How high is your action?

[bin4christ]

do u guys like ur action low or high?

i like it low cuz it feels better. but i heard yngwie n iron maiden say high action= better sound, so i'm constantly trying to raise the action on my guitar, but i always end up lowering them again cuz i can't get used to the feel of high-action. as for the sound, currently i cannot yet tell the difference.

 

[lightice]

They say high action better cause they can bend their strings higher on a 7 inch fretboard?

Now thats not really necessary cause of the 9 inch fretboards we have on modern fenders.

 

[ChanMin]

mine are "as low as it gets without buzz."

works well for me~!

 

[bin4christ]

lightice: i dont think it's cuz of that. even if it's about string bending, dave murray claims high action allows u to bend below the heavier strings. but they say high action are better in terms of tone. more bass or something like that.

 

[AEnimic]

NECK WARP!!!

 

[gsonique]

its the diff between undies, speedos and boxers !!

each has its pro's and cons and very much an individual pref ....



but... but... guitar types prefer its own to sing :wink:

i like nice low on my strat type but prefer slightly higher action on the LP types or on any humbuck fitted guitars !!

 

[bin4christ]

gsonique: what's speedos? sorry, i really dont know. hey, my pref is exactly the opposite from urs! i can play strats with medium-high actions but i like les pauls having as low action as possible!

 

[ShredCow]

bin4christ, low action can sound good. High action can sound good.

Higher action, strings can "breath" better, ring longer because they don't contact the fretwire as much so the tone is better in that sense.

But if you want to totally isolate strings from frets, you have to like... either use medium-high action with heavy guage strings or play slide guitar action - kind of hard huh.

At the end of the day, I think playability matters a bit more than just sounding good. If you can't get used to it, just go do it your way. As long as there's some sustain, there's an output, well, why not?

I have mine low low low... I had it setup for stupid low before, but it was retarded... no need to pick, just hammer-on / pull-off can liao.
My guitar should play like butter for meself... don't find any reason to fight with the instrument though some like to do so.

 

[lightice]

bin4christ, bending in the sense that the you won't fret out of the board.

 

[RazrAsh]

for me, its medium. high action a bit hard to play fast and make it sound smooth. too low play fast can but lack of sustain. so its medium. as long as i cna go until the 21st fret on my rg and can still whammy, its ok :lol:

 

[Phanto]

bin4christ: speedos is the thing u wear to hide ur manhood when u go swimming.

 

[JonEthan]

I like low action.. about 2.5-3mm at the 12fret.
The automatic hammer-on/pull-off sounds (coupled with hi-gain, hi-sustain effects) covers for my slow fingers hahahaha

 

[lppier]

For me the rule is that it shouldn't buzz when playing. As long as it doesn't buzz, the strings can vibrate freely, IMO.

 

[ShredCow]

For me the rule is that it shouldn't buzz when playing. As long as it doesn't buzz, the strings can vibrate freely, IMO.

Gotta be careful with this statement bro.

metal strings and metal frets, any contact = buzz.

If you play with acoustic player ham-fisted struming on an electric, then... how high you want ur action to be to totally avoid buzz?

What we should be more concerned with is:
1) Is the buzz coming out of the amp? (Fretbuzz)
2) Is the buzz kill my sustain

Buzz, or rattle, is normal... but too much will lead to Fretbuzz... not good.

 

[theblueark]

Neil Young has a great song on Greendale written with a guitar that buzzes very badly. On purpose.

 

[wyldeboon]

my lp the action is quite high. i'm used to it actually. i juz dunno why i'm into the 'finger weight' thing since young. if u give a low want,example like urs bro ShredCow,low low low want... i tend to struggle a little.
stupid fingers i have

 

[ShredCow]

Neil Young has a great song on Greendale written with a guitar that buzzes very badly. On purpose.

Thats cool... If I could have a few more guitars, I might allocate one buzz-worthy one for a song or 2. 8)

if u give a low want,example like urs bro ShredCow,low low low want... i tend to struggle a little.

Wyldeboon, I did struggle when malcolm 1st refretted my guitar... the action was much lower, couldn't do bends as easily... Got used to it in the end, now.

Got to say though, lower action is STILL harder to do wacky bends and pronounced vibrato. I find the floyd a blessing.v :lol:

 

[wyldeboon]

^^^ lol... floyd is a blessing man... but damn lp no have. tried lowering the other guitar last time,but haiz... like stupid la i play. the only explanation i have is tat wif higher actions,i can 'feel' the note i'm picking.sumtink like tat la

 

[ShredCow]

Thats true, the string digs into your fingers more with higher action.

But if you really wanna find out if you can do lower action, live with it for 1 set of strings... or even 2. Then you'll know. Bo pian one, gotta spend $ to find out leh...

 

[wyldeboon]

yeah man