Really want to thank you for this. Been struggling with technique, especially with bending - I could never get it to sound clean, however much I tried. I always catch other strings and get unwanted noise. Deeply frustrating and it’s held me back for literally years. Then for some reason I started looking into action height and it led me to your video. Honestly, raising the action has been nothing short of a revelation. Suddenly I’m bending up and the lower string is gliding underneath my fingertips and all the unwanted noise is gone. Not just that, the whole fretboard is more tactile and alive, and although it’s taking more physical effort than I’m used to, chords are ringing more clearly and with much better tone. I’m just amazed that I’ve been playing so long without ever looking into this; I was taught that getting the strings as low as possible was the most desirable position, and I’ve just never questioned it over the years. I know I’ll get used to the extra effort required, and it feels like my playing just took a huge step forward. To anyone else considering this - try it. I think you might be as surprised as me.
Another factor I have also learned over the years is that it sometimes also depends on the guitar. I have low action on my Charvel and other axes that have very flat fretboards, but moderate to low high feels absolutely wonderful for hybrid picking in my S-type guitars.
The same happen to me with my acustic, i was told always to lower the trings, wrong advice you get a much cleaner higher tone with a high action, plus, if you need to lower the strings for any song they sell capos i use one all the time,. when the trings wore low i felt over crowded in my fingers now i have more room if that makes any sence
The action on my G&L Asat Deluxe is around 2mm on the high e and 2.5 mm on the low e. The middle strings are right around 2.25mm. I think it definitely increases the sustain and chords sound a lot fuller.
Sam, your heart's in the right place for sure, and you're correct, everyone has their own preference when it comes to playing guitar. As a pro player who's been in the business since the 60's I've gone through a lot of trial and error (mostly error!) and have learned a few things about action, playability and tone: If you listen to recordings from the 20's, 30's and 40's, before amplification, the guitar had heavy gauge strings and high action because that was the only way you could HEAR it! Pickups, pedals, and amps have changed all that, and since we can all be heard now, lighter strings and lower action became a viable option for guitarists because it made the instrument easier to play. String bending is more a function of fret height than string height. Fingerboard radius also plays a big part (bending is easier with flatter fretboards). Small, vintage frets are not as "bend-friendly" as jumbo frets. By definition, when you bend a string you're pressing it and pushing (or pulling) it. It doesn't matter how "high" it is. The space between the top of the frets and the top of the fingerboard is the key to string bending, and higher frets facilitate bending, not action. With regard to sustain, the open guitar strings, for all intents and purposes, make contact with the guitar in 2 places, the nut and the bridge saddles. It really doesn't matter how far away they are from the fingerboard. As long as you don't hit the string so hard that it hits a fret, the sustain will be the same for any given string gauge. When you play a fretted note, the fret you choose replaces the nut and shortens the string length, but, again, the A-B comparison will most likely be about the same, sustain wise, for a given gauge. The pickup(s) have a huge influence on sustain as well, since a stronger magnetic pull will lessen the sustain no matter what action or strings you're using. If you have a light touch, muting is really as easy with low action as a heavy touch is with high action. It really is a matter of personal preference. All that being said, I can tell you from decades of experience that a guitar with high action is very difficult, if not impossible, to intonate. You generally tune strings when they're open. With high action, because your string movement is greater when you fret a given note, it will play ever so slightly out of tune, and it will become more apparent as you move up the fingerboard. If the string is closer to the fret top to begin with, it doesn't "move" as much when you fret the note, and it plays more in tune. And don't forget things like scale length and neck relief! My preferences? For my vintage guitars (7.5" radius) I use .010 string sets primarily, with medium low action, just a tiny bit of relief, and a lighter touch. My newer Telecasters and Strats with 9.5" boards seem to like that as well, and I have one or two with .0105 gauge strings and almost no relief that facilitates bending a bit better. It's also better if you happen to have a heavier touch. My PRS necks are virtually straight and I use .095 gauge strings with medium low action. Their frets are high enough to make bending a breeze and, to my ears, they play in tune better than any guitar I own. Many players don't know there's a string gauge in between .009 and.010, and I've used .095 strings now for over 20 years. I found out about them from none other than Paul Reed Smith himself when I visited the PRS factory! So many choices...so little time. Rock on!
Rich Sussman Wow ! What a detailed answer. Excellent info. I'm a 58 yr old career (mostly) session player, (although, during the 80's, a country band i was in based out of Branson opened for Wayne Newton). I've experimented with every setup imaginable. I mostly agree with you. I am a string bender for real. I'm 6'5" and have giant hands. I've found that on different guitars, if the action is set too low, then it just feels and sounds dead, flat. I really believe it varies from guitar to guitar. All of the guitar players reading this will (I think) agree, you can own five guitars and I'd bet each one has it's own unique "feel". I own a Mexican Tele (one of the first), a Cherry red SG, an Ibanez Strat clone and am about to pick up a Michael Kelly. Every one of my guitars has (slightly) different 'action'. I hope I'm saying it clearly. I'm not advocating super high either. Anyway, forgive me if I'm rambling, I'm Autistic and I have to work to stay linear. Bottom line is - I really enjoyed your commentary. One last question. Are you a Virgo ? (it's your attention to detail, is why I ask). Cheers
Anthony ~ Thanks for your response, and no, I'm not a Virgo! You know, everything about guitar playing is subjective and what's good for one is not good for another. You mentioned guitars that sound "dead, flat" because of the action. If you're happy with the sound of the guitar and just need to deal with that, one thing you could try is to move up to a higher gauge set of strings and see if that solves the issue. You may have a high fret or two causing the problem. Anything from a new nut to lowering the pickups may also work (many single coil pickups have a very strong magnetic pull that will stop your strings from vibrating, causing that "dead" sounding response). Something as simple as the pick gauge you're using can make a difference, too. Guitars from different manufacturers are constructed with different neck angles relative to the body, and raising the action slightly may help also. I own a lot of instruments and I enjoy tinkering and adjusting all the elements until I hit the sweet spot for that instrument, a combination of playability, sustain, balance and punch that puts a smile on my face. And, of course, a good luthier and repair guy is your best friend!
Rich Sussman You nailed it, any Luthier would tell you the same thing. About bending he was talking about the strings above the one you're bending, not the actual bent string. I agree and well put.
I have been using the 9.5's for years as well, highly recommend them, especially on PRS's, 10's for Gibson scale lengths. And great advice Rich, although Sam's point is valid its a personal preference at the end of the day. I prefer a medium action for normal playing and to facilitate slide . But thats just me.
I love the tone of high action, but after 1 song of rhythm i.e. barre chords, or plenty of chord holds my left thumb locks up as I have to clamp so damn hard to keep all 6 strings ringing out nicely.
I have to disagree on part. He referred to SRV quite often. Regardless of how SRV's action was, he had these famous bends using multiple strings. Lower action would be easier in this case since you do not want your fingers to slide under the strings. But its all preference.
