How to Measure Your Guitar's Action Using StewMac Measurement Tools

[@C414AC]

Dear America, you should give metric a try. Regards, the rest of the world.

[@Bomber848480015]

Absolutely the best video and most practical ever on the internet. Seriously this makes alot more sense then some of the ridiculous videos out there. Nice Job thank you.

[@edreed5571]

Mack like goldie. Go back like the oldie. But the goodie.

[@nootypenguino]

Agreed 👍👏

[@FosterZygote]

It's worth getting into guitar repair just to be able to tell a customer, "You need to lower your G-string".

[@avgmaster1]

Brilliant !!! Best comment ever.😀

[@alanknoh7697]

Yes. Yes.. The G string.

[@ramon2008]

😂 awesome

[@philthyphil3324]

I remember when I just started out playing. I broke my b string, but I got it mixed up, and I went into the store and said " I need a size 13 g string" I immediately felt like an idiot

[@notfamouschristopher]

It's the same reason I picked up guitar so back stage I can do lots of adjustments to g-strings...

[@Jim1457a]

Thumbs up for using an old string as a feeler gage! That's brilliant!

[@RUNnGUNify]

“How to do a guitar set up on a guitar that’s 99% there”

[@izich]

This is the best guitar action setup video described in 8 minutes that you'll find online. Thank you!

[@konjunto2477]

I am just now starting to try and set up my own guitars. IMHO the best video I have seen so far. Thank you. for taking your time to post the vid.

[@andrewbevan4662]

When I'm setting up guitars I like to wear Stewmac (tm) shoes and Stewmac (tm) socks , specially designed for luthiers.

[@thorleiflarssen518]

I usually drink StewMac beer😜

[@cragway]

Just the shoes and socks?........careful around sharp objects

[@hoovesandpawsanimalrescue]

I just ordered the Stewmac jockstrap…

[@johnnorris1983]

@@hoovesandpawsanimalrescue JockMac

[@notbraindead7298]

This young man did an excellent job explaining the subject matter. He also did a pro job with the Stew-Mac sales pitch. I’ve purchased some of the Stew-Mac set up tools and they work as advertised.

[@hillanblaine4702]

Something to consider: I've been checking out other videos on using the String Action Ruler (as I'm new to using them personally). I believe the reason why your measurements may not be correlating with your calipers is because of Fret-height compensation. From what I can tell, the String Action Ruler is made to sit on the top of the Frets, not down in the Fretboard. Again, just a thought, and definitely don't hold me to it. :)

[@erniemoi2732]

@@aldalesandro the reason why he made the string buzz onto the metal gauge thing is because if it’s not touching the gauge then it’s too high, he’s not measuring on a fret so that’s why he had ot make sure it has a slight buzz, so that the string is barely touching the gauge and they have the correct curve to the neck

[@aliensphyncter9528]

They make them with cut outs so they sit on the feet board also

[@Elraiser96]

If a 'Ruler' starts flush, it's actually called a 'rule'

[@sandman365TTi]

That's not how Dave would do it

[@MtnLiner]

Time for a sandwich.

[@pb12661]

that guy is a hack

[@DarianG98]

@@pb12661 how so?

[@flintdavis2]

Then he takes the measurements with guitar on its back. SMH

[@patrickkeenan6331]

Too bad Stew Mac charges stupid high shipping...$10 shipping for a set of $16 saddles? No thanks, I'll go to AllParts.

[@scot-combs]

Great video. I have an idea that some of these tools my show up as presents for our boys! (plus a link to the video)

[@bikenband]

Excellent tutorial. I own over 10 guitars now, so I’m going to order these tools out of necessity....

[@kostis6]

Very nice! just ordered some good stuff from you guys. I have a question about the 1st fret action: you say good clearances for all the strings are .025 .022 .020 .016 .014 .011 so are these measurements with the first finger pressing the third fret or without pressing the strings at all? A last question if you don’t mind. Do we must keep our guitar in playing position for all the steps 1-4? Or just for the first step? thank you and wish you happy new year :)

[@eugemcl]

Measurements you mention is without pressing the strings. In metric I use 0.5mm (bass E) to .25mm (high E) so pretty similar. Ideally the guitar would be in the playing position when filing a nut but, practically speaking, this is only possible with the Stewmac beck jig.

