Question Is Petrucci still running his action at 1/32"?

[Random Hero]

I was reading something today about Guthrie Govan's action, and was watching the JP in the Studio DiMarzio video and it got me thinking. His action looks really, really low on that vid. Is that 1/32" measured at the 12th? So, 0.8mm, or at the last?

Just curious.

 

[MusicManJP6]

I'm curious as well...

 

[ScoobySteve]

That is some insanely low action for running 10's on a floater.

Like, REALLY low.

 

[Lou]

That seems really low. Even with a dead straight neck, that sucker would fret out on bends. I don't think you could do it.

 

[Random Hero]

That is some insanely low action for running 10's on a floater.

Like, REALLY low.

That seems really low. Even with a dead straight neck, that sucker would fret out on bends. I don't think you could do it.

It is low. I remember reading Petrucci has it that low, on this forum I believe.

 

[bkrumme]

I know he keeps the action REALLY low. 1/32" would be possible for some, but not all of the strings

From the FAQ:

"Factory string setting for standard tuning starts at the bass side 2/32" (0.0254m) to 5/64" (0.127m) and the treble side is 3/64" (0.0762m) to 2/32" (.254m) measured from the 12th fret to the bottom of the strings."

So 1/32" is just a tiny amount lower than the stock minimum of 3/64" on the treble side. I think it could be done...

 

[Random Hero]

I know he keeps the action REALLY low. 1/32" would be possible for some, but not all of the strings

From the FAQ:

"Factory string setting for standard tuning starts at the bass side 2/32" (0.0254m) to 5/64" (0.127m) and the treble side is 3/64" (0.0762m) to 2/32" (.254m) measured from the 12th fret to the bottom of the strings."

So 1/32" is just a tiny amount lower than the stock minimum of 3/64" on the treble side. I think it could be done...

3/64" isn't 0.0762m is it? Isn't that 76.2mm?

Conversion Chart - inches to mm

 

[bkrumme]

3/64" isn't 0.0762m is it? Isn't that 76.2mm?

Conversion Chart - inches to mm

I took the quote directly from the FAQ. Didn't pay attention to the metric values, but I think you're right.

 

[Random Hero]

I took the quote directly from the FAQ. Didn't pay attention to the metric values, but I think you're right.

Oh yeah, no worries man, I wasn't saying you were incorrect!

 

[ScoobySteve]

I mean low action suits, fast, shredding style note ripping, but there's got to be a limit.

I really can't imagine it being that low, especially when John used to run 9's.

 

[bkrumme]

I mean low action suits, fast, shredding style note ripping, but there's got to be a limit.

I really can't imagine it being that low, especially when John used to run 9's.

I don't know. The 3/64" is really close as it is. Measuring without precision tools would be hard to do in the first place. If you have a tool that only measures in 1/32 increments, I could see rounding down to 1/32 if it's at 3/64...

 

[Random Hero]

I mean low action suits, fast, shredding style note ripping, but there's got to be a limit.

I really can't imagine it being that low, especially when John used to run 9's.

Check it out here, it looks pretty damn low. I can get the action on my Suhr to hold a 0.96mm pick with ease at the 24th fret, and had my old Petrucci like that too. It is possible, I was just curious as I was reading about Guthrie, AND watching Chaos in Motion (where JP's looked higher, I thought) so it got me thinking.

Anyway, the vid...

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjQEAb6VT-E"]YouTube - In the studio with John Petrucci[/ame]

 

[dwells]

something is so so wrong with his beard hahaha hes a legend!!

 

[Progdude]

My action sits around 2.5 mm. I thought that was low!

 

[SCman]

3/64 is 1.19mm.

The metric numbers on the faq page are incorrect. We should notify EB..

3/64" isn't 0.0762m is it? Isn't that 76.2mm?

Conversion Chart - inches to mm

 

[Lizardneck]

Factory string height for trem and non trem eb guitars is ( at least when I was a tech there ) 1/16 from bottom of strings to top of frets for all guitars all the way across from low to high e measured @ the 12th fret using .009- .042 gauge strings in standard 440 tuning. No reason to go any lower than that.

 

[richb]

john likes his action REALLY low.I just got my setup on my Silverburst done by my tech and bought it to John's wife's gig.when john asked what i had in the gig bag,I pulled it out and he was checking it out.I believe this was the gig where i asked forum member petrucciRocks02 to come down and finally meet john.anyway after he played it uppulgged he asked if anyone had a screwdriver because he wanted to lower my action and play it with her band for that night.I was like what???
so yeah he plays his guitar with his action extremely low.
Richb

 

[Progdude]

john likes his action REALLY low.I just got my setup on my Silverburst done by my tech and bought it to John's wife's gig.when john asked what i had in the gig bag,I pulled it out and he was checking it out.I believe this was the gig where i asked forum member petrucciRocks02 to come down and finally meet john.anyway after he played it uppulgged he asked if anyone had a screwdriver because he wanted to lower my action and play it with her band for that night.I was like what???
so yeah he plays his guitar with his action extremely low.
Richb

Wow! Thats crazy! He would hate my 11s in standard tuning and 2.5 mm action!

 

[bkrumme]

Wow! Thats crazy! He would hate my 11s in standard tuning and 2.5 mm action!

Ugh. I would hate that, too. Every single one of mine are as low as I can get them without fretting out and buzzing like mad. I would wager to say all of them are around 1/32" to 3/64" on the treble side and 2/32" to 5/64" on the bass side. Believe me it took some major tweaking to get them that low. The slightest little movement of the truss rod would throw it all off.

 

[MusicManJP6]

The JP6 is capable of insanely low action if setup correctly. You'll get some buzz but it will still play amazing. I have been spoiled by the action on mine! I've struggled with my PRS CE24 because I cannot get the action as low and it feels different. I've come to terms with the fact that the neck radius' are different so they have to be setup different...