When I bought my first - cheap - guitar as a teenager, wayyy back in the '70s, I didn't know what action meant - TH-cam did not exist back then :) information was scarce, and I could not afford lessons. I learned playing with pretty high action by default : 5 mm (13/64) over the 12th fret on the lower E string, 4 mm (10/64) on the higher E. I liked heavy gauge strings. It didn't bother me, I thought it was normal. It sounded better to my ears. As a matter of fact, the first time I played a guitar with low action and light gauge strings, I was like " Where are the strings?! ". What I had gained was considerable strength in my left hand. Nowadays I still like to practice with high action and stiff strings : when you can master a new chord progression that way, it feels like letting loose a Ferrari when playing it with low action. I like that. Actually I need the workout : it is as if your muscles and your brain were more aware of what's happening, learning faster in the process. You cannot afford to be lazy when you suffer a bit. No pain, no gain, right ? It's up to everyone of course. But think about it : who has ever gained muscular strength effortlessly ? Yet starting with light gauge and low action seems to be the mantra of the day. It is indeed more rewarding in the short term : it's easier and faster to learn how to play a few licks and half a song here, another half there (the easy parts), all with less pain and less efforts. But in the long run ? For most aspiring musicians learning gets slower. Because at some point you have to make an effort, and the muscles just aren't there to keep up and go to the next level. Better sooner than later. Nowadays everybody learns the same skills, using the same settings, listening to the same advices, and everybody tends to sound the same as a result. Back then you had to figure things out, turning what you would now call bad habits into your own technique, creating your own sound without knowing it. Think about Mark Knopfler's left thumb, or Doc Watson 's picking with two fingers. Today, anyone would tell you it's wrong. Thank god, they didn't know ;-)
I LOVE high action. Years ago I began to play bass as well as guitar and have developed a strong fretting and picking attack. The higher action allows for clean buzz free playing. I set it slightly higher than standard. Electric guitar standard range is (1.5-2 mm at low E) (1. 0- 1.5mm at high E) measured at the 12th fret. I have mine set at 2.25mm low E and 1.75mm high E. I don't notice any intonation problems and I have a pretty good ear. Also as mentioned the string bending. Guitars with low action the strings get in the way when I bend.
HAha, I really need to lower my action, I have nearly 4mm I think for the low E on the 12th fret, it's getting kind of annoying to play with such a high action.
I play slide guitar as well as regular playing so I like my action kinda in the middle. Just high enough to where the slide doesn't buzz on the frets when I push on the string.
I tend to really lay into the strings when playing and with low action the strings sound like rubber bands. I tried to do the low action thing but I always return to high action. Sorry, I tried. And retreated from fret buzz land
Just in the process of sorting my super squire out Sam.....yes.....the dreaded string buzz on those high frets. Will have a stab at raising the action and see how we go. Glad I came across your vid.....cheers.
I have tall frets. Therefore there is a fair amount of space between the strings and the fretboard which produces a better, stronger sound (as would be the case with a slightly higher action). The actual action as in the distance between the strings and the top of the frets I have fairly low which makes playing quite effortless. And because of the tall frets, I get the meat of the finger tips under the strings when I do bends. So tall frets combine the benefits of both in a way. But I do have to play with a softer touch (since I have 9s) in order to not press notes sharp.
I have been playing, mostly in a professional capacity, for 41 years. When I was younger I used to prefer the lowest action possible, accompanied by 0.07 strings. I was really into Metal, I was fixated with speed, I have small podgy fingers, and to me that seemed the most feasible course of action. Then when I got older I started to put attention on the feel. So the gauge went up to 0.10 but the action remained low. Now, in my middle age, I find myself favouring high action. It has something that is unexplainable: you have to work at it, it requires soul to make it viable....
True. Im stuck with a high action guitar at the moment ( yamaha pac611), i cant play my sweeps and tapping licks like i used to do it in my other guitar, even the pull offs feels weak ... But the tone this guitar gets its unmatched... Perfect guitar for blues but not metal xd.
Although I'm a piano player, I totally agree with your premise. I adjusted my key hammers to only ring out with the maximum of pressure applied. The resulting notes are loud and and greatly sustained. However, I find it difficult to get gentle tones. HELP!!
I heard an interview with Rene Martinez, SRV's guitar tech and he said Stevie wanted his action as high as possible. Rene told him it's maxed out now. Stevie told him, then shim it up so it's higher. Rene did finally talk him down to 11's instead of the 13's he liked. He would come stage and his fingers were bleeding and they would super glue the callouses back on. Just some things about my fav. blues player. My music room is called Stevie's Room. I have 2 SRV tats and a really cool granite SRV that sets on top of our entertainment center, it looks like a small headstone. I'm a TX guy and just SRV music. An old one too at 67 yrs. young. Enjoy your channel and just found it today.
sweet slide guitar.... any guitar I've had with high action didn't hold intonation while making notes or chords, and the strings wont bounce off a properly adusted neck with straight frets.
Shean Carey Because you had the same amount of relief in the neck ..the saddles went up to achieve the high action but the neck remained almost straight...for high action more curve in the neck is desirable..so 2/3 of the neck is almost parallel to the strings (8th to the last fret ideally) .. i usually intonate G and D strings just a bit flat on a strat with a vintage radius and that works fine
If you want a more open and dynamic tone and better sustain = higher your action. If you want to expand your playing and your skill with a more fluid sound = lower your action. A higher action might sound good but restrict dramatically your playing. If you stick with pentatonics and chords, a high action won't bother most guitar player. However, if you want to complexify your playing with 3-4 notes per strings scale, arpeggios, complex chords and fluid legato playing, a lower action will help you greatly . Guitar is hard enough and you don't want to but an extra variable in the way of your playing just to prove a point. Do sports or go to the gym if you want a physical challenge ;) . I want to hear passion, not ego. So go with what your GOALS are not whit what the guitar community want you to do. Cheers :)
M Martinez epihpone means decked bridge right? You can’t go up with you’re trem?(if you even have one; I am sorry I don’t know a lot about electrics yet man; trying to get some info)
All 4 years of my playing i thought action needed to be as low as possible but recently i found out the benefits of higher action, better tone, muting and all the things you mentioned in the video, and i also found out that i like to "fight" my guitar a little bit or else it is just too gentle for me, also no buzzing :) i would recommend to all guitar players to at least experiement with higher action (and in my case also thicker strings, 11- 49 is my gauge).
Actually, since I haven't the faintest idea of how to properly lower my action. I've settled on 1/2 inch at the 12th fret. Works for me especially with solos!!
I use 5 64/th on my 7.5 radius vintage Strat this is the only guitar I have a problem going lower if I wanted too I can get a touch lower but not much before choking and buzzing and deader notes 4/64th is the lowest I can get it . My 9.5 radius standard Strat I like 4 64ths that’s fenders default setup height out the factory works well u can get a little lower no problem and 31/2 to 4 -64th on my prs 10 radius again 3 without a problem if I wanted too I feel u can get the truss rod a little straighter with higher action don’t go too high you will make the strings feel stiffer in my experience when bending this is what works for me and iv been turning those little Allen keys for years working on action heights neck relief radius nut height I also have a heavy hand so that probably plays a part in my personal setups
I play with high action too. It makes bends WAY easier, especially on the high e string. It also works better for aggressive funk rhythm playing. I could see low action being good for shredding, but that's not my bag at all
At 65, on the electrics, I like at medium high action. With a heavily blues influenced solo style (I'm not a blues player, I like more variety) I like to be able to get under the strings, so I prefer the higher action also. I have a lot more control that way. Of course you sacrifice lateral control, maybe you can't play as fast that way. But I find it increases accuracy when going for an individual note to set up a bend. I got my first guitar with narrow/tall frets last week and those frets are just wonderful for bends. Just my two cents worth.
