Resonator guitar string height at 12th fret

[Deleted]

If a resonator guitar is set up for playing slide only, and the neck angle is OK, roughly what should the string height at the 12th fret in mm be?



I have 2 resonators. One bought recently used, which has a high action, around 4.5 mm, and sounds wonderful (difficult to fret, but not impossible), and 1 new. The new one is 3.5 mm at the 12th fret.



I'm used to playing the old guitar with the high action, so am struggling on the lower part of the neck playing slide, with the new one. Doing a little research, the new one is set up perfectly and the action on the old is too high, and possibly needs a neck reset.

[davey]

Hi George

I have an old National which is 3.5mm at the 12th on the bass side, maybe 3mm on the treble. I can't play barre chords but I can play a few shapes lower down the neck and two finger chords further up.

I also have a modern Gretsch resonator & I've set the action at 2.5mm / 2mm. It's slightly tricky to slide but I'm getting used to it & can now play barre chords which is great.

Cheers, Davey

[snakehips]

Hi there !

Be careful when comparing string actions with other people and websites.

For example, National Resophonic USED to record their string height/action by measuring from the fretboard to string. However, I’ve just checked their website and now, they state they measure from the top of the fret to the underside of the string.
Measuring from the top of the fret to the underside of the string is really the best way to measure - as it should record how much the string needs pushed downwards to touch the fret.
Not everyone measures this way though - so beware comparisons.

I like between just over 2.5mm to just under 3.5mm for string height.
Preferring at least 3mm for the 1st string (all at the 12th fret). The rest can be a bit lower.

[bonzo]

Hi George, welcome to the forum. As well as height (around 3.5mm at the twelfth fret seems popular) you will also need to take into account the string gauge and open tunings. If I might suggest you check out the Newtone MM resonator strings range if you haven't already. These are well balanced sets designed for resonator guitar. The lower the height of the strings the softer the touch with the slide. Let us know how you get on.

Best wishes to you all, John

[pete1951]

Though I have been playing slide for over 50years I have never measured the string hight on any of my guitars. If it feels too high and I can adjust it, I will, if it’s too high and adjustment would mean a neck reset or some other major intervention I will probably be happy with it as it is. ( I do have the tools and experience to reset the neck if I really want!) .
Of coarse I do have several guitars ( not sure how many ,started counting on my fingers and it’s definitely more than 10) and have the luxury of picking one with low action for finger style and another just for slide. Having just one ( or 2 ) makes the setup much more important. Seems like you have one a little low ( for your slide technique) and one a little high for fingers, looks like you have all you need! ( maybe a Dobro, then there are Michael Messers guitars, and what about one of those small bodied resos when you go away, and then you’ll need a Tricone....................
Pete

[Deleted]

if it’s too high and adjustment would mean a neck reset or some other major intervention I will probably be happy with it as it is"

Indeed! I liked the first one so much I bought a little sister for it. As the first one had been set up by a tech, I assumed all resonators should have an action that high (oops). I did buy a new Icarus reso a few years ago, and the action was just as high.

In the past I've been happy playing slide on accoustics, so I'll be fine with the new one once I'm used to it. Just tuned the old one to open D and it sounds great. I just play 2 or 3 note chords in D, so the only problem is in my head!

Thanks for the replies.