Guitars with different specs

[Willy25]

Hello guys, how do you guys do it? How can you play different guitars that have different profile necks , scale length radius etc..?

The reason im asking this is because when i started playing guitar, i bought an ephiphone les paul 100 . I was soo interested in metal and some people where telling me to purchase a fast neck guitar with 24th fretS. So i did and i bought 2 lol. So ive had these guitars for months, i cant get a good tone , let the notes be heard, and my palm mutes suck! So i picked up my les paul , set it up with new strings, and omg i was blind folded, my left had felt better, my technique felt better, and i could hear the notes ring out more! Do guys know what is the main reason? The radius, the shorter scale, the tune o matic bridge? The medium jumbo frets? I just notice i like more wood on the neck than the paper slim neck on the two ibanez i have. What about pros can they play multiple guitars or they will have a challenge? I see they have multiple guitars but with the same specs. If this is true, that means we can not all play other guitars and just stick to our preference. Kind of funny no?

 

[RandomToneGuy]

Re: Guitars with different specs

Well I've noticed recently that a couple people left Ibanez who held signature series guitars with them. Out of all the 24 fret fast necked guitars out there, I haven't considered an Ibanez in years and I've never owned one. I'm not against Ibanez, but I'm not familiar enough with them to make any judgements other than people have left.

I've researched he'd that it's owned by a Japanese company, but they don't have any artist in Japan, I think one Japanese American, but that's about it if I remember correctly. The popular brands that make 24 fret slim or fast necked guitars that are popular in Japan are either owned by Esp, Jackson, or schecter, and only Esp is owned by a Japanese corporation out of those 3. After I found that out, I lost the little interest I had in Ibanez,but I'm really not familiar with them to be fair.

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[ehdwuld]

Re: Guitars with different specs

i played strats for years

went to the store to get an epi ultra and came home with an RG

the light body and skinny neck were wonderful

now I have an Epi LP and I love the short scale

I can still play my fender scale Ibbys
but now my strat neck feels chunky

after a few minutes its all good

but I hardly play the strat any more

I am likeing the short scale so much
I got a hummingbird so my acoustic would have that same easy play neck

the neck is a D not a C but it is much more enjoyable to play

if you are more comfortable with your LP then play it
stomp your pedals and crank your amp
your guitar will play what ever you want

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: Guitars with different specs

Sometimes the differences in our physical state may call for different guitars.
I can sometimes be too tired for the fat neck on my Tele so I grab my Strat, where everything comes somewhat easier (I suppose that the floating, 3 spring bridge also reduces its resistance to bends). When I'm full of energy - it's really fun to dig into the Tele.

 

[RandomToneGuy]

Re: Guitars with different specs

Sometimes the differences in our physical state may call for different guitars.
I can sometimes be too tired for the fat neck on my Tele so I grab my Strat, where everything comes somewhat easier (I suppose that the floating, 3 spring bridge also reduces its resistance to bends). When I'm full of energy - it's really fun to dig into the Tele.

I agree that different neck profiles feel different on different players for how their hand slides. I have slim u(grass roots, esp's over seas budget brand), speed c(Jackson) and modern c(BC Rich), I personally like the modern c better.

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[RandomToneGuy]

Re: Guitars with different specs

The reason I mentioned stuff on Ibanez, they have some interesting things, but I doubt their going to continue innovation, they may still be around for a while, but need to try to get new artist. And more options. I'm not familiar with alsotheir products, but their neck-thrus seem to be way to similar, like one model with several variations. They're a working man's guitar and I that's why their still around in my opinion, they work and get the job done.

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[RandomToneGuy]

Re: Guitars with different specs

The reason I mentioned stuff on Ibanez, they have some interesting things, but I doubt their going to continue innovation, they may still be around for a while, but need to try to get new artist. And more options. I'm not familiar with alsotheir products, but their neck-thrus seem to be way to similar, like one model with several variations. They're a working man's guitar and I that's why their still around in my opinion, they work and get the job done.

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As far as tonality, I like assume wood, but with a maple cap and high out put pickups. It's not one if the better softwoods though, it works, but I prefer in conjuction with another wood, without the cap I find it mildly muddy. Really mid rich, but not low or high over time rich. Tonewood pretty much seasons pickups so, it's not just how the frequenciesthe strings vibrating at thaught heard, like 2 different flavors. Like, it chocolate vs marble chocolate, but instead of tasting it you hear it. Jackson does it too oh some of their budget version of artist guitars.

In my opinion basswood sounds good, but alone, I prefer it with high out out Pickups, mainly over 12k ohm dcr pickups.

The neck shape can effect playing though.

