Ok, so I'm working on a new build and I'm trying to get the string height to where it feels right, but I thought I better ask you guys what a good medium height would be at the nut and 12 fret. I'm sure many of you here have guitars that you use fingers and slide on and both seem to work fine. I'm hoping some here could share a height measurement from those guitars. I've heard a dimes height by the nut and a nickle at 12th but this seems way to close if you wanted to play slide. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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I will just add this. Yes, 1/8 inch at the 12th fret is good. You want the ability to fret notes over the entire length of the fingerboard.
As for slide, the guitar is set up the same way. It is a relationship between "string gauge and tuning" that will give you the correct string tension for the slide to ride on correctly. With a standard scale length of about 24 inches, I use medium gauge strings. Using the A, D, and g strings, I tune GDg. I hope this info helps. Enjoy your build, Keni Lee.
Hey thanks guys! That helps quite a bit. I've been setting them up the same as my standard acoustic which is a bit higher. I think I'll take it down a notch and see what kind of results I get.
BTW, great video John!!! I'm still working on playing like that!
I've built enough that I can pretty much get a rough height by eye. The nut nut should be a hair higher than the fret height for slide..
The 12 fret about an 1/8 of and inch. Everyone is different. Sometimes I'll make a rough bridge by stacking popsicle sticks to the desired height and string up the outside strings and try her out before making final bridge.
I'm no expert, but since nobody else has dived in yet I will tell you what I use and hopefully someone else with more knowledge and experience will put things right later.
What I have on my 3 string is about 1mm at the first fret (measured from the top of the fret to the string) to just over 3mm at the 12th fret. The reason for measuring from the top of the fret is that it takes account of fret height. Otherwise you would need to know the fret height and subtract it.
There are at least two factors that need to be considered as I see it. First is the type of strings that you are using. The guitar that I mention has light electric strings so you need a bit more height than with heavier strings that will have more tension in them.
The other factor is just personal preference and playing style and only you know that one. Nothing trumps "it works and it feels right".
One final note. All the ones I have done so far have been strung up with a temporary bridge and nut to start with. Any old scrap will do. If either is too high sand a bit off. If too low add wood, paper or cardboard until it feels right. Then make the proper one.
Replies
I will just add this. Yes, 1/8 inch at the 12th fret is good. You want the ability to fret notes over the entire length of the fingerboard.
As for slide, the guitar is set up the same way. It is a relationship between "string gauge and tuning" that will give you the correct string tension for the slide to ride on correctly. With a standard scale length of about 24 inches, I use medium gauge strings. Using the A, D, and g strings, I tune GDg. I hope this info helps. Enjoy your build, Keni Lee.
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Hey thanks guys! That helps quite a bit. I've been setting them up the same as my standard acoustic which is a bit higher. I think I'll take it down a notch and see what kind of results I get.
BTW, great video John!!! I'm still working on playing like that!
I've built enough that I can pretty much get a rough height by eye. The nut nut should be a hair higher than the fret height for slide..
The 12 fret about an 1/8 of and inch. Everyone is different. Sometimes I'll make a rough bridge by stacking popsicle sticks to the desired height and string up the outside strings and try her out before making final bridge.
Wade
Hi.
I'm no expert, but since nobody else has dived in yet I will tell you what I use and hopefully someone else with more knowledge and experience will put things right later.
What I have on my 3 string is about 1mm at the first fret (measured from the top of the fret to the string) to just over 3mm at the 12th fret. The reason for measuring from the top of the fret is that it takes account of fret height. Otherwise you would need to know the fret height and subtract it.
There are at least two factors that need to be considered as I see it. First is the type of strings that you are using. The guitar that I mention has light electric strings so you need a bit more height than with heavier strings that will have more tension in them.
The other factor is just personal preference and playing style and only you know that one. Nothing trumps "it works and it feels right".
One final note. All the ones I have done so far have been strung up with a temporary bridge and nut to start with. Any old scrap will do. If either is too high sand a bit off. If too low add wood, paper or cardboard until it feels right. Then make the proper one.
Good luck.