astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
I myself find that I enjoy straight necks. The higher action around the middle of the neck just doesn't do it for me.
How much relief do you like?
- Thread starter astrozombie
- Start date
Chris of Arabia
Desert RATT
Re: How much relief do you like?
Mine are usually setup up in the .008" to .012" range.
Mine are usually setup up in the .008" to .012" range.
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: How much relief do you like?
This is not a secks forum.
This is not a secks forum.
PFDarkside
of the Forum
Re: How much relief do you like?
Is that what Bob/Jimi were singing about?
I use the rule of thumb of the business card on electric, and 4/64" action at the 15th fret. This is usually a little too low for buzz free playing for me, so I start tweaking until I like it.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but with a well setup neck and low bridge height, adjusting relief will "shift" buzz from high frets to lower frets, right? (With a lot of bow the first frets will be buzz free but up the neck may buzz, and with a more straight neck the upper frets and clean but the first position can buzz?)
Is that what Bob/Jimi were singing about?
I use the rule of thumb of the business card on electric, and 4/64" action at the 15th fret. This is usually a little too low for buzz free playing for me, so I start tweaking until I like it.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but with a well setup neck and low bridge height, adjusting relief will "shift" buzz from high frets to lower frets, right? (With a lot of bow the first frets will be buzz free but up the neck may buzz, and with a more straight neck the upper frets and clean but the first position can buzz?)
El Supremo
New member
Re: How much relief do you like?
Same here, although it's more for a less slinky feel and a clearer, tighter sound overall. That's how I hear it anyways.
Same here, although it's more for a less slinky feel and a clearer, tighter sound overall. That's how I hear it anyways.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: How much relief do you like?
I usually end up setting the guitar at or very close to the factory recommended amount of relief. Basically, hold down the string (high E then low E) at the 1st and 13th fret. There should be a slight air gap over the 6th fret, such that you can hit the string down to the fret and hear a clean and distinct metal-on-metal tap. I believe that a .010 inch feeler gauge is the gap that is usually specified. I've sometimes gone more arched, but never more flat to my recollection.
I usually end up setting the guitar at or very close to the factory recommended amount of relief. Basically, hold down the string (high E then low E) at the 1st and 13th fret. There should be a slight air gap over the 6th fret, such that you can hit the string down to the fret and hear a clean and distinct metal-on-metal tap. I believe that a .010 inch feeler gauge is the gap that is usually specified. I've sometimes gone more arched, but never more flat to my recollection.
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: How much relief do you like?
Sometimes if I go overboard the lower frets will start to buzz and chords in the middle of the neck loose their "body" or "air". The guitar sounds thinner.
I'm going with around .002 or .003 relief at around the 7th-9th frets. much more comfortable.
a neck with NO relief is impossible to get playing without ANY buzz.
My guitar has .002 relief, and the action is 2/32nds both sides at 12th fret.
Sometimes if I go overboard the lower frets will start to buzz and chords in the middle of the neck loose their "body" or "air". The guitar sounds thinner.
I'm going with around .002 or .003 relief at around the 7th-9th frets. much more comfortable.
a neck with NO relief is impossible to get playing without ANY buzz.
My guitar has .002 relief, and the action is 2/32nds both sides at 12th fret.
King IzzO)))
Ultimate Kitten Puncher
Re: How much relief do you like?
Can we stop with the 4/64 and 2/32, you're both meaning 1/16th.
Can we stop with the 4/64 and 2/32, you're both meaning 1/16th.
Ashurbanipal
Well-known member
Re: How much relief do you like?
Incrementally lower frets as you move up the fingerboard. I think there are some booteek makers who do this, but it's a big job time wise and getting it right.
Incrementally lower frets as you move up the fingerboard. I think there are some booteek makers who do this, but it's a big job time wise and getting it right.
ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: How much relief do you like?
How about stopping with fractions of an inch altogether and using the much more practical and sensible millimeter?
How about stopping with fractions of an inch altogether and using the much more practical and sensible millimeter?
Christopher Caruana
New member
Re: How much relief do you like?
I like 0.010
I like 0.010
PFDarkside
of the Forum
Re: How much relief do you like?
Just following the standard as put forward by Fender.
I agree with metric, but I don't have a way to measure tenths of a mm. With my resolution I get a jump from 1mm to 2mm, completely skipping over the 3/64, 1/16 and 5/64 measurements. (Of course I need a new scale in .1mm, but that's beside the point.)
Just following the standard as put forward by Fender.
I agree with metric, but I don't have a way to measure tenths of a mm. With my resolution I get a jump from 1mm to 2mm, completely skipping over the 3/64, 1/16 and 5/64 measurements. (Of course I need a new scale in .1mm, but that's beside the point.
)
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DreX
New member
Re: How much relief do you like?
I think some people might believe some relief is better because they will have straightened the neck, but will not have raise the saddles at all, notice that it's buzzes and conclude that the neck relief was better with some bow.
A problem I've come across with straightening some of my necks is that there will be a dip on one side of the neck or the other regardless of the truss rud adjustments, like a bow between the seventh fret and the nut IIRC, and in that case an otherwise flat fret board will still buzz out in that little localized dip, so I have to raise the saddles and/or add some relief to make it not buzz there.
I think some people might believe some relief is better because they will have straightened the neck, but will not have raise the saddles at all, notice that it's buzzes and conclude that the neck relief was better with some bow.
A problem I've come across with straightening some of my necks is that there will be a dip on one side of the neck or the other regardless of the truss rud adjustments, like a bow between the seventh fret and the nut IIRC, and in that case an otherwise flat fret board will still buzz out in that little localized dip, so I have to raise the saddles and/or add some relief to make it not buzz there.
Chris of Arabia
Desert RATT
Re: How much relief do you like?
I follow the set-up advice offered by Dan Erlewine - it works for my guitars, it works on the guitars of those who ask me to set theirs up too.
I follow the set-up advice offered by Dan Erlewine - it works for my guitars, it works on the guitars of those who ask me to set theirs up too.
King IzzO)))
Ultimate Kitten Puncher
Re: How much relief do you like?
R-O-L-A-I-D-S
R-O-L-A-I-D-S
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: How much relief do you like?
Erlewine suggests about .004 of relief on Gibsons but in one of his books he has some specs from popular guitar players, many of them have a straight neck.
I based my setup on this:
Erlewine suggests about .004 of relief on Gibsons but in one of his books he has some specs from popular guitar players, many of them have a straight neck.
I based my setup on this:
LReese
Sausage Gravy
Re: How much relief do you like?
How do you spell relief?
Oops - having another Carnac moment...
How do you spell relief?
Oops - having another Carnac moment...
Lewguitar
New member
Re: How much relief do you like?
Most of my guitars are set for the same amount of relief.
I hold the strings down with a capo at the first fret.
Then I hold them down with my fingers at the 21st or 22nd fret.
I use Fender heavy picks and I use one like a feeler gauge.
I like enough relief that I can slide one under the strings between the strings and the frets right in the middle of the fretboard.
So that's about the amount of relief I like: the same as the thickness of a Fender heavy pick.
Most of my guitars are set for the same amount of relief.
I hold the strings down with a capo at the first fret.
Then I hold them down with my fingers at the 21st or 22nd fret.
I use Fender heavy picks and I use one like a feeler gauge.
I like enough relief that I can slide one under the strings between the strings and the frets right in the middle of the fretboard.
So that's about the amount of relief I like: the same as the thickness of a Fender heavy pick.
