My action is getting higher, is there a quick fix?

[Arch Stanton]

It’s been a few years since I purchased my Martin OM-28, and recently I have noticed the action seems to be creeping a bit higher. It has always had proper humidification. Which way should I adjust the truss rod? Or is it more than that? I don’t have a trained eye for this, but here are a few pics if it helps.

[merlin666]

Good question I was about to ask the same. Also, which direction to turn truss rod? Do we adjust rod with strings under tension or slackened strings?

[charles Tauber]

It depends upon what the problem is, what the appropriate fix is. Not all problems are fixed with a truss rod wrench.

The first things to check, in my opinion, is that the guitar isn't over-humidified, that the bridge isn't lifting/separating from the top and that the top, itself doesn't have excessive bulging between the bridge and the butt of the guitar. If those are fine, then, onto setup issues:

https://www.charlestauber.com/luthie...1-Sept2018.pdf

[redir]

It's important to understand that the truss rod has one job and one job only and that is to set the desired relief in the neck. It is not used to set the action of the guitar or to adjust the neck angle. Having said that, adjusting the truss rod to fix too much or too little relief does often have an effect on the action particularly if your relief is not set properly. So check the relief first.

To do that hold the E-String at the first fret, or capo it, and also fret the 14th fret. Look for airspace under the 7th fret. There should be about enough to slide a thin pick under there. That's the forward bow of the neck or relief.

If it is more then that then turn the truss rod wrench to the right about 1/2 a turn and measure again. In setting the relief properly you will also, in this case, lower the action at the 12th fret. Sometimes that's all it takes if you are lucky but usually there is more to it.

If the relief is set up perfectly as is then you need to go forward with other setup options.

[Arch Stanton]

Originally Posted by redir

It's important to understand that the truss rod has one job and one job only and that is to set the desired relief in the neck. It is not used to set the action of the guitar or to adjust the neck angle. Having said that, adjusting the truss rod to fix too much or too little relief does often have an effect on the action particularly if your relief is not set properly. So check the relief first.

To do that hold the E-String at the first fret, or capo it, and also fret the 14th fret. Look for airspace under the 7th fret. There should be about enough to slide a thin pick under there. That's the forward bow of the neck or relief.

If it is more then that then turn the truss rod wrench to the right about 1/2 a turn and measure again. In setting the relief properly you will also, in this case, lower the action at the 12th fret. Sometimes that's all it takes if you are lucky but usually there is more to it.

If the relief is set up perfectly as is then you need to go forward with other setup options.

Well here it is, 1st is capoed and I’m fretting the 14th. I can just slip the pick in there between fret and low e, and the .73 med pick touches both string and fret. The 7th fret is the one with the pick resting on top.

[Howard Klepper]

Originally Posted by redir

To do that hold the E-String at the first fret, or capo it, and also fret the 14th fret. Look for airspace under the 7th fret. There should be about enough to slide a thin pick under there. That's the forward bow of the neck or relief.

If a thin guitar pick fits under the string, there is way too much relief--several times what is needed. Relief should be measured in 1000ths of an inch, and should be in the .004-.007" range.

[Arch Stanton]

This is a ruler laid on top between frets 2-14, you can see the space at its mid-section.

I’m stumped, look how high these strings are!!!

[Arch Stanton]

Originally Posted by Howard Klepper

If a thin guitar pick fits under the string, there is way too much relief--several times what is needed. Relief should be measured in 1000ths of an inch, and should be in the .004-.007" range.

Ok, which way do I turn the Allen wrench!?

[John Arnold]

2 or 3 layers of notebook paper should get you close. If I am seeing it right, it looks like you have about 2/3 of the fret height, or around 0.025", which is way too much.
Tighten the truss rod until it is in the range. Any further adjustment should be by lowering the saddle.

[SprintBob]

If you have never adjusted your truss rod, please take your beautiful guitar to a tech or luthier you trust and have them do a full check out and show you what is causing the higher action and let them remedy it for you. DIY with no prior experience could result in damage to the guitar. Truss rod adjustments should be 1/8 to 1/4 turn max to correct any relief issue. Do NOT keep turning it until it's "right".

[warfrat73]

If you have established that relief is the problem, rather than over humidification, or a loose bridge, etc.

You want to tighten it to take up the extra relief. Righty tighty.

Start with a quarter turn. Check it again. Wait a while (like hours, not minutes), check it again.

Don't force it, don't just keep fiddling with it... be methodical. There are any number of good resources online to help you with this.

[Arch Stanton]

All good responses, thanks. But I’ll probably go with what sprintbob stated. There happens to be an official Martin repair shop near me. Taking it there first thing in the morning. Sure I know how to turn the head of a truss rod and even file the bottom if a saddle, but I still don’t know what I’m doing, per say...

If it wasn’t a $3k guitar I’d mess with it. But whenever I mess with something and I don’t know what I’m doing, I always wreck it! But I will start educating myself on this stuff, and maybe even get a small workshop in the basement to eventually do it myself.

[Mirosh]

I suggest that you start with charles Tauber's very helpful treatise on setups.

Let me take this opportunity to thank Mr. Tauber - I have read and referred to it many times in the last year or so as I got interested in doing some of my own guitar work. I have found it more thorough and useful than any other single article I have found on line or in books, but I am sure everything I've read or watched has helped somewhat.

Good luck with the luthier - we, too, are curious about the increased action.

[cliff_the_stiff]

Originally Posted by charles Tauber

It depends upon what the problem is, what the appropriate fix is. Not all problems are fixed with a truss rod wrench.

The first things to check, in my opinion, is that the guitar isn't over-humidified, that the bridge isn't lifting/separating from the top and that the top, itself doesn't have excessive bulging between the bridge and the butt of the guitar. If those are fine, then, onto setup issues:

https://www.charlestauber.com/luthie...1-Sept2018.pdf

This- 100%.
Charles, thank you for your work on explaining the 4 steps in detail.
Click the link Charles sent and all the information you need is there.

[charles Tauber]

Originally Posted by John Arnold

2 or 3 layers of notebook paper should get you close. If I am seeing it right, it looks like you have about 2/3 of the fret height, or around 0.025", which is way too much.
Tighten the truss rod until it is in the range. Any further adjustment should be by lowering the saddle.

+1.

Given the excessive relief, adjusting the relief to be in the proper range is likely all that needs to be done.