Members shaunswanson Posted June 23, 2007 Members Posted June 23, 2007 What are some good acoustics out there with fast electric-style necks on them. Right now i have a USA ovation which is pretty good but i'm not a huge fan of the countoured back. Any suggestions please.
Members DonK Posted June 23, 2007 Members Posted June 23, 2007 That's a pretty broad question: a fast playing neck to me is one that is thick. To a lot of young players, it means something really thin, like an Ibanez Wizard II neck. I can name a number of fast electric players that favor thick necks (which you'll find on their signature guitars), such as Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Eric Johnson and Allan Holdsworth, to name a few. Among American makers, Taylor and Tacoma probably have the most electric-friendly necks. You'll have to decide yourself if they're "fast" or not. Among imports, Blueridge has very skinny necks, almost like a Wizard profile. Alvarez necks lean toward the thin side too.
Members guit30 Posted June 24, 2007 Members Posted June 24, 2007 Alvarez RD 20S has a very fas neck,thin profile3/4 inch @ 1st fret7/8 inch @ 10 th fret1 10/16 nut2 1/8 saddle string spacinghttp://www.modernguitars.com/musicgear/acoustic_guitars/alvarez/Alvarez_RD20S_Regent_Series_Dreadnought_Acoustic_Guitar_Natural.html
Members KATMAN Posted June 24, 2007 Members Posted June 24, 2007 Takamines have a thin neck as well.The one I have has a great cutaway up to the last fret.It's quite different than a big dread.
Members min7b5 Posted June 24, 2007 Members Posted June 24, 2007 In my opinion speed comes mostly from practice Lowering the action makes it easier press down the strings, but too low and and you lose so much tone that you may not be inspired. Personally I like the big fat wide neck of my D18GE for fast bop lines and fiddle tune butchery. I also had just medium low-ish action and 13
Members DonK Posted June 24, 2007 Members Posted June 24, 2007 In my opinion speed comes mostly from practice Lowering the action makes it easier press down the strings, but too low and and you lose so much tone that you may not be inspired. Personally I like the big fat wide neck of my D18GE for fast bop lines and fiddle tune butchery. I also had just medium low-ish action and 13
Members shaunswanson Posted June 24, 2007 Author Members Posted June 24, 2007 I'm not looking for a guitar that makes me play faster, i'm looking for one that allows me to play fast without cramping up my hands. I can't play boat necks for any extended period of time. As for my technique I can play fast on any guitar but some things just make it easier, such as a fast neck (thin profile, flat radius, big polished frets). Also it should be a smaller guitar, not a dreadnought, I have a hell of a tough time playing those.
Members JasmineTea Posted June 24, 2007 Members Posted June 24, 2007 Epiphone. Unfortunately I don't have a model number, however I might be able to post it later. If you search the pawn shops you'll find one of these, or ebay or something. They hav'nt built them in a long time, I think they were built in the '70s. It's an OM/000 size guitar with a bolt-on neck, zero fret. The bridge has screws for adjusting the string-hight. There's usualy a stylized "E" on the pickguard. The bolt-on neck gives easy access to upper frets because there's no heel to deal with, and allows you to tilt the neck if need be. I find them to be incredibly fast, but they don't have much for tone. You might want to check out a Wechter.http://www.elderly.com/vintage/items/20U-11069.htm
Members starsailor803 Posted June 24, 2007 Members Posted June 24, 2007 Taylor 314ce all day long. I love mine. I've tried lots of others and none are as easy and effortless as mine.
Members shaunswanson Posted June 24, 2007 Author Members Posted June 24, 2007 thanks, i'll look into those
Members Tony Burns Posted June 25, 2007 Members Posted June 25, 2007 Thats a very broad range question , so here a broad range answer - pretty much any guitar if you have it set up properly by a very good luthier . It is worth the money ( around 50-75 dollars ) Im partial to my Larrivee OMv60 - thats why i bought it - for speed and tonal quality - but really you can do this to practically any guitar !( Thou I hesitate to do it to a Wally mart guitar )
Members min7b5 Posted June 25, 2007 Members Posted June 25, 2007 I'm not looking for a guitar that makes me play faster, i'm looking for one that allows me to play fast without cramping up my hands. I can't play boat necks....Also it should be a smaller guitar.... You
Members mcmurray Posted June 25, 2007 Members Posted June 25, 2007 Fast playing results from lots of practice and has absolutely nothing to do with the neck shape.
Members DeepEnd Posted June 25, 2007 Members Posted June 25, 2007 Epiphone. Unfortunately I don't have a model number, however I might be able to post it later. If you search the pawn shops you'll find one of these, or ebay or something. They hav'nt built them in a long time, I think they were built in the '70s.It's an OM/000 size guitar with a bolt-on neck, zero fret. The bridge has screws for adjusting the string-hight. There's usualy a stylized "E" on the pickguard. . . . Probably an FT130. They crop up on eBay from time to time.
