Action vs Tone

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GlenbenGurian	Action vs Tone	Lead	[-]
(06/20/09 5:28 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None I'm considering lowering the action on my new jumbo a bit more -- I hate struggling for anything -- and was wondering if such a move would alter the tone (which I certainly dont want to mess with)? Does lower action equal less tone? Last Edited By: GlenbenGurian 06/20/09 5:30 PM. Edited 1 time.
ASC67		#1	[-]
(06/20/09 5:31 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Usually a little loss of volume. Steve _______________________________________________________________ 2003 D-18 * 2006 Masterbilt DR500M * 2008 CV Strat
paul84		#2	[-]
(06/20/09 5:38 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I think it depends on your style of play. All things being equal then the height of the string above the fretboard won't affect the tone, unless it starts to contact the fretboard. This means you will probably get less volume before you start to get buzzing. If you play softly then you'll probably find your can lower the action a little more than if you're a heavy strummer. Paul Last Edited By: paul84 06/20/09 5:40 PM. Edited 1 times.
paul84		#3	[-]
(06/20/09 5:44 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	.... and another thought .... I always used to set action 'as low as I can get away with'. These days, I set it 'as high as I can get away with'. As I mentioned earlier, I play softly, but the higher the action the great my options and possibilities are. Paul.
cibby53		#4	[-]
(06/20/09 7:40 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	First thing I check is the action(string height ) at the nut if that is high or can be lowered that may be all you need to do and it will not effect the tone much if any. My nut file's i purchased were a great investment almost every acoustic I have bought needed at least little work on the nut some a lot more work.
bryankimsey		#5	[-]
(06/20/09 7:55 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	On acoustic, I play with the lowest action that gives some buzz protection. For me, that's low E at .094" off the 12th fret. Here's something to consider- when your action is high, there's a tiny bit more delay before you can release that note and move to the next note. This will produce a choppier kind of sound than the smoother, notes flowing into one another sound you can get from a lower action. I'm not making this up- I've heard this straight from the mouth of Stuart Duncan and Chris Thile both. As far as volume goes, I have loud guitars that I don't have to play hard. If I have to play the instrument hard, I don't want it. Bryan Kimsey http://www.bryankimsey.com Coram Deo
guitar1580		#6	[-]
(06/20/09 9:12 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I'm used to low action, and I just bought a used guitar with somewhat higher action. I know exactly what Bryan is talking about in the delay, and the choppiness. It's only micro seconds, but it does take just slightly more time to get off of your note and get the next one fretted, I'm sure of that. My hand is adjusting to it. It's almost a good workout tool........as if it's been building up my fingertips and wrist a little. I'm still going to lower it, because it slows me down a little. JP
Mark Lathem		#7	[-]
(06/20/09 9:51 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	GlenbenGurian wrote: Does lower action equal less tone? Tone is qualitative rather than quantitative, so one can speak of "different" tone, but not "less." Everything affects tone to one degree or another, but I doubt the character of your guitar would change significantly if you lower the action a bit. If a guitar is difficult to play, I don't care what it sounds like. There are too many great-sounding, easy-playing guitars out there to waste time struggling. IMHO, of course. Mark
Johnny Canso		#8	[-]
(06/21/09 8:37 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	After the neck reset on my 71 000-18 i popped in a used bone saddle that i had close by & the action was low...around 2/32" at the 12 fret low E...but i left it in for awhile & let the guitar settle after the reset. It was great to play as the action was like butter but i found the volume on the weak side. Since then i've put in a higher saddle & set the action at 3/32" 12 fret & just that small adj. has made a huge diff. in volume with my old 000-18...IMHO. Johnny 64LG-1/ 71 000-18/ 75 D-18 / 08 D-18/ 08 HD-16R
RevGeo		#9	[-]
(06/21/09 8:57 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	All other things being equal (boy, am I asking for it now..) a higher action seems to make the guitar louder, not 'better'. Having said that, I try to set my action at the the highest comfortable point, or level, or what ever it is called. I like to 'fight' the guitar just a little. I like to be able to get 'under' the strings if I want, especially if I'm bending or using heavy vibrato on a note. Just a stylistic thing, I guess. Hammers and pull-offs come cleaner for me with a higher action as well. Pickin' with your left hand, you know? Maybe it came from playing POS guitars during my formative years, or something. I think comfort is much more important than relative volume or tone. You can't sound good if it don't feel good. Just an opinion.... Rev George
Peter Cree		#10	[-]
(06/21/09 10:42 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Its all in the geometry. If you only lower the saddle you'll get less volume and intonation problems. you have to lower the nut slots to comfortable, chose your strings and lower the saddle to the right height. I'm with Bryan in that a great set-up with all low etc makes for a great guitar and NO loss of volume. But if you leave one part out you'll have trouble. Read all the posts on neck resets and resulting set-ups. All say the guitar sounds the best ever and is comfy to play. Martin is just catching on to this. Cree Studios Amazing Stuff creestudios.com my music Every dog has its day.
MikeHalloran		#11	[-]
(06/21/09 10:55 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	>Does lower action equal less tone? < No. Lowering beyond a certaiin point does decrease volume and dynamic range. I agree with others that there is no such thing as more or less tone. Tone is subjective. Mike Halloran '49 00-28G, '03 000C-16SGTNE, '03 000-15S, Backpacker Mandolin, '60s Style 0 uke, '67 D12-35, '75 D-35S, Cowboy X, Cowboy II (I think that's all the Martins) Many Guilds, Gibsons and Goyas
imwjl		#12	[-]
(06/21/09 10:59 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	GlenbenGurian wrote: Does lower action equal less tone? I agree with what's been said here. Nothing I tried made two craptacular guitars I owned sound any better. Good setup on my favorite two guitars made me play better and that did as much for tone as anything. My dread with higher action and heavier strings raised the threshold for string buzz, and it made it particularly good for playing rhythm and simple runs at bluegrass jams and accompaniment at my kids' preschool. I can't say tone was better - just good for digging into open chords and the role of snare drum opposed to fun melody maker.
Tom West		#13	[-]
(07/03/09 3:42 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Glen: If your action is going to be within normal limits at the 12th fret and normal string height over the top at the bridge,you'll have nothing to worry about. If you do hear a differance in tone while raising or lowering action a small amount,run out and get some insurance on yours ears.Just my opinion,I've never been able to detect any. Big changes ,especially in the string to top distance at the bridge are another matter.
GlenbenGurian		#14	[-]
(07/03/09 4:48 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I think Mike nailed it: I had my luthier bring the action on my new 00C down a bit, mostly at the nut; a bit is all he felt the the saddle would carry. I immediately notice a drop in volume and a little less reverberation in the body, but no change in tone. I seem to be hearing less overtones, though... I mss 'em.

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