The action of a guitar, which refers to the height of the strings above the fretboard, plays a significant role in its playability and overall performance. Adjusting the action is a common practice among guitarists to achieve the desired level of comfort and playability. If you find that the action on your guitar is too high for your liking, you can take steps to reduce it. In this article, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide on how to reduce the action on your guitar.
Note: Before attempting any action adjustments on your guitar, it’s essential to be cautious and patient. If you’re not confident in your ability to perform these adjustments, consider seeking assistance from a professional guitar technician or luthier.
Tools You Will Need:
- Guitar Allen wrenches (for truss rod adjustments).
- Capo.
- Guitar tuner.
- Ruler or action gauge.
- Screwdriver (for saddle adjustments).
Step 1: Assess the Current Action
Before making any adjustments, it’s crucial to assess the current action on your guitar. This will give you a baseline to work from and help you determine how much you need to reduce the action.
- Use a ruler or an action gauge to measure the distance between the bottom of the strings and the top of the 12th fret. Measure this distance for both the bass (thicker) and treble (thinner) sides of the guitar.
- Write down the measurements for reference.
Step 2: Adjust the Truss Rod
The truss rod is a metal rod inside the neck of the guitar that helps control its curvature. Adjusting the truss rod can affect the neck relief, which in turn impacts the action.
- Loosen the guitar strings by turning the tuning pegs until they are slack. You can use a capo to hold the strings in place near the first fret to prevent them from unraveling.
- Locate the truss rod adjustment nut. It’s typically located at the headstock end of the neck.
- Use the appropriate Allen wrench to make truss rod adjustments. To reduce the action, you may need to tighten the truss rod slightly. Turn the wrench clockwise in small increments (usually no more than a quarter-turn at a time).
- Re-tune the guitar to pitch and let it sit for a few hours to allow the neck to adjust.
Step 3: Adjust the Saddle Height
The saddle is the component located on the bridge of the guitar that supports the strings. Adjusting the saddle height can further reduce the action.
- Loosen the guitar strings slightly to make saddle adjustments more accessible.
- Use a screwdriver to remove the saddle (if your guitar has an adjustable saddle) or access the saddle height adjustment screws. The method may vary depending on your guitar’s design.
- Carefully lower the saddle by turning the adjustment screws counterclockwise. Make small adjustments and re-tune the guitar to check the action.
- Keep making adjustments until you achieve the desired action height. Remember that small changes can make a significant difference.
Step 4: Check and Fine-Tune
After making adjustments to the truss rod and saddle height, it’s essential to check the action and fine-tune it as needed.
- Use your ruler or action gauge to measure the new action height at the 12th fret, as you did in Step 1.
- Compare the measurements to your initial baseline measurements.
- Play the guitar to ensure that it feels comfortable and that there are no issues like fret buzz or string buzzing against the frets.
- Make further adjustments if necessary, but proceed with caution to avoid over-adjusting.
Conclusion
Reducing the action on your guitar can significantly improve its playability and comfort. However, it’s essential to approach these adjustments carefully and patiently. If you ever feel unsure or uncomfortable making these adjustments yourself, seek the assistance of a qualified guitar technician or luthier who can professionally set up your guitar to your desired action specifications. With the right action, you can enjoy playing your guitar more comfortably and confidently.
