Most of the legendary classic guitar music was made on traditional instruments without the players whining about 'upper fret access'. Most of what lays in those difficult-to-reach areas is simply annoying. There is a whole universe of music to be found below in the easily-accessed areas. I am always wary whenever I see a Youtube clip that begins with the 'player' having his fretting hand way up in the cutaway. Sure 'nuff, inevitably the screeching masturbation starts and i switch off.
I suppose modern players consider themselves to have advanced the cause in some way, but in reality, they are self-absorbed wankers ... the experience might be fun for them, but it is not for a listener.
Besides, why not simply tune the high strings higher if you really must irritate the crap out of the poor listener, or play a bloody mandolin. Do you want to hear a violinst dweedling away up at the highest end of the fingerboard for very long ?
There should be some kind of testing applied to players before they're allowed past the 12th fret ... to confirm that they have taste, and regard for the listener. The electric guitar can be irritating enough as it is, without adding another octave of pain.
The '80s thing of 'three notes per string' didn't help, forcing every run to ascend quickly up the board ... another classic example of 'technique' becoming a musical 'style' ... runs that start low and zoom up to the shrieking area. So boring, so tedious, so painful. But hey, why wank a little on the guitar when you can be a complete and utter wanker i guess. Don't worry about the listener, people ... if it hurts their ears, i guess they just don't understand your artistic brilliance.
wankers.
