How DO you lower the action on acoustic guitars?

[MarkMono]

I'm taking my wee Fender acoustic into Southside Music on Sunday to have the action on it lowered as the prospect of modifying acoustic instruments terrifies me. It just occurred to me though, how the france do they do it?

[Kenny Everett]

Combination of various things, much the same principle as an electric. You have variables such as the truss rod, bridge height (you can file the bridge or add shims for extra height) and the nut height.

[MarkMono]

Damn, I was hoping against hope that there was a more interesting answer.

There is no wonder left in the world.

[monkey star]

Faiydust and rainbows lower the action.

[MarkMono]

Yay!

Seriously though, I might just do it myself. Out of all the modifications to all of my guitars, I've only broken one so far.

[Kenny Everett]

As long as you've got a truss rod key that fits and a few wee files there are enough guides on the net to have a go at it yourself.

Only thing i would say is make sure that you've a fresh set of strings on it before you do the final adjustments, never adjust a guitar that has old ones on it.

[djtoast]

donate thousands of pounds to the scientologists, and then just maybe, if the electricity in your fingers is just right (as measured by and handy, if pricey, device) L. Ron will let you have a lower action.

[MarkMono]

Originally Posted by Kenny Everett

Only thing i would say is make sure that you've a fresh set of strings on it before you do the final adjustments, never adjust a guitar that has old ones on it.

Any reason apaart from the obvious?

[Kenny Everett]

Ideally you want a blank canvas so to speak. Old strings are prone to stretching and deforming, thus you may not get a true indication of the adjustments you make. It becomes particularly crucial when you're doing things like intonation and the like.

Seriously, have a swatch on google and have a try if you feel ok about it!

I'll send you over a bag of fairy dust if it all goes tits up

[monkey star]

Then when its in the custody of Royal mail do the queen for possesion.

[TheFallenAngel]

I just lower the action on mine with a crew driver.
Adjustable bridge ftw

[J.M]

if its of any value to you either musically,sentimentally or financially dont risk it! If not, get in about it!

[MarkMono]

I'm doing it myself because I care about it.

[J.M]

good luck!

im pretty decent with fixing and setting things up but i wouldnt go near my acoustic!

[PAPA LAZEROU]

Originally Posted by MarkMono

I'm taking my wee Fender acoustic into Southside Music on Sunday to have the action on it lowered as the prospect of modifying acoustic instruments terrifies me. It just occurred to me though, how the france do they do it?

It can be done the usual way with electrics..ie truss rod adjustment or nut adjustment, but by doing this you can cause the guitar to buss like crazy on the frets and then you need to stone and reprofile the frets(thats saying that the frets have enough height on the to allow this).

A more interesting answer for you would be to lower the bridge height by planing it down and very very VERY carefully reshaping it and re-routing out the saddle slot(a huge heap of hassle but great fun to do). Another way is to do a neck reset. This entails completely removing the neck from the body and carefully re-carving the dovetail joint so that the neck sits at the correct angle. BEWARE though...this is NOT a job that is in any means easy to do, you will need quite a bit of experience working with wood and guitars in general. The neck reset is usually a last resort to lower the action but it works 100% of the time.....then the tough bit is retouching up all the damage done when removing the neck(my specialty heheh).

Hope this was of help to ya dude.

Stu