Why are some guitars 'Tighter' than others?

[tone?]

Ok maybe not the best title but, why is it besides scale length that certain guitars seem to have less tension on the strings as others?

after all these years of playing i wonder why

I know that string action might be one factor.
Some guitars have that loser easier to play feel.
is this just an illusion??

 

[ElUnoAstuto]

Re: Why are some guitars 'Tighter' than others?

There are so many factors that go into that feeling, I beleive most refer to the loser feel as very "slinky" feeling, but IMHO, I think that string gauge, tuning, and scale lenght are the three biggest factors.

 

[tone?]

Re: Why are some guitars 'Tighter' than others?

slinky feel, yeah thats a better way to put it.

but with all things being the same, such as string gauge, scale lenght, and tuning

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Why are some guitars 'Tighter' than others?

Also, take into consideration string angle behind the nut and bridge, neck releif, and, to a small extent, tuner placement and fret size.

How could I forget fretboard radius? :smack:

 

[sufferinrewind]

Re: Why are some guitars 'Tighter' than others?

Are you talking about the construction of a guitar and what it's made of?

All things being equal, the way the guitar is constructed and good quality components is the difference. A snug neck pocket, good hardware, good electronics, and, most importantly, good wood.

Ooh, almost forgot. Good fretwork is always a plus, as well.

 

[tone?]

Re: Why are some guitars 'Tighter' than others?

no, not what its made of.

the slinkyness of the strings. some guitars have a slinkyer softer feel to them. and others are stiffer. kinda like having a thicker gauge strings on but not.

 

[danglybanger]

Re: Why are some guitars 'Tighter' than others?

yep. tailpiece is an important consideration... scale length is def. Also consider hardtail or trem...

String angle and tailpiece specs are a huge factor IMO... play a Mustang and a Jaguar... both guitars have the same scale etc., but the tailpiece design leads the Jag to being much slinkier.

I like loose guitars though My Jag's a whore practically :laugh2: My Schecter was stiff as a board. (TOM, string through) hated it.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Why are some guitars 'Tighter' than others?

It's the scale length you're feeling, most likely. If you compare a strat and a Les Paul with the same guage of strings on, then the strat will feel tighter due to the longer scale length.

If you're comparing two guitars with the same scale, tuning, string guage, etc. and one feels significantly tighter than another, then you're very perceptive :laugh2:. Perhaps one has an angled headstock or a neck that's slightly tilted back.

 

[sufferinrewind]

Re: Why are some guitars 'Tighter' than others?

Okay, then. I guess, like Benjy said, whether the headstock is straight or angled can play a big role. Also, whether or not the guitar is string-thru. Tremolos have more slack to them, if they're not blocked or don't have 5 springs in them. Strings through the body like on a Tele or a Schecter C-1 have more of a tighter feel to them than a Strat with a trem, as long as it's not heavily tensioned with craploads of springs or blocked with a piece of wood. So, if scale length and string gauge are the same, those would be the main differences as far as the "tightness" of the instrument is concerned. At least in my experiences.

Oh, and if the guitar has a neck angle. Almost forgot that. :smack:

 

[tone?]

Re: Why are some guitars 'Tighter' than others?

I like loose guitars though My Jag's a whore practically

:laugh2: :laugh2:

too much man, just please get rid of that Avatar it seriously urks me. scares the begeebers out of me.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Why are some guitars 'Tighter' than others?

Ok maybe not the best title but, why is it besides scale length that certain guitars seem to have less tension on the strings as others?

after all these years of playing i wonder why

I know that string action might be one factor.
Some guitars have that loser easier to play feel.
is this just an illusion??

The main factors most people name here are: Scale length (duh), String brand /model and Guage, tuning. If we assume these stay the same, then we have to find the real reasons why for ex 2 identical strats may play "stiffer "or more "slinky "than each other, or even the exact same guitar.

These factors are primarily:
action (higher action will create a stiffer feeling)
Fretboard radius indirectly via the action (vintage radii generally need a higher action to avoid fretting out in higher registers than flatter radii)
Neck Relief insofar as it affects action
Angle and length of strings at bridge and Nut behind the "breaking" point (assuming there isn´t a double locking trem installed)
Presence or absence of a trem and amount of springs (floating Trem or low number of springs = slinkier feeling, but you have to bend farther)
Headstock design (the longer the non speaking length of the string, the slinkier it will feel)

 

[tone?]

