Use lighter gauge of strings. How's the action? High off the fretboard?I have a Tele that is 1" at the nut and it's pretty stiff on the bends. Does the thickness of the neck affect the tension on the bends? It sounds great but is kicking my arse after a nights gig.
Thanks,
Billy
I have a Tele that is 1" at the nut and it's pretty stiff on the bends. Does the thickness of the neck affect the tension on the bends? It sounds great but is kicking my arse after a nights gig.
Guys, break angles, widths, are so sleight and hardly make a difference. It's not necessarily the thickness. I have a huge fat back neck and plays real slinky. Much more to do with the necks density/rigidness. A quartersawn neck typically plays much stiffer as it will want to move side to side, instead of up and down which will create give when you not only bend, but fret! Yes, the headstock flexes a tiny bit and that's sort've like what the springs of a trem can do but more noticeably.
Here look at my replies (Jeepguy). http://www.fenderforum.com/forum.html?db=&topic_number=768885&lastpost=2012-01-2721:14:04 is the reason. Do my neck bend test on every guitar and you'll figure this stuff. No luthier or tech has been able to ever tell me this when I've asked. I've just noticed this with remarkable consistency on 100's of guitars now that come into the shop I work at.
You think there is some subjectiveness in how tight a guitar is percieved but a stiffy is a stiffy and most folks notice that. For years, I was puzzled why .010's could feel slinky on one and tight on another same guitar. The neck is 90% the reason.