If you could change anything about the strat

[ourclarioncall]

What would you charge from the original design ?

I’ve always been a strat man

But if I could change anything , I would move the bridge pickup so it’s not slanted and also a bit closer to the neck about a cm or two just to mellow out and fatten up the notes on the g b e strings

I also really dislike the input jack . The position of it, the design etc. A lot of bulk . Also how it’s separated from the cavity. In fact I’m sure there could be a much better design for the jacks themselves on the end of the cables. Combined with the input jack the whole system feels bulky , unstable , unsecure. No wot I mean ?

Maybe the bridge saddles would be added to the list. Those little screws on the saddles bearing the weight . Again , just feels unstable and something a little tone suck. On a Tele you can hear and feel the tightness of the sound and the physical feel because of the solid bridge and I think In part or mainly the barrel saddles. A strat tends to have a looser feel.

I don’t like guitar necks that move to easily , like when you hit an open low E string then bend the g string and you can hear the pitch on the low E change because of the shifting tension on the neck spread acrosss the sum of the individual string tensions . And that’s with the bridge screwed flat down, not floating

There are other things like bigger frets , flatter neck radius , but I will maybe put those into a modern custom category .

Other than that Leo did a pretty good job .

[b4nj0]

Sounds like you aren't really a Strat man then? although I accept that you had your tongue planted firmly in your cheek ...

I cannot see any difference between the set screws on a Strat and those on a Tele? Whether more recent solid saddles or bent steel or barrels, they are all adjusted by set screws.

In my limited experience (I have screwed together five now, and mucked around with a fair few others) a neck that moves too easily has not been assembled correctly.

As for the jack socket escutcheon, fit, form and function applies generally, but the only functional problem is shorting of the TS plug tip against any cavity's Faraday screen. I think (subjectively) that Leo's effort looks better than a plain socket and certainly adds to what must have appeared to be a space-age design back in the day? I'm comparing the Strat design to the one on my Pacifica 904 here. Even an angled plug (like a more or less industry standard Neutrik) facilitates tucking the lead in between the strap and the body. It's no small claim that the Yamaha trounces the Fender on just about every other level, but I'd sooner it had a Strat type output arrangement.

So to return to your query, at the end of the day, I'd change the vibrato spring cover to make it flush (and I did that on one of my Strats although I had to have the vibrato spring block machined down by 2 or 3 mm to compensate.) Something like this could be done with the neck attachment screw bearing plate too, and again my Pacifica addresses that.

I'd also "french-in" the neck pocket area of the back of the body to the back of the neck, and some makers (including Fender) already do that on some models.

Finally, I'd set the headstock back a-la Gibson (my Pacifica 904 does that as well.) So sensible, but of course more costly to manufacture. You never see the abominations that are string trees on a Gibson ...

I love it when someone puts on the devil's advocate hat. ;<D

e&oe ...

[thetragichero]

increased headstock angle to avoid the need for string trees. although i personally wouldn't mention anything Gibson when it comes to headstocks... that left me in high school as i saw the look of horror on my friend's face as his prized Les Paul snapped after falling facedown off its stand on a carpeted basement floor
I've enjoyed the switch to a 2 point trem in recent years, even on (some of?) the mim models

[newey]

My only gripe is the lack of a B + N setting- but we can fix that up pretty easily around here!

[reTrEaD]

Mar 26, 2020 16:08:37 GMT -5 ourclarioncall said:

flatter neck radius

The accentuated neck radius is one of the things I very much like about the Strat. The modern 9-1/2" radius is good. The vintage 7-1/4" radius is even better.

Mar 27, 2020 8:35:23 GMT -5 b4nj0 said:

Finally, I'd set the headstock back a-la Gibson (my Pacifica 904 does that as well.) So sensible, but of course more costly to manufacture. You never see the abominations that are string trees on a Gibson ...

That's an appropriate description of any string tree ... abomination.

fwiw, tuners with staggered height are available to make these unnecessary. But an angled headstock would make sense.

Mar 27, 2020 9:21:08 GMT -5 thetragichero said:

increased headstock angle to avoid the need for string trees. although i personally wouldn't mention anything Gibson when it comes to headstocks... that left me in high school as i saw the look of horror on my friend's face as his prized Les Paul snapped after falling facedown off its stand on a carpeted basement floor

Solution: Don't allow your prized guitar (or any guitar for that matter) fall facedown on the floor.

