How to make action/string height adjustments on your guitar

[@RobArnoldWorld]

Thanks for watching! Check out my NEW Step by Step In Depth String Changing Tutorial! 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpzWgWhmqNySb6c 🤘Please make sure you're subscribed so that you never miss a video! And be sure to read this videos description for important information! 🙏Big thanks to all the members of my wonderful Patreon Community! Hop on board with us to help support and get involved! www.patreon.com/RobArnoldWorld ⬇See more⬇ Thank you SO much to the following THANK YOU 👊 Aaron Price THANK YOU 👊 Adam Elias THANK YOU 👊 Alex Legend THANK YOU 👊 Andrew Tracy THANK YOU 👊 Athan THANK YOU 👊 Billy THANK YOU 👊 Brian W. Rogers THANK YOU 👊 Cal Strickland THANK YOU 👊 Chad Youkers THANK YOU 👊 Chris Bartlett THANK YOU 👊 Chris Santiago THANK YOU 👊 Craig G THANK YOU 👊 Daniel Richman THANK YOU 👊 Darron Bryant THANK YOU 👊 Dillon Brown THANK YOU 👊 Drew Pedrick THANK YOU 👊 Dustyn Guilford THANK YOU 👊 Easy Riffening THANK YOU 👊 Eyeless THANK YOU 👊 Fernando Mendoza THANK YOU 👊 Gary Wright THANK YOU 👊 Gavin Courtney THANK YOU 👊 Greg Leatherman THANK YOU 👊 Hervé Franco THANK YOU 👊 Ian C McCauley THANK YOU 👊 Independence Guitar THANK YOU 👊 Ivan THANK YOU 👊 James Salmon THANK YOU 👊 Jared Koski THANK YOU 👊 Jeff Holland THANK YOU 👊 JoeTayMetal THANK YOU 👊 Josh Gleason THANK YOU 👊 Juuso Häkkinen THANK YOU 👊 KingBuff717 THANK YOU 👊 Kristian Yates THANK YOU 👊 Mandm Randall THANK YOU 👊 Marc Laakmann THANK YOU 👊 Marc Vincent THANK YOU 👊 Marek Řezáč THANK YOU 👊 Mechanization THANK YOU 👊 Megatodd707 THANK YOU 👊 Mike Franco THANK YOU 👊 Mike H THANK YOU 👊 Nicholas Wilczewski THANK YOU 👊 nUm Music Official THANK YOU 👊 Olivier Rouleau THANK YOU 👊 Patrick G THANK YOU 👊 Paul Thielemann THANK YOU 👊 Philip Schaffer THANK YOU 👊 Rich Arnold THANK YOU 👊 Robert Kadlick THANK YOU 👊 Rocko Marrufo THANK YOU 👊 Russell D Morrow III THANK YOU 👊 Ryan Tibbert THANK YOU 👊 Steven Knapp THANK YOU 👊 Thomas Bryson THANK YOU 👊 Thomas Spoor THANK YOU 👊 Thordermans THANK YOU 👊 Todd Jay THANK YOU 👊 Travis Tutwiler THANK YOU 👊 TriDoc THANK YOU 👊 warduiz THANK YOU 👊 XavL THANK YOU 👊 Zimak0v THANK YOU 👊 Alex White THANK YOU 👊 Brady Clark THANK YOU 👊 Brandun Keck THANK YOU 👊 Harry Wadley THANK YOU 👊 Ian Roberts THANK YOU 👊 Jack Krolo THANK YOU 👊 Jason Schulz THANK YOU 👊 Jeff Shrimpton THANK YOU 👊 Jerry Guardado THANK YOU 👊 JR Tasker THANK YOU 👊 Kris Hotchkiss THANK YOU 👊 Lucas Van Cleef THANK YOU 👊 Nate Bunnage THANK YOU 👊 Randy E. And a special thanks to all of my Patreon supporters past and present, not mentioned here!🙏

[@x--LeethaL--x]

🖤 🖤

[@MadNoisy]

great video man... subbed 🤘🤘🤘

[@RobArnoldWorld]

Hey welcome aboard! 🤘

[@jeffshaffer2887]

I put a capo on the first fret and then hold down the string at the 12th fret. Then I use feeler gauge and set the relief six thousands at the 6th fret. Then set your action with string height gauge at the 12th fret.

