adorshki
Reverential Member
Yes he is.
Bracing
- Thread starter Opsimath
- Start date
adorshki
Reverential Member
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Thanks, Charlie, written perfectly backwards. A better way to describe it is to say the wound strings are under more tension than the plain unwound strings. The point is, they put an asymmetrical load on the top.
Some believe that load must be compensated for, and that is an explanation as to the purpose of the asymmetrical bracing. Others say asymmetrical bracing is not as necessary structurally as it is tonally. The thinking there is based on the fact that, left totally unbraced, a top is really boomy. Those fat strings cause too much movement in the top. Luthiers have experimented for ages with the placement of those tone bars.
I have a double X pattern that is perfectly symmetrical, and it works very nicely. This pattern would be great for switching out for lefty / right players. You would need only alter the nut and saddle.
Opsimath
Senior Member
Well this is kinda interesting:
Total set tension is over 250 pounds?! Great day!
Not sure why the high E has more tension than the low E while the other sets are the other way around, but I'll never figure it out. I'm still in shock over the total tension!
Opsimath
Senior Member
Thanks, Charlie, written perfectly backwards. A better way to describe it is to say the wound strings are under more tension than the plain unwound strings. The point is, they put an asymmetrical load on the top.
Some believe that load must be compensated for, and that is an explanation as to the purpose of the asymmetrical bracing. Others say asymmetrical bracing is not as necessary structurally as it is tonally. The thinking there is based on the fact that, left totally unbraced, a top is really boomy. Those fat strings cause too much movement in the top. Luthiers have experimented for ages with the placement of those tone bars.
I have a double X pattern that is perfectly symmetrical, and it works very nicely. This pattern would be great for switching out for lefty / right players. You would need only alter the nut and saddle.
The soundhole is good with this bracing? No need for further reinforcement?
Opsimath
Senior Member
Ah, I see. I was wondering if the braces in the first photo were close enough to provide adequate support.
It is really fascinating that you know all those guitar-building details. How long did it take you to get a working understanding of it all?
When I started guitar lessons I actually wanted to get an acoustic guitar kit and build my own. Our teacher said it probably would not be a good idea and I'm glad I didn't. I likely would have really made a mess since at that point I didn't even know how to hold a guitar, much less build one.
The knowledge you guys have and what you can do with it is very impressive! Thank you for sharing what you know and your photos. Now I understand just a tad better, and I appreciate your contributions.
It is really fascinating that you know all those guitar-building details. How long did it take you to get a working understanding of it all?
When I started guitar lessons I actually wanted to get an acoustic guitar kit and build my own. Our teacher said it probably would not be a good idea and I'm glad I didn't. I likely would have really made a mess since at that point I didn't even know how to hold a guitar, much less build one.
The knowledge you guys have and what you can do with it is very impressive! Thank you for sharing what you know and your photos. Now I understand just a tad better, and I appreciate your contributions.
fronobulax
Bassist, GAD and the Hot Mess Mods
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To veer, I seem to recall some marketing blurb from Fender that accompanied a factory built, Hendrix inspired Strat. Conceptually it was a factory Strat, flipped, restrung and with tweaks to the nut and maybe the PU height. What was most interesting was the commentary related to restringing. The high E string was now the shortest string and the low E the longest. This changed some of the overtones and sustain characteristics, compared to a RH Strat. They also chose to adjust the truss rod differently. Point being the six on a side tuner arrangement effected the RH vs. flipped RH much more than I would have imagined.
bluesypicky
Enlightened Member
...and veer further since Hendrix popped up in bracing, did y'all know that Clapton had bought a lefty Strat, as a gift for Jimi, during his 1970 London visit?
Sadly, he was never able to give him the present, and I doubt Jimi would have adopted it (publicly anyway), as his "lefty playing a righty" image had become one of his trademarks.
I think all these years I've just been happy to know he owned a Guild.
I thought there was a photo of Jimi playing a Starfire IV? Somebody post it, please!
walrus
adorshki
Reverential Member
I never came across that in any of the bio material I've read.
I think the real issue was that lefty Strats were rare then, period, and he liked their sound for the versatility and feedback resistance, until he wanted it.
And he spent a lot of time in music stores trying out different stuff and spent a lot of money on gear we've never seen. But finding lefty Strats to buy off the shelf was probably difficult. Thinking about the pickup positioning, I wonder if they even made 'em in '66-'68?
What I get is that his real attitude was if he liked the sound he'd play it, period.
Example: he had both lefty and righty Flying V's.
