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Best Way to Measure String Height?   You are logged in as Guest
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NeZ

 

Posts: 96
Joined: Feb. 14 2007
 

Best Way to Measure String Height? 
A major point of comparison between guitars always seems to be string height at the 12th fret.

I'm currently shopping for a guitar and would like to know the best way to measure this. I'd also like to get an accurate measurement of my current guitar for comparison purposes.

Eyeballing it isn't very accurate, especially when looking at guitars at different stores several days or weeks apart.

So, is there a tool that's used for this that I can purchase or do people just use a ruler?

Also, is the height measured from the top of the actual metal fret to the bottom of the string or is it measured from the fingerboard to the bottom of the string?

Thanks!

Cory
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Mar. 12 2008 7:28:42
 
jshelton5040

Posts: 1500
Joined: Jan. 17 2005
 

RE: Best Way to Measure String Height? (in reply to NeZ) 
quote:

ORIGINAL: NeZ

A major point of comparison between guitars always seems to be string height at the 12th fret.

Cory

I've always measured it from the top of the fret to the bottom of the string. Get yourself a six inch ruler with mm on one side and inches on the other, it's an extremely handy tool for many other things as well and you can slip it in your pocket. 3mm or lower on the 6th string at the twelth fret is best for a flamenco.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Mar. 12 2008 11:34:30
 
NeZ

 

Posts: 96
Joined: Feb. 14 2007
 

RE: Best Way to Measure String Height? (in reply to NeZ) 
Thanks for the tip. Is the 3mm for the low E string, the high E string, or both?

I checked my current guitar again last night. I had measured it with a ruler a while back and thought it was pretty bad at 5mm. But that was from the finger board to the bottom of the string, measuring from the top of the fret it's only 4mm; still not ideal but not too far off.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Mar. 13 2008 6:57:38
 
jshelton5040

Posts: 1500
Joined: Jan. 17 2005
 

RE: Best Way to Measure String Height? (in reply to NeZ) 
quote:

ORIGINAL: NeZ

Thanks for the tip. Is the 3mm for the low E string, the high E string, or both?

measuring from the top of the fret it's only 4mm; still not ideal but not too far off.

6th string is the low e. If your neck is staight and frets level 4mm is almost unplayable for flamenco (strictly my opinion you understand). If possible you should lower your actiion.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Mar. 13 2008 9:26:17
 
Douglas Ingram

 

Posts: 4
Joined: Mar. 12 2008
 

RE: Best Way to Measure String Height? (in reply to NeZ) 
Feeler guages, like a mechanic would use, are very effective.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Mar. 13 2008 1:18:39
 
Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006
 

RE: Best Way to Measure String Height? (in reply to NeZ) 
Stewmac have a little gismo, I think its called a stringheight gauge. I love it and use it a lot. Not only meassuring stringheight but also setting up routers etc.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Mar. 13 2008 8:12:13
 
cigany

Posts: 83
Joined: Jan. 30 2008
From: USA

RE: Best Way to Measure String Height? (in reply to NeZ) 
www.stewmac.com sells a cool little ruler called the "string action gauge".
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Mar. 13 2008 15:36:48
 
Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006
 

RE: Best Way to Measure String Height? (in reply to NeZ) 
Yeah, thats the one. At first I thought it was another kids toyshop thing from stewmac, but I use it all the time.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Mar. 14 2008 6:40:41
 
Ricardo

Posts: 14806
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Best Way to Measure String Height? (in reply to NeZ) 
quote:

Best Way to Measure String Height?


Play it.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Mar. 14 2008 17:40:06
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