Originally Posted by: Deanhorneck the low E string at the 12th fret and the string is about 7-8mm away from the fretboard. Is this normal?

No.

In an acoustic 3mm would be "high". 2mm on an electric.

7-8mm is so excessively high it sounds like user error. Measure again.

If it's really 7-8mm, your action is far too high.

Read this and this, use your steel rule or buy one of these (printed so as to be purposed and easier to read) and do it yourself if you are sufficiently motivated and confident. Or take it to a guitar shop for adjustment, preferably one who is or employs a qualified luthier if you're paying for the job.