strummer2k Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 I got the idea for this topic from another recent thread on the Strat heel. I keep seeing remarks about design flaws in such things as Strats and Les Pauls, but I don't always see people really state what those flaws are. Some may be obvious, some may not, but I think the discussion could really be constructive, especially for us noobs. For instance, I am about to start on a LP oriented project, but I have been a Strat player all my life, so I would be interested in what people had to say in that regard. But I don't want to limit it to just that guitar...so If you could change anything about any manufactured guitar, what would it be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snork Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 #1 it would be the handmade price on a CNC made guitar. nothing wrong with CNC in fact i support it for the little dudes who cant afford a custom. as for specifics too many to name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 umm...upper fret access,comfortable armrests,proper balancing,and better electronics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeanutsUK Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 I've always thought that the deep pickup routings and 'overlapping' rear trem routings of a strat severely 'thin' the wood between where the neck joins and the bridge sits - look at a les paul and the neck runs a thick solid route all the way to the bridge mounts - excellent solid transmission from the top of the neck to the bridge. Maybe they could design a trem where the springs sit behind the bridge, with a trem routing in all that 'unused' wood between the bridge and the strap button!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarMaestro Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 Design flaws Les Paul: 1. Way to havy for my taste 2. Uncomfortable arm rest without contour 3. Not very stable headstock 4. Bad upper fret access Design flaws Strat: 1. The heel is very blocky and hinders comfortable access to the upper frets, although you can accustom to that 2. The original Tremolo can be tuned in order to be quite tuning stable, but not enough for heavy whammy bar (ab)use Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reaper Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 If you could change anything about any manufactured guitar, what would it be? The only "design flaw" that I see is the Buzz Feiten-related stuff, with the intonation being off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reaper Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 dammit, double post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazyderek Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 ...better electronics that's one of the big ones, cause the easiest way to upgrade a guitar is slap some dimarzio, emg' or duncan's in there.... substandard wood and half assed quality checks / assembly / finish work would be my major peeve though... i guess that doesn't really relate to a design or a model, it's more of a common problem even on major names.. hmm.... i guess heels (infringing on upper fret access) are my only critique then... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitar_ed Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 Howdy, My pet peeve about factory guitars would be cheap strap buttons (like on my Gretsch) and cheap jack (also on the Gretsch). The jack on my LP is tight, the way it ought to be. It may be a pain to get my cord in, but it does not fall out accidentally. Guitar Ed Opinions are like a**holes. And I just showed you mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckguitarist Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 Opinions are like a**holes. And I just showed you mine. hhehehehehe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StreamLine Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 dunno, lots of people had problems with gibson headstocks snapping, maybe that should be addressed....... also substandard hardware like on all 'ibeenhad's is a major annoyance, though not necesarily design fault one real big design fault with flying V's is that you cant play the sitting down. i think if shape where redesigned, it could be made possible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snork Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 steineys have a special "leg rest" that you can buy and put on a flying V. That is where modding comes in. for easy fixes like that. I agree volutes should be used in all guitars. Honestly there is no reason NOT to have one. plus most guitars do not use a scarf joint. they use a single piece of mahogany or something and just chop te headstock out of it. Which is very stupid because then you get short grain. Meaning instead of having the grain go with the way of the headstock it keeps going in the same direction making it very easy to snap off. </b> -------------------- ----------------------- ---------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------- instead of it going like ^ it should go like ------- -------\\\\\ \\\\\ \\\\\ \\\\\ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snork Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 stupid editor............ why did it have to edit that........................ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbkim Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 stupid editor............ why did it have to edit that........................ It's not the editor. It's the font the browser uses to render your text (it's not a constant width font.) If you want to post ascii art, use the "CODE" button. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snork Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 there we go... lol they made code a tag. i was writing html and was likee ?????????? its NOT WORKING! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MzI Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 i have no trouble playin my gibson v, i play it classical style, my complaint about the V's i have is the heel, and the input jack placement, i like the input jack on the upper wing, and the heel is much better on the 59 style MzI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snork Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 i've only played em standing. the way they're SUPPOSED TO BE PLAYED. the V is all about attitude baby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MzI Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 i do prefer to play the v standing up, id say mine does have sum attitude black paint job hot rod flames emg 81 60 setup MzI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 plus most guitars do not use a scarf joint. they use a single piece of mahogany or something and just chop te headstock out of it. Which is very stupid because then you get short grain. well stupid or not that is the way i do it.and carvin...but check your facts...most guitars DO use a scarf joint on a tilt back headstock. don't make your necks wizard thin and you might be surprised at how well they hold up. but i have nothing against scarf joints... bythe way if it is quartesawn wood it helps that section also...but i WISH you would build a few more guitars,snork , before deciding what is "stupid" and what is not...i am glad you are learning but there are always ways around a problem. for example...quartersawn laminated 3 piece necks are a good way around scarf joints Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snork Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 thats not the way that i do it either. but i reverse the grain. where as gibson/prs just cut one piece necks. i'm all for scarf joints in this case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 btw how many of you have actually dropped your guitar and broken the headstock?...i am just curious because this issue always comes up and that is the only way to snap a headstock right there that i know of... guitars are not safe from clumsy hands,no matter how you build them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snork Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 i have not ever broken my headstock but i understand a few people have and i dont want to have the experiance. i would be SOOO PISSED. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazyderek Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 for example...quartersawn laminated 3 piece necks are a good way around scarf joints Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 don't roll your eyes at me,drooler! say what you mean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazyderek Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 lol.... i meant.... that's my preffered way of making necks althought i do try to leave a volute when shaping, it's more then strong enough to take any normal abuse especially when you use a realy hard center wood like ebony, bubinga, wenge, yada yada, and of course your favorite wes, purple heart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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