What is your action @ 17th fret?

[stealthelephant]

Hi all,

I started doing my own set ups, everything is going pretty well but i noticed that when using a measurement that is advised with the equipment i tend to get a lot of fret buzz... (on all guitars - tele, strat, studio, standard - all using 11's string size).


the measurement im using is the 17th fret action equal to 5/64 inches.

but because of fret buzzing im raising the action approx to 8/64 (even then the bottom E rattles a bit). im also using 11's.

what is the action @ which you get no fret buzz?

(p.s. truss rod has already been adjusted)

 

[riffhard]

To get the strings as low as possible without fret buzz you have to find the sweetspot of both neckbow and bridge hight.
After playing around some time with trussrod and bridge I have 6 to 7/64 on my e-guitars.
Strings are Ernie Ball and Gibson Bright Wires 10's.
To me that is low enough. My western acoustic has 10/64 or even higher.

 

[LenPaul]

In 64ths at the 17th fret
Fenders--- 4 treble, 5 bass
Gibsons--- 3 1/2 treble, 5 bass
Neck relief on all is between .008 & .010
New strings always buzz a bit.

 

[Fuelish]

Dunno, I go by feel, have never measured, to tell the truth....it's not too low, not too high

 

[dspelman]

Hi all,

I started doing my own set ups, everything is going pretty well but i noticed that when using a measurement that is advised with the equipment i tend to get a lot of fret buzz... (on all guitars - tele, strat, studio, standard - all using 11's string size).


the measurement im using is the 17th fret action equal to 5/64 inches.

but because of fret buzzing im raising the action approx to 8/64 (even then the bottom E rattles a bit). im also using 11's.

what is the action @ which you get no fret buzz?

Years ago Carvin advertised that they shipped their guitars with action as low as 1/16th" (4/64ths") at the 24 fret with no buzzing frets. Not only did they deliver (and still do), but I have guitars that are over 20 years old that will still hold this action.

First, fret buzz depends on technique -- how hard are you whanging the string?

Second, how level are your frets? Gibson LPs are notorious for the Gibson Hump around the 16th-17th frets. I can't overemphasize how important it is to have level frets before you start doing a setup. These days I'm tossing almost any guitar that's new to me on a PLEK machine. The analysis may tell you that everything's just fine. Or not. Ignore the stickers on a Gibson that tell you that it's been PLEKd at the factory. That's a routine fret mill done with a fixture that's supposed to simulate string tension.

Third, is your nut cut correctly? Chances are good that if it's a factory job, it's cut for a medium-high action (ie., the fret slots are a bit high). Lower the bridge on a guitar in this condition and you're going to begin to see buzzing above the 12th-15th frets. If your nut is cut correctly and your frets are level, you shouldn't have a problem with setting your action pretty low, and you won't need more than an RCH (google it) of relief.

Fourth -- I normally use 10's on an LP, 9's on a strat scale (largely to have roughly matching tensions between the two scales). 11's are fine on an LP, of course, but remember that you're measuring your action from the underside of the string to the top of the fret.

Fifth -- make sure you don't have too much relief dialed in. MAX relief would be the thickness of a new playing card (not a business card) at about the 7th fret if you're holding the string down on the 1st and 22nd fret (okay, the 17th for those of you who can't be bothered to check for the Gibson hump). I set it for about half that distance and it's positively elegant.

Sixth -- I generally set the string heights (nut, saddles) using a gauge that roughly matches the radius of the fretboard to the underside of the strings, but I'll usually "tilt" the whole thing so that the low E gets more space than the high E. By around 1/64th", give or take. Check all string heights, not just the outside E's. Use some caution, here. Occasionally I've had a guitar that's had the frets filed down in the center so that the effective radius of the frets is flatter than the radius of the fretboard. It's the jury-rig way to make it easier to bend without fretting out. When the frets have been filed down like that, match the frets, of course, not the fretboard. Don't assume radius based on website specs. I've had quite a few Gibsons that are spec'd for a 12" radius show up with something closer to 10".

 

[in2madness]

The action on my J185 acoustic measured at the 12th fret with a Stewmac string height guage is 4/64ths high E and 5/64ths low E. Thats fitted with 12-54 guage and I have to hit it really hard to get it to buzz/rattle. If you are going to 8/64ths sounds like you have a high fret somewhere. My Gibson electrics are 3/64ths high E 5/64ths low E strung with 10-46 and I use a 1.5mm pick.

 

[BlueCajun]

I like just enough string height to get my fingertips under the strings for bending. And that varies depending on the fret size for a given guitar. My one and only Les Paul has fairly big frets. So I have the action set at 4/64" all the way across, and I find that to be comfortable.

 

[ShoalsRanger]

Just a quick word. I'd like to thank all of those who have put their measurements here. Some of us don't have $50-$100 to spend on "pro set ups" and to me there is no greater feeling than to be able to work on your own equipment.

Even though every guitar is different and everyone has their own "sweet spot" as far as action goes, I think its always good to have a starting point to be able to tweak from.

 

[Latearrival]

At 17th Fret:

Bass = 1.4mm which is about 3 1/2 64ths
Treble = 1.1mm which is just under 3/64th

Jeez! These fractional inches! How the hell do you guys ever measure anything?

 

[jra007]

I havnt done any measurments on my Classic Plus, but its is a bit high IMO. But i think dspelman is right, i noticed the slots in the nut are cut extremely shallow (maybe 25% of the sting sits in it). I get a little bit of buzz, but i can tolerate it for now. I have a $500 Schecter that has much better action, though it has a small amount of buzz too, thought the overall height is lower.

 

[bobarino]

measured in 1/64 @ 17th fret:
high e - aprox. 3.5
low e - aprox. 3.8

 

[stealthelephant]

but remember that you're measuring your action from the underside of the string to the top of the fret.

Crap. This explains thing or 2 - I've been measuring from bottom of string to fretboard. that must be 2/64s right there.