Acoustic Aches

lennon211 · Post by **lennon211** » Wed May 30, 2007 10:49 am

I just picked up one of my Gibson acoustics from the place where I store many of my instruments to play something different than the usual stuff I do, and I gotta say, my hand is hurting. I haven't touched an acoustic in probably 6 months, playing mostly Rics and Fenders with super-low actions and light strings. Now I'm contending with higher action, wider string spacing, and heavy strings. I guess this "exercise" will be added to my summer work-out regimen.

lyle_from_minneapolis · Wed May 30, 2007 12:30 pm

A little pain never hurt anyone!

Scastles · Post by **Scastles** » Wed May 30, 2007 2:31 pm

I have the reverse problem. I play my acoustic more than my electrics. Consequently, I put too much into it when I switch over to my Ricks. You don't have to strangle the strings. A lighter touch, at least for me, becomes an acquired effort.

winston · Post by **winston** » Wed May 30, 2007 4:20 pm

My Takamine is 37 years old. It is set up perfectly and plays just like one of my electrics. No pain to report here.

The bigger body though does take a bit of getting used to, especially if I have not played it for a long time.

jdogric12 · Post by **jdogric12** » Wed May 30, 2007 5:18 pm

Time to see the doctor man. Hopefully a good setup and string change (to a different gauge?) is all it needs.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Wed May 30, 2007 5:54 pm

A good setup goes a long way on an acoustic for playability. My daughter's Takamine is a very easy neck to play, even for my fat fingers. It plays like an easy electric.

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Wed May 30, 2007 6:04 pm

My old Yamaha FG-335 II is primo! Plays like an electric also. Even sounds great with two year old Guild phosphor bronze strings!

lennon211 · Post by **lennon211** » Thu May 31, 2007 3:03 am

Yeah, it's going in for a set up today. Something seemed really off the more that I played. Hopefully it'll be back in a week ready to go.

lennon211 · Post by **lennon211** » Thu May 31, 2007 7:55 am

Well, it got taken in to the luthier that I trust all of my stuff to. He said that there's some that he can do to remedy it, so hopefully I'll have it back soon and can start playing it, without the pain.

steverok · Post by **steverok** » Thu May 31, 2007 9:54 am

Don't lower the action too much. In my experience, lowering the action can cause a loss in tone. I own several Gibson acoustics, and tend to leave the action medium or higher.

lyle_from_minneapolis · Thu May 31, 2007 10:46 am

I was thinking the same thing as Steve just mentioned. I expect a little more effort when I play acoustic and like the option of strumming harder than I would on an electric without creating fret buzz. Acoustics with extremely low action always tend to buzz for me when I play a little harder, but that's never the case on a medium action Gibson or similar.

lennon211 · Post by **lennon211** » Thu May 31, 2007 12:34 pm

I'm going to. The luthier has been at one point a Gibson tech so he knows how to set them up well. I'm looking forward to getting it back as it's my main acoustic. I don't even take my other one out of the case because it's a special edition and such. It sounds amazing, but I wish sometimes that it wasn't signed so that I wouldn't feel so bad about playing it from time to time. Such is life, and it could always be worse. I could have no instrument.