Electric guitar action height
On an electric guitar, action is set at the bridge saddles once the neck relief is right. Fender's Stratocaster setup guide gives 4/64″ (1.59 mm) on both the low and high E, measured at the 17th fret, for necks with a 9.5″ to 12″ radius, and 0.010″ (0.25 mm) of relief. PRS measures at the 12th fret instead: 1.5–1.9 mm (0.059–0.075″) on the bass side and 1.4–1.8 mm (0.055–0.071″) on the treble side, with 0.13–0.25 mm (0.005–0.010″) of relief.
Electric guitar action, Fender and PRS
Low and high E, neck relief and measuring fret, as Fender and PRS publish them.
| Instrument | Low (mm) | High (mm) | Relief (mm) | Fret |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fender electric | 1.6 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 17 |
| PRS electric | 1.5–1.9 | 1.4–1.8 | 0.1–0.3 | 12 |
Fender Support — How do I set up my Stratocaster guitar properly?
How to use it
- Tune to pitch with the strings you actually play. Capo the 1st fret, hold the low E at the last fret and check the gap at the 8th with a feeler gauge: that's your relief.
- Measure from the top of the 17th fret (Fender) or the 12th fret (PRS) to the underside of the low and high E, and enter both readings.
- Move each side of the bridge by the amount shown, retune and measure again.
Help and explanations
The two specs don't contradict each other; they're taken at different frets. Pick Fender or PRS in the tool, enter what you measured at that fret, and the page tells you how far to raise or lower each side of the bridge.
Saddle screws, thumbwheels and the 17th-fret ratio
On a Strat or Tele each saddle has two small height screws; turn both by the same amount so the saddle stays level. On a Les Paul–style tune-o-matic the thumbwheels at each end raise or lower the whole bridge, one side at a time.
Because Fender measures at the 17th fret, about 405 mm (15.9″) from the nut on a 25.5″ scale, the saddle has to move 1.6 times the change you want there. Going from 2.0 mm to 1.6 mm at the 17th (roughly 5/64″ to 4/64″) means lowering the saddle 0.64 mm (0.025″). At the 12th fret, where PRS measures, the ratio is 2 to 1: to drop 0.5 mm there, lower the saddle 1.0 mm.
Relief, nut and when it's the frets
Set relief first, because it changes action in the middle of the neck. If the gap at the 8th is bigger than 0.010″, tighten the truss rod slightly; if the string touches the 8th fret, loosen it. A quarter turn at a time is plenty, and the neck needs a few minutes to settle.
If open chords feel stiff and play sharp while the 12th-fret action is in spec, the nut slots are too high, not the saddles. If a bend frets out at a single spot, a fret is high or loose: that's fret leveling, not a setup tweak.
Tips
- Raising or lowering a saddle also shifts that string's octave slightly: re-check each one with the intonation checker.
- Going from 9s to 10s or 11s adds pull and a little relief; see how much in the string tension calculator before touching the truss rod.
- Cutting a new nut or swapping the bridge? See electric guitar string spacing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard action on an electric guitar?
Fender's spec for 9.5″–12″ radius necks is 4/64″ (1.59 mm) on both E strings at the 17th fret. PRS measures at the 12th: 1.5–1.9 mm on the low E and 1.4–1.8 mm on the high E.
What should electric guitar action be at the 12th fret in mm?
PRS's range is a good target: 1.5–1.9 mm (0.059–0.075″) on the bass side and 1.4–1.8 mm (0.055–0.071″) on the treble side. Players who dig in or play slide stay near the top of the range.
How much neck relief should an electric guitar have?
Fender: 0.010″ (0.25 mm) at the 8th fret, with a capo at the 1st and the string held at the last fret. PRS: 0.005–0.010″ (0.13–0.25 mm).
How much do I lower the saddle to drop action at the 17th fret?
1.6 times the change. To lose 0.4 mm at the 17th on a 25.5″ scale, lower the saddle 0.64 mm. At the 12th fret the factor is 2.
What string height at the nut is right?
PRS lists 0.5–0.7 mm (0.020–0.028″) between the open string and the 1st fret. Higher slots make the first frets hard to press and pull notes sharp.
Why does my guitar buzz when the action is in spec?
Check relief first. If both match the specs and the buzz sits on one fret, that fret is high or lifting.