Just Raised the Action of my H-150 ever so slightly. Plays like a dream now!

[Kazwell]

I find that when it comes to height adjustment, very slight movements on the bridge adjuster wheel is all it takes. I prefer not to loosen the strings and just move the wheel with my right hand-and it hurts a little, me anyway, and then tune if I have to and then play for a bit. Even if it feels OK, I try to continue to play with it until it is perfect.

 

I don't like a low action, but I don't like it too high either. However, something didn't feel right, although visually, the string looked about the same height as I prefer on my other LP types that utilize a tun o matic bridge.

The other day I said, let's see what happens if I bring this thing a a bit higher than I would normally go for. Not really eyeballing anything. Just going for feel and playability.

 

Man, did it make a difference. Seems like raising the action actually makes upper fret string bending easier.

 

Might not be for everybody, but I think leaving strings too low may be cheating a player that may learn to love a higher adjustment after getting used to it. I'm not talking slide guitar heights here either, just 1/32 turn of the wheel and you can start to feel a big difference. I may have moved it slightly more than this.

 

Don't think I am going to sell this puppy anytime soon. Blues and jazz riffs are what I bought this guitar for and now I am executing them with a lot more precision.

[Thundersteel]

Stewart-MacDonald sells a tool that lifts the bridge without loosening the strings. Might be something worth looking into.

[Kazwell]

Stewart-MacDonald sells a tool that lifts the bridge without loosening the strings. Might be something worth looking into

 

Appreciate the tip. I just got through jamming a minute ago. As far as the Heritage-that bridge aint moving nowhere!!! ;D WOW....I am completely amazed, and when I first bought it , it was set pretty low, the usual for most LP style guitars as it seems to be the standard to have a lower action, especially for an LP type design. I actually brought it up quite a bit from the factory setting. But I needed to push the envelope a bit further.

I am still completely awestruck....

[High Flying Bird]

Kaz, Me and my friends all have the action set high on our guitars.  My theory is that when you get up to around the 12th to 15th fret the strings not being fretted should sit on the middle of your finger pad not under your finger with the fretted string or on top of your finger.  Not only does it give me more control (also ribbed for her pleasure) but I can pick across the deadened string to give me that BB King pick attack before the note I am trying to play. 

 

The first thing I do when I get a new guitar is to replace the factory strings with DR pure blues 10s and jack up that action.  Sorry PLEK.........

[cosmikdebriis]

Stewart-MacDonald sells a tool that lifts the bridge without loosening the strings. Might be something worth looking into.

 

I just lever it up with a screwdriver using the tailpiece as a fulcrum (and a bit of cardboard or similar to stop damage to the chrome).

 

I'm amazed there's a tool for it ???

[Thundersteel]

I guess they have a tool for everything.

 

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_...es.html#details

 

I can't believe they charge over $30 for a Stop Tailpiece Wrench! I usually just use a quarter.

[GuitArtMan]

Go to a bicycle shop and get yourself a tire iron/tire lever.  It's where Dan Erlewine got the idea for that overpriced tool.  You can get a set of three, plasitic ones for a couple of bucks.  I love StewMac, but some of their prices are ridiculous.

http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/500/50-2772-YEL-TOP.jpg[/img]

 

http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/500/00-9620-NCL-TOP.jpg[/img]

 

The ones I have look more like the bottom set here, but also seem to have more of an arch to them.  Maybe it's just the photo.

[brentrocks]

i usually hold the high E at the 1st and 22nd fret, check it at the 12th (should be about 1/16 off the 12th fret) adjust truss rod if necessary....and then adjust my bridge from there untill i lose most of the buzz

[Kazwell]

The interesting thing was at first when I raised the action, it seemed a little high. But instead of immediately lowering it back down because it didn't feel exactly perfect at that I moment, I played the guitar with this setting and gave my fingers time to get used to it. I think thats a big point I didn't state earlier and I feel is important to convey in general.

 

Once my fingers got adjusted, it just seemed like everything fell together. Action, sustain, sound. I am not exagerrating. I could NOT put the guitar down last night and played for like an hour and a half straight.

