Tonewood

Ha ha... I 50% disagree with your disagreement. I'm one of the ones that claim that a mid pup gets in the way. My only 3 pup guitar is a Strat. And I do love the sound of the mid pup, but it's the main reason I struggle to get fully comfortable with playing a Strat.
All good. Opinions and tastes often differ.
Some prefer Fords, others Mercedes or Hondas.
But they all get you to the same place.
I rarely use a pick so to me I never feel or bump the middle pickup.
Someone that really digs in with a pick will most likely hate that middle pickup.
 
Yes, the greater the angle the stiffer the feel.

I think Fender has 2 strikes against them with the 25.5" scale and the string trees that approximate a severe back angle over the nut, especially on the first 4 strings.
To me Strats feel stiff.
Gibsons with a 24.75 scale and 14 degree headstock feel slinkier and looser than a Strat or Tele.

I think a shorter scale length contributes to a looser feel as well.

Strats feel stiff, but not as bad as Teles. At least with the Strat there is a little play from the vibrato to make it a bit slinkier, but a Tele is a damn unforgiving platform. The "snap" of the 25.5 scale is the upside I guess. Shorter scales are definitely more loose feeling to me and easier to play, but the downside is a bit of congestion when you are up high on the fretboard and a less punchy low end. I really like 25" scale overall for feel but the tone loses some warmth vs. 24.75" IMO, so I still favor Gibsons.
 
mog2.gif
 
Strats feel stiff, but not as bad as Teles. At least with the Strat there is a little play from the vibrato to make it a bit slinkier, but a Tele is a damn unforgiving platform. The "snap" of the 25.5 scale is the upside I guess. Shorter scales are definitely more loose feeling to me and easier to play, but the downside is a bit of congestion when you are up high on the fretboard and a less punchy low end. I really like 25" scale overall for feel but the tone loses some warmth vs. 24.75" IMO, so I still favor Gibsons.

This is why I combined the comfort of the Strat-style body with the "baseball bat" (untapered 1 inch 'U' profile) neck with a 12" radius and 24.75" scale. For my personal tastes, this was the perfect combination, along with either dual or triple humbuckers....The best aspects of Fender and Gibson.
 
All good. Opinions and tastes often differ.
Some prefer Fords, others Mercedes or Hondas.
But they all get you to the same place.
I rarely use a pick so to me I never feel or bump the middle pickup.
Someone that really digs in with a pick will most likely hate that middle pickup.

It's not bad at all on the middle pickup as they are generally lowered a bit. I still play with the side of my pick - with the point towards my palm - it gives a much bigger sound because you are striking the string over a greater distance. Try it...I am guessing it's a habit I developed to avoid the middle pickup on my Destroyer????
 
... but it is a very ugly headstock....

Robert, I love you, bro...but I can't agree with that statement, even just a little bit!

It's very much a personal preference thing. I actually like the Fender Strat headstock, though it appears to be somewhat of an appropriation of Paul Bigsby's earlier guitar.
 
Robert, I love you, bro...but I can't agree with that statement, even just a little bit!

It's very much a personal preference thing. I actually like the Fender Strat headstock, though it appears to be somewhat of an appropriation of Paul Bigsby's earlier guitar.
Appropriation is a very kind word. Leo Fender "borrowed" very heavily off Bigsby's design.
Obviously he thought that a straight string pull was indeed a better mousetrap than the Martin 3+3 design.
Merle Travis seems to have agreed as well.

Merle Travis 38' Martin D28.
 
Robert, I love you, bro...but I can't agree with that statement, even just a little bit!

It's very much a personal preference thing. I actually like the Fender Strat headstock, though it appears to be somewhat of an appropriation of Paul Bigsby's earlier guitar.

And I totally understand!
 
Robert, I love you, bro...but I can't agree with that statement, even just a little bit!

It's very much a personal preference thing. I actually like the Fender Strat headstock, though it appears to be somewhat of an appropriation of Paul Bigsby's earlier guitar.

I've never been a fan of the Fender headstocks, but I tolerated their looks in favor of their functionality....and even though I used a licensed Fender neck for my first Von Herndon, I think we came up with a "cooler" looking design...IMHO anyways...although I think the Fender headstock looks more sinister in black...

Musikraft Custom Neck #1.jpg
 
Back
Top