Guitar Query - Strings too hard on Fingers, What can i do? (Pics Inside)

OzZie

OzZie

OzZie

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Hi all,

My dad bought a guitar from his brother about 2 or 3 years ago but never had the time to play. I've been learning myself for the past 4 or so months, but ever since i played the guitar, i noticed that the strings are extremely high over the neck, especially when compared with my Squire, and it really hurts to play. I've gotten used to it a lot more now, but i still can't play for more than about 15 mins before i have to stop and take a rest. It's a good inch over the neck, maybe more.

Here are some pics i took, but you'll have to excuse the quality and angles because i couldn't seem to get them any better.

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Now ive looked in the manual for the guitar and it says moisture (sp?) and temperature can cause the string to rise, and that is quite possibly true because it was kept in the loft for a good couple of years (in the case though) and it says that i can get a lower bridge to lower the strings instead of getting a professional to file the current one down.

Now i got another bridge with the guitar, but whether it is any lower than the current one i dont know. :o

Also, would getting better strings help reduce the pressure on my fingers as well as lowering them closer to the frets?

Many thanks. :)
 
The height of the strings is called the action of the guitar :) You've got high action, this isn't necessarily bad, it just makes the guitar harder to play, sometimes it's necessary if you want to have a pure tone without any strings ringing on the frets whatsoever, anyway:

Is that an acoustic or classical? I can't really tell, are all of the strings metal or just the top 3 (thickest) and the bottom 3 are nylon?

I'm not as experienced with acoustic instruments as i'm an electric player mainly but you're right that temperature and atmopsheric moisture can play havoc with a guitar.

It will be worth taking it to a truthworthy guitar shop and seeing if they will set it up for you.*

By the way, your finger tips will be sore on any guitar you play during the early months regarldless of the action height, this will pass as you will eventually develop callouses or hard skin on your fingertips and the soreness will stop.

*There's a few things they will do to 'set-up' your guitar, these include neck bow which is adjusted with the truss-rod, neck bow is how much the neck curves away from you or back towards you (when you sit holding the guitar), your truss rod is a metal rod which runs down the inside of the wood of the guitar neck. Don't go hunting for this and tinkering with it as it should really be left to professionals and adjusted with caution.

String height is usually the culprit with high action as this ultimately affects how high the strings are off the fretboard, on an electric this is adjusted by screwing out (losening - rasing the height) or screwing (tightening - lowering the height) in the bridge posts (the 2 metal poles of which your guitar's bridge - where the strings go - rests). Anyway as I mentioned don't try adjusting the action yourself unless you do some research and feel comfortable, get a professional to do it as it shouldn't cost too much.
 
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Thanks for the reply :)

Yeah the guitar is an acoustic. I dont have a clue what type of strings they are, but i think they are the factory/default ones. The E and B strings certainly feel like you could slice your finger if you kept sliding up and down the neck thats for sure :o

My fingers had lots of dead and sour skin after a couple of weeks, and ive still got marks on my fingers now, but playing with a friends acoustic didnt seem to hurt my fingers at all, just like playing with my fender strat, so hopefully my fingertips can have a rest.

Thanks for the info anyway. My dad seems to fix everything himself so i might read the manual and see what he says. :)

Any more comments are also appreciated.
 
The strings could be one of a few guages though.

Best bet would be to take it to a shop and ask for a restringing and setup.

11s would probably be fine, 10s might be too light for an acoustic.

The setup would probably have the top nut re-cut, the bridge trimmed and truss rod adjusted to try and lower the action - frets might need some work as well.

Of course, that action would be great for slide guitar! :)
 
Le Samourai said:
11s would probably be fine, 10s might be too light for an acoustic.
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I use 10s on mine, sometimes 12s as well. Hasn't done it any harm so far (waits for it to snap as soon as I press 'Send'). :o
 
OzZie said:
Yeah the guitar is an acoustic.
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You won't stand a chance setting it up yourself.
Because of neglect over the last 30 years my Yamaha acoustic has had to be setup twice because the neck has bowed and the strings were half an inch from the neck.
Its now a choice of living with it, re-stringing with 10's to 52's and staying down the bottom end or seeing if its worth getting it setup.
 
OzZie said:
Found out the strings are metal yes. Is nylon easiler on the fingers?
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Not exactly, nylon strings will take longer to make your fingers sore whereas steel seem to rip them up right from the word go if you're a beginner.

Nylon strings have a completely different sound to steel strings, they both have their place and are most definately not for girlies ;)
 
My acoustic is on a high-ish action, and did cane a bit to play, but persevere, and when you get past the painful fingers you'll find that playing a lower action will be smooth as silk and there'll be less buzzing because your fingers will have been accustomed to playing a higher action.
 
Ah, that'll be why my hands dont hurt so much anymore :)

I removed the strings and sanded down the bridge a fair amount, and now the strings are a lot lower and it is certaintly a lot nicer to play. Guitar DIY at its best :D
 
Some proper classical guitar players such as Julian Bream will give you a real example of the versatility of nylon strings. In my opinion nylon strings and your finger tips are incredible tools at getting a range of tones, racks and effects are for girlies :p :D
 
Andelusion said:
Some proper classical guitar players such as Julian Bream will give you a real example of the versatility of nylon strings. In my opinion nylon strings and your finger tips are incredible tools at getting a range of tones, racks and effects are for girlies :p :D
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... and Paco de Lucia for some incredible flamenco playing. :)

You can also try different styles of steel strings for the acoustic e.g. flatwound (more mellow, jazz sound) and silk and steel strings.

Try www.highlystrung.co.uk to browse around for different makes.

Flatwound are meant for electric guitars but I still used them on my acoustic for a while.

Silk and steel might be your best option.

Or just play with the lower action and toughen up your fingers... try some 12-string for some more finger-torture! :)
 
Andelusion said:
Some proper classical guitar players such as Julian Bream will give you a real example of the versatility of nylon strings. In my opinion nylon strings and your finger tips are incredible tools at getting a range of tones, racks and effects are for girlies :p :D
Click to expand...


Ah yes, nylon strings. Covering all the tonal bases from "elastic band" to "early learning centre" ;)
 
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