---

Speaking of headstocks, the Gibson 'open book' headstock is quite attractive. Not so fond of the Epiphones with their clipped corners and wide hips, though.



Vintage Strat headstocks are relatively ugly. CBS era Strat headstocks are ugly-AF.



Maybe something like this, instead:



But if one is enamored with the six-inline configuration, even a Tele headstock would be a vast improvement.

---

Bridge Saddles:
Good design, horrible execution. Set screw height adjustment is great but with the thin, stamped saddles, it isn't practical to grind down the screws to the appropriate height so the screws don't stand proud and angrily bite your right hand. Well I suppose you could, but that wouldn't leave any room for adjustment.



With thicker saddles, that would be possible.

---

Two tone controls:
Unnecessary and even if that was needed, the way Fender does it is downright stupid. No tone control on the bridge where it's most needed and doubling up both controls on the Neck + Middle position, causing unnecessary loading and dulling of what could be a more interesting combination.

Ugh!

---

Bridge Pickup:
Having it angled looks strange but the location is exactly right when used in parallel combination with the middle pickup. That's the money tone, and I wouldn't change a thing about that.

But I would consider adding another SC pickup adjacent to it. (An HSS Strat doesn't get the same tone in Bridge + Middle even when the HB is split). That would open the door to a lot of very good hum-canceling combinations.

---

Pickup Switching:
Standard SSS combinations are lame. But hey, that's a lot of what we do here, right?

[ourclarioncall]

reTrEaD

”
But I would consider adding another SC pickup adjacent to it. (An HSS Strat doesn't get the same tone in Bridge + Middle even when the HB is split). That would open the door to a lot of very good hum-canceling combinations.”

do you mean another single coil pickup right next to the standard bridge pickup (like the Robbie Robertson strat ) 

or do you mean adding another single right in the middle of the middle and bridge ?

i want to try both these ideas and that’s why I wants to have sliding single coils 

one of my ideas was to rout out a hole for a pickup right inbetween the middle and bridge , then move the neck pickup to the middle position and the middle pickup to the new “midge” position . Then you would have a couple of interesting new parallel sounds and also in series mode some unique humbucker sounds 

this was where I will plan to go next after finishing a 2 pickup guitar . Exploring 3 coils 

here’s a great vid, pity he didn’t do the series sounds tho

[reTrEaD]

Mar 27, 2020 20:47:12 GMT -5 ourclarioncall said:

do you mean

I mean:

[b4nj0]

I have five guitars with Sperzel staggered height machine head capstans. One is an LP Junior type double cut so not relevant, three of them have string trees because they are "supposed" to have them for "the look", but one is a Warmoth neck and I can confirm that the staggered heights do not cut the mustard and I reluctantly admitted defeat and attached a string tree. Nice try but no cigar. That was after I'd had it professionally set up too. (That was more to do with the quarter sawn neck refusing to respond to truss rod tweaks.)

Sperzels are a great example of American ingenuity and application in my view.

The reason Gibsons don't tend to survive a mild knock is the scarf joint, although that unwelcome volute is an attempt to ameliorate that. The Yamaha Pacifica 904 headstock is as I stated set back, but it is not scarfed. This must cost more to manufacture (Yamaha farmed out the neck to Warmoth on that and a few other high end models) but it avoids the weakness of a joint. I wouldn't criticise Gibson given the six string artistry that they used to peddle, but I suspect that it's not really advantageous to make a neck to headstock joint when set against the increased machining and timber wastage with one piece construction. With modern three axis routing it starts to become a bit silly. Except to obsessed Gibson aficionados of course who wouldn't ever tolerate any change. I have a superb acoustic that has a one piece Wenge neck, headstock and heel, so it's all down to the shekels at the end of the day.





e&oe ...

[sumgai]

As a friend of mine once said, "Leo built the perfect guitar... just not the one you wanted."

As to all of you who "abhor" string trees, I dare you to give us one good reason why they deserve your scorn. No, not your "feelz", I mean a valid reason.

