Are some guitars not meant for strumming?

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inter

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There's cool vid from an English guy doing a Vai cover in the clips forum and made me think of the reasons why I like and dislike the RG 5XX series.

They are a player's machine and work beautifully in the hands of someone who knows what they are doing. Superb trem and very, very well made. I've owned quite a few and they all had an air of quality.

Some were badly set up when I got them but they were all capable of an excellent action. Just a well made guitar with superbly engineered parts that's has been built for 18 odd years.

Now if you were to play a number of different songs, say a song like Right Next Door by Robert Cray, an RG doesn't compare to a strat. It just doesn't have the right feel or tone, (regardless of the SSL1 or Jazz/Paf Pro :) in the front). Or say a Pearl jam song, where there is a lot of chord work, the RG doesn't do it very well.

If your doing songs or just plain shredding with riffs and lots of triads, inversion, the RG's are brilliant.

I guess when you move to more of a song orientation, an RG seems to fall by the wayside. I wonder how many players have owned at least 1 RG5XX or up.
 
Re: Are some guitars not meant for strumming?

I have to disagree with this, i own an RG570 and barely ever play solo's, never shred, and almost everything i play is pretty much purely chord based, and i love the tone and feel of my RG for it. In an ideal world it wouldn't have the floyd, but apart from that there is nothing that makes me think its a guitar not suited to strumming.
 
Re: Are some guitars not meant for strumming?

It's all in the neck. Your typical RG has a very flat fretboard which makes it great for shredding. Your typical Strat has a more contoured freatboard which makes it easier and more comfortable for chords and extended playing IMO.
 
Re: Are some guitars not meant for strumming?

Gamera got to it before I did. This is one of those times that fretboard radius really comes into play. And then after that, the action the guitar is set for.
 
Re: Are some guitars not meant for strumming?

Age old argument that I think most would agree is moot- Practically any guitar can be used for practically anything depending on how it is set up, pups, amps and how it is played-

First heard this as a 14 year old loooking for first 'name' gtr- Was down to a new L6 or a used 61lp (SG)- Went with the used LP because the salesman made the claim that SGs are great for lead and rhythem, but L6 was only for rhythem-

As a kid I had no external POV and from the testimonials he seemed right- Only testimonals at that point were folks like brad delp as rhythem gtr with Boston- L6 never went on to be a big axe, and from an investment POV the salesman really helped me out-

But today I can't play that 61 neck anymore (too narrow) and I never got a wide range of sounds out of it (of course it's extremenly good at what it did)

On the other hand I've got a friend who's L6 is the most sucessful mod I have ever played with everytone and style in the alphabit built in- snappy Tele leads and thick ZZ top off one axe-

So hate to come back to age old issue, but this has a lot more to do with what feels good and what you do to expand the gtr in your direction than anythign else-
Hope this is relevant
 
Re: Are some guitars not meant for strumming?

my hand starts aching after playing a few songs with barre chords on a friend's RG2570.
 
Re: Are some guitars not meant for strumming?

friend of mine has an RG570...i just cant find the neck comfortable no matter how hard i try. because its so thin, the edges feel like theyre at far too much of a harsh angle to every be comfortable
 
Re: Are some guitars not meant for strumming?

I have found EVERY Ibanez i played to have the thin neck sharp angle problem... They lent themselves to some pretty speedy passages, but when trying chordwork, things just seemed amuck compared to everything else I play, or have played....
 
Re: Are some guitars not meant for strumming?

gordon_39422 said:
I have found EVERY Ibanez i played to have the thin neck sharp angle problem... They lent themselves to some pretty speedy passages, but when trying chordwork, things just seemed amuck compared to everything else I play, or have played....
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Try a Talman. I own the Ibanez Talman with Lipstick Pups. I replaced the bridge pup with a S.D. Hot Rails. Great distorted tone out of it, but the output is so much hotter than the lipsticks it makes swapping between pickups a volume balancing issue from hell. My volume knob will probably fall off one day from using it so much.
 
Re: Are some guitars not meant for strumming?

I sold my Jackson JS-30 when I bought my tele. Though I wasn't short on money or anything. But I play more chordbased stuff...and no shredding. The Jackson didn't fit my purpose at all...it had all the wrong vibe and feel. The riffs I play even feels better on the tele than on the jackson. But I guess it has to do with the music style you play and also what you associate the guitar model with.

And also +1 to this:

Originally Posted by Gamera
It's all in the neck. Your typical RG has a very flat fretboard which makes it great for shredding. Your typical Strat has a more contoured freatboard which makes it easier and more comfortable for chords and extended playing IMO.
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Re: Are some guitars not meant for strumming?

...and I in turn add a +1 to everything eresseraca said.

I find however that while chordwork becomes difficult on some RGs, shredding does not become harder on a Strat or Tele. This being the reason that I worship Fenders.
 
Re: Are some guitars not meant for strumming?

Robbiedbee said:
I find however that while chordwork becomes difficult on some RGs, shredding does not become harder on a Strat or Tele. This being the reason that I worship Fenders.
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I grew up playing, and shredding, on an Aria with a superflat neck.

When I bought my Strat I was initially disappointed that I could no longer play as fast.

But after using it for about a year now I realize I can play faster and more precise than ever on it. And after playing my flat neck Aria or Dean my hand strats to cramp up after abouta half hour.

I guess it just proves that it all comes down to whatever you're used to.
 
Re: Are some guitars not meant for strumming?

I have 2 RG750's with Wizard Necks, I use them for all kinds of chord work, power chords, Barre Chords, funk, jazz, blues, whatever is needed. They are extremely thin and can cause hand fatigue if the guitar is swung low, so I play the RG's a little highr than my others, but the big frets and wide board make for lots of room to play.

Of course my Tele is more comfy, but mostly because I've had it the longest and it has become a part of me.

Steve Vai does a fairr amount of chordal work on his Jems which have the same radius and a slightly larger neck (like 2 mm thicker)
 
Re: Are some guitars not meant for strumming?

Gamera said:
I guess it just proves that it all comes down to whatever you're used to.
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Yeah, you're right actually. Strats fit my hands like gloves for some reason. I guess being raised on them has made me a bit narrow to other stuff.
 
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