Upper Fret Access

[Guitar Toad]

I had never had much use for the upper frets since I’m not a great lead player. But, now that I have installed a Texas Hot neck that makes those upper notes sound great, I realize that the upper frets on my JV aren’t really easy to get to. When I am sitting down it’s workable, but standing is more difficult.

Do other strats have better access to frets 18 and beyond on the first three strings? There must be a strat with a slimmer neck-body connection. Which one is it? Is this where a Jackson is better?

 

[jmh151]

Re: Upper Fret Access

The square Fender neck heel is the problem. A better design is a rounded neck heel found on the new Fender American Deluxe strats, 50th anniversary deluxe strat, Ernie Ball/Music man guitars, Ed Roman Pearlcaster, or the best of the munch, the all access neck joiunt on Ibanez guitars.

A jackson has a deeper cutaway, but still had the square neck joint

 

[MattPete]

Re: Upper Fret Access

If you don't mind building it yourself, Warmoth has a contoured heel option:

http://www.warmoth.com/guitar/bodies/soloist.cfm?fuseaction=flatop_soloist

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Upper Fret Access

If you don't mind building it yourself, Warmoth has a contoured heel option:

http://www.warmoth.com/guitar/bodies/soloist.cfm?fuseaction=flatop_soloist

How does the top of fretboard to back of the neck dimension compare to typical strat dimensions?

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Upper Fret Access

The square Fender neck heel is the problem. A better design is a rounded neck heel found on the new Fender American Deluxe strats, 50th anniversary deluxe strat, Ernie Ball/Music man guitars, Ed Roman Pearlcaster, or the best of the munch, the all access neck joiunt on Ibanez guitars.

A jackson has a deeper cutaway, but still had the square neck joint

Perhaps my next strat maybe the Am Deluxe or 50th Anniversary, hmm.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Upper Fret Access

The square Fender neck heel is the problem. A better design is a rounded neck heel found on the new Fender American Deluxe strats, 50th anniversary deluxe strat, Ernie Ball/Music man guitars, Ed Roman Pearlcaster, or the best of the munch, the all access neck joiunt on Ibanez guitars.

A jackson has a deeper cutaway, but still had the square neck joint

Deeper cutaway AND scalloped heel on most guitas, and the neck joint is angled as well, very similar to warmoth´s contoured heel....

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Upper Fret Access

Deeper cutaway AND scalloped heel on most guitas, and the neck joint is angled as well, very similar to warmoth´s contoured heel....

ESPs have a deeper cutaway/contoured heel, as well, ZERB!!! LOL

:laugh2: :laugh2:

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Upper Fret Access

I know...But what´s your point? I was clearing up a misstatement about Jackson, not bashing on ESP...

 

[Sozos]

Re: Upper Fret Access

I was using for years a cheap Strat copy with that square neck cut. The problem isn't the shape of the connection, it is just the fact that you are not used to lead playing at those frets when you are standing. I used to have the same problem some years ago but a very good virtuoso helped me out.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Upper Fret Access

I know...But what´s your point? I was clearing up a misstatement about Jackson, not bashing on ESP...

LOL! Just having some fun, man!
Ya know, you usually chime in about Jackson, I chime in about ESP ...
it's late, and my sense of humour must be off!! LOL

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Upper Fret Access

I was using for years a cheap Strat copy with that square neck cut. The problem isn't the shape of the connection, it is just the fact that you are not used to lead playing at those frets when you are standing. I used to have the same problem some years ago but a very good virtuoso helped me out.

So what did your virtuoso do to help you? Advise to only worry about the two strings, just accept that you can't get to them all, or only use tapping technique in that area?

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Upper Fret Access

/|

 

[Nite_Maresz_25]

Re: Upper Fret Access

I like guitars to have scalloped heel's to get to those upper frets.
Perferably neck-thru with scalloped heel(<opinion).
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Like jackson
SOLOist
^^^^
hence the SOLO in the name...................maybe its for better upper fret action than a strat...[/sarcasim]

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Upper Fret Access

How much are those Soloist's going for these days?

I'm afraid that all the frets on a Soloist are way out of my reach. I may have to stay with the poor man's Soloist for a while and try to figure out the virtuoso method to reaching the strats high notes

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Upper Fret Access

ESPs have a deeper cutaway/contoured heel, as well, ZERB!!! LOL

Yeah, they probably ripped it off from somebody, coz you know ESP is incapable of doing anything original... :laugh2:






(j/k... ESP rules!)

 

[YJM_Rocks]

Re: Upper Fret Access

I like upper fret access. But i have a strat copy without fancy heel and cutaway and i can reach all the way to 21 and play fast up there. I just need more frets now, i feel so limited. I'm getting a RG321 soon because i need a shredder guitar. Anyone know of any shredder kinda 24 fret guitars under, say, $350? No need for a FR trem.

 

[Nite_Maresz_25]

Re: Upper Fret Access

How much are those Soloist's going for these days?

I'm afraid that all the frets on a Soloist are way out of my reach. I may have to stay with the poor man's Soloist for a while and try to figure out the virtuoso method to reaching the strats high notes

What soloist's are u reffering to? USA ones or the MIJ ones(sl3).
the usa ones go anywhere from 1000-2000 on ebay and the sl3's and charvel model 5 and 6 can be found on ebay for 600-1200 almost dialy.

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Upper Fret Access

What soloist's are u reffering to? USA ones or the MIJ ones(sl3).
the usa ones go anywhere from 1000-2000 on ebay and the sl3's and charvel model 5 and 6 can be found on ebay for 600-1200 almost dialy.

I guess I was referring to the new ones that I've seen online new in 1000++.

I may have to check out the charvels sometime.

Thanks.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Upper Fret Access

Everything with great upper fret access is too pointy for me, with some noteworty exceptions:

Carvin DC series (no clumsy neck joint, because, well, there IS NO neck joint )

Hamer Archtops, Studios, or Specials

Gibby's SG

Some PRS' :burnout:

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Upper Fret Access

Everything with great upper fret access is too pointy for me, with some noteworty exceptions:

Carvin DC series (no clumsy neck joint, because, well, there IS NO neck joint )

Hamer Archtops, Studios, or Specials

Gibby's SG

Some PRS' :burnout:

I've really thought the same thing! That's really why I went ahead with the strat when I was looking.