How and Why To Set The Action On A Strat For Blues

In this video I'll show you how I setup the action on my Strats, and why. I'll explain how I determine the correct height of the first string and how I set the height of the other strings relative to that.

[yllfmhw]

I just got this action after hours and months fiddling around trying to learn set up with trial and error. When my setup was like this I instantly got 50% faster and my guitar sustains perfectly now. It’s perfect. Listen to this video!!!!

[ubgodinez]

This is the ultimate tutorial about the action's set up on every guitar. Thanks a lot for sharing.

[williamj.sheehan]

I'm really late to this discussion, but for what it's worth...

1) Very enjoyable and informative video here! Great information!

2) My longtime method for setting string height is kind of low-tech, but it has worked really well for me throughout the years. I call it "a Quarter's worth of action."

Quite simply, I aim to set the height of the strings so that I can JUST BARELY slide a Quarter under them at the location of the 16th and 17th frets. I rest the Quarter on top of those two frets so that it spans them like a bridge over a river. I work with the 6th and 5th strings (as a pair) initially, then scoot the Quarter underneath the 4th and 3rd strings, and then finally underneath the 2nd and 1st strings. Ideally, I like to get it so that, when plucked gently, each string sits just high enough above the Quarter to be able to ring clearly and without buzzing against the top of the Quarter. This process gives me a nice medium-low action, and gets the strings following the fretboard radius with pretty good accuracy. That's my story and... 😊

[hhattingh]

Seven years later and still absolutely gold. Got myself a 7.25 and kept on fretting out. I Assumed it is just a matter of getting used to it, but this makes things so much better. Thank you for generously sharing.

[NthingIsTrue]

I know this is an old video but it was exactly what I was looking for, thanks a lot Anthony!

[alvinuselton]

This is really a great video. I now know what has been the source of my trouble and how to correct it. Thank you sir. This should be required in beginner lessons

[MajorKassad]

The best explanation of setting up a guitar for blues

[jimmyjaylinssen]

This is so much better than all those video's talking about measurements

[jamsb]

Damn! How you played, What you were playing, the tone! So so good. Could listen all day

[gritsguitar]

This makes so much sense....thank you....have not heard this anywhere what I need.

[markkromer]

This channel is so good. I can watch it all weekend.

[Weeble_Warbles]

As someone who bought a used strat and set up my guitar on my own to factory specs I know feel I have to go back and redo the whole process. Excellent video.

[PPoyares]

Actually, most of the string's action configurations have this shape on the saddles because of the neck curvature, what helps to avoid buzzing. In my modest opinion, the best configuration for blues/shuffle goes with a quiet high 0.11 string action on E flat tunning on a strat. But great tips anyway, very clear and useful. Thanks for sharing these tips with us buddy!

[GuitarType]

I find that high action makes it easier to bend notes, strum more aggressively, and overall get more enjoyment out of playing guitar

[francescosisto]

Wow, you just made my power chords playing so much easier!, I kept hitting the G string, not anymore now after raising the top 3 strings a little. Thank you

[thepiperofsimms]

That was dynamite ! I followed your (lead) and tried that pattern. It feels real nice. What a fantastic vid ! Thank you from Yuma, AZ.

[ckjjclan]

This makes WAY TO MUCH SENSE!!!! Thank you, I will try this, I know you are not "telling" me this is what you should do, but you describe feelings (e.g., the squeezing and digging for the string feelings) that I have on my two guitars. I have had the guy who set up the guitars say "You've got a good low action - makes it really easy to play" - Well for strumming cords it is, but now I am wondering if playing the lead stuff is being hindered because of the digging and squeezing I do. That describes the feeling I have precisely. I'll let you know after I make a change to my prized white MIM start ($499 worth of Fender goodness... LOL).

[chiman]

Best action explanation for strat. Thank you

[vijelieable]

Thank you! Bends and overlaping strings are easier to manage for me now!

[McSlobo]

Awesome. I just started playing, have read stuff about different action heights. Sure the low action felt easier for a beginner but I can tell you this made bending a lot easier and as a bonus the guitar sounds much better because there's now zero buzz.