noob question: bending problem

dudelove

dudelove

New member
okay. i am not a noob. but this question is noobish. really sorry.

okay heres the scenario:
i just got my fender strat strung up with .10s and was just set up by a professional.
.10s is my normal gauge and this guitar i just got from a trade came with .09s which i didnt like so i sent if for a set up.

now the guitar is back, everything looks good. but one problem: the 1st string (e string) is SO DAMN HARD TO BEND. the amount of effort needed for me to do a full bend on my other guitar also strung up with .10s can even get me to a half bend on the strat.

i need to use so much strength to get a full bend(sort of). and doing that while playing is wel, impossible because it will slip from my fingers if i bend it so hard. it baffles me. because, the G and B strings are alright, but still a little hard to bend.

well, sigh. the problem definitely doesnt lie with me i'm sure. i might not have the strongest of fingers but i assure u that string is REALLY hard to bend. have u guys any.. any idea on what on earth is the problem?

thanks in advance
 
maybe ur strings not soft enough? cos i believe u have the string to bend it since u are used to .10s...maybe cos the strings too thin n it kinda cuts into ur fingers...maybe wanna try other strings? it should work i hope for the best
 
Use multiple fingers to bend?
Actually there was once when Ebenex just got this Greco LP and restrung it..
The strings were HELL hard to bend.. Was wondering what the hell gauge is it..
If it was gauge 10 as well (which I am accustomed to anyways), maybe your guitar and this Greco faces the same problem..
What it is I am not sure.. If it is some hardware thingy, maybe try restringing that guitar and another with the same brand+gauge strings, and see if the tension is roughly around the same..
Maybe the strat is set up for .09s.. As in the truss rod and stuff.. Cause even setting up "professionally" they won't truly spend time on setting the truss rod properly and everything.. To do a TRUE set-up will take weeks.. Adjusting the truss rod and waiting for the effects to settle, repeating this until the guitar is finally perfect..
 
its really not the my finger no strength problem. 10s are what i use always on my other guitars i had and i have no problems what so ever.

the thing i'm wondering is, those are freaking 10s man... what the hell is wrong with them using all ur strength to do just a full bend with 10s is not normal.

i'm just wondering what the hell happened to the guitar. it feels like he strung the B string unto the e string or something but i used a vernier caliper and yes those are freaking .10s

i'm baffled. seriously
 
i also had the problem when trying my friend's .10....i feel that you just need some accustoming to it. I feel it's natural that a thicker string gauge will have more tension and hence get more difficult to bend. But in the end, by practising more, you can also strengthen your fingers, isn't that good?

Using thin string gauges also have their own disadvantages. I experience pain when i play on my .09 if i nv touch for a long time, cos smaller surface area results in more pressure acting on your fingers when you fret them or when you do a lot of tapping and sliding. Chords-wise, shouldn't be a problem.

Hope this helps....haven't been playing long also, so just share what i know.
 
dudelove said:
now the guitar is back, everything looks good. but one problem: the 1st string (e string) is SO DAMN HARD TO BEND. the amount of effort needed for me to do a full bend on my other guitar also strung up with .10s can even get me to a half bend on the strat.
Click to expand...

1. Your action for the E string might be a bit too low. Raise it a bit.
2. You might be on vintage frets as opposed to possibly medium jumbos in the past. This can affect bending grip.
3. You're set for a floating bridge? How many springs? Try adding more springs if you are only on 2 or 3.
 
Whitestrat said:
1. Your action for the E string might be a bit too low. Raise it a bit.
2. You might be on vintage frets as opposed to possibly medium jumbos in the past. This can affect bending grip.
3. You're set for a floating bridge? How many springs? Try adding more springs if you are only on 2 or 3.
Click to expand...

i set it for fixed bridge. there are 3 springs. i called up the guy who set up my guitar and he said to bring it back to him.

neither does he understand whats wrong
 
dudelove said:
i set it for fixed bridge. there are 3 springs. i called up the guy who set up my guitar and he said to bring it back to him.

neither does he understand whats wrong
Click to expand...

Then look at my first 2 points... It's about difference in hand leverage...
 
try changing strings. find out whether string's fault or guitar's fault.

my guitar came in .09(i think) but when i change to .10, it played well. i dont feel the need of a setup. it maybe .09 or .08 cause it's definitely thinner than the .10 i use now.
 
i'm taking it to the shop tmr. changing isnt an option cos the guitar is set up for 10s. i dont like the sound of 9s their too thin for me.

as for the action. it seems normal. i'll see tmr if thats the problem

my frets are medium jumbo.
 
Maybe your frets R too thin. U r fighting string tension & wood friction, altogether. Scallop your neck or get a taller frets.
 
dudelove said:
jumbos on an ibanez pgm

and a les paul. my les paul has been strung with 11s and no they have not been a problem when bending
Click to expand...

Les Pauls have a different scale length. Different thing altogether... Cannot use that as a basis.

Jumbos on a PGM and the strat is hard for you? It sound like it's not the fret height, nor the bridge, but much more the issue of your action on the E string itself. I think you're having a problem using too much strength gripping the string.
 
Whitestrat said:
Les Pauls have a different scale length. Different thing altogether... Cannot use that as a basis.

Jumbos on a PGM and the strat is hard for you? It sound like it's not the fret height, nor the bridge, but much more the issue of your action on the E string itself. I think you're having a problem using too much strength gripping the string.
Click to expand...

yes i believe so now.. yeah and another problem is that the string slips off my finger/s when i bend it. so achieving a full bend is really a mean mean task.

i called kelvin from guitar connection. he set up my guitar. he said try changing the e from 10s to 9.5 or 9
 
pay close attention to the strings whilst bending... is the action so low that when you bend the high-E upwards, you're actually bending the B (or even G) strings as well?

If yes, that'll explain the Extra load/effort.

My action is med-low now. I'll touch the other strings slightly when bending up, but not as "difficult" compared to super-low action.

Btw, seasoned strings will always feel looser, easier to bend :)

Good luck
 
Btw, my exp is that a 10-gauge on a 24.75 scale length (think Les Pauls) feels similar to 9-gauge on a 25.5 (Fender strat, Ibanez). Standard tuning, same brand, non-tremolo.

the 25.5 will feel snappier but it'll be as easy to bend compared to the Les Paul.

The stiffness of your trem (spring tension) will greatly affect bendability.
 
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