[reTrEaD]

Mar 28, 2020 11:48:57 GMT -5 sumgai said:

As to all of you who "abhor" string trees, I dare you to give us one good reason why they deserve your scorn. No, not your "feelz", I mean a valid reason.

Are you serious? Sorry, I can't give you one good reason. I must list more than one.

1 - They're ugly FUGLY.
2 - They're completely unnecessary on a properly designed guitar.
3 - They add a possible friction/binding point which will affect tuning stability.

They're a bandaid on a wound which doesn't need to exist in the first place. Somewhat akin to manufacturing a tire in a process which creates a hole, then patching the hole before you sell the tire. Who, in their right mind, would ever do such a thing?

String trees suck harder than a Hoover plugged into a 220v outlet.

---

As to all of you who "defend" string trees, I dare you to give us one good reason why they deserve your support. No, not your "feelz", I mean a valid reason.

[b4nj0]

String trees (sic) didn't ought to be that much of a problem unless there's a second one restraining wound strings? Except for my 1973, all of mine are string Frisbees, but I'll go along with the notion that they were a kludge and by now have outstayed their welcome. There has to be a better way, like a set back peghead.

Personally I have a bigger issue with Floyd Rose gouged routs and even scaffolding like a Bigsby, but that's been done to death by better men than me (and on here too). I concur with the bridge pup angle being just fine as it is, and also with two point vibratos being an improvement, but I'm not going to get all fussed with Leo over that. The guy was a visionary.

Leaving the Pacifica aside, my other two Warmoth necks have side truss rod adjusters in the treble side cutaway. I suspect that these deploy a crown wheel and pinion, but however they're configured, it is definitely an improvement.

e&oe ...

[ourclarioncall]

The bridge position is great ....

With overdrive / distortion

Or when used in a parallel or series combination

Where it falls down and sounds terrible imho is when playing on the bridge pickup on its own with a clean sound.

A compressor can help a lot tho

Just this week I have been experimenting with moving the bridge pickup forward by a centimetre at a time and swing the pickup so it’s angled aswell as straight .... searching for the sweep spot (to my ears) , (specifically for a clean sound ) where it starts to fatten up and mellow out a little bit but without loosing it’s cutting bite.

i made a few marks on the body, for example the position where the pole under the thin E string would have been on hendrixs strat , as well as putting the pickup bang in the middle of the middle and bridge . You could call that the “midge” position and Hendrixs we can call “hidge” 🙂

I settled on the position in the pic but can’t remember where it was now. I made a demo vid with a really cheap amp in my bathroom but the amp is pretty bad so you won’t really get a good idea of what this adjusted position sounds like. If I get a better amp I could do a few comparisons

[ourclarioncall]

Mar 28, 2020 18:20:10 GMT -5 b4nj0 said:

String trees (sic) didn't ought to be that much of a problem unless there's a second one restraining wound strings? Except for my 1973, all of mine are string Frisbees, but I'll go along with the notion that they were a kludge and by now have outstayed their welcome. There has to be a better way, like a set back peghead.

Personally I have a bigger issue with Floyd Rose gouged routs and even scaffolding like a Bigsby, but that's been done to death by better men than me (and on here too). I concur with the bridge pup angle being just fine as it is, and also with two point vibratos being an improvement, but I'm not going to get all fussed with Leo over that. The guy was a visionary.

Leaving the Pacifica aside, my other two Warmoth necks have side truss rod adjusters in the treble side cutaway. I suspect that these deploy a crown wheel and pinion, but however they're configured, it is definitely an improvement.

e&oe ...

