software

My rhythm guitarist has a '97 Mexican Strat with 10-52s on it and for the string size its VERY easy to play. I usually play 9-42 sets and I have smallish hands.

But when I string up MY guitar, a '95 MIM strat, with 10-52 sets of the same brand it's stiff as a board and really uncomfortable to play.

By the way, I've set up BOTH guitars and the other guy liked the way I had my action set so I set the '97 up as if it were my guitar. The only thing that's not stock on my '95 is the tuners and the pickups, the 97 is totally stock. Both guitars have dunlop 6105 frets that are about the same age. Neither of us use very low action. He likes his a bit higher than mine but I'm about medium-level action.

Are there factors other than neck relief, saddle height, etc in guitar setups and such that will make heavier strings play easier? Or do certain specific instruments just play better with certain strings?

hmm...

by stiff, do you mean hard to bend/hold strings down?

I had good results in my schecter by replacing the nut with graphite. That loosened her up a bit Used to be hard as hell to bend even light strings, isn't now. so I use heavies (the non-resonant body needs it)

slade


Originally Posted by danglybangerhmm...

by stiff, do you mean hard to bend/hold strings down?

Yes. That and it's like the strings just flat out dont want to move. His Strat takes 10s and they felt like what I've always thought 10s should feel like. My Strat takes 10s and they feel like 11s.

Oh yeah both nuts are bone with Graphitall nut lube in there.