EASY Acoustic Guitar Action Improvement - string height Adjustment - simple tools 

you had me at "hi"

Best video I've seen on the subject. Straight talking, no nonsense, everything you need to know explained really well.

There are too many negative comments here. So let me set the record straight. I followed your instructions on a brand new Seagull Artist Studio. And I've got the action down perfect. Didn't need to adjust the truss rod or the nut, only cut the saddle one string at a time. No buzzing and it plays great.Thanks

Exceptionally well explained! I follow your outlined procedure almost to the "T". I too have played for over 50 years, 38+ years as a full-time professional, and have been repairing guitars for about 45 years as well. MY dad was also an electronics guy and a very crafty, meticulous builder of many things all the way up from model planes to ultra light planes and gyro-copters. Seems you and I have a lot in common. Now subscribed!

Been doing something like this for 45 years. Thanks for teaching me the right way, outstanding.

Great logical sequence with excellent explanation of each step-by-step action - Thanks

What a great, straightforward explanation, I think I’ve been overthinking and winging it all these years

I enjoyed this. You're a good teacher. I've been adjusting my electric guitars for years. But I never messed with acoustics. This was very helpful. Thank you!

Excellent tutorial. Finally a method that makes sense, without all the rocket science. Thank you

Thank you Mr Roger Brainard. I understand and comprehend everything you said but you blew my mind with sharing and demonstrating with the most common tools that any guitar player has. I'm speaking Acoustic setups. You simplified it perfectly. Thanks again 5 Star rating 5 equals 110%

Loved your very clear explanation! One thing which I don't think you mentioned, but a lot of people are confused by this - it doesn't matter if the truss rod adjusts at the headstock or body end: it's always righty tighty lefty loosey!

Oh my God, you are a hero! Man, i just got a second hand Takamine, and the action was far higher than my old one. I was regretting the purchase until this.

Great tutorial, been playing for 55 years and I learned some new stuff!

Thank you so much for this video. I had this guitar forever with such a high action. It increatble to driffrent it made shaving down the bridges. It never been touch in like 15 years. This guitar so easy to play now. Thank you so much

Great video. I was concerned about the sequence of neck/strings adjustments and he cleared that up right away. Thanks.

Excellent tutorial, clearly demonstrated - thanks. Everyone I've come across take the saddle out and sand the bottom edge so the radius stays the same. However, that only works if it has the original saddle, properly radiused. NB: I wish all manufacturers had truss rod access from the sound hole instead of having to take off a cover at the head. Great job.

This is an excellent tutorial. Your approach is so clear and methodical. Many thanks for posting.

Great instructional video Roger. Enjoyed the simplicity of it. Am so thankful !

Thanks. Watched a few vids on this and found your instructions were really nice and clear. Appreciate the guidance.

WOW! Thanks for this video! I have never attempted to do a setup on a guitar. To hear some people's opinion on this, you'd think a guitar set up is comparable to rocket science! Someone gave me a vintage Aria guitar that had sat in a closet for years and was in dire need of help. After watching this video I went ahead and and did everything as you instructed. Sidenote: The action was way high, and the neck had a slight bow before. Now the action is considerably lower and more playable without loss of intonation, and no fret buzz! I think, like you said. "Take it slow" is key in the process here. Thanks again! This is a concise, and straightforward video.

Mine was consistantly high across the bridge. Took the piece out and filed the bottom keeping it perfectly straight, but took off about 1/8th inch. Worked perfectly.

thank you for posting .. i have never found an acoustic that the action and string height impressed me ..i did play a d-45 martin that was unbelievable.. i like extremely low strings no buzz..that is a beautiful guitar you have in this video.....

Fabtastic! Thank you so much i was not sure if i could do this type of work myself, but thanks to your excellent video i now have to confidence to go ahead. Venuss - London UK x

Best video on the subject that I've seen. Well done.

Every othe tutorial has people set the nut height first. Your way of doing the saddle first with the capo on the first fret makes way more sense to me. Takes one part out of the equation. Thank you sir.

Awesome video Roger. Thank you for this. Been struggling a bit with setup on my Charvel 12-string and thanks to you it is once again fun to play.

Man your voice is relaxing lol. I literally was watching this and fell asleep, just woke up 30 min later and had to rewatch the vid 😂. Not saying your boring or nothing ,I love the vid just exhausted today from work and your voice is just soothing

This helped me adjust my action with no issues. Thanks for the nice video!

A very well done video. The instructions and explanations are clear and easy to understand. Thanks.

