Action

Bridge of an electric bass. The action of the strings can be adjusted by means of the small grub screws in the cylindrically shaped saddles, right next to the strings

The term string action ( English action ) called for stringed instruments - particularly in plucked instruments such as guitars , mandolins and banjos - the distance of the individual strings to the frets or fretless instruments at the fretboard . A high string position prevents the strings from rattling or rattling on the fingerboard or frets, but makes it difficult to play because the gripping hand has to exert more pressure on the strings; conversely, a low string position usually makes the instrument easier to play.

The position of the strings is already set up when the instruments are built by precisely aligning the height of the saddle and saddle notches and the height of the bridge . In the case of instruments with a fixed bridge - such as concert guitars - a change in the position of the strings requires processing or an exchange of the saddle and / or saddle. The string position in modern electric guitars and basses , on the other hand, can be individually adjusted both by means of an adjustable metal rod in the neck (neck tension rod ) and by a bridge that can be adjusted using screws. Many electric guitars and basses have bridges or bridges (a combination of bridge and tailpiece ) with individually adjustable saddles, which is particularly advantageous for fingerboards with a convex profile.