Set-Up 104: Adjusting your Strat’s ‘Action’ (String Height)

Posted by Mad Stratter

June 19, 2008

There are several reasons why you may want to adjust the string action of your Stratocaster. If you’ve recently changed string gauge, the change in the string tension exerted on the neck may have an effect on the overall neck relief. Or if you want to set up a guitar for bottleneck playing, you’ll want to raise the string action to keep the slide from catching the frets.

Several factors contribute to the string action on your Stratocaster, including:

The amount of neck relief
Fingerboard radius
Fret size and wear
Nut height
String gauge
Bridge saddle settings

All other factors being the same, the bridge saddles will be your means of adjusting the action of your strings. Located on either side of the saddle are two small .050″ Allen screws. Adjust these will raise or lower the bridge saddle, and therefore adjust the string’s action.

When changing string height, you’ll want to reflect the radius of the fingerboard, meaning the 1st and 6th strings will be lowest, the 2nd and 5th strings will be slightly higher, and the 3rd and 4th strings will be higher still.

When adjusting the height of the bridge saddles, you’re also changing the string length, meaning the pitch of the string will have changed. Tune to pitch again and repeat the adjustment as necessary.

The Fender-recommended string-height settings are as follows (NOTE- measurements for string height are taken at the 17th fret ). As always, your settings will vary:

Neck Radius	String Height Bass Side	Treble Side
7.25″ 9.5″ to 12″ 15″ to 17″	5/64″ (2 mm) 4/64″ (1.6 mm) 4/64″ (1.6 mm)	4/64″ (1.6 mm) 4/64″ (1.6 mm) 3/64″ (1.2 mm)