I'm agree with you. My actions is as Stevie Ray Vaughan because he show me lots of tricks to punch last tone out of your stratocaster. My main is a 55 and it has that amazing fat chunky neck and I'm have a big relief as well 0,18-0,22 and my frets are high to help out even more. Even whit what people say super high action and big strings I'm use 0,12-0,58 on my 55. My hight is slightly abow 1/8" at 12th and I'm pick hard to get that tone only a old Fender stratocaster have crisp twangy clear tone. Thanks for bring it up! Yngwie Malmsten did I'm growing up whit. He did live few mils from me. Best regards /Bjorn
Both ways have pros and cons. I believe in learning gutiar the action up. make you be a lot more accurate in your playing where low action you tend to fudge a lot of notes. Lower action does make string rolling a lot easier.
My action was low on my acustic and it sounded sleepy, when i changed the saddle and left it high the guitar woke up, it sounds louder cleaner and yes, you can bend better, i will keep it always high now
the action on my guitar: I put a capo on the 1st fret, then on the 15th fret high E is 1.2mm and on the low E its 1.5mm. works perfectly fine when i'm bending strings especially on the high E
You're the second player I really respect who has recommended a higher action- I'm going to give it a whirl. (The first player being Mike from the Howtopracticeguitar channel). Thanks for making this video!
Hi Sam. Outstanding tutorial!! I have been playing for 17 years....Recently went to high action...improved by a hundred notches!! No more slipping on bends! One more reason and this changed my entire guitar playing career...Those whom have sweaty hands struggle terribly to bend with low/medium action. I know from first hand experience. I have experienced with GOJO, Using no polishes, having a fan on while playing, and so on. I went to high action (1.75-2.0) on 12th fret skinny E string, and I am bending Hendrix like never before!! So enjoyable to play guitar now. I can't put it down. I also feel that it will prevent carpel tunnel. With low action you have to push in and up, a struggle. Not with high action. And yes the tone with high action..To Die For! Rock On Sam!! Jeff
Good tips as usual Sam. I have high action on my Tele because it would choke bending with low action plus it had zero sustain. Once I raised it the Guitar came alive. With my Strat it's not slammed, I'd say middle of the road and it sustains for days. Love your Strats, I even put you in one of my videos last week.
Height of action is quite a strong influence on tone characteristics I believe. What you got here is a bit much for me but the stuff is highly relative depending on finger size and feel of play. So if this works for you perfect, it is perfect.
I'm new to electric and found this tutorial really helpful. I get a very feint buzz from the low E and G strings and even when playing open the sustain is not what I think it should be so I'm giving this a go. Thanks.
I am a high action rebel. I prefer sustain over ease, and it keeps your grip stronger anyway, so it's better in the long run. In fact, I recently had to get a new luthier, because he couldn't get the concept.
I have mixed feelings, my action might be a bit too high on my guitar right now, but the frets mute the string when I "overbend" which I do rather often. I should probably get a professional to set it up. I do like bending and vibrato with higher action though.
I have always preferred the action lower but you make some interesting points. I may adjust one of my stats action a little higher and give it a go. Thank you. Cheers.
I tend to agree , geezz the years just blow by. For me it wasn't till i moved from heavy distorted rock to stuff that demanded a more clean sound. Once you go clean you have to get rid of fret buzz and fret hang etc. but it is personal choice, to each his own.
No need for capo! A lot of unnecessary preamble but from Fender’s own website: “...ACTION Players with a light touch can get away with lower action; others need higher action to avoid rattles. First, check tuning. Using a 6" (150 mm) ruler, measure the distance between bottom of strings and top of the 17th fret. Adjust bridge saddles to the height according to the chart, then re-tune. Experiment with the height until the desired sound and feel is achieved. Note: For locking tremolo systems, the individual string height is preset. Use the two pivot adjustment screws to achieve the desired overall string height. Neck Radius String Height Bass Side Treble Side 7.25" 9.5" to 12" 15" to 17" 5/64" (2 mm)
Grab a cheap 50-100 dollar acoustic & put the largest gauge strings on with moderate hight to develop your strength....awesome way to practice & shred.From my 6 guitars I've got 2 with high action.One with 11's & one with 10's,the rest are 8&9's.My PRACTICE acoustic is always LARGEST GUAGE & HIGHEST ACTION I CAN FIND.This not only helps DEVRLOP & MAINTAIN finger strength but it always IMHO keeps me in "performance" shape.Meaning my STRENGTH & COORDINATION are at a certain lvl consistently.Back in the day I only used 9's till I bought a strat from a friend that had 10's & loved how powerful they sounded.For pure shred I go with 9-10 but it feels good knowing my hands are always strong because over 20 yrs ago my fingers (8) we're severely broken in an accident.Guitar & boiling hot water got my digits back in shape...peace@everybody Play music.....don't fight
Thanks for this Sam, for the past couple years I have battled seeking better rhythm tone, easier bending, better tone with soloing.. I became OCD about making sure my guitars were set up according to fender spec on their web site, but I have constantly struggled to play as I feel the fender specs are far too low for me.. I am no shredder & just like playing old school rock blues with a lot of bending.. I even splashed out on a real nice G&L s500 strat thinking that I would be able to finally play comfortable with fender specs ( 2/32" treble & 5/64th" bass side string height on 17th fret... But I wound up 'disappointed' as I couldn't play it with low action, plus it didn't sound too good....... So I tried your suggestion about raising the string height. Treble side on 17th fret is just under 3/32" & bass side is 3/32" & finally I get the tone , easier playability, & easier bending... Does this height seem similar to how you like it also ?
I set mine kinda high for that easy string bending too..using my string action guage on a strat 5/64s at the 17th fret is good for me.and a dead straight neck.
Thanks for explaining to others why higher action is better. I know a couple of guys obsessed with low action. I agree, including the fact that strumming is cleaner. People forget that stings vibrate elliptically, not just up and down.
So it's been a while and I've progressed to higher action. However, I don't bend like you at all so my results differ. I find bending upwards easer but doing a vibratio pulling downards is harder because when I bend my fingers that are pushing the string down are lower than the adjecent strings. That is, when I do a wide vibrato, the adjecent stirng slips under my fingers and slips right back when I release the bend. And THAT creates a very nasty noise.
I agree, once i realized the better quality of the sound with higher action there was no going back and my finger muscles got stronger and i adjusted, it is just a matter of getting through the first few weeks..some times you need to step backward so you can move forward..great vid!
I used to love thick strings and high action but I’m 40 and my hands hurt all the time. I switched to 9’s and low action, because its either that or stop playing
Is the action supposed to be even the whole length of the fretboard? Mine seems lower from the nut and higher as you go down. I'm a beginner and really don't fully understand the adjustments needed. Can anyone help me understand this?
Hi I have a 5 sring Jazz bass guitar and I set the action medium to high because i had them medium to low and I heard some buzz noise, can medium-high action damage the guitar neck? Should I be worried?
“High” action is somewhat subjective. Your action looks a little high but not ridiculously so. I completely agree with your points though. Guitars sound infinitely better with a little more action. Notes ring out and sustain in a much better way. I find the feel of a very low action uncomfortable, particularly when bending strings. It feels difficult to grip them properly? Typically I set my necks fairly flat with just a small amount of relief and have the action set at the 12th fret to approximately 1.75mm on the low E and 1.5mm on the high E. That feels right to me and it lets the guitar breath.
it'd be very helpful if you could tell us what the exact height is at your 12th fret. Other than that, I'm actually quite glad I found your channel, very good info on here!
