JPX 7 - Action Too High

[MikeCassidy]

Hey dudes/dudettes, new to the forum and a proud EBMM owner!

I've had my JPX7 for a couple months now and the action on the instrument is rather high for the quality of it. It's really difficult to play any sort of legato licks compared to my other seven string (Schecter Jeff Loomis C7).

So my question is, is there anything you can do to lower the action on this guitar?

All help is welcome and greatly appreciated, cheers!

 

[acwild]

Hi,
Here's a link to the Music Man FAQ with the specifics.

How do I set up my John Petrucci guitar?

Basically, you're going to start by lowering the saddles. Check the FAQ out first and see if you need more info. We'll be standing by.

 

[beej]

The truss rod (controlling neck relief) should be your first step. If there's some forward bow in the neck, it's going to raise your action noticeably. Straightening the neck usually fixes most problems. When that's done, you can adjust the trem posts or saddles to your liking, if need be.

There are lots of good resources here to help you out. When in doubt, you can always find a dealer/tech near you that can help you out (and hopefully show you what to do).

 

[acwild]

The truss rod (controlling neck relief) should be your first step.

Truss rod as the first step for high action?

 

[patpark]

Truss rod as the first step for high action?

yes. Most likely the neck developed some bow and the action raised as a result. straightening the neck out will bring the action closer to factory specs.

My first instinct would be to look at the truss rod first and adjust the neck straight.

If you adjust the saddles without thinking of the neck relief/bow relationship, your not really fixing the actual problem. The neck still has a ton of relief and your compensating by lowering the saddles, potentially messing up the radius (individual saddles height above fretboard).

Beej, as usual is right on the canadian money!

 

[TSHOW]

I agree.....I adjusted the truss Rod on all my Balls......a little bit......They are all playing sweet now.....!! It is very simple...

 

[acwild]

yes. Most likely the neck developed some bow and the action raised as a result. straightening the neck out will bring the action closer to factory specs.

My first instinct would be to look at the truss rod first and adjust the neck straight.

If you adjust the saddles without thinking of the neck relief/bow relationship, your not really fixing the actual problem. The neck still has a ton of relief and your compensating by lowering the saddles, potentially messing up the radius (individual saddles height above fretboard).

Beej, as usual is right on the canadian money!

Oh I see now. I thought he was saying adjust the truss rod first. I missed the part about checking the relief and then adjusting if necessary.