Members pathofspirit Posted June 25, 2007 Members Posted June 25, 2007 I have an Epiphone Masterbilt - AJ500M that has a smooth thin neck. Someone also mention the old FT 130 I believe. I actually owned one of these - bought it at Gracins on 48th St. in NY around 1974. It didn't sound great but played very well. A good pickup would aid the sound issue. Unfortunately I got rid of it many years ago and have regretted it since. Epiphone.Unfortunately I don't have a model number, however I might be able to post it later. If you search the pawn shops you'll find one of these, or ebay or something. They hav'nt built them in a long time, I think they were built in the '70s.It's an OM/000 size guitar with a bolt-on neck, zero fret. The bridge has screws for adjusting the string-hight. There's usualy a stylized "E" on the pickguard.The bolt-on neck gives easy access to upper frets because there's no heel to deal with, and allows you to tilt the neck if need be.I find them to be incredibly fast, but they don't have much for tone.You might want to check out a Wechter.http://www.elderly.com/vintage/items/20U-11069.htm
Members shaunswanson Posted June 25, 2007 Author Members Posted June 25, 2007 Fast playing results from lots of practice and has absolutely nothing to do with the neck shape. I've studied at both McNally Smith and Berklee, I don't want to hear anybody directly or indirectly criticize my technique, or anyones technique for that matter. I'm primarily an electric player, i almost never sit down and strum chords, for this I was looking for a guitar that plays similar to an electric, (i.e smaller body, SMALLER NECK, and low action) without going too overboard and buying some thinline that hardly resembles an acoustic. I've never been in the market for a guitar like this so i don't know what all is out there, I was looking for some suggestions to speed up the process. So for those of you who actually did give me a suggestion for a guitar and didn't give me any "technique tips", Thank You very much I appreciate it. Thats what these forums are for.
Members angus_old Posted June 25, 2007 Members Posted June 25, 2007 what about the fender acoustics with the strat headstocks? i haven't played one but they're advertised as having electric-shaped necks
Members digitalox Posted June 25, 2007 Members Posted June 25, 2007 I have one of the old Fender Montaras with strat type neck its pretty fast
Members guit30 Posted June 25, 2007 Members Posted June 25, 2007 I am a flatpicker and find that a smaller profile neck is best for me, I agree with Donk that right hand picking technique is probably harder than fingering scales,(which you should practice til you are sick if you want to be good), When I was younger, I took lessons, another thing I learned from playing with players much better than myself is KNOWING THE FRETBOARD, so many guitar players today play riffs, or parts of a scale, that has nothing to do with a song. If you want to listen to a player that is very melodic and fast, check out Dicky Betts, Never strays far from the main melodic content. Listen to the lead in Blue Sky or Ramblin ManJ
Members min7b5 Posted June 25, 2007 Members Posted June 25, 2007 I've studied at both McNally Smith and Berklee, I don't want to hear anybody directly or indirectly criticize my technique.... I don't think anyone is questioning your ability to play the instrument or your training. The original post didn't say small neck only, and people often skip the posts in the middle. I think people were mostly just saying that for different people different neck profiles result in ease of play. I think manufactures try to tell us that everyone prefers and thin flat neck with tall frets for ease of play, but for many of the opposite might be true. That said, a lot of people find Taylor
Members JasmineTea Posted June 29, 2007 Members Posted June 29, 2007 Epiphone FT 130 http://www.jnpastore.com/old/ebay.htm
Members pez1963 Posted June 30, 2007 Members Posted June 30, 2007 I'm not looking for a guitar that makes me play faster, i'm looking for one that allows me to play fast without cramping up my hands. I can't play boat necks for any extended period of time. As for my technique I can play fast on any guitar but some things just make it easier, such as a fast neck (thin profile, flat radius, big polished frets). Also it should be a smaller guitar, not a dreadnought, I have a hell of a tough time playing those. Hands down fastest effortless playing acoustic guitars is the Ovation Thunderbolt TB01 or 1989Collectors series. Both have the same neck.Ive had TB01-5 since it was new.Its super shallow body with op-24 electronics.http://www.ovationguitars.com/index.cfm?fa=detail&mid=1018Set it up with 1 shim and 1717 Adamas Strings .10 to .47Between the hot pick up and bowl body don't worry about the extra light strings, it will be very full sounding. I still enjoy seeing other players face as the start to play mine.No bs its action is better than most strats and some les pauls.It sounds very good. This was a high end USA made guitar.Bon Jovi and Sambora were playing these for a few years. Check gbase or ebay to find one. Here is the other model with that neck http://www.ovationguitars.com/index.cfm?fa=detail&mid=1231 The Tbolts are selling used for $500 to $600 with wear on it.(other than the last 50 with lizzard skin or snakeskin finishes)Send it back to Ovation and have serviced.Neck reset with fret leveling and dressing is $200 for non orginal owners. Mine needed to have it done after 18 years of hard use.Thats the only repair its ever needed.
Members iamthejazz Posted June 30, 2007 Members Posted June 30, 2007 I think Taylor's are the way to go. To me they feel similar to a Strat neck, and Taylor does a good job setting up their guitars when they leave the shop. I can fly on my 410ce.
Members guitarist21 Posted June 30, 2007 Members Posted June 30, 2007 Taylor used to market their guitars as having "electric" necks. Sounds to me like they're exactly what you're looking for. Ellen
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.