Why do some guitars feel "looser"?...

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Author Message Funkle Username: Funkle Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 12:05 pm:    Between my '81 AR100 and brand new ARC300, the AR100 feels way looser. They both have nearly identical neck dimensions and bridge configurations. Frets are a little higher on the ARC. The AR is much easier to bend notes on and has a loose feel, while the ARC is stiff and note bending is difficult. What's up with that? Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 2:03 pm:    Funkle: Good question. Can we assume that the string guage is the same on both? Both have a 24.75" scale length, no? Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 03-2004 Posted on Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 4:34 pm:    Tailpiece settings can change string tensions! However if you don't have a adjustable tailpiece then you cant make the change there obviously. Lespaul Username: Lespaul Registered: 10-2004 Posted on Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 4:55 pm:    Could be the strings. I read a lot about new guitars that need to be broken in. Don't know really what to think about that. Paul Snowjays Username: Snowjays Registered: 09-2004 Posted on Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 10:59 pm:    Funkle, I know what you mean. It was the same when I got the AR2000, totally different feel, strings felt smoother and bend easier ever though they were a heavier guage than I was used to. Then I did a string change. What a difference. No more Ernie Balls for me. I found the Elixcer barnd were very similar, but if anyone knows what they use out of the factory, please let us in on the secret. Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 03-2004 Posted on Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 11:05 pm:    Diadario 46-10 on the AR. Pitviper Username: Pitviper Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - 3:01 am:    GHS Boomers and Rockers. Wildfield Username: Wildfield Registered: 05-2005 Posted on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - 10:04 am:    Strings of the same gauge; same brand; same model; is it possible said strings feel looser on guitars that are heavier and denser? I have no idea - just tossing this out there. Thinking about it, strings on my Strat and Telecaster seemed looser than on my archtops. Same with my AM50 and Malden Holly Keyser (semi hollow). Funkle Username: Funkle Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - 11:00 am:    OK, I think I have a theory: the distance from bridge to tailpiece is shorter on the ARC, hence the string is shorter, and has a little less stretch, assuming the string can freely move over the saddles. Another theory is that the geometry of the neck and frets has the an affect on looseness: very low frets would cause your finger to contact the fretboard and causing friction. This was true of my AM300, which had almost no frets at all. And the neck shape and radius could have an affect on the levrage you have on the string. Daryl, that is another weird one. Strings on a strat or tele should feel tighter, because of the longer scale length. Unless the guitar has a trem, which will of course make the guitar feel very loose. Wildfield Username: Wildfield Registered: 05-2005 Posted on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - 11:31 am:    Ha, ha...that's funny. And I was thinking that the strings felt looser on my solid body guitars. Well, in all honesty, I haven't really noticed looseness or tightness from guitar to guitar. Now that you have mentioned, I make take closer notice. I do notice regardless which guitar I'm playing, the more people listening the harder it is to fret the right notes. Guitartim Username: Guitartim Registered: 04-2001 Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 11:34 am:    Looseness or tightness could be more related to the break-angle of the strings from the bridge to the stoptail. For example, on most Les Paul style guitars, there is an adjustable screw down tailpiece. If you raise the stoptail a bit, the string break-angle decreases, as does the tension of the strings. Some have gone as far as top-wrapping strings over the stoptail to get an even looser, springier feel to the strings. Jeff Beck was one of the first pro players I ever noticed top-wrapping his LP. Check out his 'Blow By Blow' album/CD for his incredible bends and tone! My Ibanez AR2000 has a very nice loose feel to it and the stoptail is all the way down to the body, just as it came from the factory. I would never top-wrap it. However, the same set up on a semi-hollow Artist 2630 feels tighter, even with identical string guages. Both are 24.75 scale. Another good example is the GB10's beautifully designed adjustable, unequal length tailpiece. By tightening the bolts under the tailpiece, the string tension increases by bringing the strings down closer to the body, and increasing the break-angle. This results in a more 'thud-like' sound from the instrument. Some jazz players like that...I do not. I prefer medium tension on my GB10 so bends are a bit easier and the tone seems to have more ring to it. Notes bloom and sustain more as well. Also back in the 40's Epiphone created the 'frequencinator' (sp) tailpiece for its full hollow archtops that split the treble strings from the bass strings in groups of three each, and were unequal in length. Apparently they realized the tonal differences that are accentuated by multiple scale lengths. That is the same theory of the unequal lengths (scale) of the GB series, but with the addition of adjustable tension. These are my observations. Maybe one of the more technical guys on this board can comment further on this looseness/tightness stuff. Tim Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 10:40 pm:    It is directly related to the amount of foreplay involved. The Bear Jchester Username: Jchester Registered: 05-2006 Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 12:48 am:    BEAUTIFUL!!! Tim breaks it down into perfectly logical, scientific terms, that make more sense than any theory I've ever heard on the subject. Then The Bear busts our balls with a sex joke, to keep us from getting too serious. I LOVE this forum! JC Funkle Username: Funkle Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 7:46 pm:    maybe lubing the nuts and/or saddles helps... Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Saturday, July 29, 2006 - 10:02 am:    Bravo, Sven !!! The Bear Garyelcrrt Username: Garyelcrrt Registered: 03-2006 Posted on Sunday, August 06, 2006 - 4:58 pm:    Oh, no! The best I could come up with is, "If you shake it 3 times, you're playin' rock-n-roll!"

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