String Height Action | How To Setup Your Electric Guitar [3/10] with Charlie Chandler

Learn how to measure your string height - the 'action' - this is key for your guitar setup!
In this ten part series we look at all the steps you need to take to setup your electric guitar with Master Guitar Technician, Charlie Chandler. In this first video we look at doing a basic condition report and assessing what might be done. We use 'the cheapest electric guitar on amazon' and we end up with something pretty cool!

It's nearly all 100% free and card details are not needed to register. You have everything to gain, and nothing to lose! My theory course is the best on the web (and one of the very few paid parts of the site) and it's awesome - if your theory is lacking and you wanna fix it - that's the place to go! At my store, you'll find a huge range of super cool guitar themed t-shirts, all my (paper) books, merch and lots more 🙂 and we got proper fun backing tracks for you to jam along with too!

[NewYorkStateSearch]

I have to say that I use metric drill bits to check the action height. I have feeler gauges and the luthier rule but I find drill bits to be very easy to use. I purchased kits with multiple small metric drill bits and I use a 2mm bit for the bass strings and a 1.5mm bit for the treble strings. My eyes are not so sharp now and it is easy to see the string rise when a small drill bit passes under it. I also use the drill bits to set the pickup heights.

[BobK]

No idea what what my action is, I lower each string until it starts choking out when bent and then just raise it slightly from there.

[georgewilkins]

These are available on eBay with both metric and imperial far cheaper than Stew Mac.

[tomzifer]

finally someone shows how to read this thing. thank you very much

[tomrudd]

This video put me in the ballpark.
I am very well pleased with the advise given and was successful in my adjustments.
I am also way cooler than I sound...Thank you.

[roddieruddie]

Pickup Height. I use Allen Head Keys, no sharp bits like drills which I started with. 3/32 and 1/8 as the Base Point.

[JMTBFLOW]

Thanks for this series, Justin. I just started messing with my set up.

[vw]

String action gauge $2 on ebay, with combination metric/imperial. 10 times that for each from stewmac (one metric, one imperial). Of course most of the world (sensibly) only uses metric.

[remingiusrentis]

Hello, I've been watching quite a number of Youtube channels, which is the standard heigh of cause it depends on someone filling of fingertip the heigh onto the fret. As for reference Guitar figuring measure, Depending on its own.

[JCs-Music]

Perfect timing, was just on your sight looking for this video and it's not on your website yet. Thanks

[simonwebster]

I'll leave a review on this action raising device, its great and easy for adjusting action, but I've found its mostly useful for cutting up lines of coke. Cuts em up perfectly. One of them tools that always has another use 🤪

[bigfilsing]

and then expresses mm in fractions GTFOH

[geckobaldy]

action is normally done without a capo. Capo is used for relief.

[macanoodough]

Thank god you got a dog. My fingertips are sore as hell from all the lessons. Maybe now that dog will slow you down enough for my fingers to heel. ;)

[JohnnyAllan-vjsj]

Forget about measuring the height. It doesn't matter. Just raise or lower each string until it feels comfortable. After all, that's the whole point. Playability is just whatever you play best with. Not having exact measurements is not gonna affect the intonation of the guitar.
Luthiers and manufacturers use exact measurements for consistency. They want all their guitars to play the same "out of the box".
Of course on a strat you wanna make sure the little saddles aren't lopsided. Other than that, you don't have to be precise.
Hopefully this saves someone the headache lol

[pumasgoya]

I tried following their instructions, but couldn't understand what they were saying.

[anttt___]

I have one of those rulers. I didn't realise that's what it's for...

[TheLoupgarou]

really want to hear it after all the set up!

[JonBA]

The man has an interesting "Kramer" look xD

[mgkatherman]

Just say what the ideal measurement is...f*ck!!!!