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Question: Guitar String Question!?
I have a beginner's acoustic (western) guitar I have been practicing with!. I've heard that sometimes a guitar (especially an inexpensive one) can have too much "play" where the strings are too far away from the fretboard!. Is there a way to determine this (without taking it to a store)!? If there is too much play is it fixable!? Thanks!Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
It's called the guitars "action"!. Higher action is thought to produce a more robust sound, but it makes playing the guitar (fretting) much harder, especially as you go up the neck!. It's really a personal preference thing!. Lowering action on an acoustic is a pretty involved process, and can cause intonation problems!. If it's a cheap guitar, it's often not worth it!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

Hi Baldis

First thing, to do is to put !.009 extra light gauge on the neck!. This will ease the tension by 100 pound, believe it or not!.

Now, from the headstock, put your 1st finger on the 1st fret and with the other hand, finger the 12th fret!.
Look towards the 7th fret!. The neck shold be slightly bowed by about 1/8" clearance between string and fingerboard!.

Now, loosen the 3 & 4th string!.
IF THEIR is more, than turn the truss rod 1/4 turn clockwise and repeat until you have attained 1/8" clearance!. Retune 3 & 4 and see if you need more adjustment!. Loosen string 3 & 4 and repeat as necessary!.

Once this is done, you can lower the saddle (white piece on the bridge) by filing it down until you reach the desired height!.

All these procedures will soften the action and make the guitar easier to play!.Www@QuestionHome@Com