Here's his psychedelic painted "righty":
And I have to post the link for this one as I don't think "encrypted" pics will display here:
https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR-pzjWnYpSfaD727oSVtOzG8iToGdANIaz9viuH9ZUbnM9
ID's as a "Black Widow"
He also had at least 2 SGs:
I know he idolized Jeff Beck for his groundbreaking sounds with the Yardbirds (their gadget guy Roger Mayer became his equipment/set-up tech), this might have inspired him to use a Les Paul occasionally:
I never realized he actually jammed with the Jeff Beck Group in '68, posting link because photobucket don't seem to want to play today, but another Les Paul action shot:
http://s1236.photobucket.com/user/Mountainjam333/media/img001.jpg.html
(patience Walrus, I'm still working on your request :friendly_wink: )
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bluesypicky
Enlightened Member
Then you haven't read Clapton's bio.
adorshki
Reverential Member
That photo has been the subject of discussion on the Crosstown Torrents site, supposedly taken at a jam at the Wreck Bar and Grill in Florida in '68.
At least a couple of folks assert it's a Starfire, but I don't think its actually his..
I think we've seen another earlier pic(s?) from his stint with James Brown and/or the Isley Bros...
Aha! I think it's this one, posted by Hans a while back, of him with King Curtis but his face is obscured by the headstock of the Starfire being played by Cornell Dupree :
Oh, and his F212 was a lefty:
:friendly_wink:
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adorshki
Reverential Member
You're right, but that's not Hendrix bio it's Clapton bio.Then you haven't read Clapton's bio.
To me it still sounds like speculation contradicted by photographic evidence, here's another example:
For him, the image was about the clothes and the act, not the gear, and he was already getting tired of the "wildman" image by late '68.
I just question Clapton's closeness to him to make that judgement accurately, I don't think he was anywhere near as close to Jimi as he was to George Harrison for example.
Their paths never crossed that much after Jimi's original London stint in '66-'67 either, as far as I know.
Although the search turned up this real interesting shot:
Winwood and Mayall, 2 known Clapton associates...don't recognize the other 2 guys right off the top...future Blind Faith personnel, or Traffic or Mayall alumni?
:friendly_wink:
EDIT:
Ahhh...guy on the left's Eric Burdon.
More interesting photos here:
http://www.voicesofeastanglia.com/2012/05/hanging-out-with-jimi-hendrix.html
Including one that might reveal the real reason Eric left the Yardbirds, too many garden parties:
:glee:
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bluesypicky
Enlightened Member
Not following.....?
Are you saying Clapton is making this up in his book, when he recounts stopping at a London store where they had a lefty strat, and bought it with the intention to gift it to Hendrix?
Ohhh... unles you are talking about my speculation as to whether or not Jimi would have used the damn thing?
In this case yes, it is total speculation, but although Jimi used some genuine lefties, I still contend that his most popular image (the one printed in everyone's brain) is that of him playing a righty Strat.....
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adorshki
Reverential Member
Ah, now I understand, didn't catch that it was your speculation, thought it was part of the bio.
Didn't doubt the story about Eric, just didn't think the speculation Jimi might not have played it in public was "valid", as explained above.
And sure his "iconic" image IS of the upside down Strat but I'm absolutely positive he wouldn't have let that get in the way of playing whatever he wanted whenever he wanted, that's all.
As a peace offering, would you like to see a pic of Jimi with Joan Baez?
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bluesypicky
Enlightened Member
That last pic is hilarious! Is that EC on the Tele?
adorshki
Reverential Member
Yes indeedy.
The true story behind that shot is in the link.
But just in case you've never heard the back story*, the real reason he left the Yardbirds was "For Your Love". He didn't want to play poop, er, pop music.
So he wound up with Mayall, opening the door for Jeff Beck to step in and create raga rock with "Heart Full of Soul", and proto heavy metal with "Shapes of Things".
*What am I saying? You're the guy who's read his bio.....:biggrin-new:
Winding back up to Hendrix, though, it was Jeff Beck that he begged Chaz Chandler to introduce him to when he got to London.
More "convoluted connections", though:
When Fleetwood and McVie were leaving the Bluesbreakers to form their own band, guess who the first person they asked to be their guitarist was?
One G. Beck, Esq.
At the time however, he was very happy with the first incarnation of the Jeff Beck Group.
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bluesypicky
Enlightened Member
Every time I see these 60's pics, I am terribly jealous of not being a bit older, and born in England! LMAO
Amazing times and journey for them.....
Amazing times and journey for them.....
DThomasC
Senior Member
I think the slanted bridge pickup must sound different strung backwards. I once borrowed a right handed tele that the owner had deliberately installed a left handed bridge plate to slant the pickup the 'wrong' way. I've never gotten along with tele pickups to begin with, so I can't really say if this one sounded different never mind better or worse, but it is an interesting idea that makes some sense to me. The factory angle puts the treble strings closer to the bridge for more twang I suppose, but putting them farther from the bridge than the bass strings might produce a more balanced sound. I don't think Hendrix ever sounded twangy.