Martin HD28 Action

[CMD]

Hi,

I just recently bought a Martin HD-28 and when it arrived the guitar was very dry and the action too low, buzzing. I just spent time over the past 10 days re-humidifying the guitar and I'm wondering if 0.07 low E at 12th fret if too low?

If I wanted to raise the action slightly, to 0.08, how would I do that, adjust the truss rod slightly counter clockwise?

Any advice appreciated.

Thank you.

[UncleJesse]

The truss rod is for adjusting relief, not action. You want to set the relief to where it should be. Somewhere between .002-.009" is where I start as a rule of thumb. I like mine in the .007" range but some people like them pretty well flat. Once you have that set then you need to measure action. If it's still too low then the fix is most likely going to be a new taller saddle. As far as action height, I prefer it around 6/64-7/64" on low E so .093-105 or so. Here's an in-depth guide:

http://thbecker.net/guitar_playing/g...p_page_01.html

[Russ C]

.08” (5/64”) is a better minimum measure for the 6th string at 12.
.07” is getting into the lowness that will buzz too much for most players.
While your truss rod is not for action adjustments there is a range of tolerance in relief that will not noticeably increase, decrease or shift any fretbuzz to an unwanted level or place so if your neck relief is in the shallow range range it’s quite sensible to use it for a minor action adjustment upward rather than shim or replace the saddle - not that either of those preferred options is difficult either.

[L20A]

Be sure to look for high frets.
This can happen in low humidity.

[EZYPIKINS]

I like em low.

Low enough that slight humidity differences will require truss rod adjustments to kee the buzz out.

The lowest I've been able to get them at 12th is .042"-.052"

I'm predominantly a fingerstyle player. But I'll bang on em with a pick, with no problem. Not a Bluegrasser.

[Mandobart]

I string mine with 13's and like 2.0 mm (.078" or about 5/64") at the 12th fret on my low E. Never buzzes, not hard to play, intonation is good.

[Sage Runner]

Buy a few Martin Bone saddle blanks from Stew Mac. When your ready to change strings remove the saddle from that HD. Lay the old saddle on new saddle keeping the bottoms even. And With a sharp pencil trace the profile of string side top of the old saddle onto the new blank but a tad higher. Then profile the new saddle blank to the pencil line with a file and sandpaper and polish it up. You want a slight rounded back slope on the string post side for string break over. Install the new slightly higher saddle and string it up. After playing for a spell If the action is a touch high you can carefully sand the bottom edge of saddle with sandpaper laid on a granite counter top. A little trial and error and you can learn to become skilled at setting up your own guitars action.

[Cibby]

I have a 2004 HD28..When I had it in for a neck reset in 2019. When asked what I wanted the action set at because a new saddle was being installed Martin tech said 3/32in at low E 12th fret and 2/32in high E 12th fret was standard. Thats what I've always had mine set at and what I went with. I play bluegrass and get a little heavy handed at times but with medium strings never had any issue with fret buzz.

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by Cibby

3/32in at low E 12th fret and 2/32in high E 12th fret was standard.

The Above!