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2nd Fret Action


confuseitall

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Posted

I really like the way my guitar plays and sounds with the capo on the second fret. Is there anything I can do to make it play that way uncapoed? I guess raising the action probably?

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Posted

Originally posted by confuseitall

I really like the way my guitar plays and sounds with the capo on the second fret. Is there anything I can do to make it play that way uncapoed? I guess raising the action probably?

 

i don't see how raising the action would help. so i'd say 'no' on that one.

 

to get that sound without a capo you'd have to tune up a whole step and in that case the string tension would be higher which could potentially damage your instrument over time and it would also be harder to play.

 

i'd just stick with the capo :)

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Posted

I would think just the opposite-lowering the action. When you capo, you are also effectively shortening the scale length, which makes string bends easier. Also, playing the same open chords is a little easier because the frets are spaced closer together-although just slightly at the 2nd fret-as you go up the neck. My point is-it's still not going to be quite the same as capoing, but I would think the action would be lower with a capo-maybe your nut slots could be lowered a bit if they're too high-maybe that's the difference you're noticing.

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Posted

 

Originally posted by surfcat

I would think just the opposite-lowering the action. When you capo, you are also effectively shortening the scale length, which makes string bends easier. Also, playing the same open chords is a little easier because the frets are spaced closer together-although just slightly at the 2nd fret-as you go up the neck. My point is-it's still not going to be quite the same as capoing, but I would think the action would be lower with a capo-maybe your nut slots could be lowered a bit if they're too high-maybe that's the difference you're noticing.

 

 

Well I recently adjusted my truss rod for a new string gauge (11.5) and this effectively raised the action a bit, and it's closer to how I'd like it to play, plus I'm still having some buzzing issues, so I don't think lowering will help. My nut slots are defenitly not too high. If I stay with these new strings, I'll probably have to get a new nut because the slots are a bit low.

 

Here's a better look:

 

When I play my guitar without a capo it's too jangly..make sense? I like the tighter feel and tone of a capoed guitar, but want to play in E sometimes. Eventually I will be getting a new guitar of course, but for now I'd like to dink around and see if I can optimize what I've got.

 

thanks for the help fellas,

 

-brendan

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Posted

keep trying different strings and try out a bunch of different picks. maybe try some jim dunlop nylon picks if you're not already. to my ears, they make a guitar sound a little warmer than a lot of other picks.

if you want to really mellow out the sound and take out jangle try some silk & steel strings. but then your 2nd capoe'd position might not sound as good to you.

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Posted

 

Originally posted by seven7

keep trying different strings and try out a bunch of different picks. maybe try some jim dunlop nylon picks if you're not already. to my ears, they make a guitar sound a little warmer than a lot of other picks.

if you want to really mellow out the sound and take out jangle try some silk & steel strings. but then your 2nd capoe'd position might not sound as good to you.

 

 

yeah, I've got silk and steel on right now. They're my favorite so far.

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Posted

Originally posted by confuseitall



yeah, I've got silk and steel on right now. They're my favorite so far.

 

oh, cool!

i just ordered a set of silk & steel to put on one of my guitars that has regular steel strings on it now :)

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Posted

Originally posted by FingerBone Bill

You could get a mandolin!

 

hmmmm....

 

 

nope.:D

 

 

The silk and steel are pretty nice strings.

 

I'm gonna give Elxir a shot though, because they are sending me a free set because of a bad experience....

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