Guitars that keep you honest

[Dan German]

Who else has one? I have a tendency to be ham-fisted, so longer scale necks, reasonable-sized frets, and nothing less than .10s keep my left hand in line, but no one guitar makes me face up to my death-grip and my tendency to pound when I should strum like my Takamine 12 string. Aside from the extra strings, it has the volume and sustain of a piano. Things get messy fast. I played it today for the first time in a while, and I think it’s time to make it my #1 for a while. My touch will be all the better for it when I switch back to my usuals.

 

[jays0n]

I wear the cowboy chord frets out way too fast and so recently started looking at why. I am pretty sure now that it is me the term “ham-fisted” was created for.

I put 8s on my Tele to learn to play lighter and that thing keeps me honest. Any ham-bone slapped on that neck pushes the strings all out of whack.

 

[tanplastic]

Who else has one? I have a tendency to be ham-fisted, so longer scale necks, reasonable-sized frets, and nothing less than .10s keep my left hand in line, but no one guitar makes me face up to my death-grip and my tendency to pound when I should strum like my Takamine 12 string. Aside from the extra strings, it has the volume and sustain of a piano. Things get messy fast. I played it today for the first time in a while, and I think it’s time to make it my #1 for a while. My touch will be all the better for it when I switch back to my usuals.

You'll have a fretting arm like Popeye's.
Since recently revisiting my love for acoustics, my electric sound has improved I think.
Make a racket!

 

[Gardo]

When I play acoustic I soon find out where I’m becoming sloppy.

 

[Jupiter]

I’m pretty sure none of my guitars make me sound better than I am so I guess that’s good?

 

[Resojazznblues]

My steel tricone and slide playing helps to keep my playing honest. Great for teaching the art of dynamics also.

 

[johnnylaw]

Mostly the ones I can hear.

 

[_MementoMori_]

My Mule steel tricone and slide playing helps to keep my playing honest. Great for teaching the art of dynamics also.

Those Mules are junk. I'll buy it off you for $300.

 

[Lonn]

Every guitar I play tells the truth, and the truth is I can’t play.

 

[Dan German]

Every guitar I play tells the truth, and the truth is I can’t play.

Same here. The truth hurts. It hurts bad.

 

[JL_LI]

I play clean at pretty low volume. I hate the way I sound loud on the gain channels. I hear every mistake I make.

 

[AngelStrummer]

Ham-fisted is good because tone is in the underpants.

 

[Basco]

My tele with a clean tone. If I can't make the most basic setting sound good no amount of gain or pedals is going to help.

 

[jaxjaxon]

If you want one that will force you to play better and with a light touch get one with a scalloped fret board or use super jumbo frets. I am a little Ham handed so I like smaller vintage type frets, I like to feel the fret board under my fingers.

 

[tanplastic]

This is the most 'revealing' guitar I own, and I have a Gatton Telecaster with the original Bardens.
Notes are really dry and present, every miffed note and hesitation is amplified, playing with authority is rewarded with solid fundamental tone.

 

[Sparky2]

My beat up Tele keeps me honest.

No bells, no whistles.

Just a great neck and sincere tone.

 

[Festofish]

I too prefer a 25.5” scale neck. I can get the articulation with my hammer fist as well. Sometimes I’ll notice how tightly I’m grabbing the neck. I’ve worked on it a lot but still tend to go sharp on a 24.75 scale. My Tacoma sounds beautiful but doesn’t hide much.

 

[PARCO]

My Strat and my Les Paul are easier to play and sound great. My Tele is harder to play but rewards my extra efforts.

 

[Ebidis]

This one. Nothing to hide behind at all.

 

[drmordo]

i don't want my guitars to keep me honest. I want them to encourage me to cheat at every opportunity.