1st Fret String Height:

Inspector #20

Inspector #20

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What's a good measurement here??? I'm struggling to get the first fret height on one of my Von Herndon's where i want it. The unfretted height at the 1st fret is around .030" and unfretted action at the 12th is about .050" or thereabouts.

My issue comes when playing open chords in the 1st/2nd frets. The height of the string is pulling the notes sharp.

How low do you set the 1st fret height???
 
Robert Herndon said:
What's a good measurement here??? I'm struggling to get the first fret height on one of my Von Herndon's where i want it. The unfretted height at the 1st fret is around .030" and unfretted action at the 12th is about .050" or thereabouts.

My issue comes when playing open chords in the 1st/2nd frets. The height of the string is pulling the notes sharp.

How low do you set the 1st fret height???
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As I understand it, it should be approximately the same as the height of the string above the second fret with a capo on the first fret. However, I go slightly higher than that and then lower until I am no longer sharp. That way I have some room to spare for thicker strings, aggressive playing and wear on the nut slots.
 
If you fret just past the 2nd fret, look at string gap, or lack of, at the 1st fret. Should be .010 or less. I usually shoot for less, but of coarse you don't want the string to contact the first fret before the second fret.
 
Thanks, Gentlemen...I just checked my Destroyer and the six string side of my Doublneck. Both have a 1st fret height of .010" when fretting at the second fret...this should be a good starting point.
 
So, the fret level and crown cured the funky intonation anomaly I was experiencing on this guitar. It also balanced the overall intonation effect across the lower frets.

Just a few more adjustments, and wiring in the bridge coil tap, and this one is finished....
 
I am very close to the mark with intonation. I don't play most of my guitars in a professional group situation. My work guitars need to be and stay in perfect tune. Tia made this small happy group of like minded musicians grow in to different sections. Brass, strings and rhythm. Some nights we have 30 people on the stage at one time. My out of tune guitar will stick out like a sore thumb. I should make it look like a sore thumb. That is why I have a clip on Peterson and the big desk top Peterson tuners. I record guitar parts for a friend that has a studio in NYC and intonation is really important because I have no idea what situation my music will be in.
 
The Graphtec instructions say around 0.010" clearance at the first fret if gently fretting the string to the 3rd fret, I think.
I just eyeball until the closest / lowest string gets around there and either adjust the other slots or just live with it.

Depends on the radius of the nut vs. the board.
 
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