[@AnonymousUser66649]

Using the fret where the neck meets the body or the last fret will give a more accurate measurement across different guitars, as necks behave differently. Some have the bow at 1-7th fret and some have a more even bow through The neck.

[@jeffshaffer2887]

​@AnonymousUser66649 I used to do that. But at least with the guitars I work on, this seems to be very accurate.

[@borgonianevolution]

Your eyes will ALWAYS deceive you when looking for relief on a neck. Think about train tracks how they are perfectly spaced but seem to get closer together the further away they run. Use a string height gauge and NEVER be wrong. That way not only is the measurements accurate they can be set even across the entire neck to match the radius and string thickness differences.

[@outermarker5801]

You can still tell if one side of the track (the fretboard) is curved compared to the other (the string) though. Never had an issue seeing relief.

[@ericsmith6633]

Actually Rob I learned this from a luthier friend on mine, but if you want to get just a little closer action on the treble strings but don’t want to make any adjustments, or you don’t think you need to make any, press the strings down at the saddles on the bridge. Right where they come off the saddle. Press down right there so the string looks like it has a sharper break to it rather than just a curve coming out of the saddle. It will bring your action down a bit, and it actually will help with tuning stability. Cause over time your strings will do that eventually, this just speeds that process up a bit. It works wonders.

[@jeffhenry5211]

I always learned to set relief by fretting the first fret with my left hand and the 14th fret (depending on the guitar where the neck meets the body) with my right pinky and then you check the action over the 7th fret with your right index finger (half way between the two frets you're holding down). You then use that as a gauge - just enough of a gap for a single sheet of paper is perfect for most guitars.

[@Shred_Rocket]

Thanks, Rob! As usual, watching your how-to vids is great for learning something, but mostly a satisfying experience. Good lord knows that a lot of dudes kind of like to hang and relax while watching stuff like this.

[@RobArnoldWorld]

👊

[@TheGalilee416]

Great information. I tell people be patient w/ the FR and get it set up right, it's not just gratifying but it's a lot of fun.

[@RobArnoldWorld]

💯

[@M3tal_matt]

I love all my guitars but my evertune guitars are my favorite, definitely makes it Stay setup longer imo but of course all personal preference. Great video, as many times as I have changed string height and action its always good to take a look and have a little refresh course.

[@roybenavidez6098]

Just what I've been looking to learn how to do. Some of my guitars need it.🤘😀

[@lsu1992]

I found a DKMG-FF flame-inlayed neck years ago on ebay and installed it on my '02 DKMG. It took me quite a while to figure out why the string tension was SO miserably tight (even in a Mick Mars full-step down) since I also installed an OFR bridge in place of the low profile Jackson at the same time. Apparently, the previous owner had the neck off for about a year. With no string tension for that long, the neck relief was bowed AF. Took me weeks to adjust it out, but I finally got there.

[@justgivenofox9543]

I’m still on the hunt for a nice DKMG. Only thing holding me back from really buying one is that model from that era don’t have the full shark fin inlay. That inlay style is such a Jackson trademark I don’t want to own a Jackson without the full fins!

[@lsu1992]

@justgivenofox9543 I didn't like the Piranha Tooth either. There are used MiJ Jackson Dinkys from late 90s all the time on ebay that have the shark fins, pretty much the same guitar AND with better pickups. The EMG-HZs that came with mine were poo. The Afterburner can be bought separately and installed easy.

[@justgivenofox9543]

@@lsu1992 i'll have to keep looking for MIJ models with the shark fin inlay. for some odd reason i thought only the MIJ ones had the piranha tooth. do you know what MIJ models have the full sharkfin inlay from that era?

[@lsu1992]

@justgivenofox9543 The '96, '97, and '98 DR series (Dinky Reverse) and the DK3 same years, and some of the DK2s. I'm sure the earlier years have several, also. On the DRs, the sharkfins are reversed with the headstock... but it's cool AF, I think. Google Jackson Catalogs, and you'll find them. Also, I have a 2001 MiJ SL3. They came stock with OFR, SD JB in bridge and two Hotrails Mid and Neck (look like single coils, but are humbuckers. Neck-thru body... and full shark fins! They pop up cheap here and there ($8-900). If you're gonna be a bear, be a grizzly.

[@tankdarla637]

@@justgivenofox9543 A DXMG 2000s mij has full size shark fins and reverse headstock. It is not an archtop though.

