String action question!

[Larz]

I just bought a new jem7v-wh but I think the string action is a little too high.

Should I lower it myself or should I get a pro to do it?
I have never done this before, and I don't know if it goes out of intonation and all.

Thanks

[scotte_za]

Originally Posted by Larz

I have never done this before, and I don't know if it goes out of intonation and all.

In that case, just part with the cash and get a pro to do it, its well worth it

[tt0511]

Yah, I agree. If you haven't done this before it's best to get a good tech to adjust it for you and just get a whole setup. If you bought it at a store, most stores will give you a setup for free on a purchased guitar.

Lowering the strings will most likely mean the intonation will need adjusting, and possibly a small neck truss rod adjustment too. And that's not an adjustment to make on a JEM if you aren't knowledgeable!

Congratz on the new axe man!

[Larz]

Thanks for the replays
I will get a store to do it

[Larz]

By the way, what is a normal height for the strings?

[Dee]

I disagree. Get to know your guitar as soon as possible and do it yourself. If it wasn't so easy, I would say take it to a tech. You should at least read Rich's tech setup pages at IbanezRules.com.

http://www.ibanezrules.com/tech/setup/index.htm

"Normal" height? There's no such thing. Action height is merely a preference of the player. What's considered a good / reasonable / easy to play height is around 2.0mm at the 12th fret on the low E, and 1.5mm at the 12th fret on the high E. These are, of course, approximate. You have to factor in the amount of bow from the truss rod, string gauge, etc. Assuming that your neck is reasonably well set up with the right amount of relief, then you can pretty much bank on those string height measurements I just stated being good.

[Devon8822]

Originally Posted by Dee

I disagree. Get to know your guitar as soon as possible and do it yourself. If it wasn't so easy, I would say take it to a tech. You should at least read Rich's tech setup pages at IbanezRules.com.

http://www.ibanezrules.com/tech/setup/index.htm

"Normal" height? There's no such thing. Action height is merely a preference of the player. What's considered a good / reasonable / easy to play height is around 2.0mm at the 12th fret on the low E, and 1.5mm at the 12th fret on the high E. These are, of course, approximate. You have to factor in the amount of bow from the truss rod, string gauge, etc. Assuming that your neck is reasonably well set up with the right amount of relief, then you can pretty much bank on those string height measurements I just stated being good.

I agree 100% with Dee^^^ (Use Ibanezrules.com - it is the best site out there for setup instructions)

I do not trust any techs... I have gotten way to much work done and been pissed about the ****ty job, way too often... I actually have not been happy with anything done on any of my axes by techs, the majority of them have no idea what they are doing. There are obviously really great techs out there, that will do a good job though, so if you find one your lucky. I think it is extremely important to be able to setup you own guitar... a guitarists is not a complete guitarist unless he can setup his axe, its not even hard at all.

[DarthLamer]

Originally Posted by Dee

What's considered a good / reasonable / easy to play height is around 2.0mm at the 12th fret on the low E, and 1.5mm at the 12th fret on the high E.

I disagree, with a non-problematic neck, you should easily be able to acquire 1.5 mm on both Es at the 12th fret.

[EL-CeeDee]

...Or have a tech do it and sit in to watch.

[Dee]

Originally Posted by DarthLamer

I disagree, with a non-problematic neck, you should easily be able to acquire 1.5 mm on both Es at the 12th fret.

Oh, it's you again... that guy who put forth a totally invalid point in my string tension charts thread.

I'd like to see you argue with Rich about how he does his his setups. If I recall, he also sets up the low E a little higher than the high E. Then again, maybe all the guitars he sells have problematic necks?!! Hmmm....

http://www.ibanezrules.com/tech/setup/action.htm

The wound E is going to vibrate in an ellipse that will vary by how hard it's struck. Strike it light and it will have a small ellipse, strike it hard and it will have a much larger ellipse. A higher gauge string will vibrate in a smaller ellipse because it is strung "tighter" than a smaller gauge string to get the same pitch. Your action should be compromise of how much buzz you can take, the feel you want from the strings, and the tone you want to produce.

http://www.sempleguitars.com/index.php?seiten_nr=184

Secondly, still looking down the line of the strings, we have seen that the bass strings need more room than the trebles because they have greater amplitude. Even though there is more curvature in the surface of the fingerboard, this is not enough to compensate for the difference. The bass strings need to be set higher than the trebles.

[Rich]

I don't even pay any attention to 12th fret. Mid scale is as much determined by the neck relief as it is by bridge height. Adding or subtracting a little relief can make a big difference in the 12th fret number. Relief should be set so the strings have the feel you want mid scale with as little buzz as possible, all in combination with the bridge height. Everything a compromise.