shredders and low action ?no !

[jmh151]

shredders and low action ?no !

I prefer low action and take my guitars to the best tech I can to get the action the lowest and most playable as possible on that particular guitar- which may mean a fret leveling as well. My Lutheir usually gives the guitar back too low so I need to raise it a little.

I've also learned to play with an extremely light touch. I've recently started teaching my brother to play, and since he's a bit more heavy handed, my guitars buzz like hell with him playing and go out of tune quite a bit, so he needs higher action and heavier strings

So action is all the preference of the player.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: shredders and low action ?no !

you are funny

Not really. I was being entirely objective.

It is unclear from your opening post whether you are;
1) seeking advice about guitar set-ups for shred style playing.
2) dispensing advice about guitar set-ups for shred style playing.
3) hoping to set different schools of thought off against each other, arguing their cases vehemently over several pages.

The only useful information in the opening post is that Michael Angelo Batio likes his guitars set up a certain way whereas you like yours set up a different way. Like I posted before, both of these opinions are valid. What's to discuss? Thread over.

This is a Seinfeld thread

Sho' 'nuff.

 

[stratguy23]

Re: shredders and low action ?no !

As polyarthritis started to chew / weaken my left fingers during the last 5 years I had to change tactics. Now I use really low action, heavy low strings (my picking hand is still heavy) and 009-008 top strings (bending above that causes pain). Also, instead of power grip I started to work on fretting with light left hand.

I arrived at exactly the same solution when my carpal tunnel syndrome got really bad - light top, heavy bottom strings. I was running 10-52 in Drop C with 24.75" scale, which is like spaghetti on the top strings. But that's all my hands could handle at the time. Since the top strings were so floppy, I got way more into vibrato and bending (woohoo, 2 whole step bends!) than I normally would. So that was an unintentional educational opportunity.

Now that my hands are somewhat more healthy, I've carried over some of that awareness and vibrato and bending.

Sometimes it's good to venture outside your comfort zone of string gauges. You might learn different ways to approach the instrument that you can then apply when you go back to your usual setup.

 

[Emopunk]

Re: shredders and low action ?no !

I'm using a 1.6 mm action on all my electrics. Should I be considered a low or medium action guy?

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[dave74]

Re: shredders and low action ?no !

I'm using a 1.6 mm action on all my electrics. Should I be considered a low or medium action guy? ��

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On all strings?, and at what fret?

 

[Emopunk]

Re: shredders and low action ?no !

On all strings?, and at what fret?

All strings, capo on 1st, measurement at 12th. 10-46 gauge.

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[dave74]

Re: shredders and low action ?no !

All strings, capo on 1st, measurement at 12th. 10-46 gauge.

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That's in the medium range I'd say, although I generally measure the action only with the strings open, so using a capo at the first would deduct a small bit from the measurement I guess.
Most players seem to like a slightly lower action on the smaller strings for easier lead playing, and because the small strings just don't vibrate as widely.

 

[Emopunk]

Re: shredders and low action ?no !

That's in the medium range I'd say, although I generally measure the action only with the strings open, so using a capo at the first would deduct a small bit from the measurement I guess.
Most players seem to like a slightly lower action on the smaller strings for easier lead playing, and because the small strings just don't vibrate as widely.

I actually don't have problems with solos. I just wonder wheter I could improve sustain by going a bit lower, like 1.5 or 1.4. what do you think?

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[regan]

Re: shredders and low action ?no !

I've never understood what is even meant by people wanting to "dig in" or saying that higher action somehow helps with bends... I've never thought that higher action could in any way help me. I've learned to deal with it when I had to... But I'm not so much of a masochist as to prefer it.

Then again, I can recall maybe two guitars ever that I've found in stores, with action set up low enough to meet my preferences; seems my perception is more extreme than others.

If the action is too low bends 'choke out' too easily especially whole tone or larger bends.
I like my action as low as I can get it but still execute bends or use a slide without it being too problematic.
I think the way you attack strings is the largest determining factor in action height, if you have a light touch you can get away with a lower action the contrary also applies.
Never really subscribed to an action for a style more an action for the individual

 

[dave74]

Re: shredders and low action ?no !

I actually don't have problems with solos. I just wonder wheter I could improve sustain by going a bit lower, like 1.5 or 1.4. what do you think?

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Lowest you can get without buzzing-out will give the best possible tone and play IMO.

A good thing to do is turn off anything that makes noise (otherwise you'll play it harder than normal just to hear it) and just sit in dead silence and play your guitar unplugged.
This way you can really hear what is going on with the instrument and what it takes to get the best tone out of it.
Don't play it to "hear it" acoustically, play it to "feel it" so that you're achieving maximum tone and resonance through the guitar's body with good true notes and no buzzing.

That's how I set them up anyways. The better it sounds on it's own the better it will sound when plugged in IMO.
Only after the setup do I raise the pickups up into their sweet zone.

 

[Emopunk]

Re: shredders and low action ?no !

Lowest you can get without buzzing-out will give the best possible tone and play IMO.

A good thing to do is turn off anything that makes noise (otherwise you'll play it harder than normal just to hear it) and just sit in dead silence and play your guitar unplugged.
This way you can really hear what is going on with the instrument and what it takes to get the best tone out of it.
Don't play it to "hear it" acoustically, play it to "feel it" so that you're achieving maximum tone and resonance through the guitar's body with good true notes and no buzzing.

That's how I set them up anyways. The better it sounds on it's own the better it will sound when plugged in IMO.
Only after the setup do I raise the pickups up into their sweet zone.

So do you mean you use different action for each one of your guitars?

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[Mincer]

Re: shredders and low action ?no !

Peter's on this forum, so you might ask him for some insight about talking to MAB.
The scalloped neck in my guitar helps bends a lot when you have low action (like I do).

 

[dave74]

Re: shredders and low action ?no !

So do you mean you use different action for each one of your guitars?

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I set them all up as individuals, but they end up having nearly identical measurements for action and relief because my strings and tensions are near identical.
If you use wildly differing tensions and gauges then they'll be some difference in lowest possible action without buzzing.

 

[Emopunk]

Re: shredders and low action ?no !

I set them all up as individuals, but they end up having nearly identical measurements for action and relief because my strings and tensions are near identical.
If you use wildly differing tensions and gauges then they'll be some difference in lowest possible action without buzzing.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I used to refer to a "tech" who wanted me to understand that a Les Paul needs to be set up like this, and a Strat needs to be set up like that.. Result was that during a gig I was not confident in switching guitars inbetween songs. Then I learnt how to do it myself, and I went crazy when I understood that I could set 'em all up like I wanted.. Last gig I brought 3 guitars with me and changed all of them as needed, according to the songs.. A whole different world if you ask me!