# The Great Ongoing Guitar Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [January 31, 2010, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172 "2010-01-31T23:20:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![BigShooter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f07891/32.png) [@BigShooter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigShooter)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/241 "2010-03-17T21:24:47Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > \> I can’t carve an arch top onto a body like a Les Paul has. Non-issue on most Bolt-ons. In fact, when Gibson decided to go with the Les Paul in '52, finally goaded into solid-body land because of the success of the Broad (renamed Tele) caster, they specifically went with a carved top so the guitar looked more craft-made vs. the “you can make it with a bandsaw” construction of a Fender… > > Whaddya think? Here’s a bolt-on carved top body I made for a friend of mine - it can be done 😃 [http://i39.tinypic.com/30cvk1x.jpg](http://i39.tinypic.com/30cvk1x.jpg) [http://i41.tinypic.com/vebzio.jpg](http://i41.tinypic.com/vebzio.jpg) No pics of the finished product, I’m afraid… ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/242 "2010-03-17T21:40:52Z")
> [@BigShooter](#): > > Here’s a bolt-on carved top body I made for a friend of mine - it can be done 😃 > > [http://i39.tinypic.com/30cvk1x.jpg](http://i39.tinypic.com/30cvk1x.jpg) > > [http://i41.tinypic.com/vebzio.jpg](http://i41.tinypic.com/vebzio.jpg) > > No pics of the finished product, I’m afraid… Totally bitchin’! ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/243 "2010-03-18T14:00:25Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > Some of his comments (paraphrased by me) > > Chris Layton has a way of pushing you yet relaxing you at the same time. He really enjoyed performing with him as it puts him into a mood where he can comfortably push out past some of his norms. > > [snip] So I started reading my April issue of Guitar world last night and sure enough, Eric Johnson made this statement in it. Except he was talking about Mitch Mitchell (Hedrix’s drummer who died in 2008 and played the previous tour with Johnson). My guess is that the reporter taking notes got it right and the star struck Bubbadog got it wrong. Mr. E.J. was probably restating something he felt strongly about. In my defense the subject of drummers came up when my friend mentioned Chris Layton (This tour and former Stevie Ray Vaughn Double Trouble stick man). Since we fight ignorance here I just had to post my correction. Now I’ll just head over to the guitar build thread and try not to drool on my keyboard any more than usual. ---
**Author:** ![BigShooter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f07891/32.png) [@BigShooter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigShooter)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/244 "2010-03-18T19:37:36Z")
For those who haven’t noticed, I started a build thread here: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=556186](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=556186) ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/245 "2010-03-26T17:27:20Z")
Okay. So my low E keeps buzzing when I fret it. It looks like it’s actually hitting other frets. I’ve been told that if I fret 1 and 12, there should be a gap at 6. There isn’t. I need to have my neck adjusted, right? Can I do this myself? ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/246 "2010-03-26T17:41:22Z")
[QUOTE=E-Sabbath] I need to have my neck adjusted, right? Can I do this myself? [/QUOTE] Yup, you’ll need either a screw driver or a socket spanner (what was your guitar again?), just slacken the truss rod a 1/4 of a turn - let the neck settle for a while. If there’s still no gap (relief) try adding another 1/4 turn at a time until there is. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/247 "2010-03-26T17:49:30Z")
OK it’s a Starcaster, maybe you’ll need an Allen key? BTW you only want a tiny amount of bend in the neck. I occurs to me you may not know what the truss rod is… [Here you go](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truss_rod). ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/248 "2010-03-26T17:58:15Z")
Are you handy, **E-Sabs**? If so, then what \*\*Small Clanger \*\*says is spot on - take a shot. His approach of 1/4 turn, wait for the wood to settle a while (at least an hour or two) then see if it has helped, is good. However - if you aren’t sure you trust yourself, OR if you tried the above maybe 3 times (e.g., you’ve put about 3/4 of a full turn on the truss rod) - take it in to be looked at. Remember that a guitar set up is a “system” - neck bend (“neck relief”), bridge height and intonation, overall neck angle (especially if the neck is a bolt-on and the angle can be adjusted), nut height - each piece contributes, a bunch of little issues can add up to a big playability issues, and tweaking one can typically result in the need to tweak another. That is all a way of saying: try a bit of an adjustment - if it works; yay. If it doesn’t, get a proper set up…my $.02… ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/249 "2010-03-26T18:03:15Z")
Doin’ \*\*E-Sabs’ \*\*job for him ;): [here’s a thread on guitar straps](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=557365)… ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/250 "2010-03-26T20:07:40Z")