I have 3 Pacifica’s at work , they are great guitars. I have the cheaper models so I bet your one is very fine instrument . I like the raidus too, it’s about 13.5” I think .

ive owned one warmoth strat. My big mistake was ordering a scalloped maple neck with huge frets. Think it had a compound radius too. It was set up with one of those earvana compensating nuts. It was just a bad combination and didn’t feel good at all which was a shame as it was a nice looking guitar with a dark green sunburst . Almost looked black. Lace sensors. You live you learn. If I ever got another custom strat built I would make a much better choice . 

hendrix and Clapton were my idols so my first electric was a black and white USA strat (which I sold later on. Practically gave it away 😢)

but I got over the strat idolatry or idolatry in general when I was born again (long story)

I now appreciate other guitars and am willing to give them a go

on the set screw issue, it’s maybe more a combination of the screws and the individual saddles. It’s maybe that on a Tele one of the saddles is taking the place of 2 strat saddles and the pressure of two strings makes it feel a lot more solid and stable. Perhaps the set screws on a Tele are a touch bigger ? Maybe not. Also maybe the material , I think Callaham sells stainless steel set screws. Maybe they are all stainless steel I forget . Been a few years now since I was into buying replacement tremolo blocks and special springs etc

i like the look of Callahams strat style bridge but with Tele saddles. I’d like to give that a go on a strat and see if my theories fall in line with reality in regard to how different it will sound/feel

 I would also like to try a roasted Maple neck. They seem to get good reviews from guys like Guthrie Govan for maintaining stability all year round our when touring different countries

[ourclarioncall]

Can’t remember what the pickup selections are

i think I’ve read conflicting info.

i think it’s a three way selector. I don’t think the two single coils are wired in series. 

perhaps some have modded it with a 5 way to get both pickup in series or parallel. As well as maybe all 3 in parallel, or the coil nearest the neck plus the neck in parallel for a better imho Tele sound 

[sumgai]

Mar 28, 2020 12:57:42 GMT -5 reTrEaD said:

Are you serious? Sorry, I can't give you one good reason. I must list more than one.

1 - They're ugly FUGLY.

That's a feelz, and therefore disqualified.

2 - They're completely unnecessary on a properly designed guitar.

Well, define "proper". I'll go so far as to agree that engineering differences, i.e. compromises, will dictate the need for trees. They are necessary if one does not wish to toss out more wood than what remains in order make either a "dropped" or a slanted headstock. And no, a two-piece, un-reinforced, scarf joint won't cut any mustard. See every Gibson ever made for evidence as to why not.

The compromise of cost (time and waste) versus adding a part that costs much less, and does not compromise the tone... that's a good business decision.

3 - They add a possible friction/binding point which will affect tuning stability.

That's another feelz, because it's incorrect.  Most likely, someone on the Internet could not get his guitar to stay in tune, so he blamed the string trees, and as we all know, the Internet can never be wrong.  My bet - and I've personally participated in this scenario many a time - a player complains, gets the bright idea to remove the string tree(s), and "suddenly" it works like it should.  What I found during inspection: the nut was cut for the wrong gauge, or to an improper shape.  With the tree installed, the additonal angle caused the string to become pinched within the nut slot.  "But it works now".  Yeah, sure, fine.  You wanted my expert and experienced opinion, I gave it to you.  Now if you don't want me to fix it correctly, then buzz off.

If a tree is preventing a string from sliding, then either it was built incorrectly, or installed incorrectly.  (And here I'm speaking to several off-shore units that I've seen over the years.  This was really prevalent during the 60's and 70's.)  But that doesn't mean that all string trees are inherently bad, not by a long shot.  Observing of course, my previous paragraph about properly cut nut slots.

(4) They're a bandaid on a wound which doesn't need to exist in the first place. Somewhat akin to manufacturing a tire in a process which creates a hole, then patching the hole before you sell the tire. Who, in their right mind, would ever do such a thing?

You're correct, they didn't need to exist in the first place, back when slanted headstocks were the only way a stringed instrument was constructed. But time marched on, and other considerations reared up for discussion. id.

(5) String trees suck harder than a Hoover plugged into a 220v outlet.

BZZZZT! Another "feelz", another disqualification.  (But the alliteration is hilarious!)

As to all of you who "defend" string trees, I dare you to give us one good reason why they deserve your support. No, not your "feelz", I mean a valid reason.

I think I've already done that. But just in case:


tl;dr:

String trees are the result of a compromise between many engineering and production factors. That compromise can be executed correctly or not, that's a decision left to the manufacturer. They can be shaped to be either an eyesore or quite attractive, but such opinions would be best described as "feelz".




sumgai

[JohnH]

We all have our wiring schemes that we like to change our Strats to. So one thing not to change is how there are so many possibilities for changing it!

