String action

[shawn]

When I tap now, it all sounds very messy.
I read the strings should be low (mine aren't). How do I change the action of the strings on electric guitar?

I've an ibanez guitar with a flying bridge, can I tap on this?
I also have a fender (squier), is it possible to tap on this?

[BrendaEM]

I would think that you could tap on either, as long as you can get the action low enough.

[I am currently tapping/touch on a Mexican Robert Cray Stratocaster.]

I am not sure what you mean by flying bridge, but often knife edged tremolos have two allen screws on either side that can raise or lower all the strings. There may also be little allen/hex screws on the saddles, the things that the string sit on at the bridge.

The Stratocaster will probably have adjustable saddles. Please use the correct-sized hex/alen wrench to avoid stripping the screws. If you raise anythin, you should losen the strings a little, make your adjustment, and retune.

There may be information on your Ibanez on their website about adjustment.

You may have to have the neck truss-rod adjusted for goo relief. If you are unfamiliar with this adjustment, it's better to have it done at a guitar shop because a little adjustment makes big changes, and big adjustments can sometimes break the truss rods. A guitar shop could also adjust the bridge and saddles, and check the intonation. This is usually done with new(ish) strings.

You might want to check the string height at the nut, because my Strat, as delivered, had the strings quite high at the nut, which made it hard to play, and even more difficult to tap on.

A dampener such as the black foam shelf-liner Tracktor recommended dampens out the ghost notes that occur between your frett/stopped note and the nut.

I found very light high strings .009s difficult to tap on guitar. I use thicker strings on the unwound strings so they are heavier.

Also, accurate fingering and pressure will help the sound over time and practice.

[shawn]

Where can I get the black foam shelf-liner Tracktor ?
Is there any other damper that will do good aswell?

[Glenn Drakeley]

Shawn,

If you're not too concerned with the color I have about three square feet of lovely Lavender shelf liner left and would be willing to send you enough to use on your instrument. Works well and looks like doggy-doo.................... Email me back your shipping address if you're interested and i'll off you a piece.

Glenn

[traktor]

Originally posted by shawn
Where can I get the black foam shelf-liner Tracktor ?
Is there any other damper that will do good aswell? Go to Ace Hardware or OSH (orchard supply hardware). Go to the kitchen-wares section. Look for 'shelf liner'. It's along strip about a foot wide and rolled up into a cylinder. Commonest colors are black and cream, but also blue and purple. (Glenn is right about the colored stuff not looking so swell on an instrument!)

Cut a strip all the way across, wide enough to go from fret zero (or the nut) up to about 1/4" of fret one. Lay the strip beneath all the strings first, and then run it back to the initial side, going over and under each string. Deadens real well.

Alternatives? Some years ago, Emmett used to use the fuzzy side of a velcro band. (Velcro comes in large and small hook sizes. You want the smaller size, where one side feels 'soft.')

I wouldn't be surprised if a strip of very soft felt, very soft leather, or a strip cut from a chamois leather (used to clean the windshield of your car) might work OK.

But the shelf stuff works the best of anything I've found.