How much action should I expect?

KaerfSusej · #1 May 21st, 2007

I don't actually have an electric guitar, but I'm interested in knowing how much distance there is between the strings and the neck on a properly set up guitar, or more importantly, how much force is required to fully fret a string or barre chord?

I've seen some videos and it looks like the player is putting barely any effort into pressing the strings down hard, but that could just be that the player is experienced.

Stratrat · #2 May 21st, 2007

In Fender's setup specs, they recommend 1/16" (2 mm) between the bottom of the strings and the top of the fret at the 17th fret.

It's not as much force/pressure as it is technique for fretting bar chords. Almost anybody has the hand strength to actually fret them - having the technique to do it properly is just a matter of lots of practice.

allthumbs · #3 May 21st, 2007

Players have different preferences in setups. Speed players tend to want the action as low as possible before the string frets out. Not so good if you add strumming to your playing. In that case you need to set the action higher to give the strings more room to move. Some players like them higher because they like to dig into them.
Strat is quite right. 2mm is the standard. I can pretty much guarantee that any guitar that hasn't been setup, after the factory has shipped it, will be higher than 2mm. That is why you hear get a "setup done" quite often on this forum.

st_jo · #4 May 21st, 2007

quick question:
how much should one pay a dude to, if not Luthier - then give a good ol' once over with a fine-tooth comb, on a Strat with locking tremolo?

allthumbs · #5 May 21st, 2007

Anywhere from 35 to 75 bucks for a standard tuneup. The kind that a pro would want could run you as high as 150 bucks.

P-90 · #6 May 21st, 2007

Since you're in Humboldt, this might matter...

The base price for having a new guitar set up in Ukiah (Jitterbox Music) is $25. Or you can try to get onto the waiting list at Fritz Brothers Guitars in Mendocino, with luck they might do it for $100... but I'm not sure that they will do them at all anymore. (They come into allthumbs' "the kind a pro would want" category, since they custom made guitars for George Harrison, etc.)

Prices here are better than in Toronto, but they're highly variable.