What a great video, so informative. Thanks for sharing your expertise, it's really appreciated. I always wondered how to lower the action on an acoustic...now I know!!

I have set up a few electric guitars,and recently my son came home with a cheapie Dean acoustic with a very high action and slightly bowed neck.. Having never worked on an acoustic..I first adjusted the truss rod getting the bow out of the neck I removed all the strings and removed the bridge discovered 2 plastic shims I removed both ,restrung and tuned up. It was better BUT I thought if I sanded a bit off the bottom of bridge it would be playable. It worked well ! I figured if I screwed up the bridge I would simply order another one and start again... after all it would only be $10.00 or $15.00 to get hold of a new one. Your technique works for you and that is fine.. each to his own I say Thanks for the video showing another way to work out a solution !

I like it! Makes sense and I’m looking forward to some lower action and not going back and forth-nut-saddle-truss rod over and over. Thanks- a ton.

hey excellent explanations and instructions for u s luthier-challenged bums out here! i made a vast improvement in playability and intonation by simply following your methods.thank you very much! i am telling my buddies to watch and learn also! rock on brother!

great video!!! some of this I knew but the rest of it a bit Fuzzy but you brought it all into focus with just the right amount of detail and explanation. awesome.

Thank you! Roger. Its good folks like you who make guitar playing interesting. Love your passion and care you put into the video and answering questions. God Bless You! Keep up the good work!🙏

Thank you Roger, this was well done and very helpful. I learned a few things that I"ve been doing kinda wrong. Best.

by far the best video I have seen on this subject you totally broke it down so easy to understand great video brother

Brilliantly explained and executed. 10/10 would adjust again.

Good insight and good presentation. Articulate and patient tutorial. I'm not going to toot my own horn but I am a GIT/AIM grad, (89). I've played since 12, over 30 years. I'd have to roll this video 4 stars! I'd give it 5 except there are no contingencies to show how to correct the fret buzz and heaven forbid a severe buzz. Still a fine demonstration! !!

Thank you so much! I can finally make my mom's old acoustic Yamaha play nice again!!!

I am impressed with this comprehensive and well explained tutorial. Thank you sir!

you are awesome! I wish we had you tube and some guys like you when we were young bloods don't you ? you are right again when you say a lot of guitar repair guys want everyone to think it's hard to set up a guitar or intonation etc etc . thanks so much FG or the strait forward advice you are a gentleman and a scholar sir. God bless T.C

Great video! I just installed a preamp and pick up under my saddle. Now I need the lower it a bit as the pickup raised it a cm or so

Nice video with common sense techniques to improve your action on an acoustic. I have 2 that need just a small tweek and other videos I have watched don't feel as concerned with using a finer touch, like you have shown here. Your solution for getting the nut just right, is as good as I have ever seen and your instruction has probably saved many, many nuts from the dreaded "over sanding" through the years.

Wow great advice. I got low Acton now and I can really strum hard. I got my low e at 9/64 and high e at 7/64 at the 12th fret. No buzzing anymore plus I can play slide really good with my lower action.

Fantastic dude 👏 I setup all my guitars as you showed and very satisfied of results. Much easier to play. Thanks Bro be blessed !!

Extremely well explained. No B.S. and to the point.

Good to see you using non-specialist tools (I do too), although I don't use the same methods as you. For instance, I'd remove material from the bottom of the saddle rather than filing the top.

Hi Roger.. Good job dude..👌😊Thanks so much for a very useful and well demonstrated tips in adjustment of a good action on Acoustic guitar..👏Warm cheers..😊

great information and well demonstrated thank you for sharing it.

Great video. Well explained, to the point, useful information. Thank you.

All you folks poo-poo-ing this easy method -- where are your free RU-vid Videos showing the so-called "proper way" to adjust acoustic guitar action? I thank Roger for his easy to both understand and apply method. Furthermore he has a wonderful speaking voice. While I agree that a set of nut files would have been a better choice; I'll bet he used the type of file that he did because he figured a novice like myself would have quick access to that type of file. Rock on Roger!

thank you for the video, very straight forward, and easily explained

Great vid! The only thing I'd add, is that a notched straight-edge is invaluable. The notches allow it to sit flat on the neck, over the strings. To check frets, it can be set on the neck so that it isn't touching the fretboard, just the frets. Well worth fifteen bucks for a Chinese cheapie on E bay.

One thing of note is that some guitars actually have a shim or two under the bridge saddle. Most guitars are set with medium action height. You might be lucky and just remove one of the shims which will lower the action without filing or sanding. Found this in a book on acoustic guitar making a few years back.

