Help me Achieve the lowest action possible.

[Leodhas]

Hey there, this is actually the very first forum i have ever posted on. i decided to do so because i need some serious help.

I'm considering building a Warmoth as many mass produced guitars ive played dont seem to work for me with the exception of my ESP FR-7
Bassicaly an FR-II with an extra string. I love the way this guitar plays, its by far my favorite guitar. i also own an Ibanez s5470 and Parker Mojo fly. both of which are annoying me.

Anyway. i want to base my warmoth's neck construction off of an ESP FR-II model radius and all and i want to as the title says, achieve the lowest action possible.

.... to suit my crappy playing.

I have no idea what im doing,
the current specs i defiantly want are

strat body
strat neck - 24fret extention
contoured heal joint
string thru body tune-o-matic bridge or similar (can change this, i just want stability)
and a rear body rout, no pick guard needed.
2 humbuckers with the 24th fret modification of course.

the main things im concerned with are the 720 mod and picking a neck radius and bridge that go well together.

 

[-CB-]

The lowest action possible.....

Ok, a few things:

1.  Somethings feel low, and aren't, and somethings are low, but feel high.
2.  There are mathematical limits to "low", which must factor in neck width, fretboard radius and how much you care to bend notes.
3.  The whole use of the word "low" is misleading.  State how low.... the limit for 2-1/2 step bends on a 12 inch radius is just about 3.5/64 (about .055")elevation above the fret tops at fret 12, assuming correct setting of the strings on the nut end.  How high those fret tops are matters in the feel, but the elevation in relationship to the fret tops remains the same.
4.  The lower you go, you experience more critical adjustment of the truss rod for relief.  When relief is too great, the inclination is to lower the bridge because the strings are "too high", but that results in buzzing in the upper middle of the neck.  When relief is too small, you raise the bridge, but still get buzzing at the first 4 or 5 frets.  As you reach for "perfection", know that minute changes in climate are going to knock your truss rod adjustment out of that "perfect" spot.  Warmoth says it won't, but thats more in a practical sense, not in a "pushing the envelope" sense, were a change of .002 or so can make or break your buzzing.
5.  Learn to play with an ok medium low action, and you'll achieve peace of mind....  Think in terms of 3.5/64 on the high E and 4/64 on the low E at fret 12, and good bending as well.

 

[Leodhas]

"Think in terms of 3.5/64 on the high E and 4/64 on the low E at fret 12, and good bending as well."

that's around 2mm. isnt it? that sounds bloody good to me.
also i'm still concerned about compound radius necks and a bridge that'll match this and the 720 mod.

as i stated before i want to match my esp's neck (should have mentioned what i ment by this. action and width/thickness which is about the same as the warmoth pro)

I'd like to get the lowest action possible so that i have the free will to be able to adjust my action to how i see fit.

 

[Strat Avenger]

Good luck reaching 24 frets on a Strat body.

As for action; anything lower than 1/16 of an inch @ the 12th fret is pretty unrealistic, unless you like fret buzz.

 

[mullyman]

Well, if you like that neck that you have then you need to call Warmoth directly. They'll work with you on getting a neck to those same specs. On my first build I wanted a back and radius like a Peavey Wolfgang. They actually had a Wolfgang neck there to pull the specs off of and built me one.

As for the action, they say there is only so low to go but let me tell you this, I actually held, in my own hands, Eddie Van Halen's striped Wolfgang Special. Let me tell you, the action on that guitar was so low that I doubt a credit card would slide in between the string and fret. Unbelievable!! If you have the money to get the right tech I think anything can be done.
MULLY

 

[Leodhas]

i'll probably get the super-strat body

 

[Leodhas]

yeah im not to fussed the warmoth pro and esp horizion japanese models are only a 1mm in difference. no biggie i just want something similar, fat. yet fast