But it sure would be nice to be able to tweak electronics without removing the pickguard. Either rear access or a partial/split pg.

And while a string tree or two may be helpful in some cases, they should all be roller types IMO.

[b4nj0]

As I said, Warmoth compound radius neck (on a Schecter Koa body) and using Sperzel staggered capstans, high "E" was going punk punk punk instead of twang twang twang. Had a pro setup involving a full fret reprofile by a "name" UK "luthier" and a new bone nut was part of the deal. The guitar played beautifully and just "together" but that high "E" just carried on plunking. I was keen to avoid screwing anything into the sweet virgin maple, but I gave in and put a round string tree on. Job done.

There simply isn't enough angle on a Leo. It may work OK with a reversed headstock a-la-Jimi or a Firebird, but I know well enough about balancing the string angle over the biscuit saddle on a resonator to straddle the gap between choking the cone and failing to drive it sufficiently. Leo's design (which he seems to have spotted elsewhere beforehand- Paul Bigsby- who in turn robbed it from Europe?) has the great attribute of a straight string pull, something that seems to have escaped many manufacturers even after all these decades. The trouble was that he value engineered it to get a toe hold in market share. He could have done better but perhaps he didn't foresee any issue when so many other decisions were under the prototype magnifier? I have a commisioned hand made Strat neck (Roger Giffin if anyone's heard of him- he made a bit of a name for himself running Gibson's Custom Shop back in the day) and the headstock is scooped down noticeably lower than a standard Leo. It worked fine without string trees but I put one on anyway because it sports a decal. Feelz if you like. Gots to look "right".

I liked that idea regarding easier access to the wiring John. It's so much easier on a Tele.

e&oe ...

[newey]

As for the bridge pickup angle, many folks a'net swear that part of Jimi's sound came from using a lefty Strat right-handed, thus the bridge pickup slanted the opposite way. And, Warmoth will sell you a replacement pickguard for a right-handed Strat that reverses the angle, so you can sound just like Jimi! Given how much this idea gets talked up, I suspect they sell quite a few.

I replace all the string trees on cheapo guitars (therefore, including most of the ones I own!) with roller trees. These are sold for use with vibrato bars, to improve tuning stability, and though I seldom use the whammy bar myself, they do eliminate any binding at the tree.

[ourclarioncall]

Mar 29, 2020 9:42:52 GMT -5 newey said:

As for the bridge pickup angle, many folks a'net swear that part of Jimi's sound came from using a lefty Strat right-handed, thus the bridge pickup slanted the opposite way. And, Warmoth will sell you a replacement pickguard for a right-handed Strat that reverses the angle, so you can sound just like Jimi! Given how much this idea gets talked up, I suspect they sell quite a few.

I replace all the string trees on cheapo guitars (therefore, including most of the ones I own!) with roller trees. These are sold for use with vibrato bars, to improve tuning stability, and though I seldom use the whammy bar myself, they do eliminate any binding at the tree.

Yup, instant jimi sound, just buy the pickguard. You don’t even need pickups or an amp lol 😆

One thing you can’t buy is big hands. I think Jimis were literally twice the size of mine (I have skinny woman’s hands) . That big long thumb came in handy for wrapping round the neck and catching the root notes on the low E. I can’t do it unfortunately

[thetragichero]

Mar 28, 2020 19:09:29 GMT -5 ourclarioncall said:

My big mistake was ordering a scalloped maple neck with huge frets. Think it had a compound radius too. It was set up with one of those earvana compensating nuts.

[sumgai]

Mar 29, 2020 9:42:52 GMT -5 newey said:

As for the bridge pickup angle, many folks a'net swear that part of Jimi's sound came from using a lefty Strat right-handed, thus the bridge pickup slanted the opposite way.

Only a slight quibble, and your intent is understood, but.... Jimi played left-handed, using a right-handed Strat (most of the time). He also was known to play a right-handed Jazzmaster during his stint with the Isley Brothers, and other guitars from time to time as he flitted across the musical landscape.

Seems to me that dunkelfalke and gitpiddler both made contributions to this kind of discussion, back in antiquity.   Our internal Wayback machine indicates I also had some input then, as well.  Ah, but those were the days.






sumgai

[newey]

Yeah, I had that bass-ackwards. Right-handed Strat played lefty.

