Action height at the low frets (nut height)

[John Cohen]

There's been a lot of questions and answers here about general action height, but a thorough search has turned up nothing about action height at the nut rather than the bridge.  I'm curious what different players here prefer.  For a long time I would set the slot heights so that the action at the lowest frets was as low as it could go without rattling or buzzing when playing open strings with a strong attack.  As I understand it, once you fret the string, the height of the nut is no longer relevant- just the overall action as determined by the neck angle and bridge.  Lately however I acquired a Weaver that has higher action at the low frets... for example, measuring from the top of the first fret to the bottom of the first string, I see a hair more than 1mm of action.  This makes fretting the low frets (let's say 1-7) more difficult, but my pull-offs are cleaner and I can really attack the strings and not get any rattle.  The only real downside I see is the new effort it takes to play barres at the first fret.

[Trapdoor2]

I have always used 0.010" (0.25mm) as a "base" setting. I simply measure the height of the 1st fret above the fingerboard and add 0.010" (0.25mm). Then I build a stack of feeler gauges to suit and start cutting the slots to depth. I usually set the bass string just a little higher, perhaps 0.012" (0.3mm).

Some advocate using the same height as the frets, which emulates having a "zero" fret. I have never tried that.

[John Cohen]

How do you avoid buzzing with action that low?  Are you using high-tension strings?

[Trapdoor2]

I'm using Sands Heavies at the moment...but I didn't do anything to my CE Special...so the action at the 1st fret may be higher, I've never measured it.

I did the full 0.010" set-up on my Flesher and have used everything from LaBella to Sands to Nylgut...no issues.

I must caveat that I do not play hard and am never far from the neck/rim joint when picking. I don't like 'snappy' but prefer a soft, legato sound.

[John Cohen]

I use light strings... Labella "17's" (which are actually .019) or sets with .016 firsts and fifths per Van Eps.  It's hard to prevent snapping and buzzing at the low frets.  I play quite hard and am better off paying very close to the bridge.

[Steve Harrison]

If I have a problem with buzzing strings, I just take out my hearing aids, that usually solve the problem!...Steve