What makes a guitar easy or hard to play ?

[Ajet Lukoviq]

Hey guys i had recently bought a mexican strat (posted another thread about the worn frets)
and i was wondering why is it soo harder to play than my chinese copy i have noticed that it has 5 Springs on the back and my china one has only 3
but bending the notes on the fender is a very painful experience and im only using 9' gauge strings Could you give me some advice on how to make it more playable

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: What makes a guitar easy or hard to play ?

The springs of a fulcrum vibrato bridge are intended to provide tension in the opposite direction to the tension of the guitar's strings. The load is dependent on both the number of springs, their individual stiffness and how far the "claw" is set towards the headstock. There is a fair degree of latitude with these adjustments. The guitar can be made to feel "right" for the individual user.

Since opinions on what feels "right" are subjective, there is no absolute, definitive way to set things.

Some of the stiffer feel will be explained by your attempts to avoid fret buzz by setting a high action.

Since you appear keen to learn how to set up your guitars yourself, I am going to suggest that you invest twenty Dollars in the ever-popular "How To Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great!" by Dan Erlewine.

 

[Ajet Lukoviq]

Re: What makes a guitar easy or hard to play ?

Is there any trick you have learned over the years how to make the guitar "Softer" By adjusting the Springs

 

[koshikas]

Re: What makes a guitar easy or hard to play ?

Is there any trick you have learned over the years how to make the guitar "Softer" By adjusting the Springs

loosening the springs is not going to do anything in terms of "softening" u are after. but having sufficient amount of neck relief with action adjustment might get u somewhere. if the guitar is in question is beyond repair, then you will need a true wizard.

 

[Rodney Gene]

Re: What makes a guitar easy or hard to play ?

Your guitar needs a setup. They all do at some point. Get it done and enjoy.

And less relief, as little as possible (a straight neck) produces 'softer' strings. It allows you to have low action and a supple feel granted your frets are decent. You only need to add relief if you need a bit more string vibration clearance in the middle of the neck to avoid buzzing. Cheers, RG

 

[Ajet Lukoviq]

Re: What makes a guitar easy or hard to play ?

My frets are total crap i will try to level them this week but its the crowning that scares me i hope i get it done well fell free to give me some advice

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: What makes a guitar easy or hard to play ?

fell free to give me some advice

Yes, stop what you are doing and take it to an expert. Everything you have posted to date indicates that you do not understand the basics of guitar set up, and are not ready to take on the requirements of a fret level. Given the things you have said so far, it is difficult to believe you have the tools, nevermind the skills, to do what you are proposing.

 

[Ajet Lukoviq]

Re: What makes a guitar easy or hard to play ?

I have a chinese strat i will take the ready made fret wires from it and just replace them to the mexican should be easy right ?

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: What makes a guitar easy or hard to play ?

I have a chinese strat i will take the ready made fret wires from it and just replace them to the mexican should be easy right ?

You have no idea.

I'm not saying that to be rude but you really should take it to a professional unless you don't care if you mess it up or not.

 

[DreX]

Re: What makes a guitar easy or hard to play ?

Just buy an Agile and get on with life.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: What makes a guitar easy or hard to play ?

I have a chinese strat i will take the ready made fret wires from it and just replace them to the mexican should be easy right ?

Yeah, no problem. Just yank 'em out with some pliers and hammer 'em in to the new guitar with a hammer. Or wrecking bar. Or butt end of a screwdriver.

Please post before and after pics of your progress.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: What makes a guitar easy or hard to play ?

I have a chinese strat i will take the ready made fret wires from it and just replace them to the mexican should be easy right ?

Bad move.

Firstly, it creates unnecessary work. (Removing perfectly functional frets from the MIC guitar.)

Secondly, you have wrongly assumed that all frets and fingerboards are of the same dimensions.

Thirdly, you seem blissfully unaware of the damage that removing fret wire can do.

 

[AlexR]

Re: What makes a guitar easy or hard to play ?

I have a chinese strat i will take the ready made fret wires from it and just replace them to the mexican should be easy right ?

I'm assuming this is a sarcastic remark, like 'what on earth could go wrong, eh!', as you try and saw your own leg off.

Fretwork is very precise. I've just started making my own guitars, and this is where you make or break all your hard work.

All that is necessary is to get the mex strat levelled and crowned and the action sorted. These guitars will play really well with a good setup. ANY guitar will play badly poorly setup.

 

[Jermo3178]

Re: What makes a guitar easy or hard to play ?

I'm assuming this is a sarcastic remark, like 'what on earth could go wrong, eh!', as you try and saw your own leg off.

Fretwork is very precise. I've just started making my own guitars, and this is where you make or break all your hard work.

All that is necessary is to get the mex strat levelled and crowned and the action sorted. These guitars will play really well with a good setup. ANY guitar will play badly poorly setup.

Oh no.. saw a pic of the frets in the other thread... they are BAD...

 

[IMENATOR]

Re: What makes a guitar easy or hard to play ?

Lower the action if it is too high, keep your strings and fretboard clean, get new strings, maybe a little fret polish work makes sence for this purpose?

 

[OttoMatick]

Re: What makes a guitar easy or hard to play ?

to setup your stratocaster, follow all the instructions here:

http://www.fender.com/support/articles/stratocaster-setup-guide/

to fix your neck fret problem buy a new replacement neck. ready made to bolt on necks can be found in a variety of places including fender.com for a new branded serialized neck.

 

[El Supremo]

Re: What makes a guitar easy or hard to play ?

Proper frets would be an essential to make a guitar playable. Those dings you were talking about create excessive buzz which can only be alleviated by excessive action or neck relief, making the guitar even more uncomfortable.
Fret jobs I leave to the pro's. I have neither the tools nor the expertise nor the time to do something like that professionally and I won't risk damaging my axes.
I'm with all above on this. Bring it to a pro or get a new neck.