Top Heavy Guitar?

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Top Heavy Guitar?

AIB234 View Member Profile	Mar 7 2007, 03:11 AM
Mar 7 2007, 03:11 AM	GMC:er Posts: 388 Joined: 5-March 07 From: Canada	Hey everyone. I just bought a new strap for my guitar (up until now I've not used a strap at all with this guitar) and I find that my guitar is very top heavy and when I stand up my neck wants to fall to the floor. Is this how it's supposed to work? It seems more difficult to fret while I also have to hold my guitar off of the floor. Thanks for the help and advice. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Ibanez RG350DX Alvarez RD8BR Behringer V-Ampire LX1-112 DigiTech JamMan

radarlove1984 View Member Profile	Mar 7 2007, 03:19 AM
Mar 7 2007, 03:19 AM	GMC:er Posts: 170 Joined: 19-January 07	Some guitars are like that and others aren't. My acoustic guitar and my SG are both top heavy, but my Strat knockoff is a good 4 pounds heavier and more balanced. Personally, I like the light-weight, top heavy guitars because they're easier on my back. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

AIB234 View Member Profile	Mar 7 2007, 03:24 AM
Mar 7 2007, 03:24 AM	GMC:er Posts: 388 Joined: 5-March 07 From: Canada	QUOTE (radarlove1984 @ Mar 6 2007, 09:19 PM) Some guitars are like that and others aren't. My acoustic guitar and my SG are both top heavy, but my Strat knockoff is a good 4 pounds heavier and more balanced. Personally, I like the light-weight, top heavy guitars because they're easier on my back. How do you manage to hold up the neck while being able to be free to fret? Does it just come with practice? Right now it seems almost impossible to fully support the neck and pick. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Ibanez RG350DX Alvarez RD8BR Behringer V-Ampire LX1-112 DigiTech JamMan

radarlove1984 View Member Profile	Mar 7 2007, 03:32 AM
Mar 7 2007, 03:32 AM	GMC:er Posts: 170 Joined: 19-January 07	It mostly just comes with practice. I bet if you play 30 minutes a day standing up you won't have this problem next week. There are a few tips though... * Don't strap the guitar too low. It looks cool but it makes it a lot harder to play. * If your guitar starts to fall, you can sometimes catch it with your right elbow. By the way, what guitar are you playing? You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

AIB234 View Member Profile	Mar 7 2007, 03:33 AM
Mar 7 2007, 03:33 AM	GMC:er Posts: 388 Joined: 5-March 07 From: Canada	Thanks for tips. I really appreciate it. I am playing an Austin SG You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! This post has been edited by AIB234: Mar 7 2007, 03:44 AM -------------------- Ibanez RG350DX Alvarez RD8BR Behringer V-Ampire LX1-112 DigiTech JamMan

dogman View Member Profile	Mar 7 2007, 03:41 AM
Mar 7 2007, 03:41 AM	GMC:er Posts: 134 Joined: 12-December 06	QUOTE (AIB234 @ Mar 6 2007, 09:24 PM) How do you manage to hold up the neck while being able to be free to fret? Does it just come with practice? Right now it seems almost impossible to fully support the neck and pick. one of my guitars, is a washburn A5 explorer and is very top heavy as you say and will drop if you're not holding it by the neck. sometimes you can get away with moving the postion of the front strap button/lock to a different location to offset the balance of the weight. On the washburn I couldnt do that so I ended up taking it to a luthier and had him make a small cavity in the back of the guitar and filled it with a lead weight to balance it out. then he used an access plate made for a EMG battery to cover. screwed it on and looks like it was made like that. Now it sits perfectly balanced on my shoulder without sliding or holding it. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

AIB234 View Member Profile	Mar 7 2007, 03:48 AM
Mar 7 2007, 03:48 AM	GMC:er Posts: 388 Joined: 5-March 07 From: Canada	QUOTE (dogman @ Mar 6 2007, 09:41 PM) one of my guitars, is a washburn A5 explorer and is very top heavy as you say and will drop if you're not holding it by the neck. sometimes you can get away with moving the postion of the front strap button/lock to a different location to offset the balance of the weight. On the washburn I couldnt do that so I ended up taking it to a luthier and had him make a small cavity in the back of the guitar and filled it with a lead weight to balance it out. then he used an access plate made for a EMG battery to cover. screwed it on and looks like it was made like that. Now it sits perfectly balanced on my shoulder without sliding or holding it. That sounds like a little more surgery than I am willing or affording to do. I am no where close to being in a band or having to perform and I am sure by that time I will want a new guitar and surely I will looking for one that is evenly weighted! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Ibanez RG350DX Alvarez RD8BR Behringer V-Ampire LX1-112 DigiTech JamMan

MickeM View Member Profile	Mar 7 2007, 07:24 AM
Mar 7 2007, 07:24 AM	Born of NWOBHM, Moderation Team Leader Posts: 8.562 Joined: 9-January 07 From: Stockholm, Sweden	I'd recommend a more expensive leather strap or a rough fabric. It will stick to your shoulder even of the guitar wants to push down. The cheapest "seatbelt" models might slide as you say. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- My bands homepage All time favourites: B. Streisand - Woman in Love, M. Hopkin - Those were the days, L. Richie - Hello

The Uncreator View Member Profile	Mar 7 2007, 12:31 PM
Mar 7 2007, 12:31 PM	Fire Up The Blades, Moderator Posts: 8.933 Joined: 6-March 07 From: St. Petersburg, Florida	^That is a good idea, i got one for my Washburn Dime V, Cause the headstock and neck wiegh more than the body, and slips alot less more, oh and always get straplocks You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

RIP Dime View Member Profile	Mar 9 2007, 12:22 PM
Mar 9 2007, 12:22 PM	GMC:er Posts: 1.063 Joined: 2-October 06 From: Hawaii	I hate neck heavy guitars. I would do as the one luthier did, add weight to the body. It's not that hard and would probably make the guitar sound a bit better. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! --------------------

dogman View Member Profile	Mar 10 2007, 04:10 PM
Mar 10 2007, 04:10 PM	GMC:er Posts: 134 Joined: 12-December 06	QUOTE (AIB234 @ Mar 6 2007, 09:48 PM) That sounds like a little more surgery than I am willing or affording to do. I am no where close to being in a band or having to perform and I am sure by that time I will want a new guitar and surely I will looking for one that is evenly weighted! If I recall correctly it cost me about $50.00 for him to put the weight in to balance it. Cheap and well worth it The USA made A5 or A10 setneck explorers are very nice guitars that fly under the radar as far as quality and sound wise. the only knock on them was the whole unbalanced thing. Now it's my main axe and wouldnt give it up for anything. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

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