Thanks Roger. Way easier than using special gauges. Very practical and effective.

Great video man. Everything was explained really well. Thanks!

Great tutorial! Thanks I actually just picked up a Seagull in a trade. Beautiful guitar, just needs a decent setup. Its my first acoustic since I was a kid, but I generally do all the work on my electrics so I figured I'd give it a go.

Very very helpful. will be trying this today. Thanks!

Lots of great technique here!!. Thanks. I got it!!🎵🎶🎵

Thank you, I have an old beat up Yamaha I bought for 25 bucks and it needs exactly what you are doing removing buzzes. Playing long acoustic sessions with a high action is murder on fingers.

Great video! Every very guitar player should know this 👍

Excellent! And I thought it was just about the truss rod! Many thanks for educating me with your excellent video!

Great video very very useful and easy to follow. Thanks so much.

Great stuff! Sounds like you know what your doing!! In easy steps I will TRY my 12 string adjustment. Wish me luck!

Very Good right to the point for DIY people. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with us.

Thanks for this. Very informative. I have an old 12 string that I'll have a tinker with. Cheers.

Thanks for the video ! You have a good voice for these kinda things :D

Great video. Badazz guitar! Nice und simple as it should be explained.

Of all the string height adjustments offered here on RU-vid , I believe this to be the most orderly, simply explained, and with minimum basic tools. Every step was timed just right allowing your info to sink in , and then you moved forward at a pace that even a young adult could understand and work with. Your 3 steps, the truss rod, then the saddle, and lastly the nut. Thank you so much for sharing this with the public. Superb Job..........

some great info.and a great video,,and as roger says,take your time,,ive found sanding the bottom of the saddle can get messed up if even pressure is not applied across the saddle..so i think using a file like this is a great idea,, and keeping the same angle as the head stock,,,

Great tutorial video Roger.

I watched alot of videos on string height i followed you instruction my norman (sea gull) is setup better than ever nice and low 13 to 56 strings i like to flat pick nice and loud no buzz of any type thanks a lot for the awesome video !!

Thank you for your good practices.

Good tips for a quick setup, providing the frets are level...

thank you. great video, especially for someone like me who is just learning to do this.

Very informative, with clear precise instructions

wow i understood all that ! you made it sound very simple and easy to do ! but my guitars all need fret replacements as well .

i know how..but been looking for some new approaches or to learn things i dont know..i like your simple and basic yet direct approach to the way you present your lesson man 👍👍

excellent video - clear explanations.

I actually do two steps at the saddle (1) grooving at the top part to figure out the action height (2) replace a new saddle and sand down the saddle height from the bottom.

Great video Roger. Thanks.

Thank You very much. You are a big help.

Before you start filing down the saddle notch, check to see if there are slims under the it; some guitars like the Ovations have a couple of shims under the bridge for easy adjustments

Great tutorial. Thanks Rodger.

Great video,, thanks for sharing.

really good tutorial. Thanks.

I learned a lot from this and set up my guitar perfectly afterwards. Thanks, that’s one hell of a coke nail by the way.

Great tutorial and a good starting point for beginners. I am OCD as hell, so I must have everything perfect; perfectly formed slots, grooves, no scratch marks in the bone, etc. And I would be doing a lot of measuring of the strings in relation to the frets at each step of the set-up. That being said, I would only rely on the measurements to keep me in safe territory as I cut, so as not to overdo things - like you said: "A little at a time." I think you may have missed, or intentionally left a few minor details out, maybe to simplify this task for the video, but certainly nothing that would be detrimental to the guitar or the set-up. This was a nice instructional tutorial for learning how to "properly" set up an acoustic guitar, without using height gauges and straight-edges. I enjoyed your video - Thanks Roger!

I don't know if this is the right way to file the saddle down but it probably works. It look like the easy cheat method. The way i've seen it done is they take measurements and sand down the bottom of the saddle.

Really helpful video, thanks Roger.

Loosening and re-tightening the b and e strings usually causes them to break. Good to have spares handy just in case.

Very informative. Thanks.

Love Seagull Artists, especially the older ones from the Nineties. great sound and quality.

I just went to guitar class... thank you sir!!!!

Your a Rock Star Roger, thank you. This helps so much, cheers

thanks this helped me adjust my ovation and its perfect

Nice presentation. Good info. Thanks!

Nice video, sir, thanks for the tips.

Nice explanation. Thank you.