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In the 60's alot of people thot Clapton was

God (not to mock The living GOD) He played

electric.

<table border="0" align="center" width="90%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td class="SmallText"><b>cytania wrote on Tue, 30 January 2007 11&#58;49</b></td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
I'm holding the frets hard to hold chords and strumming too heavy.

Is the solution; 1) Restring with 11s like my acoustic, get better tone or 2) Learn to play softer and enjoy bending and modulating electric style.

If restring is worth doing what are all these stories I've heard about the neck bowing and the action increasing? I was reading reviews of semis and there are some tales there of neck's going 'creak.. crack' when strung with even medium strings. How tough are modern electrics and are there makes with better neck/body joint systems (bolted, glued or all-thru?) I should be auditioning?

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{edited for response by Bootleger}

Cytania,

Per above you mentioned that you are choking your neck (no pun intended) and that string gauges are to light for you.  Well I would go for both answer# 1 & 2. Change your strings and learn to become a finesse player. A guitar is like a woman it does not want to be mistreated or abused, it wants to be loved.

As far as restringing with higher gauges strings you would adjust your neck truss rod due to the added tension of the string gauge you desire. The thicker the string gauge the more tension (or stregnth) is needed to stretch the string to tune. Hence forth the pressure transulates to stress on your neck and bridge. 

It's like a bow, when strung it becomes curved. A guitar neck is not made to curve like a bow or you would not be able to form cords. With a correct set up, hand pressure is required to play a clean note/chord.

A guitar depending in who's hands they are in are built to bring enjoyment not to be twisting off necks. The advantages of the neck's you mentioned each have their merits. A bolt on neck is cheaper and easier to make and put on/change on a guitar. If you don't like that neck buy a new one and change it. A glued or set neck as their also called are made similar to the bolt on neck and are glued in place. The result is better sustain, you also have to cut your neck pocket with a 3 degree angle because set necks usually use tune-o-matic bridges and need it to keep tune. A thru neck is built from one piece of wood the legnth of the guitar with the sides or wings as their called. This process takes time and time is money. Hope this makes it clear as mudd.

Bootleger

Bootleger Guitars.

Assuming (I hate to do that) that he has humbucker pickups they might be to close to the strings and or maybe a dead string (or made bad). Let me know what you find.

Bootleger.

What type of guitar is it, Acoustic or Electric? If your string is muted or duff as you say it may be to low and hitting the frets when it is strummed. On an acoustic add a little piece of paper (acting as a shim) to bring the string up or have a nut cut. (estimated around $25 to &30.00 american for parts & labor) If it is an electric you can raise the saddle height. If you have a wrap around bridge you have to do the same as the acoustic.

Good luck.

Bootleger.

Bootleger guitars.

Some in similar body style to a strat and the single cut away like a les paul. Most that I,ve seen have humbuckers.  Do a web search for Paul Reed Smith guitars and you'll see their details.

While I agree with you as far as the set up goes and there are reputable music stores out in the world that will do a set up for you.(although they will charge you for it)  The point I want to make is that there are less experienced persons who read this thread than you and or I.

My comments were made for information and education not to mock or tear you down. Both you and I have learned from our mistakes. Alvee33's orignal thread was asking if a new acoustic needed an action set up or not. On other post in this thread he mentioned that the bridge was cracked and sloppy, hence forth the repair comments.

Your advise to the new to find a guitar that just needs tuning if they just want to play is very sound. No rocks thrown just clarification.

Bootleger

Bootlegger guitars.

The song might be for the wrong lady.  Don't give up use this experience and feelings to write your next song. Don't be afraid to say what you feel, if your down say so.

Good luck. <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_cool.gif" border=0 alt="Cool">

Bootleger

Bootleger guitars.

The warmth and sustain is due to the Humbucker type pickups also the weight & density of the wood (maghonagy) hard to beat.  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_twisted.gif" border=0 alt="Twisted Evil">

Bootleger.

Bootleger guitar.

<table border="0" align="center" width="90%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td class="SmallText"><b>TakamineEG341C wrote on Sat, 27 January 2007 06&#58;08</b></td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
I like the comments some have made here about shopping around both new and used. As for setting it up that depends on the action and intonation. If the action is good and it is properly tuned but still doesn't sound right I'd stay away unless you want to take your new guitar in to the shop for repair before ever getting any enjoyment out of it. If it has cracks in the area of the bridge, yeah, it can be repaired but its usaully a sign of an amature playing around with the steel rod that runs up the neck and over torsioning it - stay away from that too.  Any dealer putting guitars out for sale that are not set up either didn't take the time to do it or don't know how.  A good dealer knows his/her stuff and the guitar will be ready to play once you get it home and fine tune the tuning. Combine that with nice sound and good looks and you have a winning combination.
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{condensed & editited for addressing by Bootleger}.

TakamineEG341C:

The purpose for setting up a guitar usually is because of the string height or intonation problems. If a guitar (in this case acoustics) are set up and the intonation is correct and it still sounds lousey then it is the wood used not the set up. 

All the repairs in the world would not make it sound good. Cracks in the bridge can be caused by dryness or heat lack of moisture drys wood thats why you oil your finger board and bridge. Thats why you put lotion on your hands so they won't crack when there dry. Turning the truss rod will either straigten or bow your neck over.

As far as setting up every guitar in a music store I agree it should be done, but there are Walmart type music stores with to much product to do every guitar. Alot of stores have a guitar tech come in once a week some do not have one on staff.

There is more to caring for a guitar then changing strings and cleaning it once in a while.

Bootleger.

Bootleger guitars.

New guitars are always great that's why I started building them. I started for myself as a hobby and got into repair work to support my habit. The key is to remember that the one you have can still be repaired. Also how many guitars are too much? (Don't let your wife see this she'll hate me for it).<img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_biggrin.gif" border=0 alt="Very Happy">

Bootleger.

Bootleger guitars.

Upyerkilt (Ken)is on the right tract. It sounds like a bad ground (earth) or a loose or broken connection.

Bootleger.

Bootleger guitars.

Fix the one you have, get it set up to your style of playing. With the money you save use it as a base savings to but that "DREAM" guitar you want(ed). I also gave you incorrect information regarding removal of your bridge. They are not steamed off the are heated first then pryed loose. (they sell electric bridge blankets for about $159.00 american.

Good luck.

Bootleger, <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_biggrin.gif" border=0 alt="Very Happy">

Bootleger guitars.