Why Do My Two Strats Feel So Different

[Jeff_H]

One is an old Yamaha double fat strat copy. Some sort of beefy old floating trem that I have blocked in both directions, so it does not move. The other is a traditional Fender strat with Callaham vintage bridge and hardware. Bridge tightened down with springs so the back is flush against the body and does not move when bending. Both are 25 1/2 scale length and setup with the same strings....EB hybrid slinky 9-46. Both are essentially hardtails since the trems are locked down.

However, the Yamaha strat has such slinky action, bends are easy and it just feels easy to play. The Fender has much stiffer action, bends are more of a fight due to string tension. Not difficult to play, but noticeably different than the Yamaha.

Shouldn't the string tension and feel be very similar because of the same scale length, or am I not taking something into account?

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Why Do My Two Strats Feel So Different

Does the Yamaha have all six tuners in line?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Why Do My Two Strats Feel So Different

The first obvious difference is the fingerboard radius. A traditional Fender has a 7.25" radius. The Yamaha could be anything from 10 to 16". Conventionally, the tighter radius requires a higher action in order to avoid string choking when bending above the tenth fret.

The second consideration is the break angles over the saddles and nut. Does the Yamaha headstock tilt back? Does either guitar feature a Hendrix/Nuno-style upside-down headstock?

Is that Yamaha floating vibrato a big, ugly, two-pivot design unlike any other on the planet and, hence, impossible to replace with something nicer? Sounds like the lump on my Yamaha YSG.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Why Do My Two Strats Feel So Different

Both are 6 in line tuners. Both have modern radius. The Yamaha is no more than 10, I believe and the Fender strat is 9.5. Neither headstock tilts back or has an upside down headstock. The Yamaha does have a locking nut, but the strings go over a traditional nut first.

Yes, the Yamaha is a big, ugly, two pivot design unlike anything else conceived by man. The posts line up with no other compatible bridge. My Yamaha is an old 80's SE-something. It's my old standby, comfortable, love the tone guitar.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Why Do My Two Strats Feel So Different

Okay. Check out the neck pitch angles. This will also affect string tension.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Why Do My Two Strats Feel So Different

That I have no idea how to do. :dunno:

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Why Do My Two Strats Feel So Different

The Yamaha does have a locking nut but the strings go over a traditional nut first.

A-ha! On the Yamaha, all six strings pass over the nut and downwards into the clamp at more or less the same angle as one another. On the Fender, some strings run over the nut and on to the string post of the machinehead. Others pass under a string guide "tree" first. Regardless of the number of turns the strings make around each post, the tension will differ.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Why Do My Two Strats Feel So Different

A-ha! On the Yamaha, all six strings pass over the nut and downwards into the clamp at more or less the same angle as one another. On the Fender, some strings run over the nut and on to the string post of the machinehead. Others pass under a string guide "tree" first. Regardless of the number of turns the strings make around each post, the tension will differ.

True. I have one string tree on the Fender....old style round button type.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Why Do My Two Strats Feel So Different

I'd bet a large amont of money that your Yamaha has a flatter radius than 10 inches...mayy of those Yamaha super strat style guitars came with 12, 14 and even 16 inch radi

It sounds small but that makes a BIG difference.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Why Do My Two Strats Feel So Different

Why do two completely different guitars play differently?

No idea man ... no idea.

 

[brunogio]

Re: Why Do My Two Strats Feel So Different

My first guess is the amount of relief on the truss rod. This has a huge impact on how the guitar plays.

Also check the Fender to see how the strings are from the fingerboard at the nut. It could also be that the grooves in the nut aren't deep enough causing the action to feel stiff. I recently encountered this with my strat and after it was fixed, the guitar plays more like you describe the Yamaha.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Why Do My Two Strats Feel So Different

Why do two completely different guitars play differently?

No idea man ... no idea.

I was about to post this exact sentiment.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Why Do My Two Strats Feel So Different

How's the breakover angle at the saddle differ?