[@mikeesplain3923]

Great video Rob!👍 I usually adjust the trem stud posts when its not under string tension..adjusting the posts under string tension will only deepin that groove in the stud causing float issues nd tuning/intonation issues👍

[@rosskrause3926]

I just push the tremelo bar down as far as I can and it takes a lot of the tension off and then just let the bridge plate come back up..never any problems that way.

[@raymondbauz]

@@rosskrause3926 you just added more tension on the post by doing that, which is not good

[@andrewthompson6453]

awesome, these vids help alot and are really informative Thanks

[@rosskrause3926]

Great video Rob..it's nice to be able to service your own guitar(s)..saves time and money !

[@RobArnoldWorld]

Thanks dude!

[@AdrianCummings-r2d]

Great video Rob

[@RobArnoldWorld]

👊

[@MrOverthehills]

Very technical information Brings new life and enthusiasm to play my guitars thanks

[@johnnysguitarcorner5510]

Its that never ending work on our gigsticks. Which is sometimes quit mindblowing/frustrating and satisfying at the same time. To me I try to go same like you as low as I can. But sometimes I have a guitar that doesn't like a certain tuning or string gauge, which cost me a lot of effort/time and strings😂 to learn what is up. Anyways my ESP viper camo arrived and will put it in drop B flat to make it my Spineshank/Skinlab guitar😎🤟 My ESP e2 m2 snow white is coming next week and I will put it in C sharp standard

[@RobArnoldWorld]

A Spineshank guitar! That's so rad! And dude, you're so right... I also find that certain guitars have different personalities in a sense, and they prefer unique setups. Congrats on that e2 m2! I bet it's gonna rule, and I'm jelly! 😝🎸

[@johnnysguitarcorner5510]

@@RobArnoldWorld tenx man such an honor. I will keep you posted, maybe do an unboxing which I have never done before. I posted my ESP eclipse e2 evertune with bullet for my valentine and drowning pool cover, such an awesome guitar. Hope you like it. Yeah Spineshank and Chimaira we're my go to bands in the early 2000's still to this day: Impossibility of reason and height caloussness are still on repeat I still own you guys physical cd's from that era

[@tomsexton4880]

Thanks for the great video. Very thorough explanation.

[@lambknot]

Pretty interesting. I finally decided to up my string gauge after years of always playing thicker strings for lower tunings. I realized my left hand doesn't need to press as hard, and my right wouldn't get as tired with down picking while playing standing up. I guess I was used to playing acoustic so much I over compensated.

[@justgivenofox9543]

What gauges were you using and what are you using now? Did you go from like an 11-56 to a 9-46? I believe that even with lighter gauge strings in drop tuning, you can still get great tension. Still don’t really understand why people use super thick strings with drop tunings

[@lambknot]

​@@justgivenofox9543 usually 14-68 tuned to A# standard on a 7 string. Now I figure 11-54 with a 62 for the low A/G#

[@dissonant_a]

The Floyd maestro! Those harmonics sounded lush 🤘

[@Kandieswing]

Thank YOU Rob for your Video - it helps me so much !!! Greetings from germany

[@RobArnoldWorld]

Happy to hear it!🍻

[@whoracle82]

This is interesting coz my Virtuoso also had the same issue. The frets near the headstock suddenly became lower until it had apparent string buzz. Was not like that before. I had to loosen the neck a bit to give it a bit relief. Unlike you though, I’m just a bedroom player and the guitar have not gone out the house since I had it and still had the neck moving. Kinda showing that even with baked maple neck there is no 100% guarantee that the neck will not move.

[@megatodd707]

❤ min 10:00 I loooooove seeing a float so perfect. 👌 I often adjust the height of the FR exactly how you did. Some guys say that this could harm the ‘knife’ ? I’ve never had any issues. 🤷🏻 Cool video. 👍

[@RobArnoldWorld]

Haha me too Todd! And yeah man, I think as long as you're careful, and the adjustments are minor, I don't see any harm in doing things from the bridge.

[@soilsample]

Ive had one instance where the bolt had pulled the threaded anchor piece up and out of the body somewhat. - Rather than adjusting the bridge downward as intended. The anchor can come upward to meet the bridge due to the lateral force. Now, I release tension before adjusting the bridge. Granted, small adjustments are usually fine, i try not to chance it. Hope that made sense.

