• From: Nottingham, UK
  • Registered: 2006-08-08
  • Posts: 690

Topic: Heavy Gauge Neck Action

Following on from my 'electrics turn me off' thread here, I've realised that part of my problem is the light strings on electrics. 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?


PS. Enjoyed a clean strat through a Vox Valvetronic this weekend. Lovely warm finger-picks, like a giant harp mmmmmm... the quest continues...

'The sound of the city seems to disappear'
  • From: Almancil, Algarve, Portugal
  • Registered: 2006-09-02
  • Posts: 6,198

Re: Heavy Gauge Neck Action

Hi Cytania,


I recently bought an electric guitar after many years of playing an acoustic and I found that I did not even like the sound of light strings. Yes, probably like you I was playing too hard. I changed to 11's, made a minor adjustment to the bridge and hey presto, I was a happy man. As I play rhythm guitar I strum and fingerpick and I think heavier string are more suiteable. For lead guitar though the lighter strings are probably better.


I hate to add though that the last time I had an electric you could only get one gauge of strings but there were two types, wire wound (for acoustic) and tape wound (for electric). As you can guess I had an embarrassing moment going back to the shop and insisting that the new set of strings that I had bought were for an acoustic and not an electric. Still one kind young man sat this old codger down and explained that things had moved on since the 60's. <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_lol.gif" border=0 alt="Laughing">



Roger

"Do, or do not; there is no try"

Roger Guppy's Website

  • From: Pico Rivera, Calif. U.S.A.
  • Registered: 2006-10-26
  • Posts: 785

Re: Heavy Gauge Neck Action

<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?

</td></tr></table>

{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.

  • Registered: 2007-01-29
  • Posts: 533

Re: Heavy Gauge Neck Action

<font face="Courier"><font color="darkblue">If you can get a chance...go to a guitar show...then you get to see thousands of guitars, the dealers, experts, performers, and also the manufactorers. Ask lots of questions, play stuff, get opinions, and try different things...I've found that most modern electric guitars are reasonably well made and are plenty durable...I like heavy gauges strings because of the sound and I play lots of fingerstyle. The neck shape and size can depend a lot on your hand size...I have big hands so a big chunky "C" shaped neck works great for me...I've been blessed over the years to be able to start a pretty good collection of "user" guitars and it's fun when people come over and try out the different ones. </font></font> <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">

Middleaged Redneck sorta guy who refuses to grow up...passion for music, especially Southern Rock but like bout everything cept Gangsta/Hip Hop. Collect guitars, mandolins, and love to ride Harleys.
  • From: Nottingham, UK
  • Registered: 2006-08-08
  • Posts: 690

Re: Heavy Gauge Neck Action

Thanks for that Jay et al, I've just been wowed by a Brawley and the neck on those is solid (4 huge screws, ugly but utterly reassuring). I'm still pretty convinced that semis & hollowbody are quite fragile in this respect so if I'm going electric it's the whole hog.  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_cool.gif" border=0 alt="Cool">

'The sound of the city seems to disappear'