In my ongoing attempt to get a good used Guild 12 string, I found a GAD F-1512 for sale. Most of the pictures look good, but a picture of the string height at the end of the fretboard looks a bit high to me. I am not an expert, but many of you are. Does it look too high to you? Does it suggest a neck or bridge issue? Thanks for your help.
Guild GAD F-1512 String Height: Does this picture suggest a neck/bridge problem?
- Thread starter timacn
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Yeah there's not enough information available from that picture to deduce anything of any detail.
wileypickett
Senior Member
Typically the strings are highest at the end of the fretboard extension, and lowest at the nut.
Try it at home folks!: I just put a coin under the fretboard extension of my Goodall -- which is perfectly set up -- and there may be a tad more space between strings and frets than with the guitar you have pictured.
So, while you may not have much to worry about based on just that, there are other things to consider, as others have noted -- like how much saddle is showing, where a straight-edge laid along the frets hits the bridge, etc.
Keep us posted!
Try it at home folks!: I just put a coin under the fretboard extension of my Goodall -- which is perfectly set up -- and there may be a tad more space between strings and frets than with the guitar you have pictured.
So, while you may not have much to worry about based on just that, there are other things to consider, as others have noted -- like how much saddle is showing, where a straight-edge laid along the frets hits the bridge, etc.
Keep us posted!
SFIV1967
Venerated Member
For setup purposes you measure the correct string height (= "action") always at the 12th fret! (should be max around 6/64" at the E and 4/64" at the e strings).
And before you even do this you need to make sure the truss rod is adjusted correctly. For checking and setting the truss rod correctly you fret the neck at the first fret with a capo, press the string down at the 14th fret and measure the clearance at the 6th and 7th fret (clearance perfect if you can slip a normal business card under the strings there). If that is done you measure the action at the 12th fret. (see the Frets.com article as quoted above).
So that coin picture at the end of the fretboard has no meaning.
Ralf
And before you even do this you need to make sure the truss rod is adjusted correctly. For checking and setting the truss rod correctly you fret the neck at the first fret with a capo, press the string down at the 14th fret and measure the clearance at the 6th and 7th fret (clearance perfect if you can slip a normal business card under the strings there). If that is done you measure the action at the 12th fret. (see the Frets.com article as quoted above).
So that coin picture at the end of the fretboard has no meaning.
Ralf
Brucebubs
Senior Member
Here's my red F-412 with a metric ruler - about 2.25mm at the 12th fret.
Westerly Wood
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In my ongoing attempt to get a good used Guild 12 string, I found a GAD F-1512 for sale. Most of the pictures look good, but a picture of the string height at the end of the fretboard looks a bit high to me. I am not an expert, but many of you are. Does it look too high to you? Does it suggest a neck or bridge issue? Thanks for your help.
it definitely looks too high to me, from this picture angle. still, hard to really know.