Whats amazing is I was seriously considering putting it up for sale. The raising the action higher than normal was sort of a last ditch effort to "see what will happen if I do this" sort of thing.

 

I think string gauge plays a big role. Since I use 11's I imagine strings of this gauge don't work as well as lower gauge strings for low action settings. Just a theory though.

[High Flying Bird]

Something else that works for raising the action is the rubber jar opening pads.  The ones with the little knobs on them. 

[slider313]

I like my action a little high. I like to feel some snap in string tension which leads to better sustain and overall tone from your pickups. I also play slide in standard tuning but my action is not overly high.

[doggy1972]

I just lever it up with a screwdriver using the tailpiece as a fulcrum (and a bit of cardboard or similar to stop damage to the chrome).

 

I'm amazed there's a tool for it

I use a strat whammy with a towel under it.I knew they were usefull for something Works great

[LPSlinger]

I find that when it comes to height adjustment, very slight movements on the bridge adjuster wheel is all it takes. I prefer not to loosen the strings and just move the wheel with my right hand-and it hurts a little, me anyway, and then tune if I have to and then play for a bit. Even if it feels OK, I try to continue to play with it until it is perfect.

 

I don't like a low action, but I don't like it too high either. However, something didn't feel right, although visually, the string looked about the same height as I prefer on my other LP types that utilize a tun o matic bridge.

The other day I said, let's see what happens if I bring this thing a a bit higher than I would normally go for. Not really eyeballing anything. Just going for feel and playability.

 

Man, did it make a difference. Seems like raising the action actually makes upper fret string bending easier.

 

Might not be for everybody, but I think leaving strings too low may be cheating a player that may learn to love a higher adjustment after getting used to it. I'm not talking slide guitar heights here either, just 1/32 turn of the wheel and you can start to feel a big difference. I may have moved it slightly more than this.

 

Don't think I am going to sell this puppy anytime soon. Blues and jazz riffs are what I bought this guitar for and now I am executing them with a lot more precision.

 

Kazwell I'm curious, what prompted you to raise the action? Was it due to excessive buzzing? fretting? My new H150 seems to have some fretting issues at different positions on the board. This is even more evident on the lower strings; In my case, I suspect the Plek process.. the action is about right for my tastes, not to low or high.. I like it so that the strings ring out freely unplugged; a lot of techs go for the absolute lowest action, which sounds like crap unplugged.

[Kazwell]

Kazwell I'm curious, what prompted you to raise the action? Was it due to excessive buzzing? fretting? My new H150 seems to have some fretting issues at different positions on the board. This is even more evident on the lower strings; In my case, I suspect the Plek process.. the action is about right for my tastes, not to low or high.. I like it so that the strings ring out freely unplugged; a lot of techs go for the absolute lowest action, which sounds like crap unplugged.

 

I'll be honest, the neck/action never felt right to me. It was setup very low from the factory. I need to say this about this guitar and other H-150's I have played in shops. For some reason to me, (and I have used 11's on my Strats and Tele's for years, and you know what kind of tension they have), that the 10's that were on it from the factory felt like 11's. I thought it was just my imagination when I played two different Heritage 150's at Eddie's in St. Louis. But when the one I own came in the mail, sure enough. The strings/action, although low, also felt stiff. Maybe the Plek process has something to do with this. I don't know.

I knew putting 11's on it would be out of the question, at least at first. I tried 10.5's, but they didn't feel right. I contemplated taking it in to a shop only because I wanted to be extra careful, but then I figured I have adjusted the necks and bridges on my other guitars for years, I should just do it. My adjustment process can get intense, where I have been known to adjust, play tune adjust some more, play tune -for hours. Until it feels right.

 

After raising the bridge and adjusting the neck, I was able to make the 11's work for me. I even upgrade the pus and electronics. But as time went on, I started picking up my cheaper guitars, Epi's things like that, and finding them to be a much more enjoyable playing experience. Something I couldn't define.. I got to the point where I was considering selling.

