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String tension and neck relief

  • 17-12-2008 5:16pm
    #1
    Vim Fuego
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 746 ✭✭✭


    If a guitar neck is bowed back towards you, can that increase the tension or 'feel' of the strings? That is, if we had 2 identical guitars tuned to pitch, would the one with the one with the neck bowed towards you feel 'tighter' and harder to bend strings?

    Er, hope that makes sense. I've been doing a set up on one of my guitars and just wanted to check before I make any neck adjustments.

    On a related note, anyone else find that they always 'second guess' themselves when it comes to set-up? I'm usually happy with something one minute and adjusting it 5 minutes later. I really need to get on this and pick up a feeler gauge and other such bits.


Comments

  • #2
    Voodu Child
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,706 ✭✭✭Voodu Child


    Youre changing the length of the string by making relief and action adjustments, so technically you could say the tension changes. Will be very tiny though.

    However, bowing a neck forward will increase the action (varying along the neck). So you have to stretch the string more to make it touch the fretboard, and because its already stretched, bending will be even more difficult.

    So it depends; are you talking about the literal tension of the string (when its not being played), or the 'feel' of the guitar to play. Having too much forward bow will definitely make the strings 'feel' stiffer.


  • #3
    Johnny Storm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,992 ✭✭✭Johnny Storm


    fwiw I generally prefer as little relief as possible (ie as little "bow" as possible).

    I got feeler gauges, Stew-Mac action gauge etc but I find that once you get experienced in set ups and know what works for you then you wont want to bother with them


  • #4
    Vim Fuego
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 746 ✭✭✭Vim Fuego


    Yes, I'm talking about the 'feel'. It definitely feels too stiff and strings are tough to bend. I think I need to adjust the neck to bow forward somewhat as action and bridge adjustments are having little effect.


  • #5
    Doctor J
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11,848 ✭✭✭✭Doctor J


    Hold the E strings at the first fret and the last fret. Adjust the truss rod so that the gap between the the top of the 8th fret and the bottom of the string is about 1mm. Any more than that feels too bowed, in my opinion of course :)


  • #6
    Vim Fuego
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 746 ✭✭✭Vim Fuego


    Cheers all, I'll have a tinker anyway and see how we go.

    Feckin' necks....

    4neck1.jpg


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  • #7
    Voodu Child
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,706 ✭✭✭Voodu Child


    Vim Fuego wrote: »
    Yes, I'm talking about the 'feel'. It definitely feels too stiff and strings are tough to bend. I think I need to adjust the neck to bow forward somewhat as action and bridge adjustments are having little effect.
    Bowing the neck forward will just give you a higher action at some places along the neck. It will have the opposite effect to what you want, it won't make the strings feel any 'looser'.

    You should just get the action and relief set up the way you like (probably low action and minimal relief for the feel youre going for), and if you're really still having trouble with stiff strings, maybe go down a gauge? Or try some different hybrid gauges etc.


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