Loosey Goosey feel

[mesavox]

I was putting strings on a Jem for a friend the other day. Basically, the Jem neck and the Ibanez Petrucci neck are identical except the Jem is 1 millimeter wider at the nut.

Now, I have 9s on my JPM. I put 9s on the Jem. The Jem is way looser feeling when bending than my JPM is.

It's been a while, but I may have 9 - 46 on the JPM, I may just have regular 9 -42s on it.

If I have the 46, would that alone change the feel so much? Both the Jem and the JPM have the strat scale length. Both have 24 frets, same bridge, etc. The only real difference is the Jem is a Floral and even though it's a late model floral with the low pro, they never put the all access neck joint on the floral Jem. Is that the big difference?

I seem to remember a time when the JPM was loose feeling and I always loved it. It doesn't play like crap by any means, but I'd like to get it to feeling like that floral Jem did the other night. My MMJPM 7 string has 10s on it, and it isn't much stiffer than myJPM is right now.

Added info...

3 springs in both the JPM and the JEM. The only other thing I can think of is if the springs in the Jem(which I had to put in because the ones that were in it were sprung) might be softer tension. I'm sure I'm leaving something out that is important to know to analyze the problem but maybe we're at least close. lol

[iumentum]

I've found that there is a big difference between 009-046 and 009-042 in how they feel. The 009-46 set feels a lot stiffer than 009-042. (I'm using D'Addario).

The only difference I could feel when I changed to 010-046 was that the E and B string was a little tighter.

[Bezial]

i use 9-42s on my jem and 9-46 on my rg and you would think that they were way heavier , yes there is a differance

[EL-CeeDee]

I recognized that one! I've got a JPM100P3 and a JEM7PBK. The Jem feels much looser and expressive than the JPM, with the same gauge/set of strings. Does anyone have a clue how this is possible ? Trem setup is equal on both guitars. The JEM however has a different trem ( still original, edge? ) than the JPM (lo-pro edge).

[Rob Balducci]

hey...

i have been through this a lot... and some people may disagree with my statement.. but i find it to be true and so does my tech Sal tine who is a speciaLIST on Ibanez guitars...

the way u have the springs in your guitar makes a difference on the feel.. of the bar tension as well as the tension of the strings..

i found that when you set your springs up in an arrow formation instead of just going straight that the tension is better and the feel of the bar is better as well.,.

so that means that the three springs all go to the middle in the shape of an arrow etc... I am sure u know what i mean..

if not shoot me an email

Rob

[EL-CeeDee]

I would reckon that if you put the springs in the "arrow" formation the bar would be stiffer and the string tension would be higher. But what if you would like to loosen up a guitar that is already tight and already in parallel spring configuration ?

I for one like the Loosey Goosey feel (for some things)

[nickcoumbe]

Rob, when you say better do you mean looser?

I have been trying all sorts of string gauges recently, and I have to say that although the feel of 10s is a bit stiffer, the tone is noticeably better.

BTW, I am definately not buying anymore sets of ZW customs for my les paul. They are just silly. What with the shorter scale length as well, it feels way too tight. And that's not good on a guitar.

[nightfiend14]

Originally Posted by nickcoumbe

Rob, when you say better do you mean looser?

I have been trying all sorts of string gauges recently, and I have to say that although the feel of 10s is a bit stiffer, the tone is noticeably better.

BTW, I am definately not buying anymore sets of ZW customs for my les paul. They are just silly. What with the shorter scale length as well, it feels way too tight. And that's not good on a guitar.

are the ZW a heavy gauge? A lot of people use a heavier set for shorter scale guitars just because of less tension if you tried to put them on say a 25.5 scale neck. The ZW's could be really heavy though, i dunno.

[Drew]

Originally Posted by Rob Balducci

i found that when you set your springs up in an arrow formation instead of just going straight that the tension is better and the feel of the bar is better as well.,.

"Better" is awfully arbitrary - does it feel looser or firmer, in an arrow? Thanks,

-D

[nickcoumbe]

Originally Posted by nightfiend14

are the ZW a heavy gauge? A lot of people use a heavier set for shorter scale guitars just because of less tension if you tried to put them on say a 25.5 scale neck. The ZW's could be really heavy though, i dunno.

They are pretty heavy. I can't remeber the guage, something like 11 - 52 (someone please correct me). The bottom strings are like ropes.

I was always taught that longer scale guitars can cope with thinner strings better than shorter scales. So the minimum you should use are 10s on a Les Paul (although to be honest I sued 8s for years, and I thought they were fine). That is the main advantage of a longer scale, thinner strings don't break as much (again, as I have been told). Either way, dont' even try getting away with playing 7s

[guitardevil2005]

he has a couple sig. model strings, the heaviest ones are .11-.70, and the regulars are .10-.60, i was always taught the the longer the neck(wich is why there are baritone guitars), the lower tunings u can achieve so u would need thiker strings so the strings do get all loose, as it would with thinner strings.

[al.]

same thing happened to me, ive a strat and a Rg the strat feels so much lighter o the fretboard, the strings are so much more looser to the rg so its either down to the strings or bridge i reckon, but i prefre the way the strat plays but the RG is just sexier to play overall....