Fender Telecaster Factory Setup Specs: String Height, Relief & Pickups
Fender's published Telecaster setup specs: string height at the 17th fret, neck relief and pickup height, by fretboard radius and pickup type — plus three-saddle bridge tips.
Quick answer: Fender's setup spec for a Telecaster with a 9.5"–12" radius neck is 4/64" (1.6 mm) string height on both outer strings, measured at the 17th fret, with .010" (0.25 mm) neck relief at the 8th fret. A vintage 7.25" radius gets 5/64" (2 mm) bass / 4/64" (1.6 mm) treble and .012" (0.3 mm) relief. Pickup height depends on the pickup type — 5/64" bass / 4/64" treble for standard single-coils. Fender calls these minimum specs for factory strings, not hard rules.
Every number on this page is rendered from Fender's own Telecaster setup instructions at build time, so the tables can't drift from the source. Each table names how to measure, because the same guitar reads differently at the 12th and 17th frets.
Photo by Chris Hardy on Unsplash
Start with your fretboard radius
Fender's string height and relief specs change with the curve of the fretboard. Vintage-style Telecasters are usually 7.25"; most modern ones are 9.5"; some use a flatter 12" or compound radius. Your model's spec sheet lists it.
| Model | Fretboard radius | Neck relief | String height, bass / treble (17th fret) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fender American Professional II Telecaster | 9.5" (241mm) | 0.010" (0.25mm) | 4/64" (1.6mm) / 4/64" (1.6mm) |
| Fender Player Telecaster | 9.5" (241mm) | 0.010" (0.25mm) | 4/64" (1.6mm) / 4/64" (1.6mm) |
Not listed? Use the row for your radius in the tables below, or look your model up in the setup specs lookup.
String height (action)
Tune to pitch. With a 6" ruler, measure from the bottom of the string to the top of the 17th fret on the low and high E strings. Adjust the bridge saddles to the chart, retune, and play before going lower.
| Fretboard radius | Bass side (17th fret) | Treble side (17th fret) |
|---|---|---|
| 7.25" | 5/64" (2 mm) | 4/64" (1.6 mm) |
| 9.5" to 12" | 4/64" (1.6 mm) | 4/64" (1.6 mm) |
| 15" to 17" | 4/64" (1.6 mm) | 3/64" (1.2 mm) |
Three-saddle bridges: on a vintage-style bridge each saddle carries two strings. Use the saddle's two height screws to tilt it so both strings follow the fretboard radius, and keep the screws level enough that the saddle doesn't rock. Six-saddle bridges adjust one string at a time. For measuring technique, see the action height guide.
Neck relief
Tune to pitch, put a capo at the 1st fret and press the 6th string at the last fret. Slide a feeler gauge between the string and the top of the 8th fret.
| Fretboard radius | Neck relief |
|---|---|
| 7.25" | .012" (0.3 mm) |
| 9.5" to 12" | .010" (0.25 mm) |
| 15" to 17" | .008" (0.2 mm) |
Turning the truss rod clockwise removes relief; counter-clockwise adds it. If the rod meets heavy resistance or does nothing, stop and have it checked. The Telecaster truss rod guide covers headstock and heel adjusters.
Pickup height
Press all strings at the last fret and measure from the bottom of the 1st and 6th strings to the top of the pole piece. Fender publishes pickup height by pickup type, not by position. As a rule of thumb, the gap should be largest on the bass side of the neck pickup and smallest on the treble side of the bridge pickup.
| Pickup type | Bass side | Treble side |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Specials | 8/64" (3.2 mm) | 6/64" (2.4 mm) |
| Vintage style | 6/64" (2.4 mm) | 5/64" (2 mm) |
| Noiseless™ Series | 8/64" (3.2 mm) | 6/64" (2.4 mm) |
| Standard single-coil | 5/64" (2 mm) | 4/64" (1.6 mm) |
| Humbuckers | 4/64" (1.6 mm) | 4/64" (1.6 mm) |
| Lace Sensors | As close as desired | As close as desired |
Treat these as starting points: stronger magnets need more clearance. The Telecaster pickup height guide covers balancing the bridge and neck pickups by ear.
Intonation on a three-saddle bridge
Fender's rough preset: measure from the inside of the nut to the centre of the 12th fret, double it for the scale length, and set the first saddle to that distance from the nut. Then set each following saddle back using the gauges of the strings it carries. Fine-tune at the 12th fret, harmonic against fretted note. Because two strings share a saddle, Fender suggests splitting the difference so neither string is far sharp or flat. Our Telecaster intonation guide walks through it step by step.
The order Fender adjusts in
Fresh strings, tuning keys, rough intonation preset, truss rod (relief), string height, pickup height, then fine intonation at the 12th fret. Changing string gauge means going round again: heavier strings pull more relief into the neck.
When to go above these numbers
Fender describes these as minimum specifications for the strings fitted at the factory. Hard pickers, heavier gauges and players who bend a lot often need a little more height or relief to stop buzz. Change one setting at a time and note what you changed. If you're deciding whether a shop setup is worth paying for, see factory vs custom setup.
Keep your numbers in one place
If you'd rather have the specs, the step-by-step order and space for your own measurements on a printable sheet at the workbench, the Fender setup guide puts them together. It has printable reference cards and walkthroughs for the truss rod, action and intonation. Preview a page before buying.
Frequently asked questions
What is the factory string height on a Fender Telecaster?
For a 9.5"–12" radius, Fender's spec is 4/64" (1.6 mm) on both the bass and treble side, measured at the 17th fret. A 7.25" radius is 5/64" (2 mm) bass and 4/64" (1.6 mm) treble; a 15"–17" radius is 4/64" bass and 3/64" (1.2 mm) treble.
Where do you measure Telecaster string height, the 12th or 17th fret?
Fender's chart is measured at the 17th fret. Readings at the 12th fret are lower for the same setup, so don't compare 12th-fret numbers against Fender's chart.
What neck relief does Fender recommend for a Telecaster?
.012" (0.3 mm) for a 7.25" radius, .010" (0.25 mm) for 9.5"–12" and .008" (0.2 mm) for 15"–17", measured at the 8th fret with a capo at the 1st fret and the string pressed at the last fret.
What pickup height does Fender recommend for a Telecaster?
It depends on the pickup type: standard single-coils 5/64" bass / 4/64" treble, vintage-style 6/64" / 5/64", Noiseless and Texas Specials 8/64" / 6/64", humbuckers 4/64" / 4/64". Measure with the strings pressed at the last fret.