[ourclarioncall]

I’m gonna get “guitar teacher” on all y’all and say

(*getting ready to hide in trenches*) there is no such thing as a left handed guitar or a right handed guitar 😁

It doesn’t matter which direction the neck points in, at the end of the day a beginner always has one weak hand and one strong hand (mostly the right)

Both hands will have to learn to do new skills they haven’t done before but the weak hand will also have to develop some new strength aswell

So if a left handed student comes in and doesn’t have a guitar I would just recommend buying a normal “right handed guitar”. You could also see this as a benefit because their left hand is their strong hand and it’s the hand that will be doing all the fancy chords and licks on a “right handed guitar”. The right hand generally will only be forming one position similar to a loose fist while holding the pick . Picking will come from a very small hand/wrist movement and strumming will come more from the elbow/forearm like a windshield wiper.

But I can see why left handed people will feel more comfortable with a left handed guitar and I think it’s because the body of the guitar will be sitting on the left leg or left side of their body and the left arm will be wrapping around the body when in the picking position . Basically it’s sitting on the dominant side of their body . And if feels like they are more in control. Same goes for the left hand doing the picking . Picking the string is really the first step where everything beginnings like picking up a pen to write.

So I’ve just sort of contradicted myself 🙂

A “right handed guitar” is probably an accurate description of what what the majority of right hand folks would choose if they had to pick between a right or left handed guitar.

Or would they 🤔

I had one student who started right handed then after a while switched to left coz of his guitar hero at the time. He did adjust to the switch pretty quick I’m glad to say

[b4nj0]

Danny Gatton was a southpaw who decided that it made sense to use the strongest hand for fretting, so he decided to play right handed. I love Danny Gatton me.

e&oe ...

[sumgai]

Hunch up baby, 'cause it's comin' in!

Mar 29, 2020 16:06:04 GMT -5 ourclarioncall said:

I’m gonna get “guitar teacher” on all y’all and say

(*getting ready to hide in trenches*) there is no such thing as a left handed guitar or a right handed guitar 😁

It doesn’t matter which direction the neck points in, at the end of the day a beginner always has one weak hand and one strong hand (mostly the right)

Piano, anyone? Puts an end to your argument mosh-kosh.  

Hand strength has nothing to do with it. I've seen one-handed players do a decently good job, both as nominal right- or left-handers. New skills is a good place to start, but skills don't depend on strength, they depend on innate coordination. Even there, handedness plays only a part of this. Consider: Hank Marvin (your hometown hero) is right handed, and plays as such. But Bruce Welch, the Shadows' original rhythm player, stated baldly that his right hand was "stronger and faster", and that his left hand couldn't keep up, so he played rhythm - as a right-hander, on a right-handed guitar.  IOW, he didn't take his "stronger" hand and set out to play left-handed because that's the hand that would be better at fretting the strings.

How many guitarist-wannabe's have come into your parlor, and are ambidextrous? Did you even think to ask? For months, I switched back and forth, going to the local music shop (where I later worked, funny how that worked out) to try playing each way. I finally made up my mind when I spied a right-way-round '62 Jazzmaster, and that was all she wrote.  But up to that time, I was probably pretty equally inept no matter which way I tried.

So if a left handed student comes in and doesn’t have a guitar I would just recommend buying a normal “right handed guitar”.

You just tried to force your desire on his manner of going through life. I call that a Romper Room No-No.  I'll hazard a guess that the majority of those who listen to you (in your guise as an expert) are younger, and don't have a very strong sense of 'self', as in being a left-hander is not a curse.  Those of adult age, or very nearly so, most likely tell you (hopefully politely) that such ain't gonna happen.


Oh, almost forgot.... when's the last time you heard a left-hander wish for a piano with a reversed keyboard?


tl;dr:

Skills, especially fine motor skills, depend on coordination, not strength.  




