Shredding with medium to high action
- Thread starter Christopher Caruana
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blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Shredding with medium to high action
Yeah, I don't get the wild heavy right hand thing either, like a combination guitarist/percussionist. I'd rather make small, precise moves with my picking hand.
Yeah, I don't get the wild heavy right hand thing either, like a combination guitarist/percussionist. I'd rather make small, precise moves with my picking hand.
Re: Shredding with medium to high action
talking about buzz... what's your take? given all other parameters equal/equivalent, would a heavier gauge result in less or more buzz in your view?
IMHO, and from experience, a heavier gauge, given all other parameters equal (action height, relief) will result in less buzz.
Some people claim that the larger diameter of heavier gauge plays a negative role in buzz. What do you say?
talking about buzz... what's your take? given all other parameters equal/equivalent, would a heavier gauge result in less or more buzz in your view?
IMHO, and from experience, a heavier gauge, given all other parameters equal (action height, relief) will result in less buzz.
Some people claim that the larger diameter of heavier gauge plays a negative role in buzz. What do you say?
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Shredding with medium to high action
Thicker strings need more clearance room above the frets as they vibrate, so they're not ideal for low actions.
Thicker strings need more clearance room above the frets as they vibrate, so they're not ideal for low actions.
Christopher Caruana
New member
Re: Shredding with medium to high action
But a thicker string tuned to the same pitch will vibrate in a smaller arch than a lighter string at the same pitch
But a thicker string tuned to the same pitch will vibrate in a smaller arch than a lighter string at the same pitch
kramersteen
PowerMetalRaph
Re: Shredding with medium to high action
Yes but because they have less surface area it will mean less buzz.
Sorry just trying to fit in here.
Yes but because they have less surface area it will mean less buzz.
Sorry just trying to fit in here.
Brandenburg
New member
Archer250
Well-known member
Re: Shredding with medium to high action
Another thing to consider is that not everybody's physiology is the same. I'm a small dude, so what I call medium might be low for somebody. I like my left hand to work, but not struggle, and my right hand to have a lot of controlled power and intensity, so I set my guitars up accordingly. People who pick with less percussion may prefer a different setup.
Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk
Another thing to consider is that not everybody's physiology is the same. I'm a small dude, so what I call medium might be low for somebody. I like my left hand to work, but not struggle, and my right hand to have a lot of controlled power and intensity, so I set my guitars up accordingly. People who pick with less percussion may prefer a different setup.
Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk
Re: Shredding with medium to high action
Provided the (heavier gauge) strings have a constant diameter along their length, at the saddles and at the nut, then the clearance is absolutely the same as with a lighter gauge, given all other parameters constant.
Provided the (heavier gauge) strings have a constant diameter along their length, at the saddles and at the nut, then the clearance is absolutely the same as with a lighter gauge, given all other parameters constant.
kramersteen
PowerMetalRaph
Re: Shredding with medium to high action
I'm pretty tall so the guitar is further away so high action actually looks low.
I'm pretty tall so the guitar is further away so high action actually looks low.
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: Shredding with medium to high action
My les paul has the action at about 3/64ths at the 15th fret on both ends of the fretboard.
the neck has virtually no relief.
sounds great.
it's the construction and quality of your fretwork that's going to change the feel and how low the action can go.
My les paul has the action at about 3/64ths at the 15th fret on both ends of the fretboard.
the neck has virtually no relief.
sounds great.
it's the construction and quality of your fretwork that's going to change the feel and how low the action can go.
Christopher Caruana
New member
Re: Shredding with medium to high action
Thats what id consider crazy low. My Low E would buzz so bad. You virtually would have to barely touch the thing or else it'll buzz being that low
Thats what id consider crazy low. My Low E would buzz so bad. You virtually would have to barely touch the thing or else it'll buzz being that low
Re: Shredding with medium to high action
good fret work is a great thing but its not gonna change the feel. higher action feels different than lower action and everyone has their own preference. if i played your lp with that action id trip all over myself and if you played mine youd hate fighting it that much.
i dont buy that for a second
this is very true
good fret work is a great thing but its not gonna change the feel. higher action feels different than lower action and everyone has their own preference. if i played your lp with that action id trip all over myself and if you played mine youd hate fighting it that much.
