Les Paul action height

[Fritz]

What are the specifications for this and what height do you set yours at?

 

[cherryles]

I found that factory spec was close to spot on, any lower and string bending became annoying as the neighbouring string/s would go over my fingers instead of been snugly pressed against them.
Having said that, it really is all down to preference.
What the factory settings are, I can't remember, their in the manual.

 

[duaneflowers]

Provided the guitar is intonated well I usually start with the Dan Erlewine (and factory) recommended 3/32" Neck and 1/16" Bridge settings and then fine tune from there. After setting that starting point I tweak the neck to where I like it, by setting the volume to 8/9 and the tone to 5/6 (wherever it sounds best) and fine tuning the height to where I like it (usually it stays pretty close to the 3/32" recommendation) and then I dime both volumes and set the bridge tone to 8/9 (wherever it sounds best) and then adjust the pickup height so that the volume of the bridge pickup matches that of the neck. Once that is done I will tweak the individual polepieces until it sounds exactly like I want it to.

It probably sounds complicated, but I've done it so many times that its a pretty mindless endeavor nowadays.

EDIT: oops... those are pickup height specs... for action, I generally use Dan Erlewine's settings (as opposed to factory specs).

 

[jadslash]

I myself set most of my guitars up with higher than usual action.
Its just more comfortable for me.

But if you're one for low action,
Set it up as low as it'll go then adjust up until you get rid of the buzz

 

[Fritz]

I found that factory spec was close to spot on, any lower and string bending became annoying as the neighbouring string/s would go over my fingers instead of been snugly pressed against them.
Having said that, it really is all down to preference.
What the factory settings are, I can't remember, their in the manual.

Yes, hard to recall whether they measure at the 12th, 15th or 17th fret, and whether it was 5/64 - 4/64ths or 5/64th-3/64ths.

At any rate, I measure at the 12th fret for 5/64th (E) down to 4/64ths (e).

Thanks!

 

[duaneflowers]

Factory Specs
E .030" (2/64")
A .030" (2/64")
D .022" (1 1/128")
G .022" (1 1/128")
B .015" (1/64")
E .015" (1/64")

Dan's Specs
E .015"
A .014"
D .013"
G .012"
B .010"
E .009"

 

[grayd8]

I do 1.827 mm across the board at the 12th fret, if you follow the Walsh method (doesn't buzz and doesn't fret out during a bend) on mine it is close to 1.4mm. Problem is temperature fluctuations and other environmental factors will alter the setup to where they buzz adding the extra height is an insurance policy.

 

[grayd8]

Factory Specs
E .030" (2/64")
A .030" (2/64")
D .022" (1 1/128")
G .022" (1 1/128")
B .015" (1/64")
E .015" (1/64")

Dan's Specs
E .015"
A .014"
D .013"
G .012"
B .010"
E .009"

Is that action at the first fret Duane?

 

[duaneflowers]

Is that action at the first fret Duane?

Yeah... that's at the nut...

At the 12th fret they are:

Factory Specs
Bass E (5/64")
Treble E (3/64")

Dan's Specs
Bass E (3/64")
Treble E (3/64")

 

[Mockbel]

I didn't know that action adjustment has some basis

For me I just down the strings till they look too close to frets then start testing all frets for buzz and raise the bridge accordingly till I have no buzz !

 

[grayd8]

Interesting read on Stars setups, I guess the correct answer is whatever sounds good and feels right to you. Doesn't seem to be a one size fits all.

How the stars set up their guitars | stewmac.com

 

[JM2112]

Paul Balmer wrote a book about how to set up and maintain a Les Paul. It's got lots of good information and it's all stuff that just about anyone can do. I start by setting the action to factory specified height, and then I slowly begin lowering the action until I begin to hear fret buzz. When I start to hear fret buzz I raise the action slowly until the buzz stops and that's where I leave it. So, pretty much all of my guitars have a slightly different action height, but I've never measured any of them to see how low they were able to get.

