Look up your guitar's factory setup specs — action, neck relief, and pickup height — for your exact model, in one place. No more hunting through manuals for the ideal numbers.

Guitar Setup Calculator: Action, Relief & Pickup Height by Model

A great setup starts with knowing the right numbers. Our guitar setup calculator brings together your model's action height, neck relief, and pickup heights in one snapshot — the same factory specs that power our setup specs lookup — so you can set up your guitar with confidence instead of guesswork.

Quick Answer: A typical electric setup targets around 4/64" (1.6mm) action on the treble side, 0.008"–0.010" neck relief, and 2.0mm bass / 1.6mm treble pickup height. But the exact numbers depend on your guitar — use the calculator above to get your model's factory spec.

What the Setup Calculator Gives You

The tool combines the three measurements every guitar setup needs:

• Action height — string height at the 12th fret, the playability baseline
• Neck relief — the bow in the neck, set before you ever touch the saddles
• Pickup height — the tone and output setting the factory ships

Enter your model and the calculator returns all three from the same verified factory-spec database.

We're Building the Full Version — Get Notified

Right now the calculator pulls your model's factory specs instantly. We're building a full personalised version that also recommends starting-point adjustments for your playing style and string gauge. Join the list and we'll email you the moment it ships — plus personalised setup content for your guitar model.

The Setup Order That Actually Works

The numbers below are the order you should adjust them — each step affects the ones after.

1. Neck Relief First

Set relief before anything else. The neck bow determines how much room the strings have across the whole neck. Most electrics target 0.008"–0.010" measured at the 8th fret with the strings held at the 1st and last fret. See the complete truss rod adjustment guide.

2. Action Height Second

Once relief is right, set the saddle height at the 12th fret. Use your model's factory action spec as the starting point, then fine-tune for playing style. Lower action is faster but can buzz; higher action is clean but stiffer.

3. Pickup Height Last

After the strings sit where they belong, balance the pickups so output is even and tone stays clear. Pickup height is always adjusted with the guitar in tune.

Which Guitar Are You Setting Up?

Here are the factory setup specs for the most common guitars — use the calculator above for your exact model.

Guitar	Action (treble)	Neck relief	Pickup height
Stratocaster	4/64" (1.6mm)	0.008"	2.0mm bass / 1.6mm treble
Telecaster	4/64" (1.6mm)	0.008"	2.0mm bass / 1.6mm treble
Les Paul	4/64" (1.6mm)	0.008"	1.6mm–2.0mm
P-Bass	4/64"–5/64"	0.010"	2.2mm split

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good guitar setup for my model?

A good setup depends on your guitar and playing style, but the factory spec is the ideal starting point. Start with your model's factory action, relief, and pickup heights (use the calculator above), then make small adjustments for how you play.

Should I set action or pickup height first?

Set neck relief first, then action height, then pickup height last. Adjusting the truss rod changes the action, and changing string height changes where pickups should sit, so the order matters.

What action height should an electric guitar have?

Most electric guitars target around 1.6mm–2.0mm (4/64"–5/64") on the treble side at the 12th fret. Lower action suits fast, light playing; slightly higher action keeps big bends and aggressive strumming buzz-free.

What neck relief should my guitar have?

Most electric guitars run 0.008"–0.010" of relief measured at the 8th fret. Set the truss rod so there's a slight forward bow — too straight or back-bowed causes buzz or high action.

Related Setup Tools

• Pickup Height Calculator — just the pickup heights for your model, with tone-tuning tips
• Action Height Calculator — string height recommendations by playing style
• Setup Specs Lookup — the full factory specs for your guitar
• String Gauge Recommendation Tool — the right strings for your setup

Ready to Set Up Like a Pro?

The factory specs are the starting point — the full step-by-step process lives in the setup guides. Get exact Fender, Gibson, acoustic, and bass specs with printable reference cards and visual troubleshooting.