Re: Why are some guitars 'Tighter' than others?

actually i am comparing same scale lengths.

i think string action hight has alot to do with it. the higher the action the tighter the feel to me.

maybe its an illusion.

My USACG is looser feeling to me than my Ibanez Roadstar II . Both have blocked trems. both are the same scale length, both have 22 frets. ibanez has a floyd and the other a vintage 6 hole trem. go figure. the USACG has lower action though at the time being.

 

[tone?]

Re: Why are some guitars 'Tighter' than others?

The main factors most people name here are: Scale length (duh), String brand /model and Guage, tuning. If we assume these stay the same, then we have to find the real reasons why for ex 2 identical strats may play "stiffer "or more "slinky "than each other, or even the exact same guitar.

These factors are primarily:
action (higher action will create a stiffer feeling)
Fretboard radius indirectly via the action (vintage radii generally need a higher action to avoid fretting out in higher registers than flatter radii)
Neck Relief insofar as it affects action
Angle and length of strings at bridge and Nut behind the "breaking" point (assuming there isn´t a double locking trem installed)
Presence or absence of a trem (Trem = slinkier feeling, but you have to bend farther)
Headstock design (the longer the non speaking length of the string, the slinkier it will feel)

whew, i guess i can erase the thread now.

Actually Zerb that was a totally eye opener. Apart from some of the stuff i already knew like string action, the 'Angle and length of strings at bridge and Nut behind the "breaking" point', i didnt have a clue about. can you elaborate on that one?

and this one i had totally no clue about 'Headstock design (the longer the non speaking length of the string, the slinkier it will feel)'
so i guess a guiar lets say that has Eddies old 5150 long bannana headstock would add to alot slinkier feel? did i get that right??

great post damn

 

[tone?]

Re: Why are some guitars 'Tighter' than others?

oh crap just had a revelation. so theoretically Floyd rose bridge guitars will feel tighter cause of the locking nut??? this kinda makes the guitar shorter in a way???
that is why my USACG is looser feeling that my Ibanez, cause the Ibanez has a floyd??????

 

[vinterland]

Re: Why are some guitars 'Tighter' than others?

Check this... my PC-1 is slightly slinkier than my Soloist. Same scale length, floyds, fretboard radius, same strings, tuning yada yada yada.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Why are some guitars 'Tighter' than others?

Check this... my PC-1 is slightly slinkier than my Soloist. Same scale length, floyds, fretboard radius, same strings, tuning yada yada yada.

Nope to your originally posted theory about it being the headstock.

Why? becasue when you lock strings down at the nut you eliminate anything that comes after the lock from the tonal equation (except the pure "mass = sustain" factor)

The fact that a bolt on neck joint generally flexes slightly more than a neckthru on the other hand...

I´ll get to the rest and stuff tomorrow when I´m more awake and my head isn´t stuffed to the rim with phlegm

 

[vinterland]

Re: Why are some guitars 'Tighter' than others?

Nope to your originally posted theory about it being the headstock.

Why? becasue when you lock strings down at the nut you eliminate anything that comes after the lock from the tonal equation (except the pure "mass = sustain" factor)

The fact that a bolt on neck joint generally flexes slightly more than a neckthru on the other hand...

I´ll get to the rest and stuff tomorrow when I´m more awake and my head isn´t stuffed to the rim with phlegm

Yeah thats why I edited it after I thought about them having floyds. However, that is interesting about the neck joint. I didn't think about that.

 

[StrangeSound]

Re: Why are some guitars 'Tighter' than others?

It's all about mojo.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Why are some guitars 'Tighter' than others?

Bridge saddles have a lot to do with it. Pick up two similar strats, one with vintage bridge saddles and one with modern saddles. The vintage saddles will give it a slinkier looser feel.

 

[big_black]

Re: Why are some guitars 'Tighter' than others?

Actually Zerb that was a totally eye opener. Apart from some of the stuff i already knew like string action, the 'Angle and length of strings at bridge and Nut behind the "breaking" point', i didnt have a clue about. can you elaborate on that one?

Play a top-wrapped TOM bridge and you will see what he is talking about. A steeper break over the saddle will give a tighter feel to the strings. It seems to me height and break at the nut would also play a part.

The stiffness of the neck material is also something to consider. My aluminum necked guitar is hella stiff for a 24.75" scale. It's almost neck-through and hollowed out on the inside....almost unbreakable. I've put 12's on tuned to Standard and the neck barely moves (no truss rod).