[@kostis6]

@@eugemcl thank you ;)

[@GerryBlue]

Hey, someone with a lower action than mine, what doy you know, I also have a light touch. Great video, can't believe many players don't setup their own guitars.

[@samsungtvset3398]

For setting the distance of the string above the fret I use the plain end of a drill bit.They are available in steps of 0.1mm, are very accurate and don't cost much.

[@notbraindead7298]

I’ve used drill bits for “feeler gauges” for many different measurements. They also come in steps of 1/64th of an inch as well as the 0.1mm you mentioned.😊

[@kasrasahami3036]

hi. on time 2:38 you said put the finger on 15th fret. why not on the last fret? (22nd-24th)? also do we need to adjust the pickups as well? what is the ideal gap between pickup and strings? thanks

[@AllTheCoolNamesAreTaken84]

I just have to say something that really bothers me. Let me just preface this by saying that these videos and Dan Erlewine have been extremely helpful in providing the knowledge to give me the confidence to do my own repair work and setups. But $45 for a 6 inch ruler??? It costs $9.50 on Amazon for the same thing by General, which is the EXACT one that Dan Erlewine himself recommended in his repair book. The Stewmac one is FIVE times the price!! How do you justify that?!

[@JohnnyMacalvee-cf7et]

They grab that cash with both hands and make a stash.

[@u563rick6]

Just from personal experience buying a few of their tools, they're heavyyy duty. I didn't buy that 6" ruler but the tools I did buy were definitely life time for any do it yourself at home person. They would last a really long time in a shop also, perhaps a life time depending on the tool. They're really hard and thick. har har har thats what she said. Comparing both online, the General one is flexible and the Stewmac one looks rigid and has modifications for guitar specific use. Measurements on the end vertically and a center Zero line.

[@billyjoel72]

I've bought quite a few stewmac tools and while they're great quality, they're exorbitantly priced. I recently bought a product by FretGuru to level frets and the quality was excellent and less than half the price of Stewmac. They often compare their tools with cheapie imported products to show their superior quality, but products don't only live at the extreme ends, and Stewmac isn't the only company that produces luthier tools of good quality. There are companies producing tools of the caliber of Stewmac (or at least very close, and definitely good enough for us home tinkerers) that are less than half the price, often more like a third. Stewmac will be my last resort for tools, as their profit margin appears excessive, but if you've got the cash, by all means.

[@banjoist123]

I have a different approach/philosophy to height at the nut. Fretting a string at the 3rd and observing the height at the 2nd to me should be no different than the height of the string unfretted at the first fret. The fret is suspending the string just as the nut is. I've done lots of setups on guitars that would pass the 3rd to 2nd test, but that still have too much height at the nut.

[@sirnatanielson]

18 years playing guitar and I'm finally taking the dive into my own repair and setups. Mainly because I'm mechanically sound now. And this video nailed what I needed to fill some gaps. thank you!

[@XxStonedImmaculatexX]

I thought I was the only one lol But I played for about 10 years before even knowing what a setup was. I would just raise any saddle if I heard the string buzz 😂

[@hbert06]

Ofc do NEVER EVER even mention metric values. Because all the world uses imperial stuff. Really helpful!

[@xzysyndrome]

It is an American company...fuckstick. www.stewmac.com/Conversions.html They provide a page for conversions...but you were really more interested in whining...

[@bob733333]

Mommy, it hurts.

[@form49]

Listening for string buzz on under-string radius gauge is the tip I needed. Thanks!

[@ratchowmein]

I like this guy. Easy to understand and he looks relaxed.

[@JohnnyMacalvee-cf7et]

I like people that look like they have been hopped up on white snow. Ya know snappin' their teeth and all.

[@mattrogers1946]

Have all you folks across the pond complaining Imperial measurements, forgot about football? A PK is taken from the 12 yard mark. Lots of conversion tables on the internet.

