radius and bends

[treyhaislip]

Re: radius and bends

Seems to me there are too many variables here not to mention different styles of playing. Technically, I think the Shorter Gibson scale would be "easier" to bend strings as in you don't have to bend as much to hit the next note. But there is a lot going on here besides just the scale length. Super Slinky strings make my Strats do strings bends with ease, the Stainless Steel frets on my newest guitar project also seem to accomodate string bends, a great setup also helps as well.

EDIT: I have never played a Scalloped Guitar, so I will leave that suggestion to those who do it, but it makes sense.

 

[koshikas]

Re: radius and bends

Try a wound G, that ought to solve it

now that is man power

Sent from my XT1033 using Tapatalk

 

[always SD]

Re: radius and bends

i only use Elixir strings

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: radius and bends

Buy a whammy pedal....

 

[tubecrunch]

Re: radius and bends

This got more complicated than it needed to. Flatter radius boards are easier to bend clean. There is a wide range of playability even within the same shape boards. I've played some 9.5's that fret out quickly. Others that don't... (This is one of those playability features that high end guitars excel at.) After all that, your guitar may just need a fret level.

 

[Archer250]

Re: radius and bends

If you can tell us exactly how you couldn't bend high, we could help better. Does the note fret out? Is the resistance too much? Does the string slip off the fretboard?

 

[SJ318]

Re: radius and bends

With a floating trem, when you bend 1 string the other strings get bent also. Watch your trem arm. When you bend a 12th fret B string up to a D or better, an E, you'll see the arm move down. Proof that you are bending not only the B string but bending the rest of them also.
^^^^To the guys who said the flatter the fretboard, the less choke or buzz you will get. I wish I could go to your house and show you, using my own guitars as proof. I still have one I don't use anymore, thus I never got around to doing what I said in my "Opus". It is about a 9.0 radius, and unless I have the strings raised more than I like, it buzzes if I bend more than one and a half steps. My others I can bend the B string on the 12th fret from the note B to across the board and it will never choke or buzz. I like the feel, others hate a flat board. Double .002 cents.
If you are close to Tacoma - Seattle, I'll pay for you gasoline, or anyone, for that matter. Bring a camera. Can't drive so I can't get to anyone's home.
No, I am totally sane. Just enthusiastic.
SJ

 

[AlexR]

Re: radius and bends

With the floating trem, you add more pressure to the strings side, and the springs can't keep up, so the rest detune. The arm moving down certainly with any trem system I know means the pitch going down. I don't think any string bending I know of causes strings to drop in pitch.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: radius and bends

I've played some 9.5's that fret out quickly. Others that don't... (This is one of those playability features that high end guitars excel at.) After all that, your guitar may just need a fret level.

+1 to this

My personal experience with MIM & MIK guitars is that all of them needed a decent amount of fretwork, afterwards made them nice playing guitars. My current guitars are either 9.5" or 12" Radii and I have no problem with string bends on any of them.

 

[always SD]

Re: radius and bends

example
i have strat classic player 60 with 9-46

g string: 12th fret
without holding the tremolo bar, i can bend from G to Bb maximum (= just +1/2) and it's very hard : the strings goes to the outside of the neck, to the limit

and holding the bar, i can bend from G to B so, it will be easier without the tremolo to make good bends

no?

 

[Archer250]

Re: radius and bends

example
i have strat classic player 60 with 9-46

g string: 12th fret
without holding the tremolo bar, i can bend from G to Bb maximum (= just +1/2) and it's very hard : the strings goes to the outside of the neck, to the limit

and holding the bar, i can bend from G to B so, it will be easier without the tremolo to make good bends

no?

Try bending upwards there's more room for the g string that way.

 

[AlexR]

Re: radius and bends

The bar will require you to bend further to get the same effect, but the pressure is still the same. And bending the way you do is never a good recipe - the top 3 strings you push away (upward). Not only is there more room but you use your hand with a much better advantage as the wrist/forearm help.

 

[always SD]

Re: radius and bends

but holding the bar for a bend is the only way to have a good bend in pitch (like if there was no vibrato )

 

[AlexR]

Re: radius and bends

Rubbish

Just

Rubbish

You use your ears to bend up to pitch.......not there yet - bend further. Too far, let it back down. Just trying my Carvin with the floating Wilkinson. I bend up until I hit the note I want. At the absolute extreme (the widest bend I can do on 10-46) I get 3 steps - all done by ear.

 

[always SD]

Re: radius and bends

this is not the question about ears
i just say that
the tremolo bar is a problem : 1) the tension is harder with tremolo bar (for my strat and floyd rose)
2) the bends are never good because of the tremolo but the tremol no exists
3) i can't make big bends with my strat and my floating vibrato : bends can't be big bends like i said in my example

or maybe my floating vibrato is too high

 

[AlexR]

Re: radius and bends

You're trying to make the guitar your excuse.

If you are really that sort of person....fine. We've given the advice. Many of us have the same general types of guitars and don't have issues. You can either...

Ignore us and keep making excuses
Set up your guitars and see if this helps a bit
learn to bend properly....

your call.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: radius and bends

Give up...there is no hope for him.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: radius and bends

i only use Elixir strings

Perhaps try a set of Ernie Ball Super Slinky strings?

 

[firebirdguy72]

Re: radius and bends

this is not the question about ears
i just say that
the tremolo bar is a problem : 1) the tension is harder with tremolo bar (for my strat and floyd rose)
2) the bends are never good because of the tremolo but the tremol no exists
3) i can't make big bends with my strat and my floating vibrato : bends can't be big bends like i said in my example

or maybe my floating vibrato is too high

You still have yet to actually say what your problem is... is it fretting out when trying to bend? Is it just too tough bend up to the desired note? Saying "the bends are never good" is not helpful.

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: radius and bends

I have several tremolo equipped guitars, vintage Fender style, Floyd Rose, and Bigsby. If the neck and tremolo have been properly set up for the string gauge you using there should be no issues performing bends much higher than your example. Sorry, but I'm going to have to chalk this one up to operator error.