sustain loss on high frets

[Orochimaru]

Hi,

I started a similar tread in the section for pickups and wiring. I think the sustain loss on high frets it's not very much about pickups and wiring. This is why I start that tread again in the right place for now.

I heard about scalloping the last frets and "infinite sustain" technique.

I just want to learn about that "infinite sustain" technique. Also I think scalloping the last frets might be a good idea.

Anyone posessing a Jem with scalloped high frets just let us know if the sustain on high frets is better on that guitar than other guitars. I want to know if the sustain loss on the high frets is less significant on a JEM guitar than on any other guitar without scalloped high frets.

Also I want to know about that "infinite sustain" technique.

[Orochimaru]

I have something to add. When I say sustain loss on high frets I mean you have a good sustain on lower frets but when you go higher on the neck you lose sustain dramatically.

This is the issue we are talking. This means the pickups are out of topic. If the pickups are the reason you lose sustain on high frets you should not have a good sustain on lower frets too.

If I am wrong please someone correct me.

[Ibanized]

isnt that normal because the lenght of the string which vibrates is shorter?
why should taking out some wood make for more sustain ?

[Orochimaru]

Originally Posted by Ibanized

isnt that normal because the lenght of the string which vibrates is shorter?
why should taking out some wood make for more sustain ?

Look!

I have a S320. In that guitar I put some 11 strings and tuned them 1.5 step down. The sustain improved on the whole guitar also the sustain loss on high frets decreased. This was a good thing. That guitar has 22 frets. I recently played on a Xiphos (24 frets) and the sustain on higher frets was horrible. Before 17 fret it was pretty fine but any fret higher it became horrible.

I am not sure scalloping works I just heard people saying it might work. They say this is the main reason Steve Vai scalloped the last 4 frets in his guitar. I am not sure hether it works or not. I wait to hear from people who have a JEM with scalloped frets and tell me how it is ith sustain on scalloped high frets. You see I don't know. I just ask question and try to find answers. This what I do.

If you have any better idea of how could I improve the sustain on high frets you are welcome and I am ready to listen. I want to try anything that might improve sustain especially on high frets.

thank you.

[Foulacy]

i don't own a JEM but sustain is better with scalloped frets. also, you're comparing crappy guitars to high end guitars, so the scalloping isn't the only difference between your guitar and the JEM. and obviously, YOUR playing ability will increase sustain. when playing at the higher frets you really want to pin point the note with your finger tips for the most sustain. if you lay an ugly power-chord finger across the 24th fret, the sustain is going to last 1 second.

[Orochimaru]

Originally Posted by Foulacy

i don't own a JEM but sustain is better with scalloped frets. also, you're comparing crappy guitars to high end guitars, so the scalloping isn't the only difference between your guitar and the JEM. and obviously, YOUR playing ability will increase sustain. when playing at the higher frets you really want to pin point the note with your finger tips for the most sustain. if you lay an ugly power-chord finger across the 24th fret, the sustain is going to last 1 second.

You have a good point. Do you mean a high end guitar has more sustain?

Another thing I want to know is whether a RG prestige WITH scalloped high frets has more sustain on high frets than a RG prestige WITHOUT scalloped high frets.

Also I want to learn how to increase the sustain with my fingers. I think I need to practice that.

Thank you.

[Foulacy]

Originally Posted by Orochimaru

You have a good point. Do you mean a high end guitar has more sustain?

Another thing I want to know is whether a RG prestige WITH scalloped high frets has more sustain on high frets than a RG prestige WITHOUT scalloped high frets.

Also I want to learn how to increase the sustain with my fingers. I think I need to practice that.

Thank you.

when comparing two guitars of the same make and model, the scalloped guitar will have more sustain technically, but also requires more finesse. to increase sustain at the higher frets you really have to be able to feel the string with your finger tips. not the tippity tip tips, just the tips. and have good "grip" with the string on that finger tip so the string doesn't move. this doesn't mean pressing down extra hard, you just don't want the string to slip from your tip or even move a mm. you want the contact with the fret to be very solid and crisp.

[jim777]

The RG550 and Jem necks are very similar, with the big exception of the scalloped frets on the Jem. There are other differences, but they really don't amount to much. Side by side, the notes played on the scalloped frets on the Jem have much better sustain. It was always my understanding that the frets were scalloped for that sustain, and not to make tapping those frets easier (which is also a common belief).

[Ibanized]

why would taking away some wood which the strings have no contact with increase the sustain ?

[littlephil]

Originally Posted by Orochimaru

Look!

I have a S320. In that guitar I put some 11 strings and tuned them 1.5 step down. The sustain improved on the whole guitar also the sustain loss on high frets decreased. This was a good thing. That guitar has 22 frets. I recently played on a Xiphos (24 frets) and the sustain on higher frets was horrible. Before 17 fret it was pretty fine but any fret higher it became horrible.

You got more sustain when you down-tuned because there was less tension in the strings, so they could vibrate easier.

I think scalloping the frets helps add sustain because its easier to fret the note if there's no wood under your finger, so the note can ring out more cleanly.

[TKO Ken]

What I'm thinking here is, when you fret a note on the higher frets the string is at it's closest to the pickup and well down into the magnetic field. This will reduce the string's vibration. Try lowering the pickup slightly, this should allow the string to vibrate longer giving you longer sustain. For infinite
sustain grind the string with short vibrado bends. I can even get infinite sustain using this technique on my acoustic.