Post by steve242 on Mar 26, 2008 6:05:01 GMT -5
I haven't played the Yngwie Strat yet but I'm not sure if I want to buy it so far. I wanted to ask everyone here the owns it have you ever had any problems with it fretting out if you put the action too low?
Thanks for your replys.
www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Yngwie-Malmsteen-Stratocaster?sku=511849
9.5" radius
www.petrucciforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51985
When watching the Special Ed. of Sys. Chaos, I couldn't help to observe the action of Petrucci's strings. They are VERY low, it looks like the strings are laying on the frets! Even at the higher ones!
Is that possible with a American Fender Stratocaster? I'd be great if you knew because I am planning on buying one, and I''d love to have that kind of action.
______________
I suppose the simple answer is no.. with a 9.5" radius curve on the neck you will never get the action as low as a 15" radius curve as the strings will simple fret out when you try and bend them (usually frets 10 upwards).
A way around this is to build in a compound radius where the fretboard flatten'd towards the bridge.. in my Suhrs I have a 10-14" radius and this enables fairly low actions. Or you could look at the Strats that have a 12" radius which will give you a pretty low action also (Mark Knopfler model, some mexican models etc).
Obviously don't forget a pro-setup can make a world of difference, especially if you have something like the Plek system in your area...
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Yes, I want it LOW, all my life I've had these cheap or VERY cheap guitars, and I hate not having low action.
The radius thing sounds interesting.
So I have to take it to a luthier or tech to do it?
______________
Strat with low action fails, feels terible
______________
Of course it can be done! You will have issues with fretting out if you bend a lot, though. Getting the action that low will require having very little relief in the neck and lowering the individual saddles. Is it worth doing? If you can set up your own guitar, it might be worth a try. Why not?
______________
Years back I was i the same position you are. I had guitars with horrible high actions and wanted something much better. I think you will find that on a good quality guitar that has a pro setup you will get the difference you seek but there does come a point of return where lowering the actual further makes it less playable.
Mike's point about the radius is a very good one; I think I am correct in saying that smaller radius necks will fret out on bends unless the action is higher than on a large radius neck. The lowest action that is playable is also dependent on how hard you strike the strings. If you are a hard player vs. a light player then you will need to raise the action to stop buzzing.
______________
www.ratcliffe.co.za/articles/radius.shtml
In simple terms
Quite simply, the smaller radius (which is more curved) is more comfortable for playing (particularly barre) chords, while a larger, flatter radius is better for low action, single-note playing and bending. The other important characteristic of radius is that the flatter the radius, the lower the action can be. This is because when you bend a string on a lower part of the fretboard such as your first or second string, you are bending it towards the middle of the fretboard, which is higher than the edges, so the notes will tend to "fret out" - buzz against the higher parts of the fret, killing sustain.
Which fretboard radius is best?
Which radius is "best" tends to be a personal thing, you should be asking "which is best for me?". Generally, most players are going to prefer something between a 9.5" and a 12". Many players who play more lead-based styles, or those needing lower action and more bending will probably be happier with larger radii such as 16" or even 20".
Thanks for your replys.
www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Yngwie-Malmsteen-Stratocaster?sku=511849
9.5" radius
www.petrucciforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51985
When watching the Special Ed. of Sys. Chaos, I couldn't help to observe the action of Petrucci's strings. They are VERY low, it looks like the strings are laying on the frets! Even at the higher ones!
Is that possible with a American Fender Stratocaster? I'd be great if you knew because I am planning on buying one, and I''d love to have that kind of action.
______________
I suppose the simple answer is no.. with a 9.5" radius curve on the neck you will never get the action as low as a 15" radius curve as the strings will simple fret out when you try and bend them (usually frets 10 upwards).
A way around this is to build in a compound radius where the fretboard flatten'd towards the bridge.. in my Suhrs I have a 10-14" radius and this enables fairly low actions. Or you could look at the Strats that have a 12" radius which will give you a pretty low action also (Mark Knopfler model, some mexican models etc).
Obviously don't forget a pro-setup can make a world of difference, especially if you have something like the Plek system in your area...
______________
Yes, I want it LOW, all my life I've had these cheap or VERY cheap guitars, and I hate not having low action.
The radius thing sounds interesting.
So I have to take it to a luthier or tech to do it?
______________
Strat with low action fails, feels terible
______________
Of course it can be done! You will have issues with fretting out if you bend a lot, though. Getting the action that low will require having very little relief in the neck and lowering the individual saddles. Is it worth doing? If you can set up your own guitar, it might be worth a try. Why not?
______________
Years back I was i the same position you are. I had guitars with horrible high actions and wanted something much better. I think you will find that on a good quality guitar that has a pro setup you will get the difference you seek but there does come a point of return where lowering the actual further makes it less playable.
Mike's point about the radius is a very good one; I think I am correct in saying that smaller radius necks will fret out on bends unless the action is higher than on a large radius neck. The lowest action that is playable is also dependent on how hard you strike the strings. If you are a hard player vs. a light player then you will need to raise the action to stop buzzing.
______________
www.ratcliffe.co.za/articles/radius.shtml
In simple terms
Quite simply, the smaller radius (which is more curved) is more comfortable for playing (particularly barre) chords, while a larger, flatter radius is better for low action, single-note playing and bending. The other important characteristic of radius is that the flatter the radius, the lower the action can be. This is because when you bend a string on a lower part of the fretboard such as your first or second string, you are bending it towards the middle of the fretboard, which is higher than the edges, so the notes will tend to "fret out" - buzz against the higher parts of the fret, killing sustain.
Which fretboard radius is best?
Which radius is "best" tends to be a personal thing, you should be asking "which is best for me?". Generally, most players are going to prefer something between a 9.5" and a 12". Many players who play more lead-based styles, or those needing lower action and more bending will probably be happier with larger radii such as 16" or even 20".
