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I am ready to string up my first guitar and can't find the set-up at first fret and twelfth fret for a classical.

A steel string is 0.015" at the first fret but nylon strings should be more floppy.
Any help would be appreciated.

Bob

At the first fret, I lower them until they just move a bit when I touch them when fretted at the 2nd. I don't really measure, but it probably varies from about .3 - .4 mm on 6th string to about .2 - .3 on the 1st string.
At the 12th I look for something in the 2.5 - 3.0 mm on the first to about 3.5 - 4 mm on the 6th, with a string height at the bridge of 10 - 11 mm.

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Waddy

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Thank you

I needed those numbers to cut my saddle height and get organized on the nut.

Bob

Use the old trick that has been put out there so many times. Cut a pencil in half including the lead, or sand one down on sandpaper. I use one of those flat carpenter's pencils, then put a piece of masking tape on the cut side. Use that as a slide over the frets to mark your nut. Then, initially slot to the line. Then adjust from there, very carefully, as you'll be pretty close.

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Waddy

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I agree to what Waddy told ya !
go slow-take your time.
It's better to have the string height too high than too low.
Because you can always lower the nut slots and saddle.
BUT it's a new nut & saddle if you go to low.

Mike

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Mike Collins

The half pencil is the way to go. I like my classical action to be 5/32 over the low E and 4/32 over the high E with room to adjust down in case a customer wants low action.

5/32 is decent, but 4/32 (1/8 or 3.175 mm) seems a bit high, to me. Like you say though, you can lower it to preferences. My tendency is to make it as low as might be acceptable for average nail playing style, and be able to increase it easily. I like to know how low I can go!

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Waddy

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Yes personally I like the action high but do realize a lot of players don't. I think that with nylon strings the buzzing is not as audible, so you can get away with lower action, but it sucks the volume and tone right out of the instrument.

I would disagree with that statement. Not my experience. With my action as low as I can get it, which is still in the 2.5 mm and 3.5 mm range, I still have at least 10 - 11 mm at the bridge, and ample volume, even for a light touch. The difference in low action and high action on a classical is only about a mm. Some folks really like it high though. I went to a Biill Yelverton master class, and he was showing his 1990, Ruck. You could drive a truck under the Low E. Must have been near 6 - 7 mm.

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Waddy

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My actual numbers, using a commercial plastic nut, are as follows: first fret-bass E 0.025"
treble E 0.035"

Twelfth fret Bass E 6/64 2.38 mm
treble E 7 1/2 /64 2.97 mm

Bridge (Kasha bridge spreads) 28/64 11.11 mm

Intonation is out from 2-7 cents but I must understand the problem first. It may be related to the kerf in cutting off the fretboard.

It plays without a buzz. My best fretboard ever.

Bob