Upper Fret Access

MetalManiac

MetalManiac

Li'l Junior Member
How important is it to you? I've got an RD Gibson I was playing for about, oh, 30 minutes, and I really like it, sounds awesome, and has very fast action but I every time I go to hit the last few frets, which I do fairly frequently when playing, I am stymied because there is limited access. It bugs the gosh darn heck out of me.

Not totally sure if its something that would make me get rid of the guitar. I once sold a nice old Hammer, and an old SG, because of neck heavy issues, so I tend to want things to be entirely copacetic with an instrument, and I sure could use a Mesa.
 
Re: Upper Fret Access

Check out photographs of guitarists playing at the top fret positions on a Les Paul. There is a special, scrunched up position that the hand needs to adopt but it is perfectly possible.
 
Re: Upper Fret Access

Funkfingers said:
Check out photographs of guitarists playing at the top fret positions on a Les Paul. There is a special, scrunched up position that the hand needs to adopt but it is perfectly possible.
Click to expand...

Not for me, Ive done that , and my fingers are too short. Long fingers would really work. No wonder I like my Double Cut Les Paul..I hadn't realized regular Lesters restrict access. Not that it would keep me from owning a Standard.
 
Re: Upper Fret Access

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.
 
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Re: Upper Fret Access

It depends on how hard it is for me to access the upper register. But it wouldn't keep me from not buying the guitar unless it didn't sound good playing the notes up their. But if it has 24 frets then yes it should be playable.
 
Re: Upper Fret Access

crusty philtrum said:
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-abosrbed 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.
Click to expand...

Crusty baby, we agree completely on this one! And you said it far better than I could have. You have a flair for words at times, my man. Think of how many great songs, and great guitar playing, have been recorded with guitars that have a neck juncture at the 14th fret. Great stuff, going all the back to Charlie Christian. You've got 3 octaves in the first 12 frets, if you can't say what you want musically with that, you might need to rethink your style. Going up to the highest frets is like pedals: once in a while for variety and emphasis is fine, but a steady dose of it turns off most listeners.

MetalManiac: Can't help you out with the Mesa, not sure you're going to get many members here offering to give you one, but I guess it was worth a shot.
 
Re: Upper Fret Access

I actually like the neck/heel joins on most traditional electric guitars ... when i feel it, I know i'm up near the 'irritation zone' and it makes me think hard about why i'm up at that end of the neck and what i want to achieve up there. It also encourages me not to linger there for too long ... make the point and get out of there for the benefit of all.
 
Re: Upper Fret Access

I like SGs for total access of the fretboard. I also dislike guitarists that can only "solo" which is just them wanking on the high strings.
 
Re: Upper Fret Access

Old_man_yells_at_cloud_by_Badonk.jpg
 
Re: Upper Fret Access

Its one of those things that I like when it's there but I'm fine without it. I have a Jackson that has great access all the way up to the 24th fret and a Hamer that is kind of hard to reach at 20 and beyond. Occasionally, if I play a lead I normally play on the Jackson and I'm playing my Hamer I may have to adjust. Overall, I think it's a nice to have, but not a deal breaker for me.
 
Re: Upper Fret Access

Gotta have it !

All my guitars have it save my only nylon doesn't and I am getting a nylon that gives me access to the upper register next guitar purchase .

HR
 
Re: Upper Fret Access

crusty philtrum said:
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.
Click to expand...


I am a wanker. Thats all I do, noodle noodle noodle. I've gotten pretty good at it.
 
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