Low string action

[dhuber]

I've bought a lot of used guitars over the last few years. One thing I've noticed is usually the string action especially on Hamer's is really low. "Atquin" if you're reading this sound off, your Daytona was one of them. Another one with the lowest action was a Monaco I recently bought off eBay. The problem for me is that I end up with fret buzz when I play low action guitars so I end up raising the action. I've had other guitarist pick up my guitars and ask "Wow, do you like your action this high" To me it's just normal. My left hand loves the feel and playability of low action, however I end up with fret buss. I know some of you are playing these super low action guitars so my question is what am I doing wrong when I get the fret buzz from a low action guitar setup. I mainly use a .73 pick. Too thick of a pick, attack angle, or picking to hard?

[mc2]

Generally, guys who have really low action have a lighter touch when picking.

I keep my action really low on both my guitars and basses. Some friend low it and cannot believe how low I can set it without buzz.

Other guys cannot play them without serious buzz all over the neck because they play really hard.

[crunchee]

Here's a FAQ quote from Paul Yandell (Chet Atkins' sideman for 25 years):

What’s the point of having a high action?

With higher action when you pick or pluck the string the string is above the frets high enough that you get more sustain and a cleaner note. Low action results in buzzes, fretting out down the neck and all sorts of problems. Its best to have your action as high as you can play comfortably.

http://www.misterguitar.us/cbimg/PaulFAQ.html#high action

Edited to add: Of course, YMMV.

[Steve Haynie]

One of the joys of having several guitars is that you can have different set ups. It makes it possible to experiment with your playing technique.

However, my guitars get set up by listening for that point where the tone starts to blossom a little. The trade off in string height is bad at all.

[mathman]

I have to say I pick pretty hard and I've been able to have the action on my proto pretty low. Sadly I am getting a buzzing on the D string lately. I haven't adjusted the neck for winter yet though. It has been pretty mild and very wet so far.

[polara]

The downside of real high action is the intonation can get a little off as you grab a chord up the neck. You tighten the strings enough, pressing them down from a great height, that you can get a bit sharp. It's really noticeable if you pick up a guitar that is set up badly and try to get the intonation right before getting the action down.

A really well made guitar with frets crowned right is something to play. My MotorAve has easy low action, ebony board, nicely crowned and polished frets. And no rattling unless I just bang on the guitar, but I play with a relatively light touch.

[tobereeno]

part of why I use .011s is because they seem to buzz less with stupid low string action, at least with my playing style. but low action also makes it easier to play with higher string tension.

with high string action, the effort to play a note increases, because when you fret a string, you're bending it down to the fretboard. The higher it is, the more you have to bend it.

[Caddie]

I've been told its not as easy as it looks. More factors than you think. How the nut is cut. String gauge. Clearance between strings and end of the neck. Type of bridge, (Fender vintage style and all its variation). Floyd, Kahler, Bigsby, Tunamatic, Wraptail. blah, blah, blah.

Non fixed variables. Do you wank on the trem alot? How hard do you bang on your axe? I'm talking about your guitar banging that is. Get your mind out of the guitar.

Cheers!

caddie

[tobereeno]

nut cut is a bigger part than one might think. You can't adjust the cut on a Floyd nut but there's a shim underneath and I've sanded mine down on all of my guitars, with a "slope" so that it's a little thicker on the bass side. On my traditional nuts I used nut saws to deepen each slot. This is a painstaking process of cut, tune to pitch, recut, tune to pitch, etc.

this also assumes that you've already struck the balance between trussrod setting and bridge height, which can get fiddly. I recently changed one of my TLEs to .011s after experimenting with .010s, and even after setting the trussrod it wanted completely different saddle height settings to feel right again.

[jaberwock]

Having the luxury of several guitars, I have some set with medium action, and slightly heavier string gauge for stage use, where I tend to get a little excited and I can over bend notes; whilst recording however, I find a lower action gives more more fluidity in my playing..........experiment.

Jaberwock