How to improve the tone of thin strings

[guitarbilly74]

shorter scale length and put some 10-52s on it?

 

 

My main guitar already has a 24 3/4" scale.

[Dewysoss]

My main guitar already has a 24 3/4" scale.

balls. get a mustang or something

[ss454]

All the guitars I sold were mahogany set necks. 9s tend to work well on bolt on guitars IMO. I also use DR TF strings and switched to the half tite on my Wolfgang a while back and love them. They're near impossible to find in a store so you'll have to order them.

[potaetoes]

fatter neck, narrower nut = less strain

 

put your hands on something like a fender nocaster, or a warmoth fatback neck with a 1-5/8" nut... may not be as fast, but a lot less hand strain than wider flatter necks. with your hand in a more natural grip, you can probably play any string gauge you want without aggravating your tendonitis. added bonuses: fat necks sound good, stay in tune better, and are less likely to warp/break/whatever.

 

i can play my fatback for hours without any problem with 11s or 12s, but something like a typical modern strat neck makes my whole forearm cramp up and my wrist really sore no matter what strings are on it.

[Shenaniganizer]

no computer means no computer, man. And right now you're at HCAF, typing. Go see a specialist, but follow exactly what they tell you. You may have to get a doctor's notice and reschedule classes while you are under treatment.

Truth. I'm doing an assignment right now and browsing HCAF simultaneously.
And now that I've thought about it, the doctor actually said "this brace will help keep your wrist from doing the wrong things while you're on the computer."
It was an ER visit (long story) and I think they were just trying to get me out quickly. Don't know why.. the waiting room was empty.
I'll have to get a referral to see a specialist, but, I've gotta try. I don't wanna end my guitar playing or even alter it.
Anyway. Finishing up and turning off. Good luck, man.

[sabrex]

Bad tone with thin strings is myth, in the same sense that some people think low output pickups have bad tone. Smart guitarists know that pickups with weaker magnetic fields produce _better_ tone.

 

Lower mass strings will create less electrical current given same vibration. A tiny bit less. This can be compensated for by moving the pickup closer. You could also get higher output pickups.

 

Tone masters including Yngwie and Satch used 9s most of their career.

 

If you are stuck with vintage output pickups and want more output, thick strings may be the way to go to create more output..

[guitarded_1]

Here's a suggestion that may make no difference...but it won't hurt a damn thing. Try wrapping your strings around your tail piece. In other words, send the strings through the tail piece the opposite way and pull them over the top. Worth a shot, I reckon.

[guitarbilly74]

Here's a suggestion that may make no difference...but it won't hurt a damn thing. Try wrapping your strings around your tail piece. In other words, send the strings through the tail piece the opposite way and pull them over the top. Worth a shot, I reckon.

That's how I string my guitars

[guitarded_1]

That's how I string my guitars

Then try the other way

[potaetoes]

It was an ER visit (long story) and I think they were just trying to get me out quickly. Don't know why.. the waiting room was empty.

maybe because it wasn't an emergency. just a guess.

[marshallnoise]

hmm. I have not tried the tone zone yet on this guitar. That's good to know.

 

 

PM your address to me Bill, I'll send you a Tonezone I have had laying around and can't sell! Its yours to have.

 

Also, if you can do it, 11s on the SATF seem killer. But I understand if you are having problems with your hands.

[southtexslinger]

I usually boost my light string guitar with a clean boost

[LordThurisaz]

Remember when they would say "You should stretch before doing anything athletic"?

Yep, guitar is athletic.

[guitarbilly74]

PM your address to me Bill, I'll send you a Tonezone I have had laying around and can't sell! Its yours to have. Also, if you can do it, 11s on the SATF seem killer. But I understand if you are having problems with your hands.

PM'd

and no, 11's are completely out of question. I love their tone though

[southtexslinger]

stand up thing to do marshallnoise

[marshallnoise]

PM'd and no, 11's are completely out of question. I love their tone though

Yeah, I have beastly hands. So big fat strings are no problem. I string my Tele with 11s too. Had 13s on my Taylor 315CE and liked them except that they kept breaking too often. 12s it is on that guitar, sadly.

