Are there any electric guitars that can handle acoustic-style fingerpicking?

Question

I'm a folk fingerpicking style guitar player who uses a lot of alternate tunings. Recently, I've started to assemble a band, and I like the idea of getting a more electric sound (I currently use an acoustic/electric). I've got a Fender Tele that was nice when I was playing in rock bands, but it seriously cannot handle my lower tunings (I go as low as drop-C) when I fingerpick.

Are there any electric guitars (hollowbodies, maybe?) that might be suitable for my kind of playing?

Answer 1

If you haven't tried this already, try putting heavier strings on your electric, 10s or 11s if you can find them, it will probably mean adjusting your action and neck relief. As always get a proper guitar tech to do it if you aren't confident about doing it yourself. (if you break a truss rod, you're in trouble.)

Stevie Ray Vaughan, always tuned down a whole step and played super heavy strings, that's how he got that sound of his. You should be able to squeeze one step lower, out of your bottom string. You can also find strings in heavy bottoms, light tops, or buy a single heavy low string if that's all you drop. A tele should be able to handle it with proper strings and setup.

Answer 2

Don't listen to anyone who tells you to get an epiphone, don't do it! Secondly, I have played guitar in many styles for 7 years, and I don't think it really matters where you start. I started on the acoustic, then played traditional classical, and then got my first electric. But that is the traditional way to do things. If I were you, I would go that path, because it is full proof, if you stick at it you will succeed. If you try to play on the lighter strings of the electric first and then move to the acoustic's strings, which are much thicker, you may have some problems. Acoustic guitar gives you a good base for the rest of the music world. But, I was you once, and desperately wanted an electric. You seem to have a handle on music in general. A good model to start with would be a schecter or an ibanez. If you are looking a little pricier, go Fender American Strat. Good luck!

Answer 3

When you use dropC you really need to use a heavier gauge strings. They sell specific string sets for it dropD and dropC. The dropD just has a heavier low (E), and the dropC all the strings would be heavier. That will maintain the proper neck relief on your guitar. When you detune your regular strings, it takes off string pressure (obviously), making the trussrod pull the neck back too far, losing playability.

If you want to use several alternate tunings, you should have several guitars set up and tuned alternately. Then your not constantly wreaking havoc on your guitars neck!

I'm sure you could get your Tele to play in dropC. It would most definately take a heavier gauge and probably also loosening your truss a bit. Also, if your tele has the staggered pole peices in vintage style pickups it's supposed to have heavier B and E strings, anyway. Check this: http://www.excellentleads.com/vintage.html

Rock on!

Answer 4

First of all, fingerpicking requires a little bit of resistance to pull back from. Most modern electric guitars are set up so that the strings are as low as possible, and the strings themselves are the lightest tension most players can get away with. This is more a question of proper setup than what brand of guitar you are playing on. You can get a telecaster setup for fingerpicking, just as easily as you can get a Gibson, Martin, or Chet Atkins Style. I would recommend talking to a luthier (maker and repairer of stringed instruments) about this unless you have already got some experience with guitar setup.

You are going to want to move the strings a little higher on the fretboard / fingerboard, and you are going to want to replace the strings you have with some medium tension (or even high tension) strings. The higher action is going to give you some room to dig in, as well as facilitating the harmonics. The heavier strings are going to give you something to dig in against, they will not go out of tune as easily, and you may discover a more robust sound. The heavier strings will also allow you more flexibility in tuning on the bass side. Here's the dilemma however. If you actually want to go higher on the top side, you aren't going to want to change that top string much. If you are mostly using drop string tunings, (drop d, drop g, drop c, etc.) this will not be an issue. You can use a 10 - 12mm string on top. This is also wonderful because you are going to be changing strings because they are old and worn out, not because you popped it on a bend.

If you insist on buying a separate guitar, look at the Gibson SG, or SG copies (Epiphone is a pretty good copy and uses most of Gibson's deigns, since they bought out Epiphone. You're not going to get the same quality, but it isn't going to cost you a thousand dollars to experiment with this either) the SG has a nice wide neck, which gives your left hand a little breathing room if you need it. Most of them are relatively easy to set up, which should make your luthier happy. Anything you get is probably going to have to be modified, since the factory is going to be cranking them out for the rockers.

A hollow body sometimes has an adjustable bridge and saddle (as do some of the higher end solid body guitars) but you are going to have more feedback challenges. The natural sound that comes out of the guitar, mixed with what you get from the pickups, is nice to play with. If you get too close to that vocal mike or your amplifier however, it's gonna howl. Since the hollow body is set up for Jazzers however, it's going to be a little closer to what you're looking for without any modifications. Sometimes you can get just what you want with only a few minor twists of a jewelers screwdriver or hex wrench.

If you are into alternate voicings, check out David Wilcox. There are two guitar players with the same name. One is a blues singer in Canada, and the other is a spiritual (without being preachy) fingerstyle player, formally out of East Ashville, now living on the road with his wife and kid. I especially like the almost Boogie Woogie style song in Drop C, "Block Dog." Both artists are good by the way, didn't mean to disparage our neighbor from the Great White North, but the David Wilcox who plays "Someday Soon" and "That's What the Lonely Is For" (and Boob Job - got to check out that folk rap) is the one I am talking about.

I am currently playing around with a five string (C-G-D-A-E) and am getting some interesting open voicings with that. If it works out, I am going to have one custom built (I would almost have to, right?) which is the third possibility I was going to bring up, and somewhat more affordable than you might think, depending on the luthier you contact. Anyway, it was great visiting with you, and I hope this helps.

Answer 5

okay, I'm gonna give you some advice i can't answer your question, but maybe i can help. Korn plays and Ibanez K7. They use a lot of crazy tunings.......but it's a seven string. Yamaha makes a Wes Borland Signature series. He uses many low and open tunings. Outside of these, i would sugest you go to your local shop and ask around. Even grab some guitars off the wall and drop'em to a C, what's it gonna hurt.

Answer 6

I seldom perform in drop tunings on my electric, a Nashville 6120 double cutaway hollow body Chet Atkins' signature model, but the guitar serves well in fingerpicking style. It's a 1964 model, purchased a year later.

Answer 7

Check out the Taylor T5. I've played on one of these things and they are amazing because they'll do "acoustic" or "electric" and they play like a really nice acoustic guitar.

Answer 8

Try Godin Guitars. They really are fine guitars that take electric playability and cross it with acoustic sound.

Also, you could try the Taylor T5. Expensive but beautiful!!