Alexander Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 Hi Guys, I've just recently finished my first build. but I'm having trouble getting the action low enough for it to be truly playable (by my standards - I like as low an action as possible). It's a Warmoth neck, brand new, and I would expect it to get pretty low without needing any fretwork, or am I being naive? The truss rod seems to be adjusted correctly, I've filed down the nut as low as I dare but still, it's pretty hard to play. Does anyone have any other tips for lowering action on a new guitar? It sounds amazing and I really want to use it as my first guitar, but as it stands I can play twice as fast on my Gordon Smith. Thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asm Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 where is the high action? fingerboard nut or bridge? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Posted August 13, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 It's on the fingerboard itself - I've got it plenty low at the nut, but it just gets higher as the fingerboard goes along, and I can't get it any lower without fret buzz... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sindlei Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 perhaps recess the bridge? or is it to the point of buzzing already, and where is it buzzing, the first few frets? if so, you could shim the nut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucky1 Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 (edited) Edited September 19, 2004 by lucky1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sindlei Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 that's right!! neck angle, that's how i fixed the action on strat copy so now it plays pretty well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Posted August 13, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 Excellent, you guys are the greatest! It's not buzzing at the low frets, it's around the 12th fret and higher - so you think if I shim the neck to angle back more, this will help? This is the guitar by the way: http://projectguitar.ibforums.com/index.php?showtopic=9920 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucky1 Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 (edited) Edited September 19, 2004 by lucky1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Posted August 13, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 Thanks! Like I say, I've adjusted the truss rod as per the tutorial on the PG homepage, and according to the guide there it's doing it's job... What material do you recommend using for the shim(s)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucky1 Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 (edited) Edited September 19, 2004 by lucky1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Posted August 13, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 That's brilliant, thanks again for all your help - you're a star! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Posted August 13, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 Well, I just tried a shim under the neck but it made no difference, other than I had to make the bridge higher to stop the fret buzz. I'm kind of at my wits end with it really, it just doesn't make sense? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucky1 Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 (edited) Edited September 19, 2004 by lucky1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asm Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 well, a flat shim wouldnt help would it? i would think you would need a slight degree angled shim, to compensate for the bad neck angle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonofaMesa Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 I didnt think a shim would work, as you did not say that you ran out of travel on your bridge. Id reccomend some sort of fret leveling or radiusing. That sounds like its your problem to me. That or deal with it. Higheractions tend to sound better and lots of god playres have used them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Posted August 13, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 Yeah a shim just replicates the problem at a different string angle. I'm trying to avoid having it fret levelled as this sounds pricey, and what with it being a brand new neck I was kinda hoping it wouldn't be necessary. I understand a lot of players use high action and that it has it's benefits, but for the style and speed I like to play, I need a lower action. I'm just a bit worried that I've built a guitar I won't be able to happily play. Lucky1 - thanks for your in depth advice - it's all duly noted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camcool Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 yo Alex how has the tru oil been is it getting scratches in it already? and about your low action try filing your nut even lower but don't file too low or it will break your nut just keep researching you'll find something real good real soon if you persist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucky1 Posted August 14, 2004 Report Share Posted August 14, 2004 (edited) Edited September 19, 2004 by lucky1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Posted August 14, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2004 Lucky1 - you're awesome man! I really appreciate your advice and support, and you're right - if I'm serious about building guitars (which I am), I'm going to have to learn about fretwork sooner or later, and let's face it - if I bugger up the neck all I have to do is buy another one, it won't trash the entire guitar will it? So after sleeping on the problem, you're right - before I started I doubted I could even wire up a pickup, let alone build a guitar that plays at all! Me and the guitar are just going to have to get to know each other a bit better and I'll keep tweaking away. Oh and camcool - the tru-oil is great! Starting to get a little buckle rash in the back (and I take my belt off before playing, so that's probably from my jeans button through a t-shirt) so it's still a pretty soft finish, but it looks great and my study/studio/workshop STILL smells of it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucky1 Posted August 14, 2004 Report Share Posted August 14, 2004 (edited) Edited September 19, 2004 by lucky1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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