Do any of you guys think that the comfort with connecting with the frets/notes on the strings of my guitar and just plain comfort and convenience of playing the damn thing could have something to do with the neck/string coupling and/or the brand/model of my guitar? Yeah, I know. It's more like an essay than a paragraph, but I just don't know how to put my question into words!

Do you mean the action of the guitar? (how high the strings are above the fretboard) Yeah it can definitely affect the comfort level... Generally the lower the action (the closer the strings are to the fretboard), the more comfortable it is to play...

The action can be adjusted at the bridge of the guitar.

http://www.ultimate-guita...ction.html

If you don't want to mess with it yourself, you might want to take it to a guitar tech (especially if it's a new guitar... new guitars usually have a few problems that need to be fixed)

coolcat said:

YES!!! That is exactly what I mean, The damn strings on my guitar (As I have noticed thus far) have not been all that close to the fretboard, but I have always wondered why it was so hard to hit the damn strings onto a certain fret. I also figured that it might have had something to do with the pairing of my guitar ("Johnson" brand; "Fender Whatever-Caster" model from what somebody told me) with a random set of "Gibson" brand strings that I had picked up when I had needed to get a new set of strings to change with for my guitar. *Takes Deep Breath* It ain't easy being me!

coolcat said:

Let me see, here. So, going on by what that article states, people like "Stevie Ray Vaughn" and "Jimi Hendrix" actually "PREFER" for the "Action" to be up higher and looser than those shredders in "Rock "n" Roll" that can rip their guitars a new asshole? Does this mean that if I wanted to play like "Stevie Ray Vaughn" and/or "Jimi Hendrix" that I would have to have my action pretty high up above the fretboard or what? Man, I couldn't imagine how hard that must be. Maybe my action is actually higher than that of "Stevie Ray Vaughn's" because no matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to adjust to this way.

FarrahMoan said:

Hang in there. Yeah, the gauge of strings can be a problem. I think the best thing is to get your guitar set up for a particular set of strings and stick with that set whenever you change strings. I like to keep a few extra sets of the same strings...

FarrahMoan said:

Don't worry about trying to sound like SRV or Jimi... find something that's comfortable for you, and stick with that setting... Keep it simple.

coolcat said:

Do you play guitar and if so, what action do you prefer or would you recommend by your playing standards or the standards of someone decent who plays that you are personally familiar with? It's just that I love their sound, man. It's so crazy, I'm gonna play like myself one day .....

FarrahMoan said:

I play a little bit. I'm learning. I think my action is low, like shredders use. I'm not concentrating much on sounding too much like anyone, outside of the choice of notes... I just hate that technical stuff of adjusting action, intonation etc... So I just stick with the same setting...

I like Joe Satriani. I think he uses very low action.

Action isn't the only thing that affects sound. The gauge of the strings does also. SRV uses very heavy gauge strings...

So maybe you can keep the action low and use heavier strings to get that type of sound... but heavier strings are also harder to play... so that's another thing to consider.

coolcat said:

How heavy are his strings? Would you say that they are near acoustics in the pliancy department?
[Edited 6/30/07 21:12pm]
[Edited 6/30/07 21:12pm]

Also, maybe it's because you haven't built up your calluses yet. Again, that comes with time. Until then, it may be a bit uncomfortable to fret notes 'n stuff.

Having a crappy guitar is also a contributing factor.

JesseDezz said:

Yeah, my guitar is pretty crappy. But, my calluses are "SO" damn visible, it's not even funny! How much would a "DECENT" guitar cost in you opinion?

Actually, nowadays, you can get a good squier strat pack (guitar, small amp, strap) for around 3 hundred bucks (that's what we used to sell them for in my working in a guitar store days. Shoot, I'm sure you can find something cheaper as well. Washburn had some cool guitars at the time (we were a Washburn dealer). Personally, I dig Squier strats. Had one for years (200 bucks from Musicians Friend) and I played some of my best band gigs with it. Great guitar.

The quality is sooooo much better than when I started out. I have a relative who I'm instructing who's playing an old Harmony guitar that's about 20 years old. The action on that thing is HORRIBLE. He's coming along, but he would really shine on something better...

