who likes medium action as opposed to low action?

[donahue]

Re: who likes medium action as opposed to low action?

That was a cool video. Paul playing with that guitar compared to Marty's was kinda like a handicap though.

I set my strings like the old-school way of setting the valves on a small block chevy.... you take an old valve cover, cut a slot in it lengthwise, bolt it on the head, start the motor up, and while its running you tighten/loosen your valves until you don't hear lifter chatter any more.

 

[TeleLubber]

Re: who likes medium action as opposed to low action?

I set my strings like the old-school way of setting the valves on a small block chevy.... you take an old valve cover, cut a slot in it lengthwise, bolt it on the head, start the motor up, and while its running you tighten/loosen your valves until you don't hear lifter chatter any more.

LOL.. that's a great analogy..:laugh2: I do the same thing.. I think that I set my action higher than most players I've run into, because I don't like fret noise, and I enjoy wrestling the guitar just a bit so I can really dig in with confidence.. I'm also playing more slide guitar these days, so it helps there.. it makes the transition to acoustic a little less painful too..

I set the action to the point where I don't hear fret noise on the Hi/Low E strings, then maybe give it just a quarter turn higher, then use my radius guages from Stew Mac to adjust the other string heights, unless its a TOM bridge of course.. I don't think it necessarily sacrifices speed, but I do know it improves intonation & tone.. I have a Les Paul that could be considered a "fretless wonder" with very low profile frets.. and the action on that is so low, it takes me a minute to get used to it cause I push the strings too hard..

I got to sit in with Paul Gilbert many times when I was at GIT, and at that time (pre-Mr. Big, early Racer X days) he was using what he called "spider webs" for strings (.08 high E) .. he only used one pedal, a BOSS Chorus (CE2 I think) straight into a Marshall.. and would rely on the sound man for delays live.. it seems like his tone is getting thinner and thinner to my ears as time goes on..

 

[Wattage]

Re: who likes medium action as opposed to low action?

I'm not saying Bludave is lying but if he leaves a guitar at the shop we limbo under his low E string.:banana:

I don't like action too low. I do a lot of double stops and I hit fairly hard when playing live and it just kills the sound if the action is low.

 

[sonnyblu]

Re: who likes medium action as opposed to low action?

I use jumbo frets and my action gets higher towards the treble strings... because I really like to get my fingers up under the string for bending and a strong vibrato. Ever had your finger slip under the G string while your bending up the B? LOL More common on a Fender I guess...

 

[Wattage]

Re: who likes medium action as opposed to low action?

Man I've watched that video a couple of times and I can't get over Marty Firedman's picking technique. The guy play rings around me but his picking technique is hysterical.

 

[blueman335]

Re: who likes medium action as opposed to low action?

I always try to setup my height kind of backwards:
As high as I can while still playing comfortably, not as low as I can go. It's worth it.

It just sounds cleaner, fatter, it sustains better and it feels better in my hands.

I hate fret buzz, too.

+1. Gotta have 'em high to bend. I hate low actions, they just seem effeminate. :laugh2: