set necks-help with tuning?

[antispatula]

my guitar has a bolt-on neck and I think it is relatively unstable. If I press down on the neck a little too hard while playing a chord or something, it gets noticeably out of tune. I have to play really really light for the neck not to move/for it not to go out of tune. Would getting a set-neck guitar help with this tuning problem? All opinions appreciated, thanks!

 

[RandyW]

I think it is going to depend on the manufacturer and model of the guitar.

All of my bolt on necks "Fenders" are very stable. Actually of 2 dozen or so
guitars I own the only one that does any thing like this a set neck Washburn
HB30 and it isn't near bad as some guitars I've had in the past such as an
Ampeg Dan Armstrong and my first electric the old Airline Fiberglass body.

I quick fix for your problem is play in sitting down, if your guitar is quite new
the neck may need to set which could take several months. Also you might
want to make sure the screws are good and snug on the neck plate.

 

[antispatula]

thanks for the info-
it probably doesn't help that the neck is cracked at the heel!
I'm thinking of getting an Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus

 

[Light]

At a guess, you need to tighten the screws. They need to be quite tight.


Light

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

 

[Anfontan]

thanks for the info-
it probably doesn't help that the neck is cracked at the heel!
I'm thinking of getting an Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus

I just got one of those Epi Les Paul Standard Plus guitars in the Wine finish and it's a great guitar-the shop set it up and it's got excellent action and tone. I didn't get a chance for a photo yet but I will definitely post one soon.

Here's a website picture but it doesn't do justice to the maple top...

 

[antispatula]

thank you for the scoop on the epi lp standard plus,
that is greatly appreciated, I think I definitely going to go out and get one!

 

[ggunn]

my guitar has a bolt-on neck and I think it is relatively unstable. If I press down on the neck a little too hard while playing a chord or something, it gets noticeably out of tune. I have to play really really light for the neck not to move/for it not to go out of tune. Would getting a set-neck guitar help with this tuning problem? All opinions appreciated, thanks!

That sounds more to me that you are squeezing the strings sharp over the frets rather than having a neck stability problem. My brother played a 12 string with heavy strings for many years, and when he plays my Les Paul (set neck, BTW) with jumbo frets, every time he plays a first position D chord or uses that form anywhere on the neck it sounds terribly out of tune because he squeezes the G string way sharp. Electric guitars with tall frets and light gauge strings demand a light touch. You might try going up a thousandth or two in string gauge.

 

[RandyW]

That sounds more to me that you are squeezing the strings sharp over the frets rather than having a neck stability problem. My brother played a 12 string with heavy strings for many years, and when he plays my Les Paul (set neck, BTW) with jumbo frets, every time he plays a first position D chord or uses that form anywhere on the neck it sounds terribly out of tune because he squeezes the G string way sharp. Electric guitars with tall frets and light gauge strings demand a light touch. You might try going up a thousandth or two in string gauge.

With a crack in the heel of the neck I doubt this would be his problem.
But I definitely agree with a light touch be required on a LP with those
monster jumbo frets. You only press down till the string makes good contact
with the fret if you press to the fingerboard not only does the note go sharp
but it takes the string out of tune. That why people always complain about
their LP never staying in tune.
My solution is a heavier gauge string, a little nut sauce or graphite on the nut
and to be extremely cautious about keeping a light touch on the strings.