Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

How much relief should a Les Paul have? If I hold down the strings at the first and last frets, how much distance from the middle of the neck to the bottom of the strings?

G'day Tim,

This is a tough question, because the answer is very subjective, just like string choice. I have my LP set up with .10-.46 strings and very little relief - I would struggle to get a business card between the 9th fret and the low e string when capoing at the 2nd fret and fretting the string at the 14th. The action is set medium-low (about 2mm at the 12th fret) and the whole set up works well for me.

Thanks for the reply! I'm using the same string gauge, but I have a little bit more relief to cut down on string buzz. I just wondered if there was a standard measurement I should be using.

http://www.gibson.com/magazines/amplifi ... pfile.html

Gibson electric specifications are:

1st fret- treble side - 1/64"
1st fret- bass side - 2/64"
12th fret- treble side - 3/64"
12th fret - bass side - 5/64"