Can you please tell me what the standard MM is for like high and medium and low is? I would like to be be able to play a little slide on my guitar sometimes. I am going to buy a new electric and not sure what I want to action to be, thanks alot.
Try medium action set at 2mm at 12th fret low E and 1.5 - 1.75 mm at 12th fret high E. Or high E .060 - .070 and Low E .080 Have the intonation set after setting these measurements unless its extremely close to this already.
@@Beachbumartist You are very welcome. What guitar do you have ? Edit: I just saw that you are planning on purchasing a guitar. If you get a guitar with humbucker pickups, let me know and I will tell you the best pickup height in relation to the string to set it.
@@stricknine8623 Well actually I am getting to buy a guitar and have been doing a bunch of research and found 2 I can't decide of which I'm going to get. I am either going to buy the Squire Classic Vibe 70's strat Hss or the Gretsch G2655. I think I like the BroadTron pick ups on the Gretsch though.
@@Beachbumartist Its obviously your call to make. I would reccomend the Fender Squire HSS or the "new" Epiphone Les Paul Studio. I emphasized new because the 2020 Epiphone Les Paul Studios are all set neck, true Les Paul guitars. It would also have coil splitting pots that provide pretty good single coil tones.
Agree on this. I'd played (unknowingly) for a long time with high action. Got a setup on a new guitar, guy did it 'low-ish'. Whilst I loved the smoothness of runs over the fretboard, bending was just not nice on the high e/b strings. Unwanted noise and just less control overall. Adapted technique to help, did improve but returned back to higher action, much happier! Seems common misconception lower = for better players, but tis wrong, all about what feels right coupled with sort of stuff you play 👍
I've just snapped my blimmin' truss rod trying to have my cake and eat it with tone and fluency so this video is music to my ears! I'm definitely a high action aficionado now!! I was thinking flat neck and high bridge might be the thing for some reason. But I suspect it was a sort of accident on purpose (I'm generally an all or nothing sort of bloke and I'll take quality of product (tone) over ease of production (slick action) any day!!! I liked your legendary riffing there too - perhaps you could show us some more of that sort of thing if you're into it.
Yesterday, I have asked the repair shop to get strings lower but I just saw this video. I think you are right so I called the shop and asked to cancel it.
Good vid, and some pretty important info covered here. Wish you had shown how the high strings were more than likely significantly lower compared to the low side. If you like to shred a lot, high action on the g,b,e side will wear your hand out and give you problems imo.
Well, I raised the action just a tad...a little bit...it was right on the deck and a tad too buzzy for my style of playing....which is strumming...noodling and pentatonics...so..ok...no style or class, but I have fun. And MORE fun now the action is a bit higher. Just a tiny bit, makes a HUGE difference..on my FMT HH Tele with its low and wide neck with Boomer .09-.42's anyway. Cheers, thanks for the video!
I tend very much towards higher action. My action is almost srv height, I didn't do this on purpose, I've set up my own guitars for about 5 or 6 years or so, and stumbled across a page with stevies guitar setup on it on stewmac.com, found mine was very close. Mine however is set up in such a way that despite the higher end action, quite alot I can easily find myself sliding the b under my finger when im bending the e, even the g if I want. Same for the b and the g slides under, even the d if im going really crazy. Try setting your action like mine - D string is highest, then a and g are lower, then the low E and B are lower than the a and g, then the high e is about level with the B, maybe just a SMIDGE lower. Works for me :)
and I do play thumb over alot, and never find it annoying the amount of pressure i need to apply to make it ring clear. Even on 10's. Barre chords also arent neccesarrily a pleasure to play constantly, but I find very little challenge in playing them comfortably. Maybe its just what I'm used to.
A good example of why higher action sounds better than lower action is shown in the acoustic guitar world by Martin Guitars. They have always been set up at the factory with higher action than other acoustics and, accordingly, to many players, they sound a lot better. There are surely additional reasons as well why Martins are so great and are so often played by the greatest guitarists, but this is also why. Do they require a bit more effort to play? Yes. Is it worth it? Only you can decide.
Other "bonuses": 1. Reduce fingering speed, if too high. 2. Slight, audible to some (like me), sharp sounding notes 3. WTH?? String resonates off the surface closest to the bridge: The fret, not the wood behind it. 4. Tone improved with high action?? Yes. As much as the colour of paint used does, as is Billy Corgan's opinion: Zeeeeer-Ohhhh.
Fretboard radius. If you have say 7.5" radius like a vintage fender it can "fret out" when you bend. Most modern guitars have 12" radius to prevent this. But you can just raise the action a little or have a guitar tech file a slight compound radius into the higher end of the neck.
Yea, my girlfriend also tells me to push the G string out of the way;)
LMFAO!!!
hahaha!
Cornelius Larsen you had to do it XD
Ryan d'Bassplayer i couldn't resist;)
And does it make the "stain longer"???
You have the kind of action I spent all my time trying to get rid of lol.
Really want to thank you for this. Been struggling with technique, especially with bending - I could never get it to sound clean, however much I tried. I always catch other strings and get unwanted noise. Deeply frustrating and it’s held me back for literally years. Then for some reason I started looking into action height and it led me to your video. Honestly, raising the action has been nothing short of a revelation. Suddenly I’m bending up and the lower string is gliding underneath my fingertips and all the unwanted noise is gone. Not just that, the whole fretboard is more tactile and alive, and although it’s taking more physical effort than I’m used to, chords are ringing more clearly and with much better tone. I’m just amazed that I’ve been playing so long without ever looking into this; I was taught that getting the strings as low as possible was the most desirable position, and I’ve just never questioned it over the years. I know I’ll get used to the extra effort required, and it feels like my playing just took a huge step forward. To anyone else considering this - try it. I think you might be as surprised as me.
Another factor I have also learned over the years is that it sometimes also depends on the guitar. I have low action on my Charvel and other axes that have very flat fretboards, but moderate to low high feels absolutely wonderful for hybrid picking in my S-type guitars.
The same happen to me with my acustic, i was told always to lower the trings, wrong advice you get a much cleaner higher tone with a high action, plus, if you need to lower the strings for any song they sell capos i use one all the time,. when the trings wore low i felt over crowded in my fingers now i have more room if that makes any sence
The action on my G&L Asat Deluxe is around 2mm on the high e and 2.5 mm on the low e. The middle strings are right around 2.25mm. I think it definitely increases the sustain and chords sound a lot fuller.
Yeah I used to go as low as possible. Then one day I said you know what let’s see how the tone is affected going higher. I prefer higher much more.
tone is undoubtedly better higher up, especially if you play blues
Sam, your heart's in the right place for sure, and you're correct, everyone has their own preference when it comes to playing guitar. As a pro player who's been in the business since the 60's I've gone through a lot of trial and error (mostly error!) and have learned a few things about action, playability and tone:
If you listen to recordings from the 20's, 30's and 40's, before amplification, the guitar had heavy gauge strings and high action because that was the only way you could HEAR it! Pickups, pedals, and amps have changed all that, and since we can all be heard now, lighter strings and lower action became a viable option for guitarists because it made the instrument easier to play.
