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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 5
| Hi,
I have been reading you forum for a while and have finally decided to post.
I'm new guitars, I have only had mine a CS257 about a year and a half. I have been wondering about playability (S?) of different models.
I understand different types of material man made and natural will give a different tone, but what about effort. I have practiced enough so that my fingers are flat but they get sore sometimes. I am still having problems getting bar cords to ring all the time.
There are a couple of folks that play guitar at work but they are electric. I also had my guitar "set-up" after I purchased it. From those that have moved from an inport to USA model are they really easier to play? Every now and then I surprise myself and sound OK, so again the guitar can make a nice sounds if done right. Is there really less effort required? Also for that understand guitar design why? I am having a hard time figguring this out being that the dimensions are very close.
Sorry I had to add on, part of what brought this on was watching Pete Huttlinger on DVD show how to play John Denver's songs. Watching him touch the fret board was amazing to me. I fell like I still need to press down firm, while he just lightly touched the strings and these beautiful clear tones came out.
Thanks
Edward |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10582
Location: NJ | A guitar sometimes needs setup over and over. if the action is too high you may need an adjustment.
You may want to try a lighter gauge strings until you build up the strength in your fingers and hands.
ultimately there is not substitute for practice. the more you practice the more you move your fingers over the fingerboard the easier it will all become.
A better instrument generally is easier to play.
good luck
remember that bryan adams song.
"I got my first first six string, played it till my fingers bled it was the summer of 69" sometimes you need to go to extremes |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | I saw an interview with Roy Clark where he talked about practicing til his fingers bled, then soaking them in ice water to numb them and getting back to practicing.
A little extreme, but if you stay with the practice, it gets easier. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 1380
Location: Central Oregon | "I also had my guitar "set-up" after I purchased it. From those that have moved from an inport to USA model are they really easier to play?"
Yes.
"Is there really less effort required?"
Yes.
"Also for that understand guitar design why?"
From my admittedly limited experience with Ovation guitars, I can say that my Korean made 12 string Ovation (CC-255) had the neck set at an angle that made it impossible to lower the saddle far enough to make it comfortable to play. I had it set up too, & that's how the luthier explained it to me. I could see what he was talking about. The neck was straight, but all that meant was the strings kept getting farther away from the neck at a nice even rate. It was very hard to play past the 5th fret & not too dandy on the third. I finally sold it & also a nearly new 335 style 12 string Epiphone. Between the two I got *almost* enough money to pay for my brand new USA made 1858 Elite 12. It is worth every dime.
"I am having a hard time figguring this out being that the dimensions are very close."
If you're measuring a house an eighth of an inch is very close, if you're smashing down a guitar string it's a looong ways. :) Also, the CC-255 I had *looked* almost exactly like my Elite, but it sure didn't play like it. At all. No comparison.
"Sorry I had to add on, part of what brought this on was watching Pete Huttlinger on DVD show how to play John Denver's songs. Watching him touch the fret board was amazing to me. I fell like I still need to press down firm, while he just lightly touched the strings and these beautiful clear tones came out."
I think you just swerved into the main difference between a higher quality guitar & a lower quality guitar, (not taking the sound into consideration). You shouldn't have to physically work hard to play a guitar that is properly set up. (Although a 12 string is going to be a little more work than a six, no matter what, in my experience.) My Korean O could not be properly set up because of the way it was put together.
I do want to say that I've played several other Korean O's since that played fine. I think it must be a quality control deal overseas, most come out pretty good, some not so hot.
An American made O can always be adjusted to however you like it, if it can't be adjusted they'll fix it for free, at least if you buy one new. If you buy one new they will fix it for free even 30 years from now. That's one of the reasons I bought a new one.
Nils |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Edward
First, welcome and thank you for posting, every new poster brings variety to the board and keeps us from becoming complacent. Your thoughts are very important to guitar players.
First, why does it look so easy with good players? They have guitars that are set up very well with action as good as can be made.
Why? They play for hours and are expected to deliver a show that is exceptional.
Are their instruments something that an ordinary person can't afford? No, people drive cars that cost $40,000, live in $200,000 homes, a $600 guitar doesn't seem out of reach.
Is it worth struggling with a cheap guitar that is hard to play and isn't worth repairing? Hell no, get something that will last and give pleasure for many years, I have played for over 50 years and my guitars come out of the case in tune and easy to play, and I love each one of them (but they weren't cheap when I bought them, just medium priced, but selected for their quality).
Bailey |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 181
Location: North Carolina | I agree with the above but would to add that another reason great players make it look easy is because they have developed an efficiency of motion over the years. Not one joule of energy wasted. Watch Malmsteen play with the sound off and it looks like he's hardly moving his fingers. Turn up the volume and you'll hear about a 100 notes a second! Another example is watching Tiger Woods drive. It looks like he's barely swinging but the ball somehow gets blasted 350 yards down the fairway. The instrument is important but don't underestimate technique.
Franklin |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | In terms of ease of play, and recently, I've really thought about this, for me it's a combination of the instrument and technique. Set up the instrument the best you can. After awhile you'll see its limitations, then you step up to a better instrument. In terms of technique, when I learn something new, there's like a tenseness in my playing, but then after playing the piece over and over again, you get more relaxed, and your hand movements fluid. Then you reach a point where you don't think where to put your fingers and there's economy of motion, without really much thought of position, but of sound. I'd bring it to good shop, I can recommend two in NYC, Umanov's and Carmine Street depending on what you want to pay, for a real set up. If you find that at times you have that easy fluid motion, it may be your just ready to move on to better instrument. There may be nothing wrong with your instrument, you've just gotten better, and some other beginner may love to have your instrument. |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 5
| Thank you for the welcome, and to those with advice.
I am going to try and get my guitar checked out at different shop in the next couple of weeks.
Getting another guitar is a way of option for me at this time. Great idea but, not now.
I honestly don't think my picking fingers will get any faster for a while ( alot of work a head).
Which reminds me of another question comming up.
Thanks again.
Edward |
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Easier to play