[@anpleidhceeireannach9498]

People complaining about inches are stupid Guitar strings come in inches and no one complains ever Talk about guitar setup in inches and these idiots lose it Pathetic

[@NPRMc]

This is the video I’ve been looking for! Also, props for having working man hands.

[@adrianamorphous]

Nice Zelda Machine in the back

[@rzh3443]

Very helpful! Can we have one on setting up pickup heights ? More complicated I am sure but the basics would be good.

[@stewmac]

Check this video out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iICwfWeuqLZ-bJI

[@whatsshaken]

Are those measurements with pressing or using a capo on the 3rd fret? or open string?

[@TheBladepolisher]

Another great Stew Mac video. I had one question though and it was about what was said about holding the guitar in playing position because measuring a guitars string height while lying on its back causes an inaccurate measurement due to GRAVITY ? ? I'm pretty sure the tension of a tuned guitar string would more than compensate for gravity. Maybe you could clarify this for me. Thanks ! !

[@esmeraldo7887]

Yeah I think the gravity difference is pretty negligible there. The reason to do that though would be so that the guitar's neck would be laying in the pocket in the ways it is while played (also pretty negligible difference - but who knows - he's the pro). Odd that there is no mention of standard neck relief and string height measurements/factory specs. A zero relief neck sounds fun, but I it takes some pretty perfect fretwork to make that possible. I'd love to get there some day. For me, feeler gages work pretty well to get relief, string height and 1st fret actions spot on.. They cost about 3 bucks as well. Anyway woo!

[@shawnmanuel9817]

Aren't you supposed to put your guitar in "playing position" when measuring the string height?..🤔

[@juliansedor7101]

That's right, but for some things you don't need to set it in playing position. For example, setting the radius doesn't require it.

[@bob733333]

Ya, cos a magic force is pulling the strings down..

[@jm7859]

Using American system is just so exclusive. Like 99% of your viewers are the rest of the world. America is not the whole world. Please use the intuitive metric system. Don't you want outside America to learn too? It's like we need a college degree to understand your measurement language.

[@katyungodly]

I'm American and I agree, even American scientists use metric.

[@RockWeller]

Stewmac has such a great employee! Great tips man! Greetings from Singapore!

[@choimdachoim9491]

Thanks tuh KZbin I is buhcumin a gitar mekanik ! Seriously. I got my first guitar exactly 61 years ago and never knew any of the stuff I've learned on KZbin this past 6 months. It's a whole new hobby at the age of 73 to repair, adjust and modify my guitars, both acoustic and electric.

[@Christopher_Giustolisi]

I´m so glad to live in a country where we use the metric system.

[@toddknaster9731]

Love all of your videos! Are the measurements for 1st fret string height you gave in the video checked by fretting at the third fret or with open strings? You showed both ways so I am not sure Thanks

[@jimbokraut640]

Without pressing on the 3rd string.

[@shashanksherkar392]

Very very nice information video. Thanks for that. I play a guitar which is ESP AX-50 LTD, a clone of B.C.Rich Warbeast without the tremolo bridge. It has a t-o-m bridge. I am from India, a small city without any guitar resources except local acoustic strings and picks. So, I have to do all my repairs, servicing by myself and I do not get the right tools for the job. Just 2 days back I found guitar string height tool on amazon and soon I will order that curved set of keys with different radius. I have been using the last trick of using old strings for height check, I am a recycler! It's good to know you use that. I play from Rock to thrash metal rhythm at 72 to 180bpm and lead as needed but at 50-75% bpm of rhythm and do heavy tapping on all strings above and near 12th fret mostly with legatos. If your string height as shown in the last part near nut cannot be adjusted without using nut filing, I have to check it by actually tapping between 3rd and 7th frets while playing. If I get a buzz, I just adjust the truss rod. Well in absence of proper tools what could I? I hope to know more about bridge adjustments etc as well. Thanks again. Keep on delivering that information in simple language.

[@fadeskywards1245]

I wish I knew how these tools are called in Serbian so I could look them up online and see if there are any equivalents to these... There's no way I could afford purchasing these from the USA. Edit: I found out.