[@ericsmith6633]

I’m assuming with doing a boat cruise, the weather was probably way more warm and the humidity was probably higher from what it was in Cleveland which prob made the neck swell. Which usually happens when humidity gets higher. When it gets dry, like in winter the neck can shrink (kind of) and the neck goes more concave. Which when it swells it goes convex. I usually go thru this during change of seasons. But I started climate controlling my band room where my guitars are basically keeping the humidity at 50% all yr round and it made a world of difference. But ya usually 90% of the time truss adjustment fixes the prob. But ya i usually check my guitars at every gig before I play just to make sure the neck didn’t move. I will say, out of all of my guitars, the esp eii’s and Ibanez prestige’s, the 1 jackson I have. The neck, I have to adjust more than any of my others. It’s a made in Japan Jackson too, so it’s not a cheaper model. But for some reason I have to adjust it more than all of my others. Might be because the ESPs are 3p maple and the iby’s are 5p maple wenge. The Jackson I have I believe it’s a 1p mahogany neck. So maybe that’s y.

[@RobArnoldWorld]

Interesting!

[@ericsmith6633]

@@RobArnoldWorld not sure if your Jackson’s are similar but ya might be something to keep and eye on.

[@jeffreyquinonez8964]

I read yesterday online that maple is harder than mahogany so that might be an explanation

[@ericsmith6633]

@@jeffreyquinonez8964 ya, that’s kinda my thinking as well. Plus laminated necks are usually more stable than a 1p neck I would think.

[@lethrbear32]

If it was fine at home and not fine on the ship, that would tell me the humidity had an effect on it.

[@rosskrause3926]

If anyone here is tired of using the Allen wrench to loosen or tighten the 3 locking nut screws I have installed now for 5 months the Tone Vise keyless nut locks on my Jackson Pro Series Dinky and they work great with zero slippage of the strings past the string clamps even after hard bar use..and no more 3mm Allen wrench(s) to use on the locking nut.

[@RobArnoldWorld]

I had never heard of those! Just looked them up and they seem pretty cool!👌

[@eddiejr540]

I think you'll be ok adjusting the floyd "under tension" but I would'nt make a habit of it cuz it can really grind on that knife edge...especially on "non" original floyds...well done...rock on

[@1320pass]

Love the SG body like your MFA600. Sweet. 🤘

[@adamkahn8645]

oh also, dont forget when you put new strings on to force the string down at the saddle. some of the thicker gauged strings need to be pressed down to make sure its sitting perfectly flat out of the saddle.

[@theKOMBIkid]

Thanks for the tip bro 🙏

[@RobArnoldWorld]

No problem, happy to help! 👊

[@morbidcorpse5954]

I noticed that the more I pay attention to the guitar itself and tone the less I focus on writing. I play and write black metal so I lean more toward atmosphere. One day I'll learn to set up my guitar. I just change the strings for the past 20 years or so.

[@RobArnoldWorld]

There's wisdom in that!

[@therealone1288]

rusty strings for the best tone

[@jasondobie6739]

I like my action pretty low and neck pretty straight too. But if I had that much fret buzz on my open strings I would slightly shim the locking nut. I have actual shims for it now but I have done a piece of paper before too if I was desperate.

[@michaelpowers4452]

it is a good idea to loosen the strings at least some before you make that adjustment , that is alot of stress on the threads of the anchors and adjustor screws , you could strip the hex in the adjustor if the tool is not fully seated,,,also some ibanez trems have a locking alan stud down inside that adjustor screw. I had one , found out by reading the instructions. especially true on an older guitar or if you are doing it for the first time. if I don't loosen the strings on certain guitars I will only move 1/4 turn at a time,,,very slowly !

[@edgardoarroyo7418]

If you grab the guitar and look from the body to the end of the neck like you aiming a rifle its easier to see if neck is bend or not.

[@therealone1288]

i just cant visualize the straightness of the neck. it always looks curved to me even when its straight. i ended up getting the straight edge thing from stewmac because i was sick of gaslighting myself over the straightness of the neck.

[@derekdamager7928]

Awesome

[@x--LeethaL--x]

MY BROTHER!.. Don't LOOK LIKE NO DANNY GLOVER!.. THE ONE, THE ONLY... THE GOAT... .... :: MYSTUH' RAH-BuRD R-KNOWeD!

