String Radius/Action set up

[jdrix]

Just curious as to how y'all go about this part of the set up. There's the PRS specs, the shop ruler/12th fret method, etc. That question kinda leads into this scenario I'm in lol Atm I'm working/practicing with setting up my SE Silver Sky, and I'm noticing the high e on this one is being stubborn. On my other guitars, bending a whole step on the high e is a breeze and it feels more slinky on those (I run 10's on all my electrics). Neck relief seems to be in order.

 

[deathworlder]

What are your other guitars?

 

[jdrix]

the other 25.5" scale guitar I actively use is a Schecter Nick Johnston. Strung with 10's, but the radius on that is much flatter compared to the SS. The others are a 2017 Trad. Gibson LP and an SE Custom 2408. I actually had to bump the string gauge up on the SE Custom because the stock 9's were TOO slinky

 

[JasonE]

I run my necks fairly straight, very little relief. I then measure the strings at the 12th fret. I also have radius gages that I use at the bridge. One thing that may be getting you on the SS is the fretboard radius. It is more round than your other guitars. That affects bends and why some players don't like that radius and like the neck a little flatter. You should be able to get the E string to play similar to the B and G strings though.

 

[show_a_little_faith]

I bought a set of radius gauges, but honestly they're not much use to me. I like pretty low action, and found I prefer just setting each string individually and not worrying about matching the radius curve. With each string approximately 4/64-6/64 (high to low), they more or less match it anyhow. The height gauge, measuring at the 12th fret for each string gets way more use than the overall radius one. Just my two cents.

 

[JasonE]

I bought a set of radius gauges, but honestly they're not much use to me. I like pretty low action, and found I prefer just setting each string individually and not worrying about matching the radius curve. With each string approximately 4/64-6/64 (high to low), they more or less match it anyhow. The height gauge, measuring at the 12th fret for each string gets way more use than the overall radius one. Just my two cents.

Honestly, I don't pull the radius gages out a lot. I do it the same way you do most of the time. I will occasionally pull them out if I am setting a bridge up from scratch and then fine tune everything by measuring at the 12th fret.

 

[deathworlder]

All positions?
Maybe you have some rough frets?

 

[jdrix]

I'll look more into it this weekend. Maybe mess around with raising the action a bit more and see how that goes.