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Question Is there any way to get my Strat to play as easily as my Balls?

Siddius

Siddius

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 12, 2014
Messages
218
Location
Bloomington, IN
I have a beautiful American Deluxe V-neck Strat. The tone on that bad boy is great, but the bending has just felt like crap in comparison to my SM Y2D. I wouldn't feel too bad about selling it to fund my next Music Man, except that it has Uli Jon Roth's signature on the back of the headstock :cool:. I have had a history of hand problems, which has led me to become an instant EBMM enthusiast.

So anyway, i am afraid that it may just pick up dust/ become a studio tone machine. Is there anything I can do to get this guy to bend more easily? Keep from cramping up on it?

I guess I don't mind holding on to it as a piece of home decoration, it just bugs my hand a little too much sometimes. :(
 
I guess you could lower the string gauge or play that guitar in Eflat.
But since you like ebmm so much just sell it so it gets played by someone it's a shame to keep it around As a decoration.
I have a strat i really like buts it's up for sale I figured let someone else enjoy.
 
I would recommend playing the V neck back to back with another strat with a C neck, to keep it to a neck difference only. Fender's soft V is far different from the V neck on a Luke. I found playing the soft V and C back to back that I was significantly faster and played better with the C. The soft V neck was sold soon after that. I don't find that with a Luke which has a deeper V.

The other thing to look at is the fingerboard edges. I find that at least with my own Music Man guitars that the rolling on the edges is done in a way that makes the neck feel more comfortable than any strat.

Or just take the advice in post #3. :D
 
Thanks youz guyz.

I love the guitar and I was quite fond of the neck, but the Morse monster has utterly spoiled me and *possibly* adjusted my style to its ease of playing. I don't have too much of a problem pulling off runs on the strat, really just whole step bends.

I am thinking I might just take it to get set up with .008s and see what my tech thinks about the fingerboard edges. If that sucks as much as I fear it will, hell, maybe I'll get a replacement neck to the general spec's of an Axis (My wrist loves the 1-5/8" nut) and hang up the Uli Jon Roth signature up on the wall.
 
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You are not the first one that gets used to EBMM necks and anything else feels odd. It takes me a while get used to wider necks on other guitars I have here. Maybe it's another kind of practice...
 
I know exactly what you're referring to with the awkward string tension of a strat when bending. It's almost like the string is twisting as it's being bent. I had a strat back in the day. After my first music man there was no turning back. The difference of a hundred details...
 
Well, on the bright side, my second music man should be hitting my doorstep any day now...

poor strat... it never stood a chance, did it?
 
Siddius said:
Well, on the bright side, my second music man should be hitting my doorstep any day now...

poor strat... it never stood a chance, did it?
Click to expand...

lol, good one! Already one of us. Can't wait to see that puppy.
 
This a history of how much use my strat has gotten since I got my Silhouette Special...























...and just this Monday I stole the jack plate for a repair to a client's guitar.



Truth.
 
But, to answer the original post, a good setup might help but even a good setup can't do anythig with the neck size and carve and frets, and the bigger body, and ridiculously long headstock... :D

Welcome to the family, Siddius!
 
Bigger fret size and rounded fretboard edges generally help with bends. A re-fret with taller fret wire should make bends feel more comfortable, but there are lots of other details that contribute to the overall playability of the neck.

Personally, I would retire the Strat to studio use only and get a Silo Special or something.
 
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I have strats, and after getting some balls I just don't play the strats much anymore. A good setup helps, but you might find that strat doesn't cut it anymore and you'll sell Sell SELL.
 
Thanks everyone,
I appreciate all of the input.

There is a strange addiction to balls. If they did a roasted neck PDN like they did with the rosewood neck, I would probably jump all over it. I have been drooling for a roasted maple neck and I haven't even gotten my rosewood yet. I'm clearing out rooms with the gas I got.
 
don't be disillusioned. They quit making strats when CBS took over.

The fact that people have to play the name is ridiculous. Why do the neoslingers HAVE to have a PRS?? Why does EVERY guitarist have to own an LP (burst to boot).

be a man, if it doesn't give you wood when you play it, dump it. Life is too short.
 
I am sure you only jest, but again, the value I hold on it is the signature from meeting one of my favorite guitarists. To me, that is priceless
 
The answer to your question is, no.

But keep the thing because it means something to you.

Mick
 
You could scallop the fretboard like Yngwie if you want bends.
 
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