I'll get this out to you as soon as I can. Probably this weekend, but maybe Monday.

[madryan]

fatter neck, narrower nut = less strain put your hands on something like a fender nocaster, or a warmoth fatback neck with a 1-5/8" nut... may not be as fast, but a lot less hand strain than wider flatter necks. with your hand in a more natural grip, you can probably play any string gauge you want without aggravating your tendonitis. added bonuses: fat necks sound good, stay in tune better, and are less likely to warp/break/whatever. i can play my fatback for hours without any problem with 11s or 12s, but something like a typical modern strat neck makes my whole forearm cramp up and my wrist really sore no matter what strings are on it.

 

 

This^

 

Additionally, try an aluminum tailpiece and a set of Tone Pros lock down studs if you've got a standard Tune-o-matic setup. I went to one on my Les Paul and it's awesome. I top wrap as well so the tailpiece is screwed clear down to the body. Guitar plays and sounds amazing now.

[marshallnoise]

stand up thing to do marshallnoise

[guitarbilly74]

fatter neck, narrower nut = less strain put your hands on something like a fender nocaster, or a warmoth fatback neck with a 1-5/8" nut... may not be as fast, but a lot less hand strain than wider flatter necks. with your hand in a more natural grip, you can probably play any string gauge you want without aggravating your tendonitis. added bonuses: fat necks sound good, stay in tune better, and are less likely to warp/break/whatever. i can play my fatback for hours without any problem with 11s or 12s, but something like a typical modern strat neck makes my whole forearm cramp up and my wrist really sore no matter what strings are on it.

 

 

oh that's a great point. I wonder if it's the neck profile that is causing part of the problem. I like Gibson-style guitars though, do you think something like that Gibson "59 rounded profile would be comfortable enough??

[LordThurisaz]

I have a Custom 5 I'd give away [i'd prefer the recipient paid s/h though; can you deliver where the mail person collects s/h from the recipient?] if someone wanted to try and make a short wire work...

It was my first time swapping pickups, so I cut the wire coupling all the conductors so I could swapp the pickup easier. Probably not the best way to do it, but was a decent way to learn for the first time without getting completely lost. I know, I'm a n00b, but now I know how to do it right should I need to.

[TruSlice]

do the bridge and tuner noticeably affect the tone of the guitar?? Not talking about the type of bridge here I know there is a tonal difference between a floyd, a strat trem and a hard tail... but does the weight of the bridge changes anything?? Who makes "heavy" gibson style bridges??

They do, but not dramatically tone-wise. They give you the edge needed in critical situations though and do improve the harmonics a lot, along with better sustain.

As for the tuners, same thing, except the result is a (to my ears) less natural tone.

The rest goes for the both of them.


Pickup swap always makes the biggest difference.

[guitarbilly74]

if someone wanted to try and make a short wire work... It was my first time swapping pickups, so I cut the wire coupling all the conductors so I could swapp the pickup easier. Probably not the best way to do it, but was a decent way to learn for the first time without getting completely lost. I know, I'm a n00b, but now I know how to do it right should I need to.

A Custom 5 is what I have on my guitar right now. One of my favorite pickups, but I wonder if the TZ will give me the extra fatness I need.

If it does, I'm sending the C5 to Marshallnoise to return the favor

[madryan]

oh that's a great point. I wonder if it's the neck profile that is causing part of the problem. I like Gibson-style guitars though, do you think something like that Gibson "59 rounded profile would be comfortable enough??

 

 

The thick Gibson necks are awesome. Mine's the '59 profile and I can't stand thin shredder guitars anymore. It never goes out of tune either.

[madryan]

A Custom 5 is what I have on my guitar right now. One of my favorite pickups, but I wonder if the TZ will give me the extra fatness I need. If it does, I'm sending the C5 to Marshallnoise to return the favor

I'm betting you'll dig the Custom 5 more. You might not tho. The Tonezone only works with certain guitars and certain amps I've found.

[guitarbilly74]

The thick Gibson necks are awesome. Mine's the '59 profile and I can't stand thin shredder guitars anymore. It never goes out of tune either.

 

 

I'm thinking of buying an SG or LP studio when I get my taxes.