good tool for measuring string height and neck relief?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mniel8195
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mniel8195

mniel8195

Active member
sorry i posted this in the off topic section. Like it says im having a hard time using a ruler because of my vision. Is their anything else i can use to measure mm? The factory suggest using 2mm on the bass side of my guitar and 1.5 mm for the treble side for string height. I guess i could just use a nickel and a penny? let me know what you guys use.
 
I use feeler gauges that I got from stewmac, for me anyway it's much easier then a ruler type solution.
 
I have the Stew Mac tool but in the end i just use my eyes and hands to tell me if its set right for me
 
Stew mac tools are great (I like their dial indicator that sits over the strings) but you can also just grab a set of feeler gauges at your local hardware store for a couple bucks and get a lot of mileage out of them.
 
A good set of mechanics feeler gauges for relief from Auto Zone and a decent small metal ruler is all I ever needed. You can nail the relief and then get the string height close enough with the ruler and play and adjust from there. I could give you 20 measurements that are exact to the .0001 of an inch, but if that is not what feels right to you, I wasted time telling you.

Jason
 
I always do it without tools. If you fret the fires fret and the last fret and look down at the 12th fret or so, you can judge neck relief without tools. There should be very little gap between the neck and the string. If there is no gap, you may need some relief. Just remember to make small adjustments.

Once you get the neck just right, lower the action as low as you can get it without buzzing or fretting out. Play every note on every string. If it frets out, raise it up a little. It should fret out pretty evenly all overd the board if you got your neck set right. If it buzzes by the first frets, the neck needs relief. If it buzzes only in the middle, the neck may have too much relief. Always make small corrections and give it time to settle and you'll be good to go. Doing it by feel is the best way to set up a guitar so that it feels great every time!
 
I got a set of feelers from Autozone and a 6 inch ruler for like $4, and it does the job, though I oftentimes will now just go by eyeball. :-)
 
I love this thing from Stew Mac:

String_Action_Gauge_sm.jpg


It's great for getting everything to a good starting point. :thumbsup:
 
fredster":1qga6tec said:
I love this thing from Stew Mac:

String_Action_Gauge_sm.jpg


It's great for getting everything to a good starting point. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

this is what i use to set up my guitars

then i go by feel for minor adjustments

makes all my guitars very consistant feeling.
 
i test myself

first i measure everything with a 1/64th 6inch ruler.
then, remove old strings, do the setup, but not measure...i try to get it close enough by feel.

then i measure. most times im within a c-hair.
a few times though, iv'e been off...usually seasonally, when a neck will change in a heartbeat in late summer or early spring here due to humidity right after you take your strings off...
most times though, i've been able to anticipate this and get my axes pretty close to surgical without my trusty 1/64 ruler.
 
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