I know what string action I need to know what to set the action to for each string.

????

Whatever feels comfortable to you. I keep mine a low as possible right above where it starts buzzing.

how do you adjust it....that would help me tons...

depends on the type of guitar. for some such as fender you set each string. for others you have to adjustment poles.

assuming your neck bow is set properly (don't mess with neck bow, seek advice first, you can destroy your guitar messing with neck bow if you don't know what you are doing).....

But you can know that the neck bow is proper by holding the a string down at the 1st fret, and the fret where it joins the neck. You should see just a tiny amount of clearance, and I mean tiny. about 1/4th of a millimeter or less.

Assuming that is the case, adjust your top E string to about 3/64ths of an inch. Your low E to 5/64ths of an inch. Interpolate between those two on the other 4 strings. That is fairly standard action. From there you can tweak it how you want it.

If you set it way low, you will have difficulty bending cleanly, and quietly. If you play 100mph at all times, you may just play noisy and sloppy and won't care about noise, because that is your style.

But if you want to learn to play slowly (and it is harder to play well slow than fast because imperfections really stand out), you want your action up a bit, so you can bend strings nicely, and get under the strings that are in the way with your fingertips.

This post has been edited by fkalich: Apr 28 2007, 03:27 AM

Well I have SUPER HIGH ACTION...and its hard to play legato, because when i pull off and stuff...the whole string bends..adn sounds bad...even if i have my index finger or w/e...pushed down as hard as possible..and i like to play fast not super fast..but yea..i want to set my action..just a bit lower than normal...

http://www.justguitarsonline.com/images/pr.../product244.jpg

mine is the 1 on the left if the color really matter (I THINK NOT) ..but how would i go about adjusting that???? and try to KISS (Keep it simple stupid)

ok, you need a small hex wrench. your guitar should have had the right size provided to you. if not, buy a set from the hardware shop for a few bucks. just get the type with both millimeter, and inch sizes. you will need these all your life for various things. you can get a really cheap set for maybe $5 with very small sizes. You need a small one, not sure the exact size.

get yourself a machinist ruler. you can get that at lowes or home depot. I got one for $2. It should have 1/64 of an inch increments. set the heights as I said above with the proper sized hex wrench. Put the machinist's ruler at the 12th fret, and measure to the bottom of the string. you see two little holes near at the bridge piece that the strings set on. You stick the hex wrench in there, and turn to raise and lower.

your settings are probably much higher than that now, a lot of time guitars come with high action, you just have to set it to the proper height. You can just get the hex wrench and lower it as low as you want it without measuring. However I would first set it to standard, and then tweak it from there.

does that help?

This post has been edited by fkalich: Apr 28 2007, 03:39 AM

yea that helps a bunch..and i konw what your talking about hex wrenches..cus they did come iwth it..but i gotta find them......i always wondered what those were used for

you should be fine. no risks there. just put the wrench in all the way so you don't strip the fitting, and turn it.
you will also have a wrench to adjust your truss rod if you need that (near the nut). But seriously, don't do the truss rod adjustment until you are sure you know what you are doing. Break that, and the neck is toast. The neck bow is probably fine as it is. I mention that, because if that adjustment will effect your action also.

Sorry for getting so carried away, but over time you will want to do all these things.

ok the truss rod???..sorry i need to study up on my parts of the guitar .....and how is that adjusted..so i dont mess with that..well..where is that located at?

in back of the nut, on the head stock. you see a little hole there? the correct size hex wrench goes in there FIRMLY, you tighten to straighten the neck, loosen to add a bit of bow. Necks do have a tiny bit of bow when set properly, very tiny, just a hair. You want to put the hex in firmly, don't want to strip it.

THAT BEING SAID, yours is probably fine. This is an item where you can destroy your guitar if you don't know what you are doing. If you strip or break the rod. Just know it is there, don't be in a rush to mess with that. But you can read a lot of instructions on it in various places.

You can do google searches on that, truss rod adjustment. They will all be just a cautious with advice as I have been, nobody wants to feel bad about someone damaging their guitar.

ok thx

does anybody recommend having a very low action for practicing because it makes it harder to play and then putting it up for gigging or just put the action where you want it period.