String bending is more a function of fret height than string height. Fingerboard radius also plays a big part (bending is easier with flatter fretboards). Small, vintage frets are not as "bend-friendly" as jumbo frets. By definition, when you bend a string you're pressing it and pushing (or pulling) it. It doesn't matter how "high" it is. The space between the top of the frets and the top of the fingerboard is the key to string bending, and higher frets facilitate bending, not action.
With regard to sustain, the open guitar strings, for all intents and purposes, make contact with the guitar in 2 places, the nut and the bridge saddles. It really doesn't matter how far away they are from the fingerboard. As long as you don't hit the string so hard that it hits a fret, the sustain will be the same for any given string gauge. When you play a fretted note, the fret you choose replaces the nut and shortens the string length, but, again, the A-B comparison will most likely be about the same, sustain wise, for a given gauge. The pickup(s) have a huge influence on sustain as well, since a stronger magnetic pull will lessen the sustain no matter what action or strings you're using.
If you have a light touch, muting is really as easy with low action as a heavy touch is with high action. It really is a matter of personal preference.
All that being said, I can tell you from decades of experience that a guitar with high action is very difficult, if not impossible, to intonate. You generally tune strings when they're open. With high action, because your string movement is greater when you fret a given note, it will play ever so slightly out of tune, and it will become more apparent as you move up the fingerboard. If the string is closer to the fret top to begin with, it doesn't "move" as much when you fret the note, and it plays more in tune. And don't forget things like scale length and neck relief!
My preferences? For my vintage guitars (7.5" radius) I use .010 string sets primarily, with medium low action, just a tiny bit of relief, and a lighter touch. My newer Telecasters and Strats with 9.5" boards seem to like that as well, and I have one or two with .0105 gauge strings and almost no relief that facilitates bending a bit better. It's also better if you happen to have a heavier touch. My PRS necks are virtually straight and I use .095 gauge strings with medium low action. Their frets are high enough to make bending a breeze and, to my ears, they play in tune better than any guitar I own. Many players don't know there's a string gauge in between .009 and.010, and I've used .095 strings now for over 20 years. I found out about them from none other than Paul Reed Smith himself when I visited the PRS factory!
So many choices...so little time. Rock on!
Rich Sussman Wow ! What a detailed answer. Excellent info. I'm a 58 yr old career (mostly) session player, (although, during the 80's, a country band i was in based out of Branson opened for Wayne Newton). I've experimented with every setup imaginable. I mostly agree with you. I am a string bender for real. I'm 6'5" and have giant hands. I've found that on different guitars, if the action is set too low, then it just feels and sounds dead, flat. I really believe it varies from guitar to guitar. All of the guitar players reading this will (I think) agree, you can own five guitars and I'd bet each one has it's own unique "feel". I own a Mexican Tele (one of the first), a Cherry red SG, an Ibanez Strat clone and am about to pick up a Michael Kelly. Every one of my guitars has (slightly) different 'action'. I hope I'm saying it clearly. I'm not advocating super high either. Anyway, forgive me if I'm rambling, I'm Autistic and I have to work to stay linear. Bottom line is - I really enjoyed your commentary. One last question. Are you a Virgo ? (it's your attention to detail, is why I ask). Cheers
Anthony ~ Thanks for your response, and no, I'm not a Virgo! You know, everything about guitar playing is subjective and what's good for one is not good for another. You mentioned guitars that sound "dead, flat" because of the action. If you're happy with the sound of the guitar and just need to deal with that, one thing you could try is to move up to a higher gauge set of strings and see if that solves the issue. You may have a high fret or two causing the problem. Anything from a new nut to lowering the pickups may also work (many single coil pickups have a very strong magnetic pull that will stop your strings from vibrating, causing that "dead" sounding response). Something as simple as the pick gauge you're using can make a difference, too. Guitars from different manufacturers are constructed with different neck angles relative to the body, and raising the action slightly may help also. I own a lot of instruments and I enjoy tinkering and adjusting all the elements until I hit the sweet spot for that instrument, a combination of playability, sustain, balance and punch that puts a smile on my face. And, of course, a good luthier and repair guy is your best friend!
Rich Sussman Thanks Mate !
Rich Sussman You nailed it, any Luthier would tell you the same thing. About bending he was talking about the strings above the one you're bending, not the actual bent string. I agree and well put.
I have been using the 9.5's for years as well, highly recommend them, especially on PRS's, 10's for Gibson scale lengths. And great advice Rich, although Sam's point is valid its a personal preference at the end of the day. I prefer a medium action for normal playing and to facilitate slide . But thats just me.
I love the tone of high action, but after 1 song of rhythm i.e. barre chords, or plenty of chord holds my left thumb locks up as I have to clamp so damn hard to keep all 6 strings ringing out nicely.
I have to disagree on part. He referred to SRV quite often. Regardless of how SRV's action was, he had these famous bends using multiple strings. Lower action would be easier in this case since you do not want your fingers to slide under the strings. But its all preference.
When I bought my first - cheap - guitar as a teenager, wayyy back in the '70s, I didn't know what action meant - TH-cam did not exist back then :) information was scarce, and I could not afford lessons. I learned playing with pretty high action by default : 5 mm (13/64) over the 12th fret on the lower E string, 4 mm (10/64) on the higher E. I liked heavy gauge strings. It didn't bother me, I thought it was normal. It sounded better to my ears. As a matter of fact, the first time I played a guitar with low action and light gauge strings, I was like " Where are the strings?! ".
What I had gained was considerable strength in my left hand. Nowadays I still like to practice with high action and stiff strings : when you can master a new chord progression that way, it feels like letting loose a Ferrari when playing it with low action. I like that. Actually I need the workout : it is as if your muscles and your brain were more aware of what's happening, learning faster in the process. You cannot afford to be lazy when you suffer a bit. No pain, no gain, right ?
It's up to everyone of course. But think about it : who has ever gained muscular strength effortlessly ? Yet starting with light gauge and low action seems to be the mantra of the day. It is indeed more rewarding in the short term : it's easier and faster to learn how to play a few licks and half a song here, another half there (the easy parts), all with less pain and less efforts. But in the long run ? For most aspiring musicians learning gets slower. Because at some point you have to make an effort, and the muscles just aren't there to keep up and go to the next level. Better sooner than later.
Nowadays everybody learns the same skills, using the same settings, listening to the same advices, and everybody tends to sound the same as a result. Back then you had to figure things out, turning what you would now call bad habits into your own technique, creating your own sound without knowing it. Think about Mark Knopfler's left thumb, or Doc Watson 's picking with two fingers. Today, anyone would tell you it's wrong. Thank god, they didn't know ;-)
I LOVE high action. Years ago I began to play bass as well as guitar and have developed a strong fretting and picking attack. The higher action allows for clean buzz free playing. I set it slightly higher than standard. Electric guitar standard range is (1.5-2 mm at low E) (1. 0- 1.5mm at high E) measured at the 12th fret. I have mine set at 2.25mm low E and 1.75mm high E. I don't notice any intonation problems and I have a pretty good ear. Also as mentioned the string bending. Guitars with low action the strings get in the way when I bend.
HAha, I really need to lower my action, I have nearly 4mm I think for the low E on the 12th fret, it's getting kind of annoying to play with such a high action.
Crabcore1 MY GOD GOOD LORD MAN HOW DO YOUR FINGERS LOOK LOL
@@Crabcore1 i thought my high action is normal it is in 100 mm :/
I play slide guitar as well as regular playing so I like my action kinda in the middle. Just high enough to where the slide doesn't buzz on the frets when I push on the string.