[@RobArnoldWorld]

🤘😝

[@willtato8778]

I used to love FR bridges, but one day, I needed to change the intonation after changing the tuning. I couldn't find a tool that would fit my bridge, so I never got it as nice as I wanted it to be. Now I'm much more into the 510 style mini ones. Just curious, why didn't you tune the guitar when you held it in the upright position? As you were eluding to, the mass of the bridge will be pulled back by its weight a little when laying down on a table, pulling the strings sharp. Was it just for time saving or just negligible difference?

[@RobArnoldWorld]

Negligible difference!

[@Rambo33868]

Hey Rob, first of all thanks a lot for making this videos. I bought an LTD M 1000 after checking out your video and then learned how to set it up using your other videos. Regarding dead notes, is there something you do about them? Once I adjusted the truss rod and the brigde saddles to lower the action, I noticed that some notes in the thinner strings starting in the 12th fret have less sustain than others, and so far I didn't find a solution to it. Thanks a lot!

[@RobArnoldWorld]

Yeah man! Sounds like you need to raise the action a bit! Dead notes are caused by the strings undesirably hitting the frets, and so they can't sustain. Try raising your action a bit. And as I said, I recommend trying to remedy the issue first with truss rod adjustments. And if that fails, then try the bridge.

[@Guitarist19887]

I’ve got a Jackson that keeps changing. My two esps stay the same. Really irritating because it’s sentimental and when it plays good it’s amazing. Just can’t hold the setup. Keeps buzzing somewhere on the fret board.

[@adamkahn8645]

my trick is identifying exactly how much relief i prefer for my setups.... i use feeler gauges and a Capo to get it exact

[@omgvague]

WHAT... How did I just randomly stumble onto an artist from one of my favorite metal songs that's ever existed? (Pure Hatred btw) This is bonkers.

[@RobArnoldWorld]

Hey welcome aboard!

[@davidpask4232]

I noticed on a side shot that your fifth string the A was a bit lower, only about less than 0.25mm.

[@BradRocker]

Great tutorial on the Floyd adjustments. Hey what model of Jackson is that. I know you said soloist ,but do you have the year and model by any chance?

[@tankdarla637]

that was a Virtuoso (basically the most modern MIA Dinky)

[@RobArnoldWorld]

Yep- it's a 2023 Virtuoso. 🎸 kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXKYaoWHgNVmrqc

[@BradRocker]

@@RobArnoldWorld Thx

[@learningtheory325]

Great video, but I have to ask about the action on the higher frets. Do you have the thinner strings almost straight with the fretboard also? If so, how to you bend them without the strings slipping out from under your fingers? You make it look super easy and slinky looking. I would love to not have stress when I bend.

[@RobArnoldWorld]

Yes, I'd assume the relief is the same on the treble side of the fret board. As far as bending comfortably and confidently, it's simply all about practice man. You have to develop your technique by playing A LOT. Just keep at it, and overtime, everything will start to come together for you! I promise!🎸

[@benpotter4905]

Any advice on swapping direct mount pickups? I’ve got a Schecter c-1 sls elite ( very similar to your LTD m-1000 in the video). I want to pull the fishmans and drop in EMGs. Realized I much prefer those in drop B and higher.

[@RobArnoldWorld]

Well I guess I'd say every scenario is different. (different guitars, different pickups, different configurations, etc) But one thing I can say is to be weary of pickup cavity sizes. Check out these two recent videos I did, basically doing EXACTLY what you're talking about, and the issues I faced! kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXPJmHtqiL17eLs kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnqYdISJp7J4l7M

[@MatthewHeritier]

Get the proper tools for a setup , proper tools equal proper results…

[@שמחהשכטר-ל2י]

as much as I know when you make adjustments on a Floyd Rose Bridge it is very recommended to loosen the tension on the strings by pulling down the whammy bar so no damage will cause to the blade sitting on the screws this is very recommended

[@justgivenofox9543]

“Alright Apple, so for the iPhone 16, consumers are *adamant* on a camera feature that allows users to easily take pictures and video of string action on guitars. The camera auto focus is too quirky and doesn’t work for scenarios where a tiny visual goes a long way!!”

[@RobArnoldWorld]

Indeed! 🤘🤣

[@adamkahn8645]

the human eye craves symmetry, thats why we notice things when they stick out.

[@crappy60]

You most likely had issues on the boat because of the humidity.

[@RobArnoldWorld]

Perhaps!

[@marcocelestino4308]

Not by the headstock man, you are having incorrect reading like this