 

[Lucidsounds]

Important to mention also whether the height is measured to the top or bottom of the string.

 

[paco1976]

1,5 to 1.7 mm at 12th fret.
I don't follow Erlewine or whoever, I just put the action where I am comfortable with. Always thought everybody was doing the same

 

[TheX]

I spend so much time on classical necks and nylon that it makes less difference to me on steel. I totally get how much difference it can make, especially if you play a certain guitar most of the time. I do hate really high action on a Les Paul though.

 

[Fritz]

Factory Specs
E .030" (2/64")
A .030" (2/64")
D .022" (1 1/128")
G .022" (1 1/128")
B .015" (1/64")
E .015" (1/64")

Dan's Specs
E .015"
A .014"
D .013"
G .012"
B .010"
E .009"

That looks more like my nut height at the first fret.

 

[Fritz]

Paul Balmer wrote a book about how to set up and maintain a Les Paul. It's got lots of good information and it's all stuff that just about anyone can do. I start by setting the action to factory specified height, and then I slowly begin lowering the action until I begin to hear fret buzz. When I start to hear fret buzz I raise the action slowly until the buzz stops and that's where I leave it. So, pretty much all of my guitars have a slightly different action height, but I've never measured any of them to see how low they were able to get.

About as low as I've ever been able to go on any electric has been:
High H - 4/64ths (2.0mm)
Low E - 5/64ths (2.4mm)


If I go down to 3/64ths and 4/64ths from there, I start hearing the strings slap against the frets and so the notes aren't as clear at that point. However this does work well with a light touch for Jazz type stuff.
And if I drop the high E down to 3/64 while keeping the low E at 5/64, the amount of fret rattle is more apparent on the high E side than the low E. So looks like 4/64 and 5/64 is the best I can get for how hard I play.

 

[Scozz]

My Gibsons are set at 2/64s at the 1st string 12th fret and 3/64s at the 6th string 12th fret. Measured from the top of the fret to the bottom of the string.

 

[grayd8]

About as low as I've ever been able to go on any electric has been:
High H - 4/64ths (2.0mm)
Low E - 5/64ths (2.4mm)


If I go down to 3/64ths and 4/64ths from there, I start hearing the strings slap against the frets and so the notes aren't as clear at that point. However this does work well with a light touch for Jazz type stuff.
And if I drop the high E down to 3/64 while keeping the low E at 5/64, the amount of fret rattle is more apparent on the high E side than the low E. So looks like 4/64 and 5/64 is the best I can get for how hard I play.

Remember when you lower the action you need to retune, and readjust the relief or it will definitely buzz due to the reduction in tension.

I tried duanes height last night for giggles, all I can say is that dude must have an extremely light touch to be playing at that height.

I ended up leaving mine at 1/16 (1.58mm) to try and force myself to develop a lighter touch. Not sure if the new faber bridge has anything to do with it not rattling, but it sounds and feels good. I've been at 1.8 for awhile and haven't really tried going much lower on my new historic, time to kick it up a notch.

 

[Fritz]

Remember when you lower the action you need to retune, and readjust the relief or it will definitely buzz due to the reduction in tension.

I tried duanes height last night for giggles, all I can say is that dude must have an extremely light touch to be playing at that height.

I ended up leaving mine at 1/16 (1.58mm) to try and force myself to develop a lighter touch. Not sure if the new faber bridge has anything to do with it not rattling, but it sounds and feels good. I've been at 1.8 for awhile and haven't really tried going much lower on my new historic, time to kick it up a notch.

All my electric guitars, Gibsons and Fenders have he same exact specs:

At the 12th fret:

Low E = 5/64
High E = 4/64
Truss = .010 relief measured at the 8th fret
This is based on a nut whose slot heights are exactly as they should be.

I can understand light shredders going down to 3/64 and 4/64 with a truss set to maybe .008 or even less, but yeah - they better play light and consistent.