Hi! Just got a Framus tenor banjo and trying to set it up. The action seems really high. I guess the Framus have an easy system of adjusting the action with an allen wrench. How do I know when the action is in the right place? Do I just have to experiment? Do I have to take off the strings each time I adjust it. I am probably showing my inexperience. Anyways is this something that could greatly damage my banjo or am I pretty safe at playing around with it? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Matthew,
take a look at the first link I posted in your other topic about your banjo. It gives instruction on how to loosen the neck.
Before you do this though I suggest you have someone experienced look at it first. You may not need it.
Is the neck straight, bowed up or down?
What is the string height at the 12tth fret?
The action on my banjo was a little high when I got it but the neck didn't need adjusting. I just marked the placement of the bridge on the head with a pencil, loosened the strings, removed the bridge ( it was new grover so it didn't need replacement) then sanded down the bottom of the bridge.
I put it back on and my banjo was instantly easier to play.
I concur with the above - messing about with the mechanics of the neck joint could be fatal. Far better work on the bridge, which is cheaply replaced even if you completely bugger it up.
Remember, 2 mm off the bridge will give 1mm off the action at the 12th fret. And always try to keep the underside flat as you sand it down, don't put a curve on it.
There isn't a 'should', there's only an "I like it like this".
However; it is customary to have new instruments a bit high, so that they can be adjusted down to the players' preference. On a guitar, I might expect 3 or 4mm at the 12th fret, less for a lightly-strung, or normally amplified instrument. Stringing for acoustic playing, or for amplified playing, now has a great dichotomy because you don't need to thrash to get volume if you're playing amplified.
If the action suits you, doesn't hurt your fingers, go out of tune because you have to press down too far, or buzz against the fingerboard, the I'd say it's about right.
I'm no expert but from from my understanding, there is no exact distance what the gap should be at the 12th fret.
Most cases you would want the lowest action without buzzing.
Just a quick ruler measurement on my instruments gives about 2.25-2.5mm on my banjo, a little less than 2mm on my mandolin and somewhere between 2.5-2.75 on my OM. Those measurements are taken at the 12th fret on the G string.
I don't strum on my banjo or mandolin so the strings don't vibrate as much so the action can normally be less than an instrument that has heavier strumming. My OM has the highest action, but still pretty low IMO, but I do get a slight buzz if I strum hard.
Also, the neck should be straight or with a slight bow upwards.
All Framus banjos in my experience have a simple neck adjustment to change the action.
Take off the resonator and inside is usually a single bar with an allen (hex) bolt at the tailpiece end of the rim.
Find an allen key to fit and adjust!!.. All this does is alter the pitch of the neck in relation to the body and does not squeeze the rim like on mastertone style banjos.
Surprised nobody suggested that one Wilson93. Good luck and a happy new year to all...
Adjusting action on Framus tenor banjo?
Adjusting action on Framus tenor banjo?
Hi! Just got a Framus tenor banjo and trying to set it up. The action seems really high. I guess the Framus have an easy system of adjusting the action with an allen wrench. How do I know when the action is in the right place? Do I just have to experiment? Do I have to take off the strings each time I adjust it. I am probably showing my inexperience. Anyways is this something that could greatly damage my banjo or am I pretty safe at playing around with it? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Matthew WIlson
# Posted on December 28th 2008 by Wilson93
Re: Adjusting action on Framus tenor banjo?
Hi Matthew,
take a look at the first link I posted in your other topic about your banjo. It gives instruction on how to loosen the neck.
Before you do this though I suggest you have someone experienced look at it first. You may not need it.
Is the neck straight, bowed up or down?
What is the string height at the 12tth fret?
The action on my banjo was a little high when I got it but the neck didn't need adjusting. I just marked the placement of the bridge on the head with a pencil, loosened the strings, removed the bridge ( it was new grover so it didn't need replacement) then sanded down the bottom of the bridge.
I put it back on and my banjo was instantly easier to play.
Good luck
Ken
# Posted on December 28th 2008 by salmoncove
Re: Adjusting action on Framus tenor banjo?
definitely try lower bridge - worked wonders on mine
# Posted on December 28th 2008 by camwebby
Re: Adjusting action on Framus tenor banjo?
I concur with the above - messing about with the mechanics of the neck joint could be fatal. Far better work on the bridge, which is cheaply replaced even if you completely bugger it up.
Remember, 2 mm off the bridge will give 1mm off the action at the 12th fret. And always try to keep the underside flat as you sand it down, don't put a curve on it.
# Posted on December 28th 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Adjusting action on Framus tenor banjo?
what should the string height at the 12tth fret be I would like to check my own
# Posted on December 29th 2008 by glengarslasher
Re: Adjusting action on Framus tenor banjo?
There isn't a 'should', there's only an "I like it like this".
However; it is customary to have new instruments a bit high, so that they can be adjusted down to the players' preference. On a guitar, I might expect 3 or 4mm at the 12th fret, less for a lightly-strung, or normally amplified instrument. Stringing for acoustic playing, or for amplified playing, now has a great dichotomy because you don't need to thrash to get volume if you're playing amplified.
If the action suits you, doesn't hurt your fingers, go out of tune because you have to press down too far, or buzz against the fingerboard, the I'd say it's about right.
# Posted on December 29th 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Adjusting action on Framus tenor banjo?
I'm no expert but from from my understanding, there is no exact distance what the gap should be at the 12th fret.
Most cases you would want the lowest action without buzzing.
Just a quick ruler measurement on my instruments gives about 2.25-2.5mm on my banjo, a little less than 2mm on my mandolin and somewhere between 2.5-2.75 on my OM. Those measurements are taken at the 12th fret on the G string.
I don't strum on my banjo or mandolin so the strings don't vibrate as much so the action can normally be less than an instrument that has heavier strumming. My OM has the highest action, but still pretty low IMO, but I do get a slight buzz if I strum hard.
Also, the neck should be straight or with a slight bow upwards.
Hope this helps
# Posted on December 29th 2008 by salmoncove
Re: Adjusting action on Framus tenor banjo?
All Framus banjos in my experience have a simple neck adjustment to change the action.
Take off the resonator and inside is usually a single bar with an allen (hex) bolt at the tailpiece end of the rim.
Find an allen key to fit and adjust!!.. All this does is alter the pitch of the neck in relation to the body and does not squeeze the rim like on mastertone style banjos.
Surprised nobody suggested that one Wilson93. Good luck and a happy new year to all...
# Posted on December 31st 2008 by banjoburger