[@J__C__]

Hmmm. Mine are at .008" at the first fret and I'm getting fret buzz sometimes. Going to attempt to replace the nut this weekend with a Graph Tech Black Tusq XL that will be the same exact size with a little sanding. It's already the right shape so hopefully it's just a matter of sanding to dimensions and installing. If not, I'm sure I can always put the original back in, right? 🤷‍♂️

[@philipbrown2225]

Heres something weird I noticed: after he checks the action on the 12th fret at the low e , he proceeds to read it on the high e but now he's at the third fret not the 12 ! then the camera goes quickly back to the 12th fret with him now measuring at the 12th fret . why ?

[@declassified1]

I think a 'ruler' has a space and a 'rule' does not . So that is a Stew Mac Rule , )

[@michael_caz_nyc]

Stew Mac always has such great information. I purchased both of Mr. Dan's books, and they gave-me-the necessary information to do all my own maintenance & set-ups = Much Happier now with the playability of my guitars. Stay Safe.

[@stewmac]

Dan's books are great resources! We're always here to help. Hope you're staying safe as well!

[@BurninSven1]

The radius neck gauges will work just as good as the next tool you showed so you really wont need both at all. And you can use them both under or on top of the strings they gonna show the same reading in both cases. I would not trust just the string height gauge I would double check with a feeler gauge.

[@TREV617]

Great advice if I am unsure always head for this channel.

[@snapascrew]

Is there a recommended workflow for guitars with a compound fingerboard radius? 😎🤙🏻

[@bonebag5069]

3:05 that's some hella gravity !! lol, love the stewmac{{{{{{{{{

[@69jomen]

Thanks for actually showing how to actually read the string height gauge. Others just talk about it and expect you to know. .

[@donlessnau3983]

Excellent vid. Clear, concise and to the point without all the stupid nonsense you find elsewhere. Blake did a great job.

[@timandersen3498]

Okay please explain something: At 3:18 you say to measure at the 12 fret, and then something about "outside the E strings??". Then at 3:33 you start measuring at the 12th fret, the next clip you are suddenly at the 1st fret and the next clip "cool thing about the string action gauge" you are back at the 12th fret. What?? I'm somewhat confused. And WHY is it supposed to be .010 at the 1st fret and .040 at the 12th fret?

[@Opinions-from-YUL]

Bad video editing…?

[@beatlejuice5951]

I always watch stew mac channel content but I buy every other brand but stew mac because its overpriced.

[@trevorgwelch7412]

Q : How do you reduce string tension on a Clapton Strat ? Strings are 9-42 . Tuned half step down . Thank You . 🎸🇺🇸🏆✨✨✨✨✨🎼🎼🎼

[@mms-melodymusicalstudio2300]

hi my squire fender guitar strings tension getting hard i can't pull it smoothly. so what should i do for it???

[@mobeenrehman2379]

Very nice video, also while checking the string height at the 12th fret, the video showed you looking at the 3rd fret. Editing error I suppose.

[@liorodriguez7998]

Love this! TY

[@shanefrank3281]

You observe the nut height by fretting on the 3rd fret and looking at the gap between the bottom of the string and the top of the first fret. Then at 6:35 you show the ideal clearances at between the strings and the first fret. Are those numbers with the string fretting on the 3rd fret, or with the strings open?

[@jimbokraut640]

Open strings

[@wyattsdad8561]

You know what works the best? And it’ll only cost you a quarter. Yep, use a quarter under the twelfth fret. It should just slide under the low E string. And if you slide it in (Giggidy) and there’s a space in between the quarter and 12th fret then you need to lower the saddle height. Now watch StuMac will come out with a new quarter that costs 50 bucks.

[@StraightRocketFuel]

I scrolled past the thumbnail too quickly and genuinely thought you were Al Pacino cutting up a line of Colombian fine for a second

[@williamyoung3070]

Why are you measuring low E string height at the 12th fret and high E string height at the 2nd fret at 3:32? Also, if the frets are ever dressed and recrowned, they may not exactly follow the radius of the fingerboard. Wouldn't it be better to adjust the saddles by measuring the height of each string off the 12th fret instead of using one gauge to determine the fingerboard radius and then a second gauge to set the saddles? Not to mention simpler, quicker...and less expensive. And you can graduate the string height from one side of the fingerboard to the other if you want.

