Lowering the action on my acoustic

chago04 · November 4th, 2005, 11:31 PM

I got a cheap beater acoustic for real cheap, but the action is sky high, is this something I can change myself? Or do I need to go to a pro for this?

Thanks!

Caper · November 4th, 2005, 11:58 PM

Is the action too high because:

1.there is too much relief in the neck or
2.the nut is too high or
3.the saddles is too high

These are things you can probably fix yourself....BUT....if you don't feel comfortable doing it, it will be well worth the money if you can find a *good* tech.

doogie · November 5th, 2005, 01:04 PM

If the action was good one point it is most likey a humidity condition. Some guitars also start to fold as the get old. My 83 martin D28 (no truss rod) did it and after grinding down the saddle to nothing I had to have the neck re-set. Neck sets are expensive and not worth it on a low end guitar. Fortunately Martin's Lifetime warranty cover mine.

If you can adjust the neck bow, do it.

Put a straight edge on the neck to the bridge. The top of the bridge should match fairly close to the neck. If it doesn't then carefully grind the saddle down a bit at a time. Mark the existin saddle with a thin pencil line at the bridge height so you will know how much your taking off it.

Humidify a dry guitar. I bought an old Larivee in a pawn shop. It was so dry you could feel the grain of the spruce through the finnish. I put it in the bath room with the hot water running every day for a week and it got better. Then I took it to Thailand for a month. When I back it was smooth as a babies behind.

Check some website for symptoms of a dry or wet guitar.

November 4th, 2005, 11:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
chago04 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 207	Lowering the action on my acoustic I got a cheap beater acoustic for real cheap, but the action is sky high, is this something I can change myself? Or do I need to go to a pro for this? Thanks! __________________ - Logan I dont suffer from G.A.S., but my bank account does Bring my Green Sauce Back

November 5th, 2005, 01:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
doogie Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 128	Caper is right. If the action was good one point it is most likey a humidity condition. Some guitars also start to fold as the get old. My 83 martin D28 (no truss rod) did it and after grinding down the saddle to nothing I had to have the neck re-set. Neck sets are expensive and not worth it on a low end guitar. Fortunately Martin's Lifetime warranty cover mine. If you can adjust the neck bow, do it. Put a straight edge on the neck to the bridge. The top of the bridge should match fairly close to the neck. If it doesn't then carefully grind the saddle down a bit at a time. Mark the existin saddle with a thin pencil line at the bridge height so you will know how much your taking off it. Humidify a dry guitar. I bought an old Larivee in a pawn shop. It was so dry you could feel the grain of the spruce through the finnish. I put it in the bath room with the hot water running every day for a week and it got better. Then I took it to Thailand for a month. When I back it was smooth as a babies behind. Check some website for symptoms of a dry or wet guitar.

November 4th, 2005, 11:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
Caper Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,169 7 Photos	Is the action too high because: 1.there is too much relief in the neck or 2.the nut is too high or 3.the saddles is too high These are things you can probably fix yourself....BUT....if you don't feel comfortable doing it, it will be well worth the money if you can find a good tech.