Official Luthiers Forum!

For all you steel string builders, what's the average string height of the 1st and 6th strings at the 12th fret (or 14th)? I just replaced the old bridge on my Gurian with a bone saddle and am not sure what the action should be set to. The old saddle was some type of hard plastic which was filed down way too much for the guitar. I'd like to get the guitar back to normal if possible. Any setup advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

John

john

the "correct" set-up string height is a very subjective thing based on playing style, etc., etc.,...

as a guide the following standard martin factory specs serve as a good starting point:

     string height at nut    bass e     .024
                                             treb e     .016

     string height at 12th   bass e     3/32-7/64
                                             treb e     1/16-5/64

these measurements are from the bottom of the string to the top of the fret.

the 12th fret is used as a measuring point because one only has to double the desired amount of lowering there to calculate the amount to remove from the saddle to acheive that amount of lowering.

if you have any other questions don't hesitate to contact me directly.

michael mcclain





crazymanmichael38437.3653819444

.100 treble, .130 bass for medium action. Plus at the nut you can use Frank Ford's setup method of depressing the second fret and checking clearance of each string at the first fret. Works pretty good.

I think Frank does a really fine job explaining setup on both nut and saddle and it's worth the search of www.frets.com to find it.

Michael is right, it is subjective. Good luck getting it the way you like it.

P. S. I have the new little StewMac measuring guide, offered in their catalog along with the new nut slotting ruler. The little business card size s.s. rule is very helpful peeking under strings to get the setup just right. They are featured tools in the current ads StewMac put in Guitarmaker magazine the ASIA rag. Beats the heck out of a six inch ruler I've always used.

P. S. S. One way to establish your own "best" action settings is to measure carefully a guitar you like. That's one thing I did to get one hundred, one thirty as a guide.Dickey38437.1160300926

i agree with our grizzled veteran; stew-mac's little card sized set up guage is a great little tool. my problem is that old habits die hard. i sometimes find my self with 6" rule in hand trying to keep it upright on the fret and wishing there was a better way, when slowly,... through the fog, ....i remember; there is a better way, and i have it in the set-up drawer. oh well...

in adition to frank fords frets.com explanation, dan erlewine does a great jof in his guitar repair book also. both are well worth having on the shelf.

michael

There's quite a good step by step guide to set-up on Guild's web pages. Check out this link.


Set-up

ColinColin S38437.5872453704

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Colin, that is a good reference page. Have you ever submitted an article or link to the OLF Online Resources Page? Stuff like this make info available, even if they are the only ones here at three in the morning. Consider it, you and all the rest of us need to remember to submit, thanks for the link.

John,
I too use stewmac's rule. It is a worth while investment. I set my string height by first putting a capo on the first fret. That eliminates the nut as a factor( I often set the height at first fret between .011-.016treble and .014-.020bass it depends on the customer) . Then I usually go for 3.5-4.5/64ths on the bass side 12th fret and 2.5-3.0/64ths on the treble 12th fret. all measured with capo at first fret and the SM rule. I like em low with a perfectly straight neck ( when possible). I do on request, make them much higher. I get a lot of electric players...they tend to like their Accoustics as low as possible.

_________________
Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

Bruce,

Thanks for the reminder, I'll put that link on the on-line reference page.

ColinColin S38437.5969560185

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Dave, I like the capo idea. That's really smart and never heard anyone.... anyone, mention that before. Makes sense.

Thanks everybody, that's a lot of good info and exactly what I was looking for. I'm so used to playing classical that when I pick up a SS, it just feels so foreign with the thinner neck, lower action, higher tension strings, etc...

Cheers!

John

the use of the capo in setup work is discussed in the erlewine guitar repair book and elsewhere.

michael