Guitar Nerds Anonymous

parker really nice playing guitar. Not everyone's cup o tea but I remember trying one as a yoot and was lovely. But then again my reference point was a Pacifica

unpossible I believe. you'd still need the same string tension to tune to the same notes. Think about a guitar without a tailpiece....

Well I know what you mean because I own a Pacifica as well. The 502V one which is quite difficult to find and unique as it has 2 SD P90s which is not for everyone.
But Pacifica is an honest guitar for its price range.
I will probably go to the Yamaha shop anytime soon to try the new Revstars

Yeah, I figured as much but thought I'd ask here before I got the screwdriver out...

I'm just being a pussy... Practice, practice, practice! Then we party!

What are you trying to achieve?
Just think that the string tension is keeping the neck in shape. For example see below how much tension the standard 9 gauge strings cause:
E: .009" [PL] = 13.13 pounds
B: .011" [PL] = 11.01 pounds
G: .016" [PL] = 14.68 pounds
D: .024" [NW] = 15.77 pounds
A: .032" [NW] = 15.77 pounds
E: .042" [NW] = 14.77 pounds

Total Tension = 85.13 pounds

It should do. It might decrease the downwards (towards the body) tension on the bridge too so could affect sustain though. Not necessarily a terrible thing. I hate guitar nerds wanking about sustain like it's the holy grail.

What gauge are you using? Odd that an LP suffer with stiff action/high tension isn't it? As a Telecaster guy Gibsons always feel super loose to me. Always takes me by surprise and I spend a a while whacking it and digging in too hard before I realize that if i'm a bit more gentle it's easier to play stuff I couldn't normally manage on the Tele.

@Olly398 Pretty sure overall string length behind the nut and bridge does affect tension. As does break angle over the bridge. I can't remember why but it does!

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/guitar-string-tension-effect-of-total-length.785548/

Oh yeah, good point the string aint fixed at the bridge is it. Some tension will be transferred to the "spare" string between the bridge and anchor. But on TS' Les Paul the distance is rly short? Effect would be minimal compared to using lighter gauge strings??

I'm running 10s... My old Gold Top was even harder to play, if I put that one down for a week it'd take another week to get my chops back... Sounded fucking ace tho'... I'll give it a try...

And I'm not going down to 9s!?!

I hear you can get 9.5s now? Crazy...

Go down (half) a gauge. Fuckit man, life's too short to be struggling on thinking you "should" be able to be comfortable with phatter strings. There's no shame in it. If that guitar needs lighter strings to be comfortable for you, do it!

I spent ages trying to train my hands to be happy with 11s because I bought into some macho message board bullshit about the big sound and SRV using 13s or whatever. I just played worse and ended up with sore fingers.

I've been playing 25 years and my hands are relatively slim. No matter how much I practice they're not going to get bigger or that much stronger that i'll be happy bending 11s or 12s around on a Strat. It's just not going to happen. I like a bit of fight back but i don't want to be struggling.

Anyway, I like the twangier sound of lighter strings. I found 11s and 12s on a strat made it sound kind of dull. 9.5s sound like the obvious answer to me.

Just got back from a brilliant rehearsal, I've taken a big lump out of the pad on my ring finger from all the sick shredding but the Les Paul is getting easier to play by the day... I'll take her in to Tym's for a little tweak and she'll be good to go...

My AC15 was woefully outclassed by my fellow guitarist's JCM800 and 4x12... I need a Marshall!!!

PS I was playing a Strat all day at work today (best job ever), running 10s as well but so easy to play compared to the Gibson... My Tele Deluxe can also be a bit of a struggle to play... I think I just need to play more, that's all it is... 😀

Good work, I will want something similar at some point in the future. I've been building Fenders / Gibsons clones the past couple of years; I love the fact that this (Fly) is the one guitar that's extremely difficult to replicate / improve on due to how it's made... maybe I'll attempt something one day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1tJEvClSkg

The Solton has been unpacked! Our other guitar player is lending me a 4x12, let's hope she still works... #100%rockaction

.

1 Attachment

Love it man. What's the story on the Solton?

@rickster sold it to me in the very late 90s, I've only used it once in the studio in about 2000, it sounded awesome back then...

Solton GV60, 40w, German built, EL34 equipped head, sounded just like my old mate's HiWatt the last time I plugged it in...

If it still works it'll be my weapon of choice, our other guitarist has a 50w JCM800 and he has to have it super low when my AC15 is on full throttle... Neither amp sounds at its best in that situation...

Here's hoping, I can't afford or justify another amp in the house...

Looks great anyway. As does the row of hardcases in the background.

Bit of stealth practice at 7am this morning.

1 Attachment

Wahey! What a cutie... 😘

Not her happiest of faces. I was murdering Cannonball Rag though so, understandable.