Neck or just me...

[battleminnow]

Here's the deal...

I have been playing acoustic for about 6 years. I have recently decided to pick up an electric/hollow body for rhythm use on stage, and I don't know if it's me or not but I can't seem to play it in tune!! What I mean is, it is almost like I am pushing too hard on the strings for good intonation. It makes sense to me that playing an acoustic requires more pressure for projection, etc. but is this just something I am going to have to practice, or am I likely to find one guitar manufacturer that will be more complementary to this than another?

Have any of you had this problem when switching from acoustic to elec.?

I have a Larrivee OMV-05e (that plays very nice and is easy on the hands)

I just bought an Ibanez AS83 Elec. Hollow body, and I am just not yet happy with either the guitar or my ability.

Pete

 

[metalhead28]

Does the electric have substantially bigger frets than your acoustic?
I could see that causing such a problem. Perhaps just raising the action up higher and using heavier strings would help.

 

[apl]

You should probably practice using as light a touch as you can, to get a feel for how hard you really need to push. Some people also push the strings sideways when they fret too enthusiastically.

Relax!

 

[gvarko]

You forgot

You should probably practice using as light a touch as you can, to get a feel for how hard you really need to push. Some people also push the strings sideways when they fret too enthusiastically.

Relax!

To recommend a Carvin .. Just thought I would remind you..

 

[apl]

To recommend a Carvin .. Just thought I would remind you..

Carvin allows you to specify frets, and a lower profile fret might help!

 

[gvarko]

See....

Carvin allows you to specify frets, and a lower profile fret might help!

I knew Carvin could help this problem!!

 

[Zaphod B]

It's you. And the electric guitar. My Strat does the same thing.

Probably getting a sharp A note on the 2nd fret of the G string when you play a standard D chord, right?

Since the strings on the electric are so much smaller in diameter than your acoustic, they can easily be pulled sharp simply by pressing down too hard, particularly on the unwound strings, on the first two or three frets (near the nut).

There are two ways to remedy this. First, as apl suggested, try using a lighter touch. You don't have to bottom out the string on the fretboard to get a fully-fretted string. Second, try moving your finger closer to the fret - for example, as close to the nut side of the second fret as you can without muffling the string. This prevents you from pulling the string down so far and causing it to go sharp.

 

[Light]

First, try using heavier strings, which will be closer to those on your acoustic. Second, get you guitar setup by a professional repair person. This will probably take care of the problem, but if it doesn't, then you just need to get used to larger frets. Just remember, you don't need to feel the fingerboard when you play.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[battleminnow]

Thanks for all your insight everybody.

Well, upon closer examination I realized that the Ibanez frets were really, really tall in comparison to my Larrivee and my buddy's '59 Gibson LP and his mid-80's es-335. I went back to the store and played a few more and found a neck that I liked a lot better, with lower frets. The problem is still there, but with a lighter touch and heavier strings I think it will be an easy transition.

Oh, BTW, the new guitar is an Epiphone Sheraton II natural finish.

Thanks,
Pete

 

[Dani Pace]

Guitar necks come in a variety of shapes and sizes, especially electrics. Try out a few and you will see what I mean. You might want a thicker one which feels more like an acoustic, (I've got an old Gretch with a neck like a fencepost, hard to play but sounds great.) Secondly you might want to use heavy guage electric strings, they don't bend as easily, I play mostly electric but on the guitars I use for rythm I use heavier strings. Don't overlook your picking, electric takes a different touch, this takes a little getting used to. If you switch to heavier strings you will need to check the intonation or have the guitar set up, believe me, this makes a world of difference.

 

[louloomis]

To me, this subject falls under the category of "guitar intonation". This topic is literally infinite and somewhat unsolvable, except through compromise. Why? Because the guitar is not designed to play in tune perfectly everywhere.

I recommend that, if your ears are telling you something is wrong, you research the topic of intonation. You will find that it is not just your ears, but many peoples' ears.

Saddles can be compensated by a luthier, or from the factory if the gauge of the string remains the same as stock, but this doesn't take into account the playing style of the individual. Few musicians exert pressure equally from all their fingers on every chord. So, the end result is that, on an instrument unable to be perfectly intonated by design, you add even more factors which pull the intonation of a chord/note off.

Many people with good ears have nearly quit the instrument because of this frustration. I have pretty good ears and I hear most things, even famous records which have been worshipped for years, and my own records, as out of tune (intonation wise). It's common.

There are compromises, systems of compromise, I should say, which you can read about and Jack Endino's article on the web about tuning is helpful. The best thing to do is to learn with imperfection but to get as close to a tolerable set-up as possible.

Read up on this topic. You WILL go insane. I did.

LL

 

[Clive Hugh]

It's you. And the electric guitar. My Strat does the same thing.

Probably getting a sharp A note on the 2nd fret of the G string when you play a standard D chord, right?

Since the strings on the electric are so much smaller in diameter than your acoustic, they can easily be pulled sharp simply by pressing down too hard, particularly on the unwound strings, on the first two or three frets (near the nut).

There are two ways to remedy this. First, as apl suggested, try using a lighter touch. You don't have to bottom out the string on the fretboard to get a fully-fretted string. Second, try moving your finger closer to the fret - for example, as close to the nut side of the second fret as you can without muffling the string. This prevents you from pulling the string down so far and causing it to go sharp.

I agree it's probably you, if I recall correctly the Ibanez semi' s are a 24 3/4 scale neck whereas your acoustic would have most likely been a 25 1/2 scale the different lengths mean that a string reaches the same pitch but with less tension so it is fairly loose, coupled to this if you are using light strings it is a steep learning curve. I use heavy top skinny bottom strings on my short scale necks and .010"- .046" on my standard 25 1/2 scales. I find this takes care of the problem.
The sharpness of the "A" on the G/3rd string is due to the intonation system we use and is present on all guitars that I have tested, although on some it seems more noticeable, live with it, although I believe the buzz feilten(?) nut will accurately compensate. I look on it that if it is good enough for players the likes of E.C. and Stevie Ray Vaughn it is OK for me too.

Clive

 

[battleminnow]

Well, since I have been playing the Sheraton for a couple days, I am way more pleased. I don't know if it's a scale thing or what, but it is definately less of a problem. I don't even notice it much anymore. I assume that when I step up a size in strings that I won't think twice about it.

New question:

If I go from .09's to .11's will I want to get it set up/ajusted differently?

Pete

 

[apl]

If I go from .09's to .11's will I want to get it set up/ajusted differently?

Yes.

BTW, .10s are most popular.

 

[Zaphod B]

If I go from .09's to .11's will I want to get it set up/ajusted differently?

Yes. You may want to lower the action a tad to compensate for the additional string height; you will need to adjust the intonation at the bridge saddles.

 

[Robertt8]

yo! I've got a Larrivee LV-03E, and play it with our band all the time. I did however notice that if i used the standard acoustic strap, it seemed to twist my neck enough to not sound right at all. I got one of those strap pins installed, and use a typical electric guitar strap, and the problem went away. I'm not sure if that's what might be goiing on with you, but it's something to think about. By the way, we play a very ska/reggae/rock, so we bang on em' pretty good, and I have no problem with the sound with my strap. Does it sound odd when your not useing a strap?

good luck!