Should string action/height get higher further up the neck?

skunkwerx · November 2020

Just been thinking.

Suppose the guitar is set up ok etc. Its normal for the string (any of them) to be pretty close to the frets near the nut, ie the first fret and not need much pressure to push down before its fretted.

Is it normal for the action/height of any given string to increase the further up the neck toward the bridge you go? Ie needs to be pushed down further before you fret it compared to fretting it on the 1-3rd frets?

I think all my guitars are like this but never really thought about it.

p90fool · November 2020

Yes, simply because of the shape of the string as it vibrates.

Think of two people swinging a long skipping rope for an exaggerated version, the middle of the string needs more clearance from the frets to complete it's cycle.

DB1 · November 2020

That was the explanation given to me recently and it seemed a very good one. Easy for me to understand anyway.

ICBM · November 2020

Yes, not only normal but correct.

Slash'N'burn · November 2020

Yes it should, but at the extremes, a guitar with a too high nut and very low action at the bridge , ends up with what looks like almost the same string height all the way along the neck (which needs sorting of course)

skunkwerx · November 2020

Nice, thanks all. As you can see, the usual 2:30am musings when I can’t sleep haha.

SPECTRUM001 · November 2020

So when (eg on a typical Fender Strat) a 12th fret action of 2mm is quoted, should there be strict related measures (eg 1.5mm on the 6th fret or 2.5mm on the 18th fret) ?

(Disclaimer - numbers chosen at random).

richardhomer · November 2020

SPECTRUM001 said:

So when (eg on a typical Fender Strat) a 12th fret action of 2mm is quoted, should there be strict related measures (eg 1.5mm on the 6th fret or 2.5mm on the 18th fret) ?

(Disclaimer - numbers chosen at random).

No - because nut height and relief will impact string height at different points along the neck.

ICBM · November 2020

SPECTRUM001 said:

So when (eg on a typical Fender Strat) a 12th fret action of 2mm is quoted, should there be strict related measures (eg 1.5mm on the 6th fret or 2.5mm on the 18th fret) ?

(Disclaimer - numbers chosen at random).

In theory, yes - although the exact numbers depend on the relief, and are very sensitive to it.

A 'perfect' set-up with the neck dead straight and the nut the same height as the first fret would have an action of 0 at the nut, half the 12th-fret action at the 5th fret, and 1.5 times it at the 24th fret, but in the real world the nut will be fractionally higher and there will always be a tiny amount of relief, so the 5th-fret action will be slightly higher and the 24th (or 21st/22nd) fret action slightly lower.

Switch625 · November 2020

I always thought a well set up guitar was one where the action was consistent all along the neck... shows what I know! I can rest easy now knowing my guitars don't need tweaking.

SPECTRUM001 · November 2020

Thanks !!

I think I need to buy a cheap as chips guitar to start messing around with (tech).

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Become a Subscriber!

Should string action/height get higher further up the neck?

Comments