It is my belief that if you have more string tension (which goes along with heavier strings) you can achieve lower action without buzzing.
![action strings 12 th fret electric guiatar action strings 12 th fret electric guiatar](https://www.stollguitars.de/en/files/12-14-fret-clear-neck-transition.jpg)
While low action strings are more comfortable to play, it may cause the buzzing sound due to lesser room for the strings to vibrate. Action of the guitar means the height of the strings from the fret board. If you play with a heavier touch, you need higher action to avoid buzzing. Action of the guitar is another essential part of setting up and electric guitar. If you have a lighter touch you can set action lower. Basically, guitar action is the height between the fret (not the board) and strings (usually measured at the 12th fret). If you’ve a low fret, then the fret directly in front of it is (relatively speaking) a high fret. If a fret is high, playing notes behind it may cause the string to vibrate off that fret. Note how I use zero measurements in setting the action-I set the action based on my own touch and the measurements above are what I get. For a guitar to play cleanly, each fret should be neither higher or lower than its neighbours. For the bass side it’s 2.0 mm minimum at the 12th fret, for the treble side it is 1.5 mm at the 12th fret, now this is on a six string guitar, 7,8,9 strings are different and you would have to refer to the table in the ESP guitar manual. Then set intonation, then set height to the lowest level where I can play all the way up the neck with a medium touch and no buzzing. My friend the string action heights are posted in the ESP guitar manual. The action on all of them was set with this method: first adjust truss rod, with a capo on the first fret and the highest fret held with my finger, such that a regular business card (0.36mm) just between string and fret at its highest point, without moving the string. 4.1mm on my Yamaha classical, which is actually my #1. If the tuner shows a perfect E note at the 12 th fret, the string is intonated and good to go. 1.6mm on my Jaguar, which is strung with flatwound 12s, and has the lowest action of any guitar I own. When tuning up, be sure to pick the strings with the same force you use when playing the guitar.
#Action strings 12 th fret electric guiatar plus
Sounds like you need a tech anyway so, on second thoughts, enquire about a fret level plus a setup.
![action strings 12 th fret electric guiatar action strings 12 th fret electric guiatar](https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*x0jMsmqKKZ-Y2PIeUU8UPA.png)
Futzing with the rod too much can screw your neck, should be done 1/4 turn at a time. About the same on my SX Furian, which is a Telecaster copy. Capo the first fret hold the low e at last fret, measure over the 7th fret - the gap between top of fret and bottom of string should be IRO 8-20 thou. Certainly feeler gauges would be more precise, but I'm not messing with that right now.Īt the 17th fret on the high e, I measure 1.76mm on my Affinity Strat. High action on an acoustic guitar not only affects the intonation, it can make the instrument difficult, if not painful, to play. With a regular digital caliper it's easier to measure by extending the depth gauge and pressing it in from above, on the 17th fret until the string just moves-and then subtract the thickness of the string. Place a ruler on top of the 12th fret and measure the distance between the top of the fret and the bottom of the outer E strings. I find it somewhat awkward to measure the action, you have to be straight on.