JesseDezz said:

"COOL"! My mother had went to the pawn shop around here in "Eastpointe, Michigan" and someone offered her a washburn. She came back home and asked me about the "Washburn" brands and I sat there feeling retarded because I didn't know what to say about them since I hadn't heard about that brand (By the way, are the "Washburns" actually an idiosyncratic model or do they copycat another like a "Les Paul Gibson" and/or a "Fender" or something like that). I think a "Squier" might even be available.

First off I wouldnt go just buying a new guitar as it likely will be simple to adjust the action and then you will save some money,most electric are easy to adjust ,acoustic not so.

Really a lower action is easier to play on but it wants to be high enough so that the strings ring true and you have no dead spots/buzzes etc.
Now I'd say 9 gauge strings are preferable IMO in fact i have 9's on the high strings that are easy to bend etc and 10s on the bottoms to make riffing easier,theres a lot of talk about heavier strings giving better tone but i think its minimal and ease of play is the most important so i probablys woulnt go higher than a set of 10's but preferable 9's.

It shouldnt take too much to fret notes try not to put to much pressure on the strings it isnt neccesary,a good way to test it to just touch a string with your finger just lightly then press it until it frets the note and you will see it dosent take much at all.
That aside you want to play as relaxed as possible because tension will make it really hard to play,so make sure you start slow and play everything as perfectly as possible then speed up.
And lastly realise that it isnt easy to play guitar it takes work so don't worry if you are finding it tough because with correct practice you will get there in time.

FarrahMoan said:

According to this site http://tangledupinblues.com/setup.html Stevie's strings were: ".013, .015, .019 (plain), .028, .038, and .058."

Don't really know how that compares to acoustic strings...

coolcat said:

Oh, that's "NOT" deciperable, at all. What are the decimals supposed to stand for, anyhow? Oh, and another thing, this question is for "richierich" ("OR", anyone who can answer, really): What is gauge level and its significance? Elaborate on this if you can, for me. Thanks in advance!

FarrahMoan said:

Okay, man! This reading is pissing me off! It's like it flaunts and taunts at nme the fact that I don't know any of this technical mumbo-jumbo, even at this point after periodically playing around with this instrument for awhile, now (Some periods of nearly two years, to be exact). I don't know what a bridge saddle is. I don't think I know all that much about a tremolo arm. I know nothing about the neck adjustment. I comprehend nothing about the fingerboard radius ("OR", any radius for that matter. Sorry, I didn't take calculus/pre-calculus or much of any trigonometry). Nothing about fretwire, am I familiar with. Hell, to keep it short, I feel dyslexic reading a bunch of words, none of which I can comprehend and/or apply to the construction/post-construction and maintaining of a guitar. Is this common? Please tell me I am not alone, here!
[Edited 7/1/07 6:43am]

FarrahMoan said:

I'm just like you man. I hate that tech stuff. I don't understand most of that stuff either. I recommend just going to a guitar tech and asking him to lower the action and get it in tune. Just basically set up the guitar for you to play... Then stick with the same set of strings in the future, because that's what your guitar will be set up for. If you use a different set of strings in the future when you need to replace the strings then the guitar could go out of whack again.

If you want to sound just like Jimi or SRV you'll have no choice but to get into the nitty gritty how the guitar is set up etc... I really don't know anything about how to do that. That's why I posted the link because I couldn't say anything about it myself. I recommend just forgetting about sounding just like someone and just get the guitar comfortable and in tune, and just focus on playing.

String gauge is just the size of the strings (the weight... light vs. heavy etc...)

You're not alone man. I hate setting up the guitar. Just restringing is a challenge and a chore for me. I like playing, but I hate the other stuff.

coolcat said:

Oh, thanks! I needed to know that I wasn't alone and (If you're not lying, that is) that helps. I appreciate your gesture. Oh, and about playing my songs in a bluesy manner (Somewhat in the styles of "Stevie Ray Vaughn" and "Jimi Hendrix") didn't they even have a personal guitar technician or was that just "Stevie"? Either way, I am going to take the route that you suggest. I just hope that, no matter the gauge and no matter the lower the "Action" is from here on out, I just hope that it's all more convenient for me, either way the wind blows (Doesn't really matter to me).
[Edited 7/1/07 11:59am]
[Edited 7/1/07 13:27pm]

FarrahMoan said:

Not lying at all. That's why I like synths. They always stay in tune. Don't know about the guitar techs those two had... But you know... I think if you gave them whatever guitar, Stevie would still sound like Stevie, and Jimi would still sound like Jimi... for the most part anyway.

