full bends higher up the neck

SRV · 2009-07-16T15:02:06+00:00

Hi guys, I donnu if there's already a subject on the matter, but I couldn't find any. Bad thing is I'm usually at work when I'm on GFSA and can't do the cha...

full bends higher up the neck

AlanRatcliffe

What is happening is your string is "fretting out" on the next fret - you're bending it to a part of the fingerboard where the frets are higher because of the fingerboard radius and the string is crashing on the next fret up and killing the sustain. Rounder fingerboards are more sensitive to a low action or any unevenness in the frets - a fraction of a mm can be all it takes. Flatter radius fretboards help, as do perfect fret jobs. ? But otherwise the only cure is to raise the bridge action a bit.

AlanRatcliffe

Almost forgot - many luthiers dressing frets will automatically compound the radius from the 12th fret upwards (usually to a 12") to make bends work with a low action. If they don't do it specifically, you can ask them to do it for you when they dress (If they can't, they shouldn't be dressing frets in the first place).

SRV

was afraid that it could be that...

My next guitar was gonna be a Dot Electric (probably Epiphone...duno where to find Gibson exept inport...) but I don't think its built for the Hendrix kinda stuff...Think I'll take Alan's advise and just take it in for alterations. The only prob is I live in Upington...what stores would you guys recomend? I'll have to courier it anyway so might as well send it to someone who knows what he's doing!

Thanks alot guys!

TomCat

If you are looking for a Dot, there is an Epiphone Dot at Music Connection in Randburg.

(Sorry for the GAS impulse............)

Bob-Dubery

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: What is happening is your string is "fretting out" on the next fret - you're bending it to a part of the fingerboard where the frets are higher because of the fingerboard radius and the string is crashing on the next fret up and killing the sustain. Rounder fingerboards are more sensitive to a low action or any unevenness in the frets - a fraction of a mm can be all it takes. Flatter radius fretboards help, as do perfect fret jobs. ? But otherwise the only cure is to raise the bridge action a bit.

Hendrix actually played with an action on the high side. Richard Thompson tells a tale about jamming with Hendrix in the late 60s and asking for tips. Hendrix told him "raise the action, it makes bending easier." A little later Thompson is on tour in the USA and gets to meet one of his guitar heroes James Burton. He asks Burton for a tip and Burton says "have your action as low as possible. It makes bending easier."

MikeM

Ok take that guys. Hendrix agrees with me ?

Bob-Dubery

MikeM wrote: Ok take that guys. Hendrix agrees with me ?

Yes. And Burton was probably trying to drag a red herring across the path of a young hot shot.

DonovanB

MikeM wrote: Ok take that guys. Hendrix agrees with me ?

I'm sure he's nodding in his grave. ???

How then do you balance your other guitars? I have all my guitars set up with a similar feel, low action and 9's on all of them.

time to fiddle

SRV

my guitar was tuned a half step down, I tuned it to normal tuning last night, and altough I couldn't get the exact picth I wanted, I got a higher note before it mutes...almos, almos up to where I want it, bbut not yet.

any recomodations who (instrument shops) I can send my strat to for the alterations?

thanks to all the advise, its great to visit this forum!

AlanRatcliffe

The higher tension at E will help a little.

The best thing to do is ask the closest music store who they know in the area that can tackle it - stores are usually clued up in that regard. Speak to the person first and see if they sound like they know what they are doing before you take it in.

SRV

thanks A!

i've printed the post you send me first and took it to our local music intrument shop (wich by the way are higher on selling toasters and kettles (see my introduction post). The guy told me to go around the corner to a local shop that fixes radios and Tv's, the owne of that shop also plays guitar and he would be able to help me.
Here everyone knows each other and I know the owner...he probably can help me, but I dunno if I want to trust him with one of my most valuable possesions. We're going through to Bloemfontein on Monday for buisiness, I'll rather try to find somebody there.

Thanks Alan!

Renesongs

Most Strats I've played have had at least 1 or 2 stalling spot above the 12 fret. On my Strat I spent a long while adjusting my action lower and lower and skimming away the stalling spots by sanding the next fret up with emery paper. It took me about 2 years before I was completely satisfied.

Banditman

SRV wrote: My next guitar was gonna be a Dot Electric (probably Epiphone...duno where to find Gibson exept inport...) but I don't think its built for the Hendrix kinda stuff...

If you mean divebombing with the trem etc. then no, but it'll still do fast bluesy rock with ease. Listen to Clapton (Cream) on "Crossroads". The ES is a lovely guitar if you don't mind the size of the body.

JK

I play a Highway One Fender Strat

I have played on 4 of these, including my own, and they all mute when bending on any fret from 12. It seems they fret out on the last fret. Get a luthier to look at it. Very annoying. Not sure why Fender dont do anything about it on these particular models.

singemonkey

In case it's your technique and not the guitar:

http://www.justinguitar.com/en/TE-005-StringBending.php

This guy has really helped me understand a lot of incorrect technique that I'd never known I ought to correct over the years (for example, I never realised why my bending didn't sound like Clapton or Mick Taylor was because they muted the string after it hit pitch, so you that the note ends abruptly on pitch).

Maybe try see if the video shows up some problem with technique that'll help you sort it out.

For an ES guitar, I'll give my normal plug for Tokai guitars that make replicas of that famous 'dot' guitar you're referring to. From their Chinese ones - which compete with the Epiphones, to their made-in-Japan models which compete with the Big G's custom shop guitars - at a fraction of the price.

This is their cheapest made-in-Japan model:

http://www1.odn.ne.jp/tokaigakki/products/vintage/es125.html

"Tokai SA" on this forum is importing them. It might be worth asking him. I'm not getting kickbacks or anything (I wish), I just think Tokais are some of the best quality, best value-for-money guitars in the world.