Sleepy
New member
Re: Shredding with medium to high action
I played for the longest time with the philosophy that you lower your action until the strings buzz then back off. As low as you can go. Courtesy of those "how to shred" articles guitar magazines I'm sure. Just terrible advice.
LLL is right about the "bounce". I'd call it how "tactile" the action is. We learn through sensory feedback and actually feeling the string snap back rather than feeling like you're playing a laptop touchpad really makes things more intimate.
I played for the longest time with the philosophy that you lower your action until the strings buzz then back off. As low as you can go. Courtesy of those "how to shred" articles guitar magazines I'm sure. Just terrible advice.
LLL is right about the "bounce". I'd call it how "tactile" the action is. We learn through sensory feedback and actually feeling the string snap back rather than feeling like you're playing a laptop touchpad really makes things more intimate.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Shredding with medium to high action
+1. I see used guitars for sale with owners bragging about how low the action is. What, are they a bunch of girly men with no finger strength!
+1. I see used guitars for sale with owners bragging about how low the action is. What, are they a bunch of girly men with no finger strength!
Johnny the Kid
Shaunofthedeadologist
Re: Shredding with medium to high action
I like the lowest action I can get before I start to have buzzing problems. I used to like medium-high action, but I've come around. I'm not doing shreddy stuff, but low action just feels better. Keep it how you like, thats what it comes down to. If the guitar isn't comfortable to you, you won't play it and it'll be a waste. So if you like high action, go for it. Prefer strings so close to the frets that they're practically welded together? Have at it. Want strings on the back of the neck instead? I'd be interested to see hw that works, but if it makes you play then do it.
I like the lowest action I can get before I start to have buzzing problems. I used to like medium-high action, but I've come around. I'm not doing shreddy stuff, but low action just feels better. Keep it how you like, thats what it comes down to. If the guitar isn't comfortable to you, you won't play it and it'll be a waste. So if you like high action, go for it. Prefer strings so close to the frets that they're practically welded together? Have at it. Want strings on the back of the neck instead? I'd be interested to see hw that works, but if it makes you play then do it.
Re: Shredding with medium to high action
Exactly my point
keep in mind, i have to show my Guitars in the best light possible, since it's my 'job' to sell them. Rather show the action low, without buzzing, and say "look, this is how good my fretwork is, but i can set it up anyway you like' than have a super high action which might be construed as a coverup.
Exactly my point
keep in mind, i have to show my Guitars in the best light possible, since it's my 'job' to sell them. Rather show the action low, without buzzing, and say "look, this is how good my fretwork is, but i can set it up anyway you like' than have a super high action which might be construed as a coverup.
aleclee
Major General GAS
Re: Shredding with medium to high action
Play whatever is comfortable to you. I don't keep my action super low (IMO, I do setups by feel) because I have a pretty heavy right hand. Some of what I do is borderline shred but I can't play rhythm the way I like with the action really low.
Play whatever is comfortable to you. I don't keep my action super low (IMO, I do setups by feel) because I have a pretty heavy right hand. Some of what I do is borderline shred but I can't play rhythm the way I like with the action really low.
Re: Shredding with medium to high action
It also depends on pups and geometry of the guitar. On some guitars, I feel that if I raise the action too high then the legatos will sound full of pauses and far from "liquid" or fluent. On my 7-string for instance, the hands need to travel a larger vertical distance and keeping the action low makes things easier. Its also about pups, on my livewire metal kramer, I can shred no matter the action. Those pups sense the slightest movement of the strings. With weaker pups its harder at the same high action. Some years ago I had a YJM scalloped caster copy with 11s, loaded with the anemic HS3's and relatively high action. This was a breeze to play! go figure. I miss this one.
It also depends on pups and geometry of the guitar. On some guitars, I feel that if I raise the action too high then the legatos will sound full of pauses and far from "liquid" or fluent. On my 7-string for instance, the hands need to travel a larger vertical distance and keeping the action low makes things easier. Its also about pups, on my livewire metal kramer, I can shred no matter the action. Those pups sense the slightest movement of the strings. With weaker pups its harder at the same high action. Some years ago I had a YJM scalloped caster copy with 11s, loaded with the anemic HS3's and relatively high action. This was a breeze to play! go figure. I miss this one.
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