• From: Sussex UK
  • Registered: 2009-07-12
  • Posts: 1,465

Topic: Neck setup

- I have always had my sons strings setup on his Telecaster with as a low action as possible with the thought that this would make it easier for him, - a couple of weeks ago we noticed that the action had got even lower and getting fret buzz on all strings, closer inspection the nut had broken on the E string and the strings had gone rusty. - So off to the shop, new strings, new ebony nut, ask them to raise the action slightly. - But still getting buzz in places. Had a look at the neck and it is very straight and wonder if it could do with a very small concave bend dialling into it to aid things?

Should a neck be dead straight? Any advice would be appreciated.

Broadening out the subject, how do  people have their action setup, and why?

My YouTube channel with plenty of my Joe's videos dating from 2009 inc his first Hammersmith Odeon ones:
http://www.youtube.com/ian916fun

Ian916's Website

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  • From: Edinburgh
  • Registered: 2006-09-25
  • Posts: 299

Re: Neck setup

Ian916 wrote:

- I have always had my sons strings setup on his Telecaster with as a low action as possible with the thought that this would make it easier for him, - a couple of weeks ago we noticed that the action had got even lower and getting fret buzz on all strings, closer inspection the nut had broken on the E string and the strings had gone rusty. - So off to the shop, new strings, new ebony nut, ask them to raise the action slightly. - But still getting buzz in places. Had a look at the neck and it is very straight and wonder if it could do with a very small concave bend dialling into it to aid things?

Should a neck be dead straight? Any advice would be appreciated.

Broadening out the subject, how do  people have their action setup, and why?



Read this.

http://www.igdb.co.uk/pages/guitar_setup/truss_rod.htm

'Try as you might to keep a lid on a good time, you can't do it. When people want to have a good time....' - Billy Gibbons

3 Reply by DandyDan (edited by DandyDan 2011-07-13 04:55:26)

  • From: London, UK
  • Registered: 2011-07-03
  • Posts: 8

Re: Neck setup

Ian916 wrote:

- I have always had my sons strings setup on his Telecaster with as a low action as possible with the thought that this would make it easier for him, - a couple of weeks ago we noticed that the action had got even lower and getting fret buzz on all strings, closer inspection the nut had broken on the E string and the strings had gone rusty. - So off to the shop, new strings, new ebony nut, ask them to raise the action slightly. - But still getting buzz in places. Had a look at the neck and it is very straight and wonder if it could do with a very small concave bend dialling into it to aid things?

Should a neck be dead straight? Any advice would be appreciated.

Broadening out the subject, how do  people have their action setup, and why?

I prefer a low-ish action - 3 or 4/64ths and neck relief of .010" at the 7th fret.

My Strat (using DR Pure Blues 10's) buzzes a little but nothing that goes through the amp. The LP (JB Epi with DR Pure Blues 11s) doesn't buzz at all and sounds super awesome. smile

Higher guage strings will have greater tension and affect the neck relief so find some you like and stick to them smile

  • Devan
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  • From: Darwin, Australia
  • Registered: 2010-04-13
  • Posts: 1,304

Re: Neck setup

Getting your action right is a delicate dance between the nut, the bridge and the truss rod of the neck.

Truss rod and bridge saddle adjustments you can probably do yourself, however the nut may in fact be cut too deep, in which case it is something best left to a competent guitar tech to work on.  Also, if your frets are not completely level, or are lifting, that is a job for a skilled tech, unless it is a cheapo guitar that you are willing to experiment on.  Doesn't sound like this one is...

I have found that having the neck of most of my guitar fairly straight works well.  Only the slightest concave bend which is nearly imperceptible.  A good way to check is to capo the neck at the first fret, then press down on the 17th fret and you should be able to slide a standard business card in at the 6th/7th fret with the slightest of grabbing.

I highly recommend that you get a copy of Dan Erlewine's book

JBLP Gold Top #129 - redubbed "#1 in Oz"
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Neck setup

If you have more than one guitar, have one setup with low action, and one setup with medium-high action. I've been asking for low action since '94 and just started asking for medium-high action. The advantages? More room for the strings to oscillate, the string above won't slip under your finger when bending, chords sound fuller etc. I did notice a positive difference in raising the action just a bit.

I sill like lower action acoustics, but not too low. While comfort of playing is important, I found there's a good median of benefits with medium action to get the best sound out of a guitar. If your local guitar tech is cool about it, say you'd just like to try it for a couple days.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: Bakersfield
  • Registered: 2011-05-22
  • Posts: 52

Re: Neck setup

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

If you have more than one guitar, have one setup with low action, and one setup with medium-high action. I've been asking for low action since '94 and just started asking for medium-high action. The advantages? More room for the strings to oscillate, the string above won't slip under your finger when bending, chords sound fuller etc. I did notice a positive difference in raising the action just a bit.

I sill like lower action acoustics, but not too low. While comfort of playing is important, I found there's a good median of benefits with medium action to get the best sound out of a guitar. If your local guitar tech is cool about it, say you'd just like to try it for a couple days.

AMEN!! Guitar-brother,

Redeye9

  • From: West Sussex
  • Registered: 2011-05-17
  • Posts: 307

Re: Neck setup

Its a common misconception that lower actions are automatically easier to play and if you aren't used to holding the strings down this can seem true.

I have a friend who builds guitars from scratch as well as being a pretty good jazz player.  He recenty built a fantastic semi-hollowbody but I find it practically unplayable because the strings are just skimming the frets - of course he loves this or he would raise them. 

You certainly don't want a very low action and completely straight neck because you will get rattles - you need some bow for the string to vibrate freely. 

But also consider trying an action high enough that strings don't slip under your fingers when you are bending - for me as a blues player this is the cut off for lowering action.

  • From: Sussex UK
  • Registered: 2009-07-12
  • Posts: 1,465

Re: Neck setup

thank you for all of the help with this. We are lucky that the little shop that we bought this guitar from (and 2 others) is really helpful and they will allow is to keep going back and forward until we get it right so will be back tomorrow to ask them to set a bit of a bow put in.

We might well get his Michael Kelly Patriot set up as medium-high as NPB suggested.

Ian (and William)

My YouTube channel with plenty of my Joe's videos dating from 2009 inc his first Hammersmith Odeon ones:
http://www.youtube.com/ian916fun

Ian916's Website

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  • Registered: 2011-01-07
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Re: Neck setup

Fact is every Guitar is different. A few of my Les Pauls have very fat necks that seem to stay perfect no matter what strings or how old the strings are. My Telecaster needs to be pretty high because with the 7 1/4 radious neck or it will fret out if to low. As someone said its a real dance.

Anthony