LOWERING THE ACTION

[k3ng5hu1]

Hey I own an Epiphone Les Paul Black Beauty, and I love it except that the action is way too high....

Now I have tried adjusting the tune o matic bridge but everytime i try to put it lower the fret buzz starts...

I've even sent it to the shop to get the nut filed down and the action has improved slightly, but its still way too high

So i was wondering if there was any other way to lower the action on this guitar..

I thought of changing the bridge entirely to a lower one but i really don't know

 

Some one help me pls

[afiez]

Tried adjusting the truss rod?

[SkEpTiKaL]

Have you gotten a complete intonation/setup done by a tech? Will probably solve the problem.

[theDeuce]

Depends on where it buzzes, a fret polish may be in order for high frets.

[GlennW]

Let's assume the nut is ok.

 

Next will be the truss rod, adjust it until it's almost straight. Before you start, make sure it's tuned to pitch with the gauge strings you'll be using. Then fret the big E at the first fret with your left hand and 17th fret with your right thumb. While holding the string down on those frets see if there's any gap between the string (the string is acting as a straightedge now) 7th-9th frets; also reach over to the 8th fret with your right pointing finger (keeping the thumb on the 17th fret) and see if the string moves a little when you tap it over the 8th fret. If there's no gap, loosen your strings, turn the TR nut 1/8-1/4 turn ccw, retune and recheck. If there's a fairly large gap, loosen the strings turh the TR nut 1/8-1/4 turn cw, retune and recheck. Repeat as necessary untill you have a very slight gap (aka neck relief).

 

After that's done try setting your string height. Fret the first fret and try to get 4 or 5/64" between the 17th fret on the big E, and 3 or 4/64" on the little E.

 

That should get you closer to what you want.

[k3ng5hu1]

Umm ok I actually have sent my guitar for a set up and most of the fret buzz is gone...

 

except for at the 15th fret, where regular fretting is fine, but when i do a full bend upwards the sound just stops abruptly...

 

do i need fret polish for this?

 

Also on the stuff GlennW said, how slight does that gap at the 8th fret have to be, and should I really be adjusting the truss rod by myself cos i heard that i could wreck my guitar if i did it wrong.

 

I don't know the guy at the shop told me that the action can only go as low as the guitar will let me, but the reviews ive read and the les pauls ive tried seemed to indicate that this guitar is capable of a much lower action than this...

[lostindesert]

Sounds to me your frets need leveling and dressing by a pro-tech.

After that you can have him adjust the trussrod, and set the action and intonation the way you want it.

 

Peter

[Dave]

Fretting out during a bend could very well be a high fret (the next one up the neck) that didn't get seated during installation. MY fix for that is to find a screwdriver with a large plastic handle and use the butt of the handle as a hammer to tap down that fret. Spread the strings and tap the next fret or two sharply a few times and re-try the bend. If that doesn't fix it you will need a fret dressing. You can also check with a fingernail to see if there is clearance under the edge of the fret. The fret edge should be flush with the fingerboard.

 

If you look at a fret edge-on out of the guitar, it is T-shaped. The bottom of the T has barbs that keep it in the slot. Frequently, I should say repeatedly, I've seen frets that didn't get seated all the way in new Epis. Maybe they pop with the climate change between China and the USA. Both of mine have had this problem and one that belongs to a friend also had a couple.

 

If you want to get really technical, walk up and down the neck checking for relief from one fret to the next. You can do this by fretting one fret and pressing the string down on the next fret. You should have some clearance when you do this. After a few frets, you will develop a feel for what it should be. Once with a lot less or no clearance indicates a high fret or the one you are fretting is low. When you find one that has almost no clearance, back up and compare to the previous to see which one is high or low. When you are satisfied that a fret is high, grab the screwdriver and tap the handle on it a few times. I recommend the screwdriver handle because everyone has that tool and the plastic handle won't mar your frets.