assuming my nut and saddle...

[dadgad7]

are set at the proper height,

 

should I have a small degree of neck relief? at least I believe that is the term,

 

you know where the neck dips slightly in the middle of the fretboard.

 

Is that ideally what I want for the best action and sound?

 

I'm definitely a novice, but I don't want to screw up even a cheap guitar.

[Freeman Keller]

First, "Is My Guitar Sick" - sticky, top of this page.

Next, the reasons why

http://www.bryankimsey.com/setup/neck_relief_1.htm

[JasmineTea]

Personal preference. I have very little relief on my guitars so that the action is just about uniform all the way up. Neck is just about straight. I don't have feeler guages but I can almost fit 3 Fender mediums between the low E and the 12th fret, same on the high E. This is the best way to get close action all the way up. You may want to have the board leveled. A perfectly leveled board will allow you closer action.

[Freeman Keller]

One business card - cool
Two business cards - marginal
Three business cards - bad

A business card is about 0.010 inch

[JasmineTea]

Originally posted by Freeman Keller One business card - cool Two business cards - marginal Three business cards - bad A business card is about 0.010 inch

Are talking about mearsuring at the 12th fret?

[Freeman Keller]

sixth or seventh, capoed at one, held down at 12. If you use feeler gauges a better measurement is 0.004 to 0.010. I'm liking 0.006, altho my dread is at 0.010.




If you look at the picture you'll see why too much relief makes the tops frets buzz, too little, the lower ones.

[Dave W.]

That article by Bryan Kimsey is really quite a read. I had to go over it three times over three days before it really sunk in, but it makes sense. I am easing my OM-21 into that setup, but I went a bit low with the saddle when I first set it up and will have to make a new one or shim it to get down to .008 relief.

[JasmineTea]

Not even one business card on my Larrivee. (chuckles) But it does have slight relief. It's visable when looking down from the bridge. Does'nt buzz.

[Freeman Keller]

Originally posted by JasmineTea Not even one business card on my Larrivee. (chuckles) But it does have slight relief. It's visable when looking down from the bridge. Does'nt buzz.

 

 

Perfect