Guitar action

Rico59 · June 6

Hi everybody! I'm an experienced guitarist, but new to the Gypsy Swing world, and trying very hard to get up to speed. I would like people's opinions about Selmer-type guitar set-up and action. I ask because the high set-ups (3mm+) don't make much sense to me. Admittedly, I am a low action player. I have other styles of acoustic guitars that are 2-2.2mm, and don't buzz out. Additionally, I have seen many comments in Gypsy circles touting a guitar's low, slinky action, so clearly the traditional call for a high action is not settled. I currently play a Shelley Park that is set at 2.4mm, quite playable for me, but definitely higher than I'm used to. Please share your thoughts!

paulmcevoy75 · June 6

If you're gypsy picking and playing Gypsy Jazz with a group, having action on the higher side will give you some more volume. I think it's hard to play really low and get enough volume and a sort of appropriate sound.

But I've heard some players with low action who are super loud. I think that takes more control.

It is also something that you get used to over time.

paulmcevoy75 · June 6

DoubleWhisky · June 6

3mm at 12th fret is standard for Selmer style nowadays i think. 2,4mm is considered low action.

High would be 4mm or more.

JasonS · June 6

It's mostly to generate more volume and to give the player enough room for aggressive/heavy right hand strokes with thick picks. Keep in mind with these guitars some level of fret buzz is desired by a lot of players and builders.

Buco · June 6

Make it whatever you want. 2.2 or there about isn't uncommon. See what's working for you. Worst case you end up shimming the bridge. Then once you settle on it, you get another bridge setup to that action.

lux · June 6

Depends on what you’re after. Back in the late 90s and early 2000s when I was first learning this, all I had to reference was Django (and a little bit of Boulou, Stochelo and Bireli). Since then, a lot of stylists have created their own signature sounds within the idiom.

If you want to get close to Django, you’ll want Argentine #10s, high action, and a pick as thick as a dinner plate. And you may think you’re pounding the strings too hard with your rest stroke, but you’re probably not. Lol. But seriously.

pdg · June 6

Bob Holo has a youtube video on action, neck relief, etc.

quinng · June 6

I have mine at 2.75 on the bass and 2 on the treble side, it's not quite as loud when I had it at 3.5 and 2.9 but it's a hell of a lot easier to play and I enjoy it more.

voutoreenie · June 6

Wow, TIL my action is apparently super low...from the bridge, my Altamira's at about 1.8mm and the Dupont is 1.6-1.7mm and I've never had any fretting out issues with either of them (Altamira's at 0.6 mm at the 12th fret lol). I've never had anyone say I'm too quiet, although that's probably because of utilizing a very short/compact rest stroke attack...in fact, I've only had other players say the opposite, too loud at times. Or maybe I'm an idiot and I'm measuring incorrectly??

Guess I'm not being really helpful, probably the opposite lol...but that said, in my experience the pick matters far more than action, at least in terms of projection. I primarily use the light grey gator Dunlops but when I switch to one of my 3.0 plastic picks from Jokko, there's absolutely more projection regardless of which guitar I'm playing. Also, when I had the chance to play all of Gian's guitars that have higher, apparently more "normal" action, I didn't notice any loss of projection compared to when either of us were playing mine...so yeah, I'd say instrument, pick and attack matter more than action, at least for how I play.