software

How does action affect a guitars tone? Some claim that high action produces the best tone? Is this just another personal preference? I can see how this would reduce/minimize fret buzz and create more efficient fretting. Is that the key concept here?

What is your defintion of high action?

I think a player produces the best tone when he's comfortable. I don't like super high action that's so high that it makes me muff notes. So I set mine as low as I can as long as I don't get any buzzes at all. I think my guitars play pretty easy but that the action is quot;averagequot;: not to low...not to high. Lew

Too high and you'll start sharping notes though. I think it lets you strike the strings a little more aggressively, and potentially push your amp a little more.

I'm pretty much with Lew on this one. If your action is too high the guitar plays a bit stiff and your intonation up the neck can be effected. The extra distance to the fretboard causes your upper frets to run a little sharp. Too high action also leads to hand fatigue and difficult fretting.

Too low action where the strings are actually fretting out a little and rattling can cause the guitar to sound overly bright and can kill sustain. If the string excursion is dampened by the strings hitting the frets you do lose some tone.

My action is reasonably low but I like a little meat in there. My guitars will set-up lower and play cleanly but if the strings try to slip from under my fingers during bends I raise it up a touch.

I actually set up the action and relief on how a guitar bends. Once it feels right, it is right.

Great. I can believe that guys. If it's comfortable with no buzzing it's good. Thanks.

I think there's a perfect action, which is right where Lew and Robert describe. It allows the intonation to be spot-on, because like Robert said, the upper notes don't drift sharp, even when the rest of the guitar is sounding perfect. It's basically as low as it can be without buzzing, and I intonate the whole neck, not just the open and 12th frets....I make sure the intonation is fine-tuned from the 12th to the 22nd fret. And that can only be done to perfection when the action is right where Lew's describing.

Intonation? Is that like when I tune the guitar to my old tape of Smoke On The Water?

High action = Higher tension, which to some, could = better tone. It may also cause you to 'dig in' more, resulting in better tone for some.

I fully agree with Lew myself!!!

mins fairly low by most standards. I dont liek high action it makes my playing alot slower and my bends are not as nice.

As low as i can without getting any buzz. How low it will really be depends on the guitar and strings used how low it will really be. But i guess i'm with Lew here

I like the action on my guitars reasonably high. When I bend and vibrato I like room and I like to be able to dig in. Its all personal preference to me.

i used to be a total high action freak, but after playing my charvel (which has fairly low action, compared to what im used to) and getting used to playing with the action lower and being able to bend without my fingers slipping(partly in fault to my fat fingers) it sounds just really, really nice. a nice thick tone, and not very bright but cuts through!! JB'S ROCK!!


Originally Posted by GearjoneserI think there's a perfect action, which is right where Lew and Robert describe. It allows the intonation to be spot-on, because like Robert said, the upper notes don't drift sharp, even when the rest of the guitar is sounding perfect. It's basically as low as it can be without buzzing, and I intonate the whole neck, not just the open and 12th frets....I make sure the intonation is fine-tuned from the 12th to the 22nd fret. And that can only be done to perfection when the action is right where Lew's describing.

Can you really get every fret to be perfect?

Do you go in order 12 to 13 to 14? or do you go alternate 12..22..13..21..14.
I'm gonna have to do this. It sounds like good exercise.