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I set up my guitar with low action. The frets measure 0.041 up to the 12th fret...

I want to lower the action on my acoustic guitar. Would it be possible to do it myself or...

I’ve just bought used Fender Telecaster through an online auction. A buddy of mine told me the guitar has EMG pickups....

My guitar took a fall and landed on its face. The frets were a little dented, so I had to replace all of them. As a result,...

I set up my guitar with low action. The frets measure 0.041 up to the 12th fret. Then it measures 0.045 after the 12th fret and I notice some choking of the strings’ sound and I can’t play fluently over a long time. They are jumbo frets. Any suggestions about the fret height ratio?

Setting action is a subtle task, and different companies have their own specifications for different guitar setups. Moreover, the string height is slightly different for different strings and where you measure it. For instance, according to Gibson's factory setup specifications on the 1993 Les Paul: 

String height at 12th fret: 3/64" on the 1st string

String height at 12th fret: 5/64" on the 6th string

String height at the nut: 0.015" on the 2nd & 1st string

String height at the nut: 0.022" on the 4th & 3rd strings

String height at the nut: 0.030" on the 6th & 5th strings

The adjustment involves neck, bridge, and fret action. The best thing is to bring your guitar to a guitar shop and discuss the action you are looking for with the repairperson. It may take some time and more than a few visits as he/she would gradually adjust the whole action to your liking, but it may be worth spending the time and effort.

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I want to lower the action on my acoustic guitar. Would it be possible to do it myself or should I have to take it to a guitar shop?

Some acoustic guitars have an adjustable bridge or saddles that can be raised or lowered to alter the action. If possible, some people insert small pieces of wood or paper underneath the saddle to increase the height to their liking. To lower the saddle, however, you may need to sand the bottom of it, or replace it with something smaller. It can drastically change the overall action, and if you are not sure exactly how to go about it, we suggest you take it to a repair shop and observe closely how the repairperson does the procedure, before attempting it yourself.

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I’ve just bought used Fender Telecaster through an online auction. A buddy of mine told me the guitar has EMG pickups with a battery. Do I need to replace the battery? Where can I find it?

The EMG is one of the most popular pickups because of its versatility and flexibility. In fact, many pros including Steve Lukather, Kirk Hammett, and Vince Gill have installed it on their guitars over the years. To answer your question—yes, the EMG pickup needs a battery to operate, and according to EMG, Inc., the battery life is normally 3,000 hours. So, it does need to be replaced from time to time. Unscrew the pickup cover where the volume knobs, tone knobs, and selector switch are located. Unless the previous owner changed the setting drastically, you should be able to locate the 9V battery attached to the wires.

For more information on the EMG pickups and their configuration, check the company’s web site at http://www.emginc.com .The company even provides technical support. (Note: We are in no way affiliated with or sponsored by EMG Inc. This information and web address are provided solely for educational purpose and for sake of this column.)

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My guitar took a fall and landed on its face. The frets were a little dented, so I had to replace all of them. As a result, the overall action became higher than the previous action, which was perfect for my lead playing. My repairman says there is not much more adjustment left in the truss rod and he thinks the neck is screwed anyway because of the fall. He further recommended that I get rid of this guitar and buy a new one. Is there anything I can do to save this guitar and keep my action permanently low like it once was?

It’s quite possible that the fall had a lot to with the neck problem you currently have, unless there are other factors. The guitar is made of wood, so it's very vulnerable to physical impacts, however subtle, and heat, humidity and moisture. As your repairman indicated, once the action was altered by a strong outside force such as a fall, it is not easy to set it back to the exact original condition. If this is your livelihood and the problem has started to affect your own playing, getting another guitar may be the only way. If you have a specific neck action in mind and can't find the one that suits your needs, the best way to go may be to customize it from scratch. Talk to your repairman and see if it's possible to create a customized guitar according to your specifications. If you know him well, you may also be able to negotiate the terms (payment, how long it'll take, etc.). 

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