[@yoburn123]

Exactly....that is what i do

[@slapitman]

Dear America, we love you BUT can you please start using the metric system like 90% of the planet?!!! Millimetres really make this job easier than 64th and 32nds sizes.

[@Bertdevries4865]

Great advice my friend. Thank you so much. I am a beginner so I have to learn a whole lot of tricks to set up my two guitars. I have a les Paul and a semi accoustic guitar. Question. Is the measurement the same between Accoustic and Electric guitars. Hope to read the answer. I I made mistakes in my spelling, I am sorry, I am Dutch so my first language. Well, I gave you a big thums up and was already a subscriber. Greetings from me ( Bert) and wish you a nice day. Until the next comment. Bye

[@cimen9793]

at the stew mac website they reccoment to adjust electric guitar strings as a Bas e 0.78 treble e 0.63 Action at the 12. fret. But ruller don’t shows that inches they just have 0.70, 0.60 how can we mesure 0.03 and 0.08 difference? Sorry if my english is not good but I hope you can understand what I’m I trying to ask and I hope you can answer me ;)

[@g_rr_tt]

3:09, I don't want to be that guy (but I am) and I have extensively studied physics at University and it's not necessarily that that gravity is pulling the strings down towards the neck, it's the reactionary force (the force from the surface due to the weight of the guitar that pushes on the guitar neck) that causes a misreading of string height. That force causes internal pressure (or stress) which causes deflection (strain) which is observed by something called a 'bending moment.'

[@danaeverhart6487]

Just because a certain Luthier charged more doesn’t mean his set ups are better than the next guy! PeAce ☮️ Dana E💫

[@cdk3law]

Kindly answer this question/scenario...I tried the 1st fret action trick you showed (@5:48) where you push down on 3rd fret on low E string to see what height is left at 1st fret. When I did this on my acoustic guitar there was no clearance...the E string was touching the first fret with therefore no clearance. Without pushing down on third fret...my low E string height appears to be at 0.020 inches on the feeler gauge. The rest of the strings at first fret have the same 0.02 except high "e" which is 0.010 inches. Is this height considered too low? and are my only options to adjust the truss rod to loosen tension and create upbow relief...and will that adjustment work on first fret height? I assume the truss adjustment would work better for mid neck frets as opposed to first fret? And/or finally is my other (only) remaining option to have a new nut installed giving the first fret strings strings more height? Also are acoustic guitar heights different than electric? Sorry for the convoluted questions and thank you in advance...

[@danielb5081]

I bough my StewMac action gauge years ago because I wanted an accurate measurement of the action. However maybe I have been using it wrong all these years because I can see the .020 black line but no space above it just below the low E string along with the .010" black line with all the space between the two lines when you initially measured it about 1:37 into this video. So being I can see the .020" black line below the E string I would say the action for the low E string is .020". Why are you saying the action or clearance of the low E string and the top of the fret is .010"? Am I missing something here?? I'll take your word for the .010" action on the high E string because I can't clearly tell with of the angle of the camera. I am confused. I thought the measurement is based on the line directly below the string being measured vs. the next line down after the space. Am I wrong? So again I ask is the action for the low E string .020" because we can see that .020" line under the string; or is it actually 'just about' .010" because we can see all of the .010" line and all the space above it along with the .020" black line but none of the space above it?

[@hugalahugala5182]

Well, the problem is I don't have those tools for proper measure. I've a Fender strat (Mexico). It is my very first guitar as a beginner. I've just unboxed and started to practise with no setup, I tune it all the time before playing. There is a fret buzz on the 6th string. When I look from the side, the 6th string's action is much lower than the others. If I adjust it a bit higher, can it ruin the guitar, intonation etc.?

[@bassfishingwiththeantichri2921]

This video helped me understand how to check my action the best out of all the other videos. Thanks, Blake!