 

The last week I was messing with it. I thought to myself, maybe it just needs more adjusting. I just was in one of those moods and though to myself, this is one thing I didn't try and that was bringing the bridge up out of comfort range. I figured maybe I just need to wait a day and then see how it feels after my fingers cool down.

 

Well, the next day I got on it, and I noticed that I could control strings better, I had a stronger vibrato, better sustain. I was pulling off jazz riffs with much more ease. Granted, playing it still seems to be slightly more work than other guitars I have played. Maybe it's the frets they use. I never have really gotten hung up on fret types and usually work with whatever came with a particular guitar. I cannot explain this. I have been playing for 30 years and have owned about 25 guitars in that time, so I have some educated experience.

 

I have not noticed any buzzing or dead frets. Despite everthing. I am glad I was able to get this guitar to work for me. NO guitar tech can ever adjust a guitar for me and get it exactly the way I want it. How can they, unless they have worked with me for years. I know there are a lot of folks who develop these doctor/patient relationships with their guitar techs and that is fine, I have no problem with that.  I only go to them for cosmetic issues I can't resolve on my own.

 

Well, don't know if this answered your question. I guess the main point I wanted to get across was, don't jump the gun with adjustments and allow yourself to grow into settings that you may not be used to because lower is not always better!!!!!

[Thundersteel]

lower is not always better!!!!!

 

I agree with you, Kaz. For years, I had my strings as low as possible, even with a slight buzzing.  A couple years ago, I raised the action slightly on ALL my guitars, and I seem to have better control and more sustain.

[tulk1]

I've always prefered the action off the fretboard, so to speak. Not exceedingly high, but enough to feel the strings move when I fret them. Gives a much better feel of control, IMO.

 

Call me dense, tho'. Why would you need some sort of lever to raise the action on you guitar? Uh, mine have adjustable bridges. Or am I missing something here? (wouldn't be out of the norm)

[LPSlinger]

Thanks to everyone for responding to my question; and for that detailed explanation, Kaz!

 

IMHO, the setup that Graham @ Wolfe Guitars did seems to be just about perfect for me. Again, the action was low, but not to the

point of buzzing, the strings ring out fully. I can actually feel the strings on the neck, my belief is that the strings should have room

to vibrate whether acoustic or electric; I can relate to what you described Kaz, it's like I can't put my finger on it, but, the strings feel stiff

to me; I've purchased many high-end guitars from the Internet but I never had an issue like this. Don't get me wrong, the guitar is very

playable, killer looks, sounds amazing... but...

 

I played my '95 Gibby for a comparison (the action is even lower on it), the neck feels fluid without any dead spots... etc. What's interesting

is that to a lesser degree I'm having a similar issue with my '96 h150 goldtop; the BIG difference is that the goldtop has been PLAYED; she

survived 2 tours and if you look closely it shows it; so, I just assumed the culprit here was normal wear and tear. I'll bring it to a local

luthier today to have the frets dressed.... I can't wait to see the results.

 

My gut feeling, Heritage Guitars are trully custom made than any Gib**n CS guitar, because they're mostly built the old fashioned way; the Plek

process it the only difference. Does anyone know the time frame that Heritage started using the Plek system?

[Paul P]

Call me dense, tho'. Why would you need some sort of lever to raise the action on you guitar? Uh, mine have adjustable bridges. Or am I missing something here?

 

I believe the tools are to raise the bridge without loosening the strings.  Personally, I'd never do this.  The thought of

putting all the pressure in one spot on the surface of the guitar makes me cringe.  Especially on a non-solid guitar.

 

Funny, I too have found my Heritage to feel as if the strings were stiff.  Doesn't make sense.  I've never been able

able to play a guitar with very low action.  People that do must hardly touch the strings when the play.  I mean,

pick the low E string with any kind of determination and see how wide the string vibrates in the middle.  It's wider

than the action some people are saying they set their guitars to.  But then I'm a recently converted acoustic player

which may have something to do with it.

 

I find the PLEK process did a nice enough job but it would have been nice had they polished the frets a bit afterwards.

My frets have a just-off-the-grinder finish on them which I'll have to fix some day soon.

 

Paul P