Do you prefer a little relief or a straight fret board?

[numb fingertips]

My mind was wandering as it is want to do and it naturally wandered to guitar stuff. I'm a strummer, for now. I tend to strum hard at times. I prefer medium action with a straight fret board. I got to wondering why you would want a little relief, then I got to thinking about how the string vibrates. I guess for me, with medium action it wouldn't make a difference but with low action, would a little relief help with string buzz?

[Rosewood99]

Yes and yes. That's why I have multiple guitars.

[srbell]

I like low action with just enough relief to get rid of any excess fret buzz. On my Taylor there is just barely a perceptible amount of relief, but its just enough to do the trick.

[zhunter]

Short version is basically straight. The long version? Set straight for wet season. Let it go where it goes dry season.

hunter

[Wade Hampton]

My guitars have been set for a medium amount of relief. I mostly use medium gauge strings and I do use a pick rather than fingerpick, so having some relief in the neck gives me the cleanest sound. For the most part I'm a rhythm guitarist, so this is the setup that works best for me.


Wade Hampton Miller

[Jeremy]

Just enough to avoid buzzing.

[Silly Moustache]

Ya gotta have some relief or all you'll get is buzzes.

Collings factory settings are 3/32" (.096ish) and 2/32 = 2/16" = .0625" with a .005" relief.

I prefer .110" and .080" with about .008" relief, regardless of scale length or whether the guitar wears light or medium strings.

It is your task, should you choose it, to search for your ideal action and profile.

Seriously, I strongly recommend that you all search for your ideal geometry and remember it when you have your instruments set up.

[jricc]

Relief for me, i am a bit of an aggressive player...sometimes wish i had a softer touch

[jricc]

Sorry double post

[louiscipher]

Almost straight for me, i have very soft touch

[AndrewG]

No relief, medium action. A good compromise for both fingerstyle and flatpicking.

[tadol]

Must just be me, but I don’t know how you can play a guitar with NO relief -

Maybe if you like buzzes or sitar sounds?

[numb fingertips]

Originally Posted by tadol

Must just be me, but I don’t know how you can play a guitar with NO relief -

Maybe if you like buzzes or sitar sounds?

I was the exact opposite. Wondered why you wanted relief. Why would you make the action higher with relief, but my guitars had action high enough that it wouldn't buzz even with a flat fret board. Then I actually started thinking about it and how relief might help with fret buzz on a guitar set up with real low action. It's probably something that's obvious for long time players but I never thought about it previously.

[brencat]

My ideal setup is 5/64 low E and 4/64 high e with very modest relief of ~ 0.003 to 0.005". I play with a pick 95% of the time, use Light strings only on every guitar, and don't have a heavy hand.

[tadol]

I think this may tie into the threads on the value of getting a really good set-up - and I think there are too many people who have never had the chance to spend some time playing guitars that are really well set-up to understand -