What do you like your relief and action set at?

[napalmdeath]

I see many here like it the same way:

As little relief as possible.

Radius gauge for the strings/Radiused.

Action though changes per guitar to be honest for me. Some guitars like it just a bit higher, but my action is never high anymore, though I can pick quite aggressively.

I like about Low E:1.4mm to High E:1.2mm in general. Pretty low.

I have a few guitars that feel really good with 1-1.25 on Low E going to 1mm on High E.

This is only with electric guitars, of course.

The Vintage Mustang I just sold I had set at 1.25mm Low E down to 1mm on High.

Super silky playing and no buzzing.

I'm close to that. My LP is .005 relief at the 8th, 1.5mm at the 12th on the bass side, 1.25mm at the 12th on the treble side. I could get away with a little lower action, but it's dialed in and feels perfect.

 

[napalmdeath]

I don't like their factory setup. Too much relief, and action is too high.

 

[Music&Chaos]

I don't like their factory setup. Too much relief, and action is too high.

Yep, a little high but not like some factory specs I have seen.

Also, when I slot nuts, it's nice and low, too many people have them far too high.

That is the difference between a guitar feeling like butter and not.

If it doesn't buzz when played hard open, it isn't too low.

I use a harmonic tapping trick, along with sight and feel.

 

[napalmdeath]

Yep, a little high but not like some factory specs I have seen.

Also, when I slot nuts, it's nice and low, too many people have them far too high.

That is the difference between a guitar feeling like butter and not.

If it doesn't buzz when played hard open, it isn't too low.

I use a harmonic tapping trick, along with sight and feel.

I use feeler gauges, capo, and Music Nomad action gauge. Its surprising how different manufacturers action gauges are inconsistent. I like the black - easier to read, high quality and extremely accurate. I like their stuff more than Stewmac. Fuck Stewmac and their ridiculous shipping costs, and their high prices in general.

 

[Music&Chaos]

I use feeler gauges, capo, and Music Nomad action gauge. Its surprising how different manufacturers action gauges are inconsistent. I like the black - easier to read, high quality and extremely accurate. I like their stuff more than Stewmac. Fuck Stewmac and their ridiculous shipping costs, and their high prices in general.

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I get that sentiment about StewMac - but some of their tools are nice to have, not only due to the quality, but the no hassle return policy.

I don't mind having paid a bit extra for some nut slotting files, on sale, they were about the same as anything else that was decent.

A lifetime replacement is really quite an offer.

I was using feeler gauges and stuff as well, but can cut them better than ever now without them.

This trick helped change things for me. (Link below)

Feels like You can breathe on the guitars I set up and they play lol


I would dodge everything I could from there - but the files are nice for sure.

I do like that black feeler gauge with the white markings.

 

[GuitarVacation]

Relief as close to flat as practical.

Action medium. Super low action makes me sloppier, and I don't need help with increased sloppiness haha.

I never measure, adjust each string to feel like I want it to. I'm a Neanderthal though, and definitely see the benefits of measuring/gauges and such.

The things I've done with a soldering iron would make skilled neat fellas loose sleep at night.

 

[anomaly]

I don't typically measure the relief or action, I just set it to where it feels right, which is typically when there is no or little fret buzz and the neck just has a tiny bit of relief when you sight down the neck. Maybe 1.5 - 2mm at the 12th fret? With relief it's just ever so slight.

 

[Music&Chaos]

I don't typically measure the relief or action, I just set it to where it feels right, which is typically when there is no or little fret buzz and the neck just has a tiny bit of relief when you sight down the neck. Maybe 2mm at the 12th fret? With relief it's just ever so slight.

I am just so spoiled now that I do all of my own setup work. I do it all to feel and it is lower than expected every time lol

 

[SFW]

Action: 1.5.. high e 2.0mm low E at the 12th fret. Relief is set to match the distance between the string and the top of the first fret when the string is depressed on the 3rd fret.