Sonic_Blue
Joined: Feb 22, 2019
Posts: 190
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Posted on Sep 27 2021 07:43 PM
I started playing with 13s on a Jazzmaster about 3 years ago. I used to play bass so I actually like 13s. However, my guitar teacher says I should go smaller if I want to do bends. Is it possible to do bends with 13s? I have pretty big hands. I feel like I can do them okay. The other thing is my teacher says to use two fingers and push up when bending but I tend to pull down. I am not trying to be difficult, but I was just curious as to what you guys think. Thanks.
Last edited: Sep 27, 2021 19:46:00
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DannySnyder
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11011
Berkeley, CA
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Posted on Sep 27 2021 08:19 PM
Radius of the neck has a lot to do with the how well you can bend a note. Also flats don't bend as well as rounds, though that's only on the bottom 4 strings obviously.
— Danny Snyder
Latest project - Now That's What I Call SURF
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"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo
I'm back playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta
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synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4129
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Sep 27 2021 11:18 PM
Sonic_Blue wrote:
I started playing with 13s on a Jazzmaster about 3 years ago. I used to play bass so I actually like 13s. However, my guitar teacher says I should go smaller if I want to do bends. Is it possible to do bends with 13s? I have pretty big hands. I feel like I can do them okay. The other thing is my teacher says to use two fingers and push up when bending but I tend to pull down. I am not trying to be difficult, but I was just curious as to what you guys think. Thanks.
Stevie Ray Vaughan used 13s, albeit tuned down a half-step. I would advise being cautious. Bending puts strain on your hands and the thicker the string, the greater the stress. In most cases, I push the string and if it’s a fourth-finger bend, I reinforce it with my third finger. On rare occasion, I have used my second finger to help my third finger. Only rarely do I pull strings to band them, but it is viable.
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
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LittleKahunaCraig
Joined: Jan 09, 2008
Posts: 369
Orange County, CA
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Posted on Oct 01 2021 09:51 AM
Do you have a Strat you can put rounds on? Maybe 10’s? That will feel very slinky compared to your JM 13’s and give you a sonic change as you switch from one guitar to another during your set as the various songs require.
— Craig Skelly
Little Kahuna
www.littlekahunamusic.com
The Breakaways
The Curl Riders
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Sonic_Blue
Joined: Feb 22, 2019
Posts: 190
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Posted on Oct 01 2021 11:16 AM
I do not. I just have my 2 parts Jazzmasters set up with 13s, rounds.
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simoncoil
Joined: Sep 28, 2012
Posts: 897
Berlin, Germany
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Posted on Oct 01 2021 12:49 PM
Did your teacher ever play with your guitar the way it is set up now? I have a Strat and a Jazzmaster, both of which I use with the same strings at the moment (roundwound 10s), but on the Jazzmaster they feel much lighter. This is the result of the construction of the JM bridge/vibrato with its shallow break angle and additional string lenght behind the bridge. Strengthwise bendings are almost too easy on the JM, but there seems to be less pitch change in relation to the width of the bend, which makes large bends difficult, because you can only go so far on the fret board.
But then again, I don't need large bends tonplay surf music...
— Los Apollos - cinematic surf music trio (Berlin)
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