How high is too high for the Strings over the box?

Posted by Keith Stanford on September 10, 2012 at 1:54am

Say a person had their strings over the Frets at a height of about 3 - 4 mm.

And say the top face of the box was slightly lower than the Fret Board.

Is there a String height over the box that would be too high?

What are the downsides to having a String height too high over the box?

kieta

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Replies

  • Keith Stanford September 11, 2012 at 11:48pm

    Hey Dan, I thought I had seen ALL of your videos....then you slip another one at me! <grin>

    Seriously, that was the perfect video to send to me as it answered my question completely.

    Thank you - Dan, Mike, Randal, and PhrygianKid for your responses....all good stuff!

     

    kieta

     

  • The Phrygian Kid September 11, 2012 at 9:37am
    There isn't really a 'too high', unless it's cos it make it look silly. Some folks put a decent angle on the neck there just to get it higher. The taller the bridge, the greater downward tension pulling it into the soundboard...
  • Dan Sleep September 11, 2012 at 9:25am

    In my opinion, the distance above the box lid is not that critical, unless they are so close you are hitting the lid when you strum. I made a few beginner's videos that might help a bit. Here is one of them:

    http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/string-action

  • Randal September 11, 2012 at 9:03am

    I have only made two CBGs but in my limited experience, in both my CBGs at first the strings were WAY to high and in the process of lowering the strings they both became louder and had more sustain.

  • mike g September 10, 2012 at 9:22am

    on the low side i shoot for at least .5" to give clearance for your pick or fingers. on the high side i would go probably no more than .75" at the bridge if you are making a raked back neck with a tailpiece. once you go higher you create alot of down pressure at the bridge that is usually more than is neccessary. my boxes with raked back neck are usually .5" to .65"at the bridge. hope this helps.

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