Cocteau
New member
- Joined
- Sep 19, 2014
- Messages
- 3
I took my new 2011 R9 Lemon Burst (my first ever Historic) for a set up to my tech. He is a really good tech and renown and has done lots of work for me in the past. I mentioned to him that the bridge radius wasn't matching the 12" fretboard radius and the nut action needed to follow a graduated radius, particularly the G string needing lowering. I gave him the measurements from the top of the the 1st fret to bottom of string as follows:
E .015
A .014
D .013
G .017
B .013
E .013
The open strings played without any buzz. The neck had .006 relief at the 9th fret (my preference) and the action at the 12th fret was Low E (2mm) High E (1.5mm).
When I picked it up a week later and played it, my tech put too much relief in the neck at .020. I thought this odd as he likes to setup a straight neck. I straightened it back to .006. The strings buzzed against the first fret. I took the measurements.
E .015
A .013
D .011
G .017
B .013
E .010
The A & D have the worst open buzz. The D in particular is too low. He didn't lower the G at all.
I get the feeling he may have botched the nut when lowering the action, that's why he put in so much relief, or, he has forgotten to straighten the neck after the fret dress when doing the nut action. He didn't touch the bridge radius like I asked. I eventually did this myself.
Either way, I'm taking it back to have a new nut installed. I have ordered a nylon nut.
My question to players is what is your preference for string height at the first fret and what would you recommend. I play mostly 60s London Blues using 10-52 strings. I'm thinking maybe a good 1st fret action would be .010 on high E and graduating by .002 to .020 on the low E.
I would be grateful for any suggestions.
E .015
A .014
D .013
G .017
B .013
E .013
The open strings played without any buzz. The neck had .006 relief at the 9th fret (my preference) and the action at the 12th fret was Low E (2mm) High E (1.5mm).
When I picked it up a week later and played it, my tech put too much relief in the neck at .020. I thought this odd as he likes to setup a straight neck. I straightened it back to .006. The strings buzzed against the first fret. I took the measurements.
E .015
A .013
D .011
G .017
B .013
E .010
The A & D have the worst open buzz. The D in particular is too low. He didn't lower the G at all.
I get the feeling he may have botched the nut when lowering the action, that's why he put in so much relief, or, he has forgotten to straighten the neck after the fret dress when doing the nut action. He didn't touch the bridge radius like I asked. I eventually did this myself.
Either way, I'm taking it back to have a new nut installed. I have ordered a nylon nut.
My question to players is what is your preference for string height at the first fret and what would you recommend. I play mostly 60s London Blues using 10-52 strings. I'm thinking maybe a good 1st fret action would be .010 on high E and graduating by .002 to .020 on the low E.
I would be grateful for any suggestions.