HOW HARD IS IT TO LEVEL FRETS?

[DreX]

Re: HOW HARD IS IT TO LEVEL FRETS?

you wont find many shredders playing that high. Only some over aged blues players who think they get bigger tone.

I've seen blues players describe high actions as "fighting back", which somehow helps their muse, which is funny because I thought life was supposed to inform "the blues" and not difficulty playing your instrument. OTOH, BB King is famous for using 9's, but he's got the diabetes to keep him feeling down.

I'm going to assume that anyone who actually know the mm of their actions likes higher action, because as someone who floors the action, I don't really need to know the mm, I just need to know when the strings and frets start buzzing.

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: HOW HARD IS IT TO LEVEL FRETS?

Pretty simple actually. Place axe face down on smooth concrete surface. Attach tow strap. Proceed to 40 mph and back to naught. Buff out with 000 steel wool and RAWK THAT MUTHA!

 

[Ayrton]

Re: HOW HARD IS IT TO LEVEL FRETS?

you wont find many shredders playing that high. Only some over aged blues players who think they get bigger tone.

I am not sure who you would consider "many shredders", but everyone from Yngwie to Paul Gilbert actually use higher action than I do. Raising your action does better the sound, just like tuning the guitar does.

 

[DreX]

Re: HOW HARD IS IT TO LEVEL FRETS?

I am not sure who you would consider "many shredders", but everyone from Yngwie to Paul Gilbert actually use higher action than I do.

Do you know if this is documented anywhere, or is this like one of those "conventional wisdom" type things?

I agree that higher action sounds better, but so do thicker strings and a longer scale. When a guitar has high action, I just tend to pick it up a lot less than guitars with low action, so my subconscious decision is to choose playability over tone.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: HOW HARD IS IT TO LEVEL FRETS?

My mate went and saw yngiwes master class thing, He got to look/hold his guitars and ask questions.

For the record his action was high haha

 

[Ayrton]

Re: HOW HARD IS IT TO LEVEL FRETS?

Do you know if this is documented anywhere, or is this like one of those "conventional wisdom" type things?

I agree that higher action sounds better, but so do thicker strings and a longer scale. When a guitar has high action, I just tend to pick it up a lot less than guitars with low action, so my subconscious decision is to choose playability over tone.

I think most "famous " players have their setups well documented. Google whomever and I am sure you can find it.

Here is a few to get you started...

http://www.stewmac.com/How-To/Onlin...Setup/How_the_stars_set_up_their_guitars.html

Joe Satriani likes his around .031!

http://www.satriani.com/2000/about/gear/setup.shtml

String action is all about feel anyway. Lighter touch, heavier strings, little buzz, no buzz... whatever works for you.

 

[LReese]

Re: HOW HARD IS IT TO LEVEL FRETS?

you wont find many shredders playing that high. Only some over aged blues players who think they get bigger tone.

Back in the old days when us over aged blooze players were learning to play, higher action made it a bit easier to get our fingers under adjacent strings. Things like bigger frets came into vogue later.

Never was about better tone for me.

 

[Archer250]

Re: HOW HARD IS IT TO LEVEL FRETS?

I am not sure who you would consider "many shredders", but everyone from Yngwie to Paul Gilbert actually use higher action than I do. Raising your action does better the sound, just like tuning the guitar does.

Really? I never thought Paul's action was high.

you wont find many shredders playing that high. Only some over aged blues players who think they get bigger tone.

Steve Vai
Yngwie Malmsteen (even higher)
Michael Angelo Batio (possibly also higher)
Mattias Eklundh (pre-temperament frets)
Marty Friedman has professed that his action is rather "high" but has never given us the numbers.


Actually, you're right. I can't think of any more.

Back in the old days when us over aged blooze players were learning to play, higher action made it a bit easier to get our fingers under adjacent strings. Things like bigger frets came into vogue later.

Never was about better tone for me.

For me, it was both. I came to realize that there comes a point where your tone changes after a certain height. It becomes more fuller, and the highs are rounded. That said, it was waaay too far from the strings, so I lowered it a bit... actually I lowered it as much as I could without compromising the ease to bend strings... and that's still higher than most people's action. And it doesn't slow me down, either.

My mate went and saw yngiwes master class thing, He got to look/hold his guitars and ask questions.

For the record his action was high haha

If you believe the person alleged to be his tech on a certain website, he runs it at 2mm on both sides at the 12th fret. If you believe the man himself, you double that number for the treble side and triple that number for the bass side...

To protect my sanity, I prefer to believe the former.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: HOW HARD IS IT TO LEVEL FRETS?

I know Paul (Gilbert) mentioned his action was silly low back in the Racer X days, but has since raised it. I wanna say it is in the 1.5-2.00mm range.

 

[Archer250]

Re: HOW HARD IS IT TO LEVEL FRETS?

I call that low, lol.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: HOW HARD IS IT TO LEVEL FRETS?

I call that low, lol.

Yes, so do most people.

Especially over age blooze players. lol

 

[Archer250]

Re: HOW HARD IS IT TO LEVEL FRETS?

Oh right! Let's add 80s Gary Moore to the list of shredders with high action.