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-   -   Ideal string height, nut and 12th fret (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70848)

John Curnew 11-14-2005 01:17 PM

Ideal string height, nut and 12th fret
 
Is there an ideal height for the strings above the 1st fret? (acoustic). And also at the 12th? Thank you, John

Tim McKnight 11-14-2005 01:53 PM

Yes, but is dependant on fret height and the player attack or playing style & string gage. I use this only as a starting point for "general" set ups.

1st & 2nd strings - .020" above the fret height.
3rd & 4th strings - .025" above the fret height.
5th & 6th strings - .030" above the fret height.

12th fret:
1st string - .080"
6th string - .100"

These dimensions can vary each way depending on the player but this is a good starting point.

John Curnew 11-14-2005 07:20 PM

Tim . . .I'll use your figures like you said as a starting point . . . many thanks, John.

Tim McKnight 11-14-2005 07:30 PM

John: Be careful ... Measure twice and cut once ...

.070" & .090" are the low end of the spectrum for height at the 12th fret. This is achieved by lowering the saddle [after neck relief has been set].

John Curnew 11-15-2005 02:47 PM

Hi Tim, I just thought I'd get back to you with the measurements on my Washburn D30S. (I used feeler gauges but not sure how to measure the in-between strings, 2, 3, 4, and 5.) ((Elixir Original Polywed, 12s.)

1st string at 1st fret: .018
6th string at 1st fret: .030

1st string at 12th fret: .076
6th string at 12th fret: .090. (Perhaps just a tad more than .090.)

These measurements appear to be pretty close to your suggested measurements. I'll re-check them tomorrow in better light. Any comments? Thanks, John

John Curnew 11-15-2005 02:57 PM

One more thing, perhaps 2 things . . . I finally now grasp that one sets the neck relief first and then proceeds to lower the saddle if necessary. The light came on.
I've had the feeling that the slots in the nut may be too high. I use the capo at the 1st fret an awful lot and that may be partly the reason.
How can you tell if those nut slots are too high? Thanks, John

FlySig 11-15-2005 04:52 PM

Tim, are the heights the same for a 12 string?

Randal_S 11-15-2005 05:34 PM

At the first fret:

E = .022", A = .020", D = .018", G = .018", B = .018", E = .016"

At the 12th fret:

E = .105, A = .100, D = .095, G = .090, B = .085, E = .080

PS: My 12-string is about the same, but maybe even a smidge lower at the 12th fret (a smidge too low, IMO). Will replace the saddle and reset the action higher someday.

PS, part deux: I set my guitars up to these specs based on info from Bryan Kimsey's website. Bryan is a highly-regarded setup/ repair guy who frequents the Martin Forum.

http://www.bryankimsey.com/

FlySig 11-15-2005 06:28 PM

Randal, thanks for the link. It's great information and will help me a lot.

Randal_S 11-15-2005 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlySig
Randal, thanks for the link. It's great information and will help me a lot.

You're quite welcome...

Here's another treasure trove of info, courtesy of Frank Ford:

http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/pagelist.html

gteague 11-15-2005 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randal_S
<del>

PS, part deux: I set my guitars up to these specs based on info from Bryan Kimsey's website. Bryan is a highly-regarded setup/ repair guy who frequents the Martin Forum.

http://www.bryankimsey.com/

ditto here. i use bryan's settings on all my acoustics.

/guy

pangpang77 11-16-2005 10:22 PM

May sound like a dumb question, but how do you measure to the accuracy of the numbers posted. And when it says .050", that's inches I assume?


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