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[Boogie Bill]

Re: Guitars with different specs

I switch back and forth between several Martin acoustics with various widths and profiles; Takamine and DanElectro 12-strings and a Taylor 710-CE. My main guitars are G&L Legacys, Comanches and S-500s which have remarkably similar profiles; but my 14 Gibsons are all over the place...I've 1960 Slim Tapers and fat-necked '58 and '59 Reissue Les Pauls. Switching from the G&Ls to the '58 Paul is probably the most difficult change, but even then it only takes a few seconds for my MIND to shift gears. Going from the G&Ls to the Slim Taper neck is relatively easy, even with the change in scale length.

To me, the real key to using guitars with various scale lengths, profiles and widths is...changing guitars! I will never be as comfortable with my 2HB Gibsons as I am with my G&L "strats", but I keep changing back and forth. I often take a Gibson to a jam, because I have to work harder with the different feel and ergonomics of the controls.

I laugh at guys who claim, "Oh, I could NEVER play a neck with 'XYZ' specs!"

Hey, if I'm stranded on a desert island with Cindy Crawford and a classic guitar with a 2" wide neck and high action, I'm gonna learn to play that damn guitar! LOL!

So your best bet is to practice changing back and forth between guitars. It should never be an issue. Adapt. Improvise. Overcome.

Bill

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Guitars with different specs

Just because something is recommended for a certain style, doesn't mean that it's necessary for a certain style. I playing in a bunch of different bands in high school, from alt rock, to shred, to metal core, to indie (always rhythm guitar) and I had/ have a Hamer Echotone (335 style) that I swapped out some pickups with and it sounded fantastic for the way I liked to play. Nowadays I'm getting into superstrats (particularly extended range) and I'm digging those. If you like Gibsons then you like Gibsons. Plenty of metal guys used them. Matt Heafy from Trivium even has two signatures with Epiphone and if you've ever heard Shogun, you know that Trivium can do some pretty rifftastic stuff (I own one of the seven strings and I like it a lot). If you find that you still want two full octaves on the fretboard, Epi does make a couple. The Les Paul Prophecy series both have 24 frets (I believe ebony board, but could be wrong) and come with a choice of EMG's and Gibson USA pups. The Epi Iommi SG has 24 frets as well, Iommi's signature Gibson pups, an ebony board and a strap button that isn't ********ly placed on the guitar. Sell off your Ibby's and you could probably get one of those three easily.

 

[Willy25]

Re: Guitars with different specs

I switch back and forth between several Martin acoustics with various widths and profiles; Takamine and DanElectro 12-strings and a Taylor 710-CE. My main guitars are G&L Legacys, Comanches and S-500s which have remarkably similar profiles; but my 14 Gibsons are all over the place...I've 1960 Slim Tapers and fat-necked '58 and '59 Reissue Les Pauls. Switching from the G&Ls to the '58 Paul is probably the most difficult change, but even then it only takes a few seconds for my MIND to shift gears. Going from the G&Ls to the Slim Taper neck is relatively easy, even with the change in scale length.

To me, the real key to using guitars with various scale lengths, profiles and widths is...changing guitars! I will never be as comfortable with my 2HB Gibsons as I am with my G&L "strats", but I keep changing back and forth. I often take a Gibson to a jam, because I have to work harder with the different feel and ergonomics of the controls.

I laugh at guys who claim, "Oh, I could NEVER play a neck with 'XYZ' specs!"

Hey, if I'm stranded on a desert island with Cindy Crawford and a classic guitar with a 2" wide neck and high action, I'm gonna learn to play that damn guitar! LOL!

So your best bet is to practice changing back and forth between guitars. It should never be an issue. Adapt. Improvise. Overcome.

Bill

Thanks it makes sense, i was about to sell my ibanez guitar and just get another les paul type guitar. I just get all upset when i cant play it as good as my LP , but ill practice practice and practice

 

[The JEM Ghost]

Re: Guitars with different specs

that means we can not all play other guitars and just stick to our preference.

That's what I did indeed. I am kind of the opposite of you Willy25, I started back in the day playing Strats, and moved on to Superstrats (Ibanez RG, Jackson Dinky) from there. I NEVER felt comfortable playing a Les Paul for example, I dislike the thick neck, the small frets, the fact that it has no tremolo, single cut, etc... So I never bothered about it, and played what I felt most comfortable with, played what felt right in my hands.
I do respect the people who can play all kinds of guitars though, it makes them more versatile for sure! So respect to them! It just never was my thing to play a guitar that felt wrong in my hands, so I never did. It's like others have stated, if you want to play a lot of different styles of guitars, and want to feel good with both a Les Paul and a Strat, you need to play both on a regular base. Otherwise you'll become like me, only feeling at home on the type of guitar that suits you best, and only reaching your full playing potential on those guitars. It's kind of a choice you make, and I don't really regret mine, but if you want to feel comfortable playing all kinds of guitars, you just better play them regularly!

