[Fredhk]

I'm new hope this is right place in forum. I have a 3 year old Washburn D10 acoustic I bought used at a pawn shop It's in mint condition. So I figure the origional owner took good care of it. I'm using 12's for strings. When I tune in standard the strings are a little tight hard to push. I really dont think the truss rod needs tweaked but I don't know. I think the neck bridge is too high but so is the other bridge. any suggestions on determining if neck bridge is too high. It seems like fretting any fret and looking at the next fret theres plenty of room bewteen string and neck and even when not fretted it just looks like strings are too high, but maybe not. I'm more used to electric guitars. I'm sure thats a different thing.

[flannr]

Sounds like you're right about the strings. If you can measure the height of the nut above the first fret, it should be about 1/16th inch. The string height at the 12th fret should be about 5/32. Hold the tail end of the guitar up to your chin and sight down the neck to see if it looks straight. If anything is out of whak, find a guitar mechanic.

My son had a guitar he hated, and traded it with me for an old beat up fender classical. I fixed the action, and it turned out to be a fine guitar...

[allthumbs]

You also need to look at the top around the bridge. It should be flat. If it bulges up, the guitar has been left. for a long time. unplayed which pulls the bridge up. The bridge can be shaved down if the bulge is not too high.

[Fredhk]

The height of the nut, how do the slots the strings fit in fit into your dimension. Wouldnt you measure string height above first fret as opposed to the nut height?
And to the other replier the nut is good no bulge not raised up.
But I assume (flannr) you seem to think maybe lowering the string height will make strings not so tight in standard tuning.

Thanks a bunch guys

[flannr]

Sorry, I measure the nut before I put the slots in; yes it's the string height over the first fret you're interested in.

The reason a string gives a prticular note when plucked is based on the thickness of the string, the length, and the tension applied. All strings tuned to a given note on a standard scale guitar will have to be tuned to the same tension (if the same gague). So why is one harder to play than another? Well, when you press it down, you actually stretch the string, thereby increasing the tension. When a guitar is built, the bridge is actually moved from where it "should" be to compensate for this. Note that most guitar bridges do not go straight across. The further you have to stretch the string to hit the fret, the more tension you create. This not only makes it more out of tune, but makes it harder to play as well. One of the easiest ways to make a guitar more playable is to adjust the nut and the saddle so that distance is as short as possible.

There is a minimal height though; you don't want the strings to buzz, etc.