The Gretsch Pages: Discussions: Other Players: Setzer's action?

Setzer's action?

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- Rated: 22 ↑
Sep 26, 2008 5:53 a.m. Konrad:

This has probably been done to death, but I'm curious... Does Setzer use a high action on his guitars? What's his set up? I know he likes light strings, but anyone know more?

K
- Rated: 12 ↑
Sep 26, 2008 6:57 a.m. jonhope:

Konrad said: Does Setzer use a high action on his guitars? What's his set up? I know he likes light strings, but anyone know more?

Hi,

The following information is taken from Dan Erlewine's "Electric Guitar Owners Manual" book quoting Mr TV Jones:

Strings: D'Addario EXL 110's

Relief: 0.15" at the 9th fret

Action (at 12th fret) 5/64" (bass side) and 5.5/64" (treble side)

Nut: 0.018" (bass side) and 0.011" (treble side)

Mr TV Jones says "Brian prefers a loose, high, almost country-style action"

I hope this is of some use

Cheers
- Rated: 9 ↑
Sep 26, 2008 7:38 a.m. Sjolte:

So, his action is higher on the 12th fret treble side. That's a bit weird. But over all it confirms what I was suspecting, i.e. that his action wasn't that low...

Thanks for the info.
- Rated: 28 ↑
Sep 26, 2008 9:25 a.m. troy6120:

johnhope, thanks for posting that. It is very, very interesting to find out how other guitar players like their guitars set up (in measurements). I started a thread awhile back, asking Dynasonic users to simply measure the distance from the top of the pickup casings on both pickups to the bottom of the low and high-E strings on either side. I got very limited response, though some did come through. I was a new Dyna-equipped Gretsch owner, and searching for what was right for me, and curious as to what other players had decided on for themselves. I was surprised that few shared the same interest in this as I did, considering how in most other departments, we are a bunch of serious nitpickers.
- Rated: 9 ↑
Sep 26, 2008 9:56 a.m. Sjolte:

BTW you can still find the gallery with descriptions of Brian's guitars here even though there is no link on the current Brian Setzer homepage.
- Rated: 6 ↑
Sep 26, 2008 9:56 a.m. cat mensch:

Light strings and higher action -- not a bad solution. I do the opposite. But it seems to work for Brian OK... more than OK!
- Rated: 74 ↑
Sep 26, 2008 1:36 p.m. bonedaddy:

It's funny, I was reading an article somewhere a while back, and the gist of it was, you'd be surprised at how many pro players have action that's higher than you'd expect. The reason, it gave; tone. They didn't want to sacrifice tone for playability. I guess it boils down to your physical comfort zone, while still having a decent tone and sustain.
- Rated: 22 ↑
Sep 29, 2008 1:38 a.m. Konrad:

Thanks, dudes...
- Rated: 93 ↑
Sep 29, 2008 7:42 a.m. Pappy:

I'm just curious, how does higher action give you better tone?
- Rated: 31 ↑
Sep 29, 2008 7:51 a.m. Danman:

Hi Pappy,
Just try it. I do that sometimes just for fun. I turn the wheels of the bridge exactly two whole turns up or so, so I can turn it down to exactly the old height again. And then retune. Your strings can vibrate more freely and you have a more powerful, fuller tone.
Sometimes it is nice to just play that way for a while and going back (or something slightly higher than you had before) is very liberating then because your fingers are stronger too. Up higher I notice that I don't try to play too fast and too many notes and I actually listen better to what I'm doing because I have to work harder.
- Rated: 11 ↑
Sep 29, 2008 7:53 a.m. Charlie Vegas:

Higher action will increase string tension by increasing the break angle at the bridge. This will have some effect on tone and sustain.
- Rated: 31 ↑
Sep 29, 2008 8:03 a.m. Danman:

That too of course but I have a feeling that that could never have as much effect on the tone as that the strings can vibrate more freely does. Because a slightly higher action can make a huge difference and that doesn't change the breakangle that much.

I actually have a 59 Annie that needs a neck reset. The strings are too high and there is vitually no break angle over the bridge. And it still has a very powerfull tone, much more powerfull that my 1960 6120 with normal action, Of course there are tone differences between those guitars but in many ways they are the same.
- Rated: 93 ↑
Sep 29, 2008 9:07 a.m. Pappy:

Hmmmmmm...
- Rated: 31 ↑
Sep 29, 2008 9:13 a.m. Danman:

Hmmmmmm...

I gather you are not convinced to try it?
- Rated: 93 ↑
Sep 29, 2008 9:37 a.m. Pappy:

Hmmmmmm...
- Rated: 93 ↑
Sep 29, 2008 9:52 a.m. Pappy:

Hmmmmmm...
- Rated: 47 ↑
Sep 29, 2008 9:59 a.m. Timthom62:

Hmmmmmm...?
- Rated: 93 ↑
Sep 29, 2008 11:28 a.m. Pappy:

Hmmmmmm...
- Rated: 93 ↑
Sep 29, 2008 11:33 a.m. Pappy:

Hm. Didn't mean to post so many times.
- Rated: 93 ↑
Sep 29, 2008 11:37 a.m. Pappy:

Hm. Didn't mean to post so many times.
- Rated: 47 ↑
Sep 29, 2008 11:37 a.m. Timthom62:

Ahhhhhh.......UmmmmmmHmmmmmm...
- Rated: 47 ↑
Sep 29, 2008 11:37 a.m. Timthom62:

Hmmmmmmmmm...
- Rated: 93 ↑
Sep 29, 2008 11:45 a.m. Pappy:

Hm. Didn't mean to post so many times.
- Rated: 31 ↑
Sep 29, 2008 11:49 a.m. Danman:

Well if you won't raise your action and just want to hmmmm, maybe try this instead:

oooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmm
aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmm
hhhhhhhhhhhrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiimmmmmmmm
hhhhhhhhhhrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiimmmmmmm
hhhhhhhhhrrrrrrrrrrruuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmm
- Rated: 66 ↑
Sep 29, 2008 11:57 a.m. Walter Broes:

Higher action increases resonance, because there's more tension on the strings, so there's more pressure on the bridge, sending more string resonance into the guitar body.

Resonance is diametrically opposed to sustain though, and contrary to popular belief, higher action and bigger strings will usually not get more sustain from a guitar.