[@williampercival7662]

Everyone's measurements are different from saddle heights pickup heights neck adjustment to intonation

[@darrenk9]

Says15th fret but is holding the 17th fret for the truss rod measurement. I know the key words are "whatever fret meets the body". Still could use a correction when dealing with exact details like this.

[@feartheocean]

Totally thought the guy on the right in the thumbnail was racking up a line. I’ve been around bands far too long, man.

[@andy_182]

Definitely wouldn’t want to pay some random dude to do work on my nice gibson.

[@ShaneMcCrae]

Some useful info but why wouldn’t you use a guitar that needed everything done so we could see it happening instead of “I’m not gong to adjust this because it’s already where I like it”. That doesn’t teach anything.

[@hni7458]

9/16 fourth??? Why don't you guys go metric. 2.4 mil or similar... can't get any easier

[@iyaron1000]

Hey thanks for this nice uTube.what allen key do I use for the saddle adjustments on an American Telecaster?

[@yowter8265]

@2:59 - @3:15 your explanation here is kinda contradicting, please make it more clear, do I have to hold my guitar on a playing position when measuring and adjusting or not?

[@lastjedii]

If your new brass nut is too high at the first fret and you don’t have the files or experience of carefully filing a nut, would sanding the bottom be an option instead of having to file 6 different slots?

[@XSFlanger]

I wonder how is possible to adjust radius on tune-o-matic style bridges. Do you have to file them down to radius?

[@tecorei]

Great video but the world speaks METRIC! come on..

[@anthonycrook1987]

was noting the color of each wrap you chose for the feeler gauges. guess there's no universal standard on that yet. kudos' to the "most composed" stew mac team!

[@jimmyjames7946]

It's a great advertisement for stew Mac.. I'm looking for a how set up video not advertising

[@OTIStheREALcarlos]

Absolutely fantastically made video great info and so visually clear to understand. Best video. Thank you.

[@stewmac]

Glad it was helpful!

[@aliensphyncter9528]

If j play with heavier gauge strings should the neck still be straight or should it have a slight bend or should u raise the action a hair, if u still get fret buzz

[@glacialdrumlin]

tip for u.s. citizens: use metric for taking small measurements like these. stew mac sells a metric action gauge also with conversions on back.

[@brewmasterflex3425]

At 335 ya jumped to 12 fret to 3rd , good way to confuse someone to where they are measuring lol

[@shanehutchinson7237]

having ur neck straight surely gives u higher action towards higher frets? i like to give relief for even playability up and down the neck

[@calhenry2006]

how much usually that cost in repair shop? I would like my string to be a little bit closer to the fretboard for easy picking

[@alexlifeson8946]

I wish I would've learned to work on my guitars when I was younger, rather than just buy/sell them all the time

[@sunavila]

Great video.

[@gokhanayvazoglu6295]

1:27 we learned how to measure 1. And 6. String but what about other string? Some body know?

[@benjaminboyer113]

That ruler literally costs $25

[@Terrysoddy]

I didn’t know you could have your fretboard perfectly straight, I thought it would fret out.

[@Terrysoddy]

@Fâché thank you for the response and info.

[@fadeskywards1245]

Simple and comprehensible. Thanks

[@danaeverhart6487]

Each guitar is uniquely different!!! Don’t think you can set each up the same way! Set- up is everything, and a Master Luthier’s experience goes a long long way to YOUR Success. Not all Luthiers are created equally! Shop around for someone you trust that makes the set up tailored to what YOU Feel is the right set up for YOU! PeAce ☮️ Dana E💫

[@Scottyhutch1]

awesome video, but im unsure how people are still using imperial measurements in the 21st century

[@seanatteberry3686]

Great video. Thanks much.

[@XxStonedImmaculatexX]

I usually place the radius gauge saddle on top and just take a look at looking down towards the bridge. If I see any gaps where the string isnt touching it, then I know I need to raise that saddle. Never figured I could just strum the string as well so I’ll definitely try that next time!

[@HugoIbarra-xu3bq]

So is it at the 12th fret or the fret that meets the body of the guitar? I've heard ppl reference one or the other.

[@the.communist]

Metric!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!