I tend to really lay into the strings when playing and with low action the strings sound like rubber bands. I tried to do the low action thing but I always return to high action. Sorry, I tried. And retreated from fret buzz land
I recently set my guitar action to about 3/32" at 12th fret. I can definitely say the notes ring true and sustain well! Cheers!
He said it best at 5:10. "All this is, is personal opinion."
seems to me intonation would always be off somewhere bending the string that much to fret a note..
spyderhex I had to remove the springs on my E and G bridge Saddles to intonate the guitar properly 😂
Just in the process of sorting my super squire out Sam.....yes.....the dreaded string buzz on those high frets.
Will have a stab at raising the action and see how we go.
Glad I came across your vid.....cheers.
I have tall frets. Therefore there is a fair amount of space between the strings and the fretboard which produces a better, stronger sound (as would be the case with a slightly higher action). The actual action as in the distance between the strings and the top of the frets I have fairly low which makes playing quite effortless. And because of the tall frets, I get the meat of the finger tips under the strings when I do bends. So tall frets combine the benefits of both in a way. But I do have to play with a softer touch (since I have 9s) in order to not press notes sharp.
Hi Sam, enjoy your expertise and videos. How about a video running down the top "Must Have Effects Pedals" Like top 5 perhaps.... thanks
Nice idea man! I'll see what I can do
I have been playing, mostly in a professional capacity, for 41 years. When I was younger I used to prefer the lowest action possible, accompanied by 0.07 strings. I was really into Metal, I was fixated with speed, I have small podgy fingers, and to me that seemed the most feasible course of action. Then when I got older I started to put attention on the feel. So the gauge went up to 0.10 but the action remained low. Now, in my middle age, I find myself favouring high action. It has something that is unexplainable: you have to work at it, it requires soul to make it viable....
True. Im stuck with a high action guitar at the moment ( yamaha pac611), i cant play my sweeps and tapping licks like i used to do it in my other guitar, even the pull offs feels weak ... But the tone this guitar gets its unmatched... Perfect guitar for blues but not metal xd.
Although I'm a piano player, I totally agree with your premise. I adjusted my key hammers to only ring out with the maximum of pressure applied. The resulting notes are loud and and greatly sustained. However, I find it difficult to get gentle tones. HELP!!
I heard an interview with Rene Martinez, SRV's guitar tech and he said Stevie wanted his action as high as possible. Rene told him it's maxed out now. Stevie told him, then shim it up so it's higher. Rene did finally talk him down to 11's instead of the 13's he liked. He would come stage and his fingers were bleeding and they would super glue the callouses back on. Just some things about my fav. blues player. My music room is called Stevie's Room. I have 2 SRV tats and a really cool granite SRV that sets on top of our entertainment center, it looks like a small headstone. I'm a TX guy and just SRV music. An old one too at 67 yrs. young. Enjoy your channel and just found it today.
sweet slide guitar.... any guitar I've had with high action didn't hold intonation while making notes or chords, and the strings wont bounce off a properly adusted neck with straight frets.
Shean Carey Because you had the same amount of relief in the neck ..the saddles went up to achieve the high action but the neck remained almost straight...for high action more curve in the neck is desirable..so 2/3 of the neck is almost parallel to the strings (8th to the last fret ideally) .. i usually intonate G and D strings just a bit flat on a strat with a vintage radius and that works fine
Nice to have lessons on guitar tech intertwined with guitar playing. thx for taking the time to put it out there, great vid just got another sub.
Hey Sam! I feel exactly like you on this topic! Also, I don't know why, but the way you talk reminds me of Jimmy Page! :)
If you want a more open and dynamic tone and better sustain = higher your action. If you want to expand your playing and your skill with a more fluid sound = lower your action. A higher action might sound good but restrict dramatically your playing. If you stick with pentatonics and chords, a high action won't bother most guitar player. However, if you want to complexify your playing with 3-4 notes per strings scale, arpeggios, complex chords and fluid legato playing, a lower action will help you greatly . Guitar is hard enough and you don't want to but an extra variable in the way of your playing just to prove a point. Do sports or go to the gym if you want a physical challenge ;) . I want to hear passion, not ego. So go with what your GOALS are not whit what the guitar community want you to do. Cheers :)
M Martinez epihpone means decked bridge right? You can’t go up with you’re trem?(if you even have one; I am sorry I don’t know a lot about electrics yet man; trying to get some info)
I do all that stuff with high action lmao
Mid Action=Best of both worlds
Correct
And I get great tone with low action. Cope land@@NeverTrust298
All 4 years of my playing i thought action needed to be as low as possible but recently i found out the benefits of higher action, better tone, muting and all the things you mentioned in the video, and i also found out that i like to "fight" my guitar a little bit or else it is just too gentle for me, also no buzzing :) i would recommend to all guitar players to at least experiement with higher action (and in my case also thicker strings, 11- 49 is my gauge).
I agree. Thanks
this reinforced my exact thoughts, thanks man
Actually, since I haven't the faintest idea of how to properly lower my action. I've settled on 1/2 inch at the 12th fret. Works for me especially with solos!!
I use 5 64/th on my 7.5 radius vintage Strat this is the only guitar I have a problem going lower if I wanted too I can get a touch lower but not much before choking and buzzing and deader notes 4/64th is the lowest I can get it . My 9.5 radius standard Strat I like 4 64ths that’s fenders default setup height out the factory works well u can get a little lower no problem and 31/2 to 4 -64th on my prs 10 radius again 3 without a problem if I wanted too I feel u can get the truss rod a little straighter with higher action don’t go too high you will make the strings feel stiffer in my experience when bending this is what works for me and iv been turning those little Allen keys for years working on action heights neck relief radius nut height I also have a heavy hand so that probably plays a part in my personal setups
I play with high action too. It makes bends WAY easier, especially on the high e string. It also works better for aggressive funk rhythm playing. I could see low action being good for shredding, but that's not my bag at all
At 65, on the electrics, I like at medium high action. With a heavily blues influenced solo style (I'm not a blues player, I like more variety) I like to be able to get under the strings, so I prefer the higher action also. I have a lot more control that way. Of course you sacrifice lateral control, maybe you can't play as fast that way. But I find it increases accuracy when going for an individual note to set up a bend. I got my first guitar with narrow/tall frets last week and those frets are just wonderful for bends. Just my two cents worth.
I'm agree with you. My actions is as Stevie Ray Vaughan because he show me lots of tricks to punch last tone out of your stratocaster. My main is a 55 and it has that amazing fat chunky neck and I'm have a big relief as well 0,18-0,22 and my frets are high to help out even more. Even whit what people say super high action and big strings I'm use 0,12-0,58 on my 55. My hight is slightly abow 1/8" at 12th and I'm pick hard to get that tone only a old Fender stratocaster have crisp twangy clear tone. Thanks for bring it up! Yngwie Malmsten did I'm growing up whit. He did live few mils from me. Best regards /Bjorn
I play metalcore, higher action makes playing riffs easier, despite I'm having a little bit hard time to play the solo part.
thx Sam... you touched on some important points...
Both ways have pros and cons. I believe in learning gutiar the action up. make you be a lot more accurate in your playing where low action you tend to fudge a lot of notes. Lower action does make string rolling a lot easier.