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Guitars with different specs

As you improve you will both:
-be able to play a wider variety of guitars
-find your preference for what you like to play the most

I've gravitated to 25.5" scale, 1-11/16" nut width, 9.5"-10" radius, medium jumbo frets, mid sized (.830") C shaped necks. I think ~5 of my guitars are really close to this spec now. However, when I play something with a thinner 1-3/4" neck or chunkier V 1-5/8" neck I don't really mind anymore. In fact it encourages me to play in a different style, hence why I keep them around.

A mid-60's style Strat and late 50's style Les Paul feel different. I like to embrace it and see where it leads me.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Guitars with different specs

I like and play them all; Strats, Teles, Les Pauls, SG's, Jackson, Ibanez, PRS etc. You have to give yourself a little time to find the hand positions and different approach to each guitar and then they can all be great. Thick neck/thin neck, Singlecut/Doublecut, Short scale/long scale, Hardtail/tremolo, Humbucker/single coil... they all have a different color that you can use to paint your tone. Early on, I got hung up on making one guitar do everything, but it just does not work.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Guitars with different specs

I did that for years, but thesn 'settled' on specs I like. It isn't that I can't or won't play other guitars, but I am most comfortable with a particular set of specs. If I read the specs on a guitar online, I can better judge if I'd get along with it or not. Many piano players get used to a particular piano, and the action of other pianos feels 'wrong' to them, but good players can adjust- you can't bring your own piano to a gig, really.

 

[2ndhandband]

Re: Guitars with different specs

Stock Ibanez pickups suck... that's probably why you're not happy with the tone. Contrary to whatever propaganda you've been hearing, at least 85% of an electric instrument's sound is the electronics.

As for the feel... learn to play on anything. You might have to do an emergency swap for a gig, or you might get to a recording session and the producer wants you to use THIS. If you can't adapt to any guitar within a few seconds it's a problem and you need to fix it. I hardly even notice differences in neck specs anymore. I just got a Dillion Phoenix and my daughter was like whoa... this neck is fatter than the Firebird. I was like oh... so it is. Hadn't noticed.

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Guitars with different specs

It just takes time and practice to get used to the difference. I remember back when I was a teenager I started on an Ibanez GRX20Z, which had more of a strat neck profile than a Wizard profile, then I bought an Epiphone G400 SG. I didn't really care for it at first, for a lot of the reasons you mention, but after about 6 months i had gotten used to the differences and it became my main guitar

 

[VinceT]

Re: Guitars with different specs

As you improve you will both:
-be able to play a wider variety of guitars
-find your preference for what you like to play the most

I've gravitated to 25.5" scale, 1-11/16" nut width, 9.5"-10" radius, medium jumbo frets, mid sized (.830") C shaped necks. I think ~5 of my guitars are really close to this spec now. However, when I play something with a thinner 1-3/4" neck or chunkier V 1-5/8" neck I don't really mind anymore. In fact it encourages me to play in a different style, hence why I keep them around.

A mid-60's style Strat and late 50's style Les Paul feel different. I like to embrace it and see where it leads me.

As is so often the case, PFDarkside said what I was about to say. Learn to be flexible, and in the process you'll learn your preference.



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[Silence Kid]

Re: Guitars with different specs

So last year for the first time, I bought a Strat; well, three. For years, I played Jazzmasters, Jaguars, Gibson-types... But each of these Strats (the American Deluxe, the Jackson Superstrat, and the cheap ripoff Strat) turned out to be the toughest guitars for me to play that I picked up in a long time; it was actually embarrassing how difficult it was for me to squeak out a lick.

My ergonomic tendencies/technique evolved around everything except Strats, so it took me months to adapt; I'd say I'm a better player for it though. Still, when I pick up a Jaguar or Jazzmaster, the stars align and everything becomes "right..."

 

[baritone]

Re: Guitars with different specs

I don't think you need a specific guitar design to play a certain genre. If you're playing metal more effectively with your Epiphone LP-100, stick with it.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Guitars with different specs

Stock Ibanez pickups suck... that's probably why you're not happy with the tone. Contrary to whatever propaganda you've been hearing, at least 85% of an electric instrument's sound is the electronics.

Wood has a huge impact on tone.

As for the feel... learn to play on anything. You might have to do an emergency swap for a gig, or you might get to a recording session and the producer wants you to use THIS. If you can't adapt to any guitar within a few seconds it's a problem and you need to fix it. I hardly even notice differences in neck specs anymore. I just got a Dillion Phoenix and my daughter was like whoa... this neck is fatter than the Firebird. I was like oh... so it is. Hadn't noticed.

This is once again, like the music theory thread, assuming that his end goal is to support himself through music. There's no reason to assume that given the information that he's provided. So if he decides that he just wants to play in his bedroom for himself, then there's no reason to learn to play every type of guitar.