Keep track of what type of strings you're using so that you get the same ones when you need to replace them.

coolcat said:

Yeah, well, I mean, anyone who's worked on their instrument to get it mastered down pact would probably be able to work with "ANY" guitar to their best abilities. But, now, with realizing just how technical it can get on the surface, I now wonder and worry if altering the guitar to my comfort level (That which would make it easier to play) would ultimately mean that I am just short-cutting my way through everything. That's the problem with having to fathom that "THEY" would sound the same, for the most part, because I know that if I have had my guitar set up a certain way and then, all of a sudden, I receive a guitar that isn't set to my usual liking and I can't play it, then that would probably validate that I was never a good player, in the first place. Man, I talk/type too much!!! *Takes Seep Breaths*

FarrahMoan said:

Trust me, it's much better to play on a comfortable guitar... You're more likely to keep on playing and getting to that point when you'll still sound good on any guitar... That's the most important thing... to keep playing.

You've got to be able to do it the easy way before you can do it the hard way... starting with the hard way is probably not going to work...

coolcat said:

Alright, well, enough with my complaining because it gets tiresome to hear my own voice. So, I am going to try it all out, okay! Thanks for all of your support and help, guys!
[Edited 7/1/07 15:26pm]
[Edited 7/2/07 2:46am]

Oh, poo! Now, I have another question for you guys (Once again, I don't mean to get on the nerves of you guys). Do you know of a situation tat would call for me to have tend to my fretboard being filed or something to that effect because I wanna if there could be more wrong with my guitar than just the strings? I know it sounds kind of weird, but I;m curious.

Hi sorry I haven't been back to this thread.
Anyways string gauges are as pointed out just string thickness or circumference if you like,a light string is easy to fret and bend etc,sometimes light strings may feel a little slack and some find that picking can be more difficult.
Its said that thicker strings produce a warmer sound and they do but often with the equipment people use now its not so noticeable.
Hendrix and SRV tuned down half a step from E to Eb,this would have reduced some tension and 10's would probably have suited them better than 9's in that case.
SRV it has been said used 18's at one point and they must be super heavy,he was told by his tech to go to thinner strings because his fingers were getting wrecked.
Acoustic guitars generally are fitted with 12's,I have actually put 10's on mine just so its easier to play,its no good having the extra say 10% tonal benefits if your playing is 25% poorer as a result of not being able to manage with heavier strings.
I personally think your amp makes the most difference to your tone,your playing also really shapes the sound,the way you pick and fret notes etc.

Its also dependent on what you want to play,if you want to play mainly chord than it would be different than if you wanted to play guitar gymnastics.

People often try a set of strings out and they then make a decision as to how they want to change,maybes lighter maybes heavier,perhaps even some hybrid strings.
[Edited 7/9/07 3:19am]

FarrahMoan said:

It would be unlikley that you would need the fretboard filling,but you may have some frets that are not level,this can cause buzzing and dead spots,the neck should also be straight so take a look at it and see than its not bent.

FarrahMoan said:

To sound like Jimi and SRV would cost a fair wack of money,they also played with I think 100 watt valve amps which are impractical unless you have a large plot of land with no neighbours for miles ,so you need to work with what you have got.
Firstly they have a slighly overdriven sound so you don't need heaps of distotion,so work your amp to find a similar sound,play with the pickup selector.
They both used wah often so you might want to invest in a wah pedal.
Then the most important part is how they play,with those two and Prince the rhythm is very important,the way they picking,the way they mute,its all very percussive and there are many little subtleties.
The lead mainly comes from the blues/pentatonic,learn some of their licks etc and then work it into your rhythm playing,make backing tracks etc and just jam away finding things you like.

richierich said:

I appreciate your help and advice "SO MUCH"!!! Thanks a lot, you guys!