Flexing the neck for vibrato...

[Davo17]

I dont know much about bending the neck for vibrato. I see people trying it when out and around, few get a musical result-I asked a girl the other night at the bar we went to what she thought the guitarist was doing there....she thought it was part of the performance in response to the singers lyrics. Hmm.

Id like to give the technique a try, to see if its something usable. The stuff
I play/write generally has little need for deep vibrato, but there are a few songs where it could be a tasteful addition, without needing a trem guitar. I tried this on my Baja today, and it was very difficult. Its easier on my thinner necked strat, but I dont need to use this with my strat.

Anybody have any tips or tricks for this technique? Whats the technique actually called? I am doing some reading on it right now, but thought Id ask other guitarists first if this is a usable option.

[IPLAYLOUD]

It's called "2 seconds from hearing SNAP!!!".

I cringe...

[Mur]

I won't pull on the neck, but instead, place a finger behind the nut and gently raise the string pitch on one string. It actually works, and sounds like more is going on than actually is.

[mjbk24]

Buy a classic vibe tele, I can do it to mine without trying... but I like it.

[psyched]

Big bends, goodness no... if you want to do those, get a trem instead of putting all sorts of pressure on the neck bolts that are already handling a decent amount of tension from the strings. Can a Tele handle it? Yeah, but that doesn't mean it should...

Now if you're talking about the slight shaking kind of neck vibrato, look up Ted Greene on YouTube and see how he does it. It's kind of hard to explain, but it does become sort of reflexive to do... it has it's own sound when done right, and done with a clean channel, I think it adds a lot.

[cnote]

Do a little wiggle with the neck lots. Gives a nice kind of chorus effect to chords. Been doin it for years on bunches of guitars and never had a problem. Check Jim Campilongo, he's all over the neck bend thing. Saw Adrian Belew do it so hard to a strat once the strings almost went slack.

It's easier to do sittin down and push against your leg and ribs alternatively for a little wiggle. Just don't go tryin to rip the neck off and it shouldn't be an issue.

[telex76]

It scares me, but I know many players who always do this with their teles and say they have never hurt the neck.

[Davo17]

Heres the technique in question, at 0:31 seconds in.


Is this dangerous in any way to the guitar? I thought these electrics could take quite a bit of tension.

Im thinking that while the teles bridge pup would be great for catching those harmonics, that the strats longer upper horn would facilitate more leverage on the neck. My baja has a heavy neck, so maybe this is better done on a thin necked guitar?

[Davo17]

Originally Posted by cnote

Do a little wiggle with the neck lots. Gives a nice kind of chorus effect to chords. Been doin it for years on bunches of guitars and never had a problem. Check Jim Campilongo, he's all over the neck bend thing. Saw Adrian Belew do it so hard to a strat once the strings almost went slack.

It's easier to do sittin down and push against your leg and ribs alternatively for a little wiggle. Just don't go tryin to rip the neck off and it shouldn't be an issue.

I will look him up. If I use it for recording (or loops) I wont at all have an issue sitting or putting my leg up.

[Telemach_1]

Oh, man. I think this is not a nice way to treat your guitar. I personally absolutely dislike it and even watching people doing it makes me sick.
An other thing that gets me mad is the way how some players rest ther forearm on the neck.

[Davo17]

Originally Posted by telex76

It scares me, but I know many players who always do this with their teles and say they have never hurt the neck.

Was anything else hurt?

[Davo17]

Originally Posted by Telemach_1

Oh, man. I think this is not a nice way to treat your guitar. I personally absolutely dislike it and even watching people doing it makes me sick.
An other thing that gets me mad is the way how some players rest ther forearm on the neck.

I agree it doesnt look nice, but if it does no harm I would be open to it. Are there cases of necks or bodies snapping because of this?

[qwerty95]

I do it, I push or pull the base of the headstock. Never had any problems except going out of tune after a couple songs. My friend did it on his Les Paul once, snapped the headstock off.

[xtrajerry]

It's not just the thickness of the neck that effects the ease that this can be done.. I have a strat with a fairly thin neck but it's quater sawn maple and very stiff.. I need to really lean into to get that effect.. my other strat with much thicker neck but flat sawn bends with almost no extra effort..

[Telemach_1]

Originally Posted by Davo17

I agree it doesnt look nice, but if it does no harm I would be open to it. Are there cases of necks or bodies snapping because of this?

It depends on how strong you have to bend and what guitar you have. I'm an old fashioned fart whose Fender guitars sometimes have been a real desaster when it came to neck fit and alignment. In the seventies there was no perfect MIM produced Fender guitars, but often enough sloppy built U.S. planks. Then there was this terrible 3 bolt neck era,...allright you're right, I'm traumatized.

[Bartholomew3]

Seems like a useless technique for most styles of music.

And in any event would only be good in a couple of tunes each night or may be approaching "wankerdom".

Just my 2 cents. I would put my time into something more musical...but that's just me.

[Davo17]

Originally Posted by Bartholomew3

Seems like a useless technique for most styles of music.

And in any event would only be good in a couple of tunes each night or may be approaching "wankerdom".

Just my 2 cents. I would put my time into something more musical...but that's just me.

What would you suggest?

I would use this mostly for my own songs, some of which are clean/ambient/looped. Getting another vibrato tone without needed to switch guitars when looping seems kind of cool.

[w3stie]

Chuck Prophet uses the technique briefly in this clip around 4:50, but the clip is worth watching anyway; it's a masterclass.

[e-merlin]

Originally Posted by IPLAYLOUD

It's called "2 seconds from hearing SNAP!!!".

I cringe...

You've never seen Brian Hofeldt, have you? From the Derailers? Great stuff.

I've been doing that while playing Sweet Home Alabama on my #1 Tele for years.

[Davo17]

Originally Posted by w3stie

Chuck Prophet uses the technique briefly in this clip around 4:50, but the clip is worth watching anyway; it's a masterclass.

Thats a great clip, I dig that vibrato, plus I can actually hear it. :)