Correct positioning for a Les Paul

Bluesyzep · #1 November 12th, 2006

I mostly play acoustic but once in awhile I'll pick up the electric. I would play it more but just doesn't feel right. I have it set waist high. Is that about right because I have to stretch my fret hand way out it seems?

allthumbs · #2 November 12th, 2006

What do you mean by stretch your hand way out? I play all my guitars so the necks are at the same height as the one I play most often. Position your guitar for maximum comfort. Some people position their guitars for maximum coolness. That can be a big mistake especially with a heavy axe like an LP. Not that I am saying your doing that.

Justapicker · #3 November 13th, 2006

Adjust your strap so that it sits about the same as your acoustic does. If you are used to playing sitting down make the adjustment while your sitting down. I have mine at about chest height.

Bluesyzep · #4 November 13th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by allthumbs

What do you mean by stretch your hand way out? I play all my guitars so the necks are at the same height as the one I play most often. Position your guitar for maximum comfort. Some people position their guitars for maximum coolness. That can be a big mistake especially with a heavy axe like an LP. Not that I am saying your doing that.

I'm saying that I hang it at about the middle of the waist. This seems to be pretty much what others do. It may be just the difference of playing an acoustic from the sitting position vs. standing with the electric. It's just that I have to bend my wrist to the point where I can hardly fret. Thought I was doing something wrong.

Bluesyzep · #5 November 13th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justapicker

Adjust your strap so that it sits about the same as your acoustic does. If you are used to playing sitting down make the adjustment while your sitting down. I have mine at about chest height.

I'll try that. I do think that will help and considered it but have never seen anyone play electric strapped up that high and assumed I was missing something. Thanks.

eXperiment63 · #6 November 13th, 2006

You obviously haven't seen Tom Morello then! ;P

I swear sometimes if his strap was any tighter his head would pop off.

allthumbs · #7 November 13th, 2006

ScottyB plays his axe that high.

krissovo · #8 November 13th, 2006

I have to play my LP slightly above the waist and I have it slightly angled so that neck sits a bit higher. With my other guitars I do not have it angled as much as the LP I am not sure why but thinking about it I think its a combination of the weight and the larger / slower neck

Bluesyzep · #9 November 13th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by krissovo

larger / slower neck

Curious about this statement. I've heard the term "fast neck" before. I noticed the strings and frets are spaced farther apart on the Les Paul than my acoustic. Is that what the term refers to?

krissovo · #10 November 13th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluesyzep

Curious about this statement. I've heard the term "fast neck" before. I noticed the strings and frets are spaced farther apart on the Les Paul than my acoustic. Is that what the term refers to?

Kind off, if I hold my godin or my variax my fretting hand seams to slide like there is butter smeared over the neck. The LP seams to have prit stick smeared on it so my fretting hand moves a lot slower. With my standard of playing a slower neck is actually better for me.

Rockerbob · #11 November 14th, 2006

I wear my guitars pretty high. Waist high would be too low for me to play it.

Justapicker · #12 November 14th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by krissovo

Kind off, if I hold my godin or my variax my fretting hand seams to slide like there is butter smeared over the neck. The LP seams to have prit stick smeared on it so my fretting hand moves a lot slower. With my standard of playing a slower neck is actually better for me.

Take some steel wool or 2500 grit sandpaper and run it lightly along the LP's neck. It'll remove some of the tackiness from the varnish.

Rockerbob · #13 November 14th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justapicker

Take some steel wool or 2500 grit sandpaper and run it lightly along the LP's neck. It'll remove some of the tackiness from the varnish.

make sure thats 0000 steel wool

cshude · #14 November 14th, 2006

A little string treatment like Fast Fret seems to help speed things up as well.

krissovo · #15 November 14th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justapicker

Take some steel wool or 2500 grit sandpaper and run it lightly along the LP's neck. It'll remove some of the tackiness from the varnish.

Sounds good but my neck is not varnished, I have the custom that is painted White can I still rub the neck down?