OK, I've had my fun, your turn.







sumgai

[b4nj0]

And there are countries that write backwards. That for me is the only real problem with the ascendency of the Chinese influence (not to mention the associated crippled keyboards). Ever see a southpaw trying not to drag his or her hand over wet ink? It's daft. Their choice of course but painful to watch. Of course there are better ways to accomplish anything, and if a southpaw gets together with a right-handed guitar lifestyle, he or she exponentially widens the choice of instruments and may well save a little too. Better? not necessarily for the individual, but bringing together both views, if a left-hander can be tipped over into travelling the other path from the get-go, it's proof of the "it doesn't matter- it's all down to dexterity" concept and dexterity is subsequently improved in the dormant "unnatural" hand at the same time. Lots more guitars to choose from. Win win. So no, I don't agree that imposes upon the neophyte by an elmer. The noob always retains the right of self determination. If'n you go to someone for advice and choose to ignore it, fill yer boots but don't expect that person to waste time on offering advice again down the line.

Ever watch Steve Vai with the Heart Guitar?

And like the piano, when did you last see a left handed fiddle player in an orchestra. PPE doesn't look too good in such an ensemble.

If I could change anything about the Strat, it would be the Tele ;<D

e&oe ...

[thetragichero]

I'm thinking of using a strat jack plate on the side or (probably) back of my Jaguar bass build. I've seen a couple of expensive basses that have interesting recessed jacks on the back and i like the idea

[sumgai]

Mar 30, 2020 10:27:22 GMT -5 thetragichero said:

I'm thinking of using a strat jack plate on the side or (probably) back of my Jaguar bass build. I've seen a couple of expensive basses that have interesting recessed jacks on the back and i like the idea

Brian Moore Guitars has been doing this for more than 20 years:



I've personally handled only two of these expensive guitars, they play like a dream come true. But better bring two checkbooks, 'cause you're gonna need 'em both.

HTH





sumgai

[newey]

I've seen a couple of expensive basses that have interesting recessed jacks on the back and i like the idea

The benefit being what, exactly? Seems like having the cable up against one's body, as one moves while playing, would be more likely to stress the plug's connections and cause the cable to fail than if the jack is on the front or the side.

Older guitars, with the jack on the front, resulted in the cable/plug sticking straight up. Which was the reason for right-angled plugs, as well as for the Strat jack-canoe. My Duo-Sonic has the flat front-mounted jack and I've been meaning to get a cable with a right-angled plug for some time because of that.

[blademaster2]

Mar 30, 2020 3:38:14 GMT -5 b4nj0 said:

And there are countries that write backwards. That for me is the only real problem with the ascendency of the Chinese influence (not to mention the associated crippled keyboards). Ever see a southpaw trying not to drag his or her hand over wet ink? It's daft. Their choice of course but painful to watch. Of course there are better ways to accomplish anything, and if a southpaw gets together with a right-handed guitar lifestyle, he or she exponentially widens the choice of instruments and may well save a little too. Better? not necessarily for the individual, but bringing together both views, if a left-hander can be tipped over into travelling the other path from the get-go, it's proof of the "it doesn't matter- it's all down to dexterity" concept and dexterity is subsequently improved in the dormant "unnatural" hand at the same time. Lots more guitars to choose from. Win win. So no, I don't agree that imposes upon the neophyte by an elmer. The noob always retains the right of self determination. If'n you go to someone for advice and choose to ignore it, fill yer boots but don't expect that person to waste time on offering advice again down the line.

Ever watch Steve Vai with the Heart Guitar?

And like the piano, when did you last see a left handed fiddle player in an orchestra. PPE doesn't look too good in such an ensemble.

If I could change anything about the Strat, it would be the Tele ;<D

e&oe ...

There are a number of examples of well-regarded guitarists who are left-handed but learned to play right-handed (and if *I* was well-regarded I would add my name to that list, however, .....):

- Steve Morse: When I asked him about it once he said that his "picking is still weak" - and I almost laughed out loud, and told him that he is one of the best nonetheless.
- Rik Emmett (from the Canadian band TRIUMPH): I asked him about being a lefty and he said that he started at first playing 'upside down' when very young but then his guitar teach suggested that at the beginner stage it is not much different either way, so he learned to play right hand guitars. He said that although picking was a challenge at first, he later found that his left-hand technique had an advantage compared to right handed players.
- Joe Perry
- Duane Allman
- Gary Moore
- Billy Corgan
- Mark Knopfler