String height — How low is low enough?

The action, meaning the height of the strings above the frets, directly affects how comfortable the instrument is to play. High strings take more effort, while strings set too low can buzz or choke notes.

There's no single ideal measurement for everyone. Hard picking, bends, slide and bass playing all need different margins. Tuning, strings and the instrument's construction play a part too.

Before the bridge comes down, the neck relief, the nut and the condition of the frets are checked. The intonation check comes after. The aim is a setup that combines comfort with clean notes for the way you play.