Wait. I thought my neck was too _straight_. You’re telling me to loosen the rod? I was thinking I might have to tighten it… reading the wiki article… aha! The strings, I neglected to allow for their tension. Yeah, I knew what it was, but I wasn’t sure what to do with it. Thanks, guys. Got a con to go to this weekend, but after that, it’s guitar time. Edit: Thanks, Wordman, for linkin the thread. Hadn’t seen it myself. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/251 "2010-03-26T21:21:07Z")
Does one need to re-intonate after a neck adjust? ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/252 "2010-03-26T23:13:52Z")
Hm. Local store is having a show. [http://www.rosehillmusic.net/wordpress/?p=250](http://www.rosehillmusic.net/wordpress/?p=250) Maybe there’ll be something decent used. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/253 "2010-03-27T00:03:13Z")
Hey! Look what I found, when checking what intonation was. [http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/intonate.htm](http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/intonate.htm) This is great. I probably won’t get it right, but that’s what the Starcaster is for, making all my mistakes on. It’s a very clear guide on setting up guitars. Truss, intonation, neck, string height, pickups, everything! ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/254 "2010-03-27T00:07:26Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > Hey! Look what I found, when checking what intonation was. > [http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/intonate.htm](http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/intonate.htm) > > This is great. I probably won’t get it right, but that’s what the Starcaster is for, making all my mistakes on. It’s a very clear guide on setting up guitars. Truss, intonation, neck, string height, pickups, everything! Yeah, that’s a good page; I’ve intonated following those instructions, no sweat. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/255 "2010-03-27T00:23:41Z")
Okay, WOW. Had to turn it a half turn. Got to retune the whole guitar now, but what a difference! The whole guitar feels more responsive. Feels like the neck was just screwed down as hard as possible. Now it’s not buzzing, but more than that, the guitar feels responsive in my hands. Man, I can imagine all the people who got one of these things and got turned off playing from the frets alone. (The edges were sharp and cut my fingers when I played it at first.) By the end of this, this starcaster’s going to probably be the equal of a '68. Of course, I’ll have changed the neck twice, the body three times (at least one handmade one), and swapped out all of the electronics as I experiment. But it’ll be the same guitar! Just like my revolutionary war era axe! ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/256 "2010-03-27T00:28:14Z")
… I can _feel_ the tremolo springs as I play now. And the guitar has sustain! I kept trying to figure out how people were getting sustain, cause every note I played died in a second. Well, hot damn. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/257 "2010-03-27T00:45:52Z")
Okay, wow. Tried tuning it. My god, it just falls naturally into notes and they _stay_ instead of me trying to catch it at the peak. > **[Squier Strat Question.....Is It A Standard, Affinity or Something Else?](https://www.thefenderforum.com/forum/showthread.php?p=549934)** > > I was in a pawnshop the other day with plans of selling a Squier Affinity Strat that came in one of those Strat Packs. A parent of one of my ex-students gave it to me as the kid lost interest. While I was in there, I found another ultra clean Squier... Also, it seems my starcaster is better than I thought it was. Anyone want to translate this? My S/N is CXS 100891183, so I’m guessing I bought the SE pack, as it sure wasn’t the Affinity strat. If CXS means AXL, then did I luck out on the factory? The machine heads still have flat spots, though. Gonna try to find replacements at the show. Hee hee hee. My high-E no longer tries to clip over the side of the guitar and get tangled on the frets. This is AWESOME! ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/258 "2010-03-27T14:27:13Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > … I can _feel_ the tremolo springs as I play now. And the guitar has sustain! I kept trying to figure out how people were getting sustain, cause every note I played died in a second. > > Well, hot damn. This all sounds wonderful. It is why I can’t stress enough: MAKE SURE YOUR GUITAR IS PROPERLY SET UP! Sorry for yelling. 😃 Little crap like that just throws the whole system off in deceptive ways. And if you adjust your playing enough, you deceive yourself into accepting it or maybe just tweaking the wrong thing for a while. I hate that. but it is so cool when the guitar system is aligned. Enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/259 "2010-03-27T16:09:06Z")
I’m still very happy with my guitar, but all this talk of setup and intonation makes me kind of suspicious. Maybe mine’s not right, and I’m still too new at this to notice. I almost want to screw it up to see what a bad guitar feels like, as a way to find out what a good guitar feels like. I won’t do that, though. My current plan is to keep practicing until I think I need new strings again, then take it to a luthier and have him check the setup and find out if I’m doing the string change correctly. And I’ll know what string gauge I’ve got, too. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/260 "2010-03-27T17:29:48Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Does one need to re-intonate after a neck adjust? Never hurts to check - and if you give it more than one or two quarter-turns, its a safe bet something shifted a bit… ETA: oh, and **Robot Arm**? Sounds like a plan… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172.md?page=14)