Acoustic string height adjustment

[Gloveberg]

I was wanting a basic acoustic to keep in the living room so I found a Yamaha F-335 on eBay for a good price. Got it in today and it is just fine other than high string action.

-Putting a capo on the 3rd fret shows a little clearance on the first fret so I'm assuming the nut height is okay plus the slots looks good to my untrained eye.

- Putting capo on the 1st fret then pressing down on the 14th or 15th fret gives me roughly .09 clearance at the 7th and 8th fret so I'm calling neck relief good.

- Capo on the first fret then measuring action at the 12th is 6/32 on the low E and 4/32 on the high E.

So do I just take the bridge saddle out and sand the bottom to bring the string action down?

Thanks!



Jimmy

 

[S_G_D]

Basically, yes. I just happened to be reading this guide today. Seemed pretty informative
Page 6 of: A Step-by-Step Guide to Acoustic Steel String Guitar Setup

 

[Gloveberg]

Awesome, thank you!

 

[kevinpaul]

That was fast, like all the girls say. I have mine as low as my electric guitars. I finger pick mostly. There is some stupid thing about high action for finger picking and that is wrong.
Any more questions were are here. Lol!

 

[Frogfur]

Good info. Thanks for posting it.

 

[ScottMarlowe]

I just did that exact thing to my F345TBS a few months ago. Action had always been kinda high, and with time it just got higher. Easy peasey just make sure you keep the bottom of the insert level etc, so it doesn't tend to lean over too much. And of course it's hard to add material back so go slow.

 

[KP11520]

Take a pencil and draw a uniform scribe line up a 16th or so (whatever is needed) from the bottom all the way around the saddle bottom (both sides and ends). This will help you keep from skewing it when using only your eye.

Be aware of the tendency to keep sanding to get it lower and lower until it starts buzzing on frets. Then you have to start over, you've gone too far. And finding the appropriate saddle isn't always easy.

Sometimes it's (the action) high to cover a poor or shifting fret job or the neck is moving and heading towards needing to be reset or the top/bridge is moving, or both. Usually, when it gets bad, the saddle has to be sanded so much it is hardly showing out of the bridge. RUN!

Last two acoustic guitars I contacted the sellers about, BOTH were just over the line of needing a neck reset. I love when they say it just needs a setup.

BASTARDS!

Many times, this starts a long chain reaction of: It just needs......

Keep the meter running.... always. LOL