a small gap between the string sixth fret the warp in the neck is centralized in the upper part of the neck away from the body. This can usually be fixed by adjusting the truss rod. If your string and sixth fret form a gap larger than 1/64th of an inch (. 4 mm), the neck is warped.
What height should the strings be away from the first fret?
As a starting point, shoot for . 02” in between the top of the first fret and the bottom of the string at the first fret on the wound strings (low E, A and D), and . 018” for the plain strings (high G, B, and E). On acoustic guitars with a wound G, you will also shoot for .
How high should the saddle be on an acoustic guitar?
This is why acoustic guitars usually have higher action than electric guitars. What is this? A typical action on an acoustic guitar is at around 5/64″ (2.0mm) on the high E string and 7/64″ (2.8mm) on the low E string.
Is a little fret buzz normal?
In order to be heard at all, the player must pluck the strings harder than normal. That alone can cause fret buzz. Additionally, the volume of the string is so low that any fret buzz is more evident than normal. So yes, it can be (at least somewhat) normal to hear fret buzz on an unplugged electric guitar.
How far should strings be from fretboard acoustic?
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.
Why are my guitar strings so hard to press down?
string height: how far the strings are from the fingerboard. This depends on the height at both ends (nut and bridge), as well as whether the neck is adjusted correctly (not too bowed). string gauge: thicker strings are harder to push down, thinner strings are easier.
Contents