360 String action ?

horlix · Post by **horlix** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 5:36 pm

Having just purchased a 360 6 string i love the sound to bits, the only slight issue i have with the guitar is the string action seems to be set rather low, i have raised the bridge up as high as it will go using the four allen key adjusters but sit still seems low. can you remove the four springs to add height to the bridge or do they serve a purpose ? i have read stories about truss rod adjustment but this is something i would rather avoid. Is this just they way they are made ? Hope some one can help. Thanks in advance. Jon

fiveightandten · Post by **fiveightandten** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 6:13 pm

Hmmm...I'm surprised. I have a 360/6 and I keep my action on the high side. I've still got plenty of room on those screws though.

The springs are there to keep tension on the screws. If you take them out, the bridge will shift over time from the vibrations and it'll probably sink back down pretty quick. The screws will probably also shift unevenly and vibrate.

How does the height at the nut look, and is the neck bowed back at all?

I suppose you could raise the bridge mounting plate a bit by shimming it up. Go to the hardware store and find something similar to the mounting plate to put under it, though you may have to drill the holes in the right place. Get a set of screws too, in case the ones in the guitar now aren't long enough.

But there should be plenty of room on those screws to get your action as high as you want...take a look at the neck and the nut hieght.

Shimming the mounting plate up will also probably kill your sustain, BTW.

Hope that helps.

-Nick

horlix · Post by **horlix** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 8:06 pm

Thanks for your help. The height at the nut compared to my Tele is about 2mm closer to the fretboard. I can't really tell if the neck is bowed, I will have a good look later and get back to you. Thanks again.

horlix · Post by **horlix** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 8:06 pm

Thanks for your help. The height at the nut compared to my Tele is about 2mm closer to the fretboard. I can't really tell if the neck is bowed, I will have a good look later and get back to you. Thanks again.

i_am_the_walrus · Post by **i_am_the_walrus** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 2:49 pm

The neck might be too straight or backbowed. It probably just needs a truss rod adjustment.

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 4:05 pm

Put your finger on the low E string at the last and 1st frets, looking at the neck from the side will tell you if you have an over bow. It should not touch at the 9th fret area.

aristeas · Post by **aristeas** » Sun Dec 05, 2004 2:01 pm

Excuse my ignorance, but I want to understand this properly, so:-

If you put you're fingers on the first and last frets (at the same time), and the string is touching at the ninth fret, you have an overbowed neck? - ie: too much tension on the truss rod? And the solution is to slacken the truss rod nut?

TIA, Aristeas

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Sun Dec 05, 2004 8:23 pm

That's correct Lee. Pushing the string down at the 1st and last fret acts like a straight edge.
If it touches in the middle of the neck, you have an over bowed neck. Backing off the truss rods should fix the problem. The neck should be adjusted to match the string tension leaving just a small amout of relief in the neck. Relief is a slight upward bow, so slight you can't see it with
your eyes unless you know exactly what to look for.