Acoustic Modifications

[evan]

What can I do to my acoustic to make it more comfortable to play? On some acoustics it feels like the strings are really tight and you can hardly bend em or anything, and it kills your fingers. I'm thinking maybe I could get a new neck, or bridge? but what should I look for? thanks

[Panopticon]

why not just get new lighter guage strings?

[Sammy_L_D]

Get stronger, and stop trying to play it like an electric.

[fajitaben2]

Get stronger, and stop trying to play it like an electric.

He's actually mostly right. And try the lighter gauge strings I guess but that's kind of gay.

[evan]

I actually have light strings, and it has nothing to do with how I'm trying to play it, or strength. Some acoustics are just nicer on the fingers than others, I'm asking if anyone here knows exactly why.

[modderdan]

On many guitars it is possible to lower the action a bit with the truss rod while minimally affecting the string vibration. If your guitar is cheap, the nut slots may be slightly higher than is ideal, but shaving your nut is not a good DIY project unless you have experience. If your guitar is a really, really nice guitar that you want to sink some major money into, jumbo (or even thicker) frets make things a little easier on your fingers. You could have a new fretboard with a rounder radius installed, but that is quite expensive.

And I'm wondering why you want to bend on an acoustic. I agree with Sammy_L_D, though, "Get stronger."

[Son of Magni]

...shaving your nut is not a good DIY project unless you have experience...

best to have a friend help you with this :p

[Nick]

:eek:

anyway I buffed the neck on my archtop to satin with 0000 steel wool

I recommend it but don't take to much finish off that could cause trouble