• From: Wales
  • Registered: 2009-01-09
  • Posts: 220

Topic: Action on Electric

Hello,

Just bought my first electric having only ever played an acoustic.  What sort of action should I be looking at trying to get?  On my accoustic I find 1.5mm seems to be distance I find easier to play. 

I'll generally be looking to play a bit of everything, chords, power chords and riffs.

Cheers

Epiphone EJ200  -  Epiphone SG400  -  Fender Strat Blacktop.
Blackstar HT 40 Club  -  Vox VT30 - Behringer ACX ultracoustic 1000

crevs.1972's Website

  • Registered: 2007-01-29
  • Posts: 533

Re: Action on Electric

Both Gibson and Fender have very good support sites within their websites that can give you lots of good information on setting up your guitar... You didn't mention what type of electric or music preference but hopefully one of these sites, or your manufacture's site can help...  If you do any slide work then you might like a little higher string action than you would for fast riffs and runs... anyway the sites can give you some guidelines to start with and then you'll develop your own preferences....

Middleaged Redneck sorta guy who refuses to grow up...passion for music, especially Southern Rock but like bout everything cept Gangsta/Hip Hop. Collect guitars, mandolins, and love to ride Harleys.
  • From: Calgary, AB
  • Registered: 2006-07-17
  • Posts: 182

Re: Action on Electric

I found a lower action was better for me as a novice.  I'm lucky enough to have the guys at my guitarshop able to do it for me and if it's not right, they'll tweak it till it is.  smile  I think the action or height of the strings off the fretboard is a very personal thing.  Too high and it may be hard to play and to low and you can get buzzing.  My only advice is to get someone who knows what they are doing to adjust the truss rod for you or at least show you how to do it.  You could damage your neck if you don't know what you're doing. 

Cheers
RavenLady

That's All Non-Violence is
--- Organized Love---
        Joan Baez

RavenLady's Website

  • From: Frederick, MD
  • Registered: 2006-12-28
  • Posts: 851

Re: Action on Electric

I agree, High Action on an electric makes all your notes sound like your fighting to play them.
Low action allows for smooth easy and fast transition between notes.
But don't go too low...then you start to buzz...

Dm

"Talent instantly recognizes genius,
but mediocrity knows nothing more than itself."

-Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle

Detman101's Website