One benefit of high action I noticed with my new strat is that it really forces you to be more precise in your playing.
Did you get less buzz on your strat? I get some amp buzz on my E B G strings. Don't know if it's from improper setup or bad technique
My action was low on my acustic and it sounded sleepy, when i changed the saddle and left it high the guitar woke up, it sounds louder cleaner and yes, you can bend better, i will keep it always high now
Here's a crazy idea: What about just a well set up action? Not too high, not too low. I'm a complete madman for even suggesting this, I know.
years ago I read Hetfield prefers his action high but I don't know if it's still true.
the action on my guitar: I put a capo on the 1st fret, then on the 15th fret high E is 1.2mm and on the low E its 1.5mm. works perfectly fine when i'm bending strings especially on the high E
Sam nice video, would it be possible to get your action measurment at the 12th fret? That would be great...cheers from italy
You're the second player I really respect who has recommended a higher action- I'm going to give it a whirl. (The first player being Mike from the Howtopracticeguitar channel). Thanks for making this video!
Add in Phil X too
Hi Sam. Outstanding tutorial!! I have been playing for 17 years....Recently went to high action...improved by a hundred notches!! No more slipping on bends!
One more reason and this changed my entire guitar playing career...Those whom have sweaty hands struggle terribly to bend with low/medium action. I know from first hand experience.
I have experienced with GOJO, Using no polishes, having a fan on while playing, and so on. I went to high action (1.75-2.0) on 12th fret skinny E string, and I am bending Hendrix like never before!!
So enjoyable to play guitar now. I can't put it down.
I also feel that it will prevent carpel tunnel. With low action you have to push in and up, a struggle. Not with high action.
And yes the tone with high action..To Die For! Rock On Sam!! Jeff
Good tips as usual Sam. I have high action on my Tele because it would choke bending with low action plus it had zero sustain. Once I raised it the Guitar came alive. With my Strat it's not slammed, I'd say middle of the road and it sustains for days. Love your Strats, I even put you in one of my videos last week.
Thanks mate! I'll swing by and check out your videos :-)
Height of action is quite a strong influence on tone characteristics I believe. What you got here is a bit much for me but the stuff is highly relative depending on finger size and feel of play. So if this works for you perfect, it is perfect.
I'm new to electric and found this tutorial really helpful. I get a very feint buzz from the low E and G strings and even when playing open the sustain is not what I think it should be so I'm giving this a go. Thanks.
any update?
I am a high action rebel. I prefer sustain over ease, and it keeps your grip stronger anyway, so it's better in the long run. In fact, I recently had to get a new luthier, because he couldn't get the concept.
I appreciate the insights, and your efficiency in sharing them. Properly well done videos.
You could do the limbo under them strings
Hey... Lim-Bo Diddley 🎶
I have mixed feelings, my action might be a bit too high on my guitar right now, but the frets mute the string when I "overbend" which I do rather often. I should probably get a professional to set it up. I do like bending and vibrato with higher action though.
I have always preferred the action lower but you make some interesting points. I may adjust one of my stats action a little higher and give it a go. Thank you. Cheers.
What are you calling high action ?
lol, he means what is this guy's criteria for "high". what's "high" to someone might be medium for someone else
I tend to agree , geezz the years just blow by. For me it wasn't till i moved from heavy distorted rock to stuff that demanded a more clean sound. Once you go clean you have to get rid of fret buzz and fret hang etc. but it is personal choice, to each his own.
JunkieMonkey321
I've been around Sam's guitars. His action is, really high.....not medium or medium high it is really high
No need for capo!
A lot of unnecessary preamble but from Fender’s own website:
“...ACTION
Players with a light touch can get away with lower action; others need higher action to avoid rattles. First, check tuning. Using a 6" (150 mm) ruler, measure the distance between bottom of strings and top of the 17th fret. Adjust bridge saddles to the height according to the chart, then re-tune. Experiment with the height until the desired sound and feel is achieved.
Note: For locking tremolo systems, the individual string height is preset. Use the two pivot adjustment screws to achieve the desired overall string height.
Neck Radius String Height
Bass Side Treble Side
7.25"
9.5" to 12"
15" to 17" 5/64" (2 mm)
i want to learn what you are playing at 3:08
Grab a cheap 50-100 dollar acoustic & put the largest gauge strings on with moderate hight to develop your strength....awesome way to practice & shred.From my 6 guitars I've got 2 with high action.One with 11's & one with 10's,the rest are 8&9's.My PRACTICE acoustic is always LARGEST GUAGE & HIGHEST ACTION I CAN FIND.This not only helps DEVRLOP & MAINTAIN finger strength but it always IMHO keeps me in "performance" shape.Meaning my STRENGTH & COORDINATION are at a certain lvl consistently.Back in the day I only used 9's till I bought a strat from a friend that had 10's & loved how powerful they sounded.For pure shred I go with 9-10 but it feels good knowing my hands are always strong because over 20 yrs ago my fingers (8) we're severely broken in an accident.Guitar & boiling hot water got my digits back in shape...peace@everybody Play music.....don't fight
Hello, thanks for the video, what would High Action in MM be for you?
"Let's sync up in the style of chappers hahahahah :D
I've laughed alone like a dumb :')
Thanks for this Sam, for the past couple years I have battled seeking better rhythm tone, easier bending, better tone with soloing.. I became OCD about making sure my guitars were set up according to fender spec on their web site, but I have constantly struggled to play as I feel the fender specs are far too low for me.. I am no shredder & just like playing old school rock blues with a lot of bending.. I even splashed out on a real nice G&L s500 strat thinking that I would be able to finally play comfortable with fender specs ( 2/32" treble & 5/64th" bass side string height on 17th fret... But I wound up 'disappointed' as I couldn't play it with low action, plus it didn't sound too good....... So I tried your suggestion about raising the string height. Treble side on 17th fret is just under 3/32" & bass side is 3/32" & finally I get the tone , easier playability, & easier bending... Does this height seem similar to how you like it also ?
My guitar action is too low how can i make it higher ? Help please it's too low it makes my string buzz
Adjusting your truss rod should solve that problem.
you're not suppose to adjust your truss rod to adjust action.. at all. You should be adjusting the string height at the bridge.
+Zachary Kenny If his strings are buzzing i assumed his neck is probably slightly bent backwards.
Jacob Goodman It's possible, but he said himself it's because his strings are too low, so the bridge is where to go first
Problem solved . Zachary was right
terrific slide guitar playing also when raising the action high.
I set mine kinda high for that easy string bending too..using my string action guage on a strat 5/64s at the 17th fret is good for me.and a dead straight neck.
That isn't exactly a high action; that is medium action.
Thanks for explaining to others why higher action is better. I know a couple of guys obsessed with low action.
I agree, including the fact that strumming is cleaner. People forget that stings vibrate elliptically, not just up and down.
So it's been a while and I've progressed to higher action. However, I don't bend like you at all so my results differ. I find bending upwards easer but doing a vibratio pulling downards is harder because when I bend my fingers that are pushing the string down are lower than the adjecent strings. That is, when I do a wide vibrato, the adjecent stirng slips under my fingers and slips right back when I release the bend. And THAT creates a very nasty noise.
