low action

[mastershake]

hey guys, i just played a jem @ guitar center and the action was crazy low, it inspired me to tweak with my rg. after tightening the truss rod, shimming the nut, and lowering the bridge i got it pretty low. i have been playing for 6 months now so lower is better for me. have figured out most of the tech side of it, you know wiring, setting a guitar up, and messin with floyd roses. just curious how high u guys like yours at.

[ABSOLUT CHARVEL]

depends on the guitar. I like the action a little higher on a tele than my Md. 6 where i like it low. The bridge type and fret board radius may dictate the action.

[laughingparrot]

I like mine as low as I can possibly get it without buzzing so much I can hear it thru the amp.

On the other hand, George Lynch likes his action higher, so you have to fight with the strings.

Go figure.

[mastershake]

yeah i like mine as low as possible too!

[KBRR]

Yea i need my action LOW... i have a light touch and small hands so low action is a must .

[randyrhoadsguitar]

I have small hands, but prefer higher action. It's a little wierd to others, but i'm perfectly fine with it.

[toejam]

I have small hands, but prefer higher action. It's a little wierd to others, but i'm perfectly fine with it.

Same here. I guess my action is more medium and not too high, though. I can deal with a little bit of string buzz when it's lower, but I don't really care for it too low, especially since I tend to pick a little harder.

[thetroy]

I used to keep mine ultra low but now I prefer it medium-high. My strat with jumbo frets and scalloped fretboard feels like the action is almost acoustic-high if you're not used to it.

[Newc]

I usually set mine so that a full-step bend at the 15th fret grinds out, then raise it just to where it doesn't grind out.

Been thinking lately about going higher since I'm finding I can't really "dig in" on a lot of things, and you don't get as much picking dynamics with really low action because the harder you hit, the more "spank" and fretbuzz you get.

[nikopapp]

I like my action as low as possible without fret buzz.
I don't understand why anyone would want to fight with the strings, especially when shredding, but who I am to argue with Lynch?

[Danno]

As low as it can get without buzzing. To me, it's just less work for your hands.

[randyrhoadsguitar]

Randy had no problem with high action. And we all know how small he was and the monster baseball bat neck he had on his les paul .

Karl Sandoval Interview: The guitar was finished. Before it was built, I remember Randy coming down to see me. I was busy writing up the sale form and he was just kind of standing around and waiting. I had a harmony guitar that belonged to my dad that was sitting there. While I was writing up the invoice I started to hear this classical music. He had picked up the guitar, got into the classical style of holding the guitar and started playing. It was completely flawless. This guy was incredible. I could never make that guitar sound like that! The guy was so well trained in classical music that he liked the fat neck, he didn’t mind the heavy gage strings, and he didn’t mind the high action. He played it very well and he was just kind of passing time as I was writing the invoice. It was very interesting to hear him perform like that.

[savage]

I prefer mine LOW but wish i could get used to the higher actions that guys like YJM and SRV use
the higher action give a more solid tone and sustain i hear

[savage]

Randy had no problem with high action. And we all know how small he was and the monster baseball bat neck he had on his les paul .

Karl Sandoval Interview: The guitar was finished. Before it was built, I remember Randy coming down to see me. I was busy writing up the sale form and he was just kind of standing around and waiting. I had a harmony guitar that belonged to my dad that was sitting there. While I was writing up the invoice I started to hear this classical music. He had picked up the guitar, got into the classical style of holding the guitar and started playing. It was completely flawless. This guy was incredible. I could never make that guitar sound like that! The guy was so well trained in classical music that he liked the fat neck, he didn’t mind the heavy gage strings, and he didn’t mind the high action. He played it very well and he was just kind of passing time as I was writing the invoice. It was very interesting to hear him perform like that.

RR's could have played a tennis racket and made it sing

[MartinBarre]

Recently I've found the low action on my Epi SG and Black Beauty to be a bit annoying. The light strings and low action seem too floppy. I'm gonna try 10s rather than 9s next time I restring them.
In general, I like my action low but not that low.