Action – Why Your Fingers Are Bleeding
Playing guitar is hard enough, if it feels like you’re using the neck of the guitar as a forearm workout machine and you’re Breedlove is more like a Bowflex than a guitar, then you may need your action adjusted by a local guitar repair shop. We will break down the troubled action causing problems that may have led you down this road of guitar repair:
- You bought a guitar that cost $100 brand new. It was made on a guitar producing machine that cranks out 20 a minute. No wonder it’s in need of repair!
- Your guitar has been sitting in a cave for the past ten years (you should be ashamed for neglecting your guitar) and you are now realizing that over time the action of the guitar can change.
- Your odd friend that taught you how to play guitar was addicted to high action and uncomfortable playing conditions in their mother’s basement.
Whatever the reason, it’s time for you to get your guitar repaired by a professional (like one of the thousands of guitar repair shops on this site!)
The Why & Where
Action can either be too high or too low. High action causes painful playing, strong hands, and your other guitar playing friends to hate your guitar. Low action makes the strings buzz, leading your friends to think you’re terrible at guitar. We’re looking for the “butter stage” to sound and feel wonderful.
Temperature! – Unless you’re living one of the wonderful places that is always 70 degrees (invite me over), the wood and metal (truss rod) in the neck of the guitar will swell, shift, and contract, directly affecting the action on your guitar.
Stress! – No not big test stress, the stress from the strings pulling constantly on the neck and bridge of the guitar. What would you look like if 100lbs of tension was pulling your feet and head together.
Size! – There are many types of string sizes (light, medium, heavy, extra heavy), all give the guitar a different sound and playability level. So if you change from lights to mediums, you maybe notice that your action is a tad higher due to the extra stress.
Hardcore! – Do you play so much your guitar looks like it was passed through a wood chipper? If so you’re probably in need of serious guitar repair or you’re going for the awesome rocker look. Well if the nut and saddle (where your strings touch the guitar at both ends) of the guitar are wearing down your action will need to be adjusted.
When you take your guitar to the local guitar repair shop they will most likely adjust 3 areas, the saddle, nut, and truss rod. Please leave it up to the guitar repair professionals! Lucky for us, this guitar repair is more of a yearly setup and is easy and cheap for a professional to do.