Guitar action?

Question:is it okay if i sand the bridge\saddle of my guitar with a nail filer to lower the action? i've heard that the trussrod is not suggested for lowering the action and neither is the nut.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: is it okay if i sand the bridge\saddle of my guitar with a nail filer to lower the action? i've heard that the trussrod is not suggested for lowering the action and neither is the nut.

No,If this is an acoustic guitar you need to take it to a shop,if its an electric with a fixed bridge then the 2 large mounting bolts raise or lower the bridge height.Which adjusts the action(partially)

One of the other answerers is trying to say that by sanding the bridge saddle of a string you will screw up the intonation.This is why if it is an acoustic it needs to go in the shop.The tech will put a different bridge or saddle and adjust as neccessary for the action and intonation

IF this guitar has a floating bridge then you can see if one of the bridge saddles is to high compared to the rest.This is because some people pull them off while cleaning the guitar without realizing they have a specific order.If this is the case with your guitar,your intonation is already screwed up.but you can try to fix it bymarking the spot each saddle is along its set screw.then pull all of them off and lay them on a hard flat surface(as if they were on the guitar) you should then put then in an order that makes a smooth arch(arch matches the fretboards/fret radius) when you look at the saddles on edge.then replace them in that order on the guitar.You might get lucky and the intonation will be fine if not take it to a tech a he can set the intonation.but at least he wont charge you for realigning the bridge saddles.good luck

If your guitar has a fixed bridge, then even filing a little off it will make it completely untunable. You will effectively be changing the distance from the bridge to each of the frets, so whatever you do, your guitar will always sound out of tune!

By a guitar with an action you like, or an adjustable action. You can get one at a yard sale for $25.

A lower action will not make you a better guitarist. Only practice can do that!

Find the local mom and pop music store in your town. Every town has one. Not the big mega store but the place where lessons are given on everything from harmonica to piano. There's always a guitar technician in there who will set up your instrument and give you advice. I bought a new bass and took it one in this new town of mine and he strung it, adjusted the trussrod and put on a new bridge for $50.

Might want to see an experienced luthier. They can tell you if your high action is best fixed by a neck, nut or saddle adjustment (or a combination of all 3). But I can tell you that if you file your saddle, your intonation must be changed. Otherwise, your guitar will be out of tune.