Guitar Action (String Heights)

[Jamolay]

Yes, but that is a poorly made nut that needs to be fit correctly. I would consider that different than adjusting action at the nut. I was assuming a nut that was installed correctly but needs a little tweak to player preference or time.

[stitch]

@Jamolay

I doubt he did.

According to the internet you have to acclimate your guitar to your environment for a month then take it in and have it set up. Like I said earlier I’m glad I learnt how to set up guitars from a professional

[mathsjunky]

@Jamolay

So, that supports that it shouldn’t matter.

I’m not saying it does, only that I believe this is where the idea came from. It’s typically quoted for relief rather than action, so as a percentage it’s more relevant, but still, imho irrelevant.
I tweak my set up without feeler gauges these days - I know how I want my guitars set up and generally go by feel.

[stitch]

I guess you’ve never played a Martin Guitar before.

[stitch]

@barny

Well, what can I say. Proper education is expensive, the internet is free

Following bad advice off the internet and messing up a guitar can also be expensive.

[Majik]

@stitch

You want a slight back bow

Really? I always thought you want a slight front-bow (or "up-bow) as it’s sometimes called. You want the neck to be slightly concave?

Just to be clear, “back-bow” seems to be defined as when the neck has gone past flat and the fret-board is starting to be convex.

Cheers,

Keith

[sequences]

@stitch

You measure neck relief by putting a capo on the first fret and fretting the 12 fret. Check the distance between the 7th fret and the bottom of the string.

This is not accurate. You will want to capo the first fret, then fret your highest fret and check the bow about the center of the two points. This should be where the neck deviation will be largest. just be close to that point and then be consistent on that guitar when you check again another day. If you fret the 12th and check deviation, then you are fretting at about the max neck deviation on some guitars and the error in measuring the 7th will be nearly as high as your deviation, making your check questionable.

@barny

Intonation. Tune the open strings, and then check the tuning when fretting the 12th (and optionally also the 17th) fret

Checking the 12th fret makes the most sense here. 12 is the physical center of the scale length on all guitars.

[stitch]

@Majik

I always thought you want a slight front-bow (or "up-bow) as it’s sometimes called.

I was taught Back Bow was bowing towards the back (as in Bowing down) So I checked, I guess that’s another thing the internet has changed.

[RobDickinson]

@Jamolay

I doubt he did. If it had a fresh set up, it likely was before he brought it up there. He probably just tuned it.

It was taken up way before Chris went

I assume there are new strings sent up sometimes

[jacksprat]

This is how Fender advises to adjust the truss rod on a Strat:

[Jozsef]

Here’s an easy-to-follow guide on how to measure the relief, the action and the bridge saddle radius:

How to measure your guitar's action