Archtop newcomer...string height

[Humbuckr]

Hi chaps. Following on from my recent NGD for the Eastman AR503CE I’m wondering how you guys are setting you’re action?

I appreciate this is a personal preference thing so perhaps aimed more at guys like me who have transitioned from a solid body with reasonably low action.

My favourite playing guitar is my Les Paul. Without depressing strings, height at the 12th fret is 1.6mm (low E) and 1.4mm (high E). My strat is similar.

I have now dialled the bridge on my Eastman down as far as it travels. I’m achieving 2mm low E and 1.6mm high E. It feels “medium-low” and in fairness I think the low E and A are on the cusp of buzzing with heavier strumming anyway. I think it’s a reasonable setup but it’s slightly annoying that I can’t experiment with even lower action without sanding down the bridge.

Appreciate archtop vs Les Paul is to a degree apples vs oranges and a slightly higher action on an archtop probably benefits acoustic tone.

[jads57]

Think of it as an Acoustic instrument that's electrified. So the higher the Acton the clearer and louder the sound and tone. But that said it really comes down to personal preference.

Just experiment until you find what works

[sgosnell]

I set mine as low as I can get it without string buzz or tone degradation with a light touch, generally in the 1mm ballpark. But action height is one of the more subjective subjects that can be discussed. It's easy enough to adjust the action on an archtop, and it's all completely and easily reversible, so adjust away and see what you prefer.

[John A.]

I tend to move the action on my archtop (Godin Kingpin) up and down a little according to how my hands feel and whether there's weather/humidity related movement in the top and neck extension causing some fret buzz. I don't generally measure the action, but just go by feel (starting from a baseline of a good pro set-up). Looking at it now ... my ruler is graduated in 1/64"'s, and the action looks to be 4/64's on both sides (maybe a hair lower on the treble and a hair higher on the bass side; it's hard to see), so somewhere between 1.4. and 1.6mm. This feels good to me. Though there's plenty of adjustment room left in the bridge, I wouldn't take it much lower than this because I'd start to get fret buzz.

John

[Ray175]

if you feel comfortable with a slightly lower action, and you are not getting any string buzz with the bridge set at is lowest level, then you need to look at how you can reduce the bridge height further. This can be achieved by placing some sandpaper where the bridge would go and then rubbing the feet of the bridge on it from in a neck to tailpiece axis. this will help you shave off a millimeter or two from the bridge base.....

[deacon Mark]

Generally speaking 4/64 and 5/64's on the treble and bass side of e strings is considered pretty decently low. Not the lowest in the world but certainly not high action. From this point the guitar should be able to have the action lowered a small bit if needed. Playing completely acoustic and needed volume it can go up from this point. Many players find 5/64 and 6/64 fine. If the nut and the neck are correct at that height the guitar should not feel hard to play but some do, depends on string gauge. I am not sure but I believe Gibson will say 7/64's bass side on a flattop is ok but I think that is getting pretty high for sure.

I hate high action but I also hate super low action and slinky strings. In both cases I simply would not play the guitar if that is what I had to deal with. You might find on given days your touch is different and move it, only the return to original setting the next day. If you happen to be a Freddie Green reincarnation then really you get 1/2 inch action and they you probably can get a gig in the mason jar factory opening the stubborn tight lids without tools.

[rlrhett]

Sub 2mm action is pretty low. Not surprised you’ve bottomed out the bridge. But in the end it is up to your preference.

One thing i would check is backbow and the nut, in that order. If your truss rod is too loose (or you have no relief at all) it may buzz.

Poorly cut nut slots tend to make the action feel higher than it is and in general make the guitar feel stiffer and less agile. Fretting between the third and second fret you should see no gap between the string and the first fret. But it can’t touch either. You test by pressing the string down (while still fretting). You will hear a subtle “plink”. If you don’t hear anything the string is touching and the nut has been cut too deep. Time for a new nut. If you see a gap, you need to cut more.

If all that is good and you still want lower action, you are going to have to sand down the bridge a little. Mark 2mm off the base of the bridge. With the strings off, tape some 80grit paper to the guitar where the bridge would go. Sand front to back, not side to side, until you reach your mark. The bonus is you will probably improve the fit of the bridge with might improve your tone a bit.


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[GTRMan]

Generally speaking 4/64 and 5/64's on the treble and bass side of e strings is considered pretty decently low. Not the lowest in the world but certainly not high action. From this point the guitar should be able to have the action lowered a small bit if needed. Playing completely acoustic and needed volume it can go up from this point. Many players find 5/64 and 6/64 fine. If the nut and the neck are correct at that height the guitar should not feel hard to play but some do, depends on string gauge. I am not sure but I believe Gibson will say 7/64's bass side on a flattop is ok but I think that is getting pretty high for sure.

I hate high action but I also hate super low action and slinky strings. In both cases I simply would not play the guitar if that is what I had to deal with. You might find on given days your touch is different and move it, only the return to original setting the next day. If you happen to be a Freddie Green reincarnation then really you get 1/2 inch action and they you probably can get a gig in the mason jar factory opening the stubborn tight lids without tools.

yep, Benedetto specs go just a tad lower at 3/64 and 4/64 if I recall. Can’t ask for more than a flat neck and that action on an Archtop .

[Humbuckr]

Great, thanks for all the responses. It plays well with the current action, albeit bridge bottomed out, so think I’ll live with it for now. Nut and relief seem ok. TI strings might help slinkiness too.

The detailed descriptions of how to sand the bridge may we’ll come in handy in the future.