How To Adjust the Action on Your Electric Guitar

Learn how to adjust the action on an electric guitar, in this example using a Gibson Les Paul.

In this episode of "Gibson's Guide to Guitar Setup and Maintenance," Gibson Master Luthier Jim DeCola demonstrates the correct way to adjust the action on your electric guitar. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned professional, Jim will give you pro tips on action adjustment and how to measure it accurately.

The action on your guitar determines the overall playability of your instrument. In general, if your action is too high, your guitar may feel difficult to play. If your action is too low, it may result in string buzzing. Other factors in setting your action can include the guitar you’re using, your choice of strings and the style of music you’re playing.

Watch as Jim explains exactly what the action on your guitar means, how different guitar strings may affect action and how the genre you play may dictate how high or low your guitar's action should be. In addition, Jim gives you practical advice on how to setup your Les Paul guitar, how to take measurements when setting the action in 64ths of an inch as well as advice on how to adjust a tune-o-matic bridge thumbscrew as well as a tune-o-Matic bridge with hex wrench fixture as found on a Gibson Flying V. It's worth noting, that although Jim is showing you how top adjust the action on a Les Paul, these tips are transferrable to most guitars. Electric guitar action adjustment doesn't need to be complicated, it just takes a little time and some patience, and with Jim DeCola's advice, your guitar will be ready to play in no time!


#gibsontv #gibson #actionadjustment

Chapters:
0:00 What is action on a guitar?
0:57 Does changing strings affect action on a guitar?
1:48 Tips before you adjust action on a guitar
2:02 Tools you need
2:51 Taking measurements - 64ths of an inch
3:49 Tool tips
4:54 Adjusting the action
7:32 Raising or lowering the action
8:13 Adjusting hex wrench bridges

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[TennisLover]

Action measurements at 1st and 12th fret:
1st fret - 1/64" for high E string and 2/64" for low E string from top of fret to bottom of string (use a thin pick for high E string and heavy pic for low E string)
12th fret - 3/64" for high E string and 5/64" for low E string from top of fret to bottom of string (use a dime for high E string and a nickel for low E string)
Thank you Jim! You just saved me a bunch of time. I will eventually get my guitar adjusted from a professional, but for now this should work.

[oleo]

The banging you hear in the background at 6:55 is someone trying to tune a guitar with a Floyd Rose.

[jimyang]

Damn, Gibson is catching up on the Youtube game

[shazbatagatha]

Great to know this as guitarists, we should know how to fix our own issues

[chrisruef]

Not sure why but I was always worried about messing up something and I don't even know what that something was?

[glaucosouza]

Wish i knew that business card tip 30 years ago. . .Signs of Love on my 92' LP Custom.

[Wargasm]

I don’t use needle nose. I use my ESP multi spanner tool that came with my Eclipse. Works fine on Gibson’s. They sell them on eBay for a few bucks. The ESP branded one is about 10$. But they work on toggle switches, output jacks, tailpieces, etc. a handy tool to have. The Gibson multi tool also has a string height gauge. 👊🏻

[WoodesosGuitarMods]

I think me and a handful of other repair guys on YouTube have shown this a zillion times. I'm positive if I showed up using needle nose pliers to lower or raise the bridge wheels, I'd have a comment section of people telling me I shouldn't do this for fear of slipping and ruining the guitar top. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one with some questionable methods that actually work;-) Love you Gibson.

[John_Doe]

Wow. I can play guitar for hours n hours but this? To have a guitartech is a blessing for sure.

[hkguitar]

Great content.
Always a good idea to watch anything a Master Luthier does to a guitar.
Thank You Jim.

[nevillegreg]

Nicely explained, just would be convenient for you also mentioned or put up on screen the metric equivalent measurement. Just about all my measuring tools are metric.

[rosquinha]

American measurements: 1/64th, dime, nickel

[jwt]

Thank you so much for making these videos and sharing the wisdom of Jim DeCola!! I just picked up my very first Gibson Les Paul, a 2005 Les Paul Studio Swamp Ash. These videos have been invaluable as I finally got the neck and action setup properly. Now I understand why people love Gibson Les Paul guitars and why only a Gibson is good enough!! Thank you!!

[vincentbeaupre]

Thank you!! You saved me from bringing my guitar to the luthier 😊

[hmax]

Thanks you Mr Decola for all the advice. It's just like a lutherie course! I have a question. What about the adjustment of stopbar? How I have to adjust its height?

[mouseanalyse]

For us Europeans, could you add the metric conversions, e.g. in subtitles or text balloon overlay? Or make a separate metric vs 64ths of an inch video? I’m not used to measuring in inches, so it’s difficult to understand.

[synonyx]

A year later I still look back on these. Jim is solid GOLD in these videos. Other manufacturers should take note of this as their videos are nothing compared to these! So easy to understand and easy to see everything.

[TheSoulsandRevive]

Great video, very informative. Looking forward to the 'Gibson Acoustic' making process episodes! Cheers

[BRZDR]

Just got my first Gibson, 2016 Les Paul Studio in gloss black. Fucking love it. Watching all of your videos and have pretty much set it up as I like it. Low e was being a pain with intonation which had me really pay attention to the state of the neck, string gauges, my overall goals, etc. Really happy with how it is now, thanks for all your help!

[whittlad]

love these guitar set up videos and Jim certainly knows his trade. That said, why cant a giant corporation like Gibson that sell products world wide offer the measurements for the instructional videos in both imperial and METRIC! The World isn't flat Gibson and the metric system has been out for over 200 years!!