I tried a guitar with high action and hate it so much I like really low action since I am a metal guitarist
I agree, once i realized the better quality of the sound with higher action there was no going back and my finger muscles got stronger and i adjusted, it is just a matter of getting through the first few weeks..some times you need to step backward so you can move forward..great vid!
gotta love that pride and joy. another cool lesson dude
Been trying to do that Stevie Ray/John Frusciante stuff with a low action guitar has been just a brick wall for myself
I used to love thick strings and high action but I’m 40 and my hands hurt all the time. I switched to 9’s and low action, because its either that or stop playing
Is the action supposed to be even the whole length of the fretboard? Mine seems lower from the nut and higher as you go down. I'm a beginner and really don't fully understand the adjustments needed. Can anyone help me understand this?
Hi I have a 5 sring Jazz bass guitar and I set the action medium to high because i had them medium to low and I heard some buzz noise, can medium-high action damage the guitar neck? Should I be worried?
“High” action is somewhat subjective. Your action looks a little high but not ridiculously so. I completely agree with your points though. Guitars sound infinitely better with a little more action. Notes ring out and sustain in a much better way. I find the feel of a very low action uncomfortable, particularly when bending strings. It feels difficult to grip them properly? Typically I set my necks fairly flat with just a small amount of relief and have the action set at the 12th fret to approximately 1.75mm on the low E and 1.5mm on the high E. That feels right to me and it lets the guitar breath.
it'd be very helpful if you could tell us what the exact height is at your 12th fret.
Other than that, I'm actually quite glad I found your channel, very good info on here!
Can you please tell me what the standard MM is for like high and medium and low is? I would like to be be able to play a little slide on my guitar sometimes. I am going to buy a new electric and not sure what I want to action to be, thanks alot.
Try medium action set at 2mm at 12th fret low E and 1.5 - 1.75 mm at 12th fret high E.
Or high E .060 - .070 and Low E .080
Have the intonation set after setting these measurements unless its extremely close to this already.
@@stricknine8623 Thank you very much
@@Beachbumartist
You are very welcome. What guitar do you have ?
Edit: I just saw that you are planning on purchasing a guitar. If you get a guitar with humbucker pickups, let me know and I will tell you the best pickup height in relation to the string to set it.
@@stricknine8623 Well actually I am getting to buy a guitar and have been doing a bunch of research and found 2 I can't decide of which I'm going to get. I am either going to buy the Squire Classic Vibe 70's strat Hss or the Gretsch G2655. I think I like the BroadTron pick ups on the Gretsch though.
@@Beachbumartist
Its obviously your call to make.
I would reccomend the Fender Squire HSS or the "new" Epiphone Les Paul Studio. I emphasized new because the 2020 Epiphone Les Paul Studios are all set neck, true Les Paul guitars. It would also have coil splitting pots that provide pretty good single coil tones.
Do you think a higher action makes sense for acoustics too with heavier strings?
I’m a bluegrass player and an electric player. High action = great tone.
that strat is a beauty
My strat setup ar 1.8 mm on high strings and 2 mm on bass strings at the 17 fret thats perfect for me .
In terms of actual measurements, what's considered a high action and what's low?
Agree on this. I'd played (unknowingly) for a long time with high action. Got a setup on a new guitar, guy did it 'low-ish'. Whilst I loved the smoothness of runs over the fretboard, bending was just not nice on the high e/b strings. Unwanted noise and just less control overall. Adapted technique to help, did improve but returned back to higher action, much happier! Seems common misconception lower = for better players, but tis wrong, all about what feels right coupled with sort of stuff you play 👍
I've just snapped my blimmin' truss rod trying to have my cake and eat it with tone and fluency so this video is music to my ears! I'm definitely a high action aficionado now!! I was thinking flat neck and high bridge might be the thing for some reason. But I suspect it was a sort of accident on purpose (I'm generally an all or nothing sort of bloke and I'll take quality of product (tone) over ease of production (slick action) any day!!!
I liked your legendary riffing there too - perhaps you could show us some more of that sort of thing if you're into it.
I'm exactly the same Sam! Finally someone said it ;)
Nice one mate! It's all about that high action!
Too right Sam! :)
This guy likes strats
Good advice mate!!
Great video. Appreciate this different point of view and the reasons. The reference to SpinalTap was an added bonus.
Yngwie's action is high on low E much lower on high E. You can't have it too high or it will be out of intonation. All in moderation ..
what do you call high action what are heights of low and high e string ?
Yesterday, I have asked the repair shop to get strings lower but I just saw this video. I think you are right so I called the shop and asked to cancel it.
Good vid, and some pretty important info covered here. Wish you had shown how the high strings were more than likely significantly lower compared to the low side. If you like to shred a lot, high action on the g,b,e side will wear your hand out and give you problems imo.
Thanks mate! Light strings make it easier to fret those notes on the high strings for me :-)
It’s was good you mentioned that it was your personal preference.
Nice, you have a Holey Board, That is my favorite one too, Thanks for the tip, I do prefer low action, but will try to raise it.
Well, I raised the action just a tad...a little bit...it was right on the deck and a tad too buzzy for my style of playing....which is strumming...noodling and pentatonics...so..ok...no style or class, but I have fun. And MORE fun now the action is a bit higher. Just a tiny bit, makes a HUGE difference..on my FMT HH Tele with its low and wide neck with Boomer .09-.42's anyway.
Cheers, thanks for the video!
I tend very much towards higher action. My action is almost srv height, I didn't do this on purpose, I've set up my own guitars for about 5 or 6 years or so, and stumbled across a page with stevies guitar setup on it on stewmac.com, found mine was very close. Mine however is set up in such a way that despite the higher end action, quite alot I can easily find myself sliding the b under my finger when im bending the e, even the g if I want. Same for the b and the g slides under, even the d if im going really crazy. Try setting your action like mine - D string is highest, then a and g are lower, then the low E and B are lower than the a and g, then the high e is about level with the B, maybe just a SMIDGE lower. Works for me :)
and I do play thumb over alot, and never find it annoying the amount of pressure i need to apply to make it ring clear. Even on 10's. Barre chords also arent neccesarrily a pleasure to play constantly, but I find very little challenge in playing them comfortably. Maybe its just what I'm used to.
Props for quoting Nigel Tufnel --well said.
A good example of why higher action sounds better than lower action is shown in the acoustic guitar world by Martin Guitars. They have always been set up at the factory with higher action than other acoustics and, accordingly, to many players, they sound a lot better. There are surely additional reasons as well why Martins are so great and are so often played by the greatest guitarists, but this is also why. Do they require a bit more effort to play? Yes. Is it worth it? Only you can decide.
the further the string has to travel to meet the fret the more it stretches, can cause intonation problems in extreme cases.
high action creates sustain because of the increase in string pressure on the saddles not because strings hit the fretboard.
Other "bonuses":
1. Reduce fingering speed, if too high.
2. Slight, audible to some (like me), sharp sounding notes
3. WTH?? String resonates off the surface closest to the bridge: The fret, not the wood behind it.
4. Tone improved with high action?? Yes. As much as the colour of paint used does, as is Billy Corgan's opinion: Zeeeeer-Ohhhh.
My high E string buzzes when i do a bend on it...This video confirms my suspicions why...Many thanks.
7Earthsky that can also be fret wear from style and technique of how you play
7Earthsky or truss rod adjusment
Fretboard radius. If you have say 7.5" radius like a vintage fender it can "fret out" when you bend. Most modern guitars have 12" radius to prevent this. But you can just raise the action a little or have a guitar tech file a slight compound radius into the higher end of the neck.