Lower action

[newbieguitarmaker]

My fender has high action (especially around the higher frets) The lower frets not so much. It has buzz on many frets and It is very annoying >_< . I don't trust the tech here because last time he did anything I thought he might of cracked the neck because it popped when I used the trem but it didn't after a new set of strings same gauge!? He also put like 6 springs in when all that is needed is 2 and I couldn't even move the trem, not it has 2 big dings where the trem was digging into the body. Do you think the neck might be bent from his stupidity therefore messing up my action and adding buzz? Or do you guys think I just need to set it up again but better. (I know of no other techs in the area too.) I got this setup like a year or 2 ago so If he did f$%K it up then It's my problem. Just I have never noticed the bad action until I got my rg in January setup by Rich

[waylay00]

1) The pop probably occurred because he had taken off the neck. Any neck that has been taken off will "pop" when put back on a used with a sudden tremolo dive.

2) If you had it set up over a year ago, the setup is probably long gone by now. Guitars change over time, especially because of moisture/temperatures, etc. Don't count on a setup lasting more than a season, especially when there are big temperature changes. You probably just need to setup your guitar again (truss adjustments, bridge height, etc)

[newbieguitarmaker]

Originally Posted by waylay00

1) The pop probably occurred because he had taken off the neck. Any neck that has been taken off will "pop" when put back on a used with a sudden tremolo dive.

2) If you had it set up over a year ago, the setup is probably long gone by now. Guitars change over time, especially because of moisture/temperatures, etc. Don't count on a setup lasting more than a season, especially when there are big temperature changes. You probably just need to setup your guitar again (truss adjustments, bridge height, etc)

well I've never adjusted truss rod or bridge height on a guitar so any tips and tools I need. Unless I can somehow find a new tech I'm going to have to do this by myself >_<

[waylay00]

It's not that difficult, just takes a bit of patience.

For a Strat, you'll need a 1/8" allen wrench to adjust the truss, as well as an appropriate flathead screwdriver for the bridge.

I recommend you read Rich's tech section (his guides can be applied to almost any guitar) for comments on action/truss adjustment. Having Dan Erlewine's "Guitar Player Repair Guide" on hand is also not a bad idea.

[newbieguitarmaker]

Originally Posted by waylay00

It's not that difficult, just takes a bit of patience.

For a Strat, you'll need a 1/8" allen wrench to adjust the truss, as well as an appropriate flathead screwdriver for the bridge.

I recommend you read Rich's tech section (his guides can be applied to almost any guitar) for comments on action/truss adjustment. Having Dan Erlewine's "Guitar Player Repair Guide" on hand is also not a bad idea.

oh yeah I have that book, I can see it from where i'm sitting hahah.

[David McCarroll]

.... if all else fails, read the instructions ..... ;-)

[newbieguitarmaker]

Originally Posted by David McCarroll

.... if all else fails, read the instructions ..... ;-)

I have, they lie to me >_<

[David McCarroll]

Originally Posted by newbieguitarmaker

I have, they lie to me >_<

he he he - my usual problem too .... if you have a "vintage" style Strat it has small frets and a very curved (7.25" radius fingerboard), neither of which exactly lead to low action without massive fretting out and buzz issues - my solution has usually been live with a slightly higher action, but lighter strings...... or get the fingerboard flattened and jumbo frets installed.....

[newbieguitarmaker]

my strings are like .5 cm higher than the 22 fret and .1 away on the 1st fret, is that normal? because it seems too high at the higher frets

[neptoess]

my ibanez is only 3mm at the 24th, i'm forced to live with this "higher action" until i route my bridge pup cavity deeper, but if you get your frets leveled, and a proper truss adjustment, you can get lower action.

[jb4674]

Newbie, check the other strat thread (http://www.jemsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63583), I posted some links for ya. Also, post some pics of your axe. I'd like to see how high that trem is sitting.

Jimmy

[newbieguitarmaker]

for the record this isn't like the higher action thread
but I cannot find any GOOD techs to do fret leveling and truss adjustment. So should I do it myself on my fender? I can do the truss rod pretty easy I'm guessing but idk how to do it really, any tips? Also for fret leveling I might want to take it out of town and get a tech to do that for me if I really need it

[waylay00]

Truss adjustment you can do yourself. Fret leveling is a different story. I'd leave that to a tech.

[TheJazzTerminator]

I had my frets leveled at Noll Guitars in Cranston, RI. They did a fantastic job.