There is a secret to playing the mini strat. I found out the hard way. I bought one for my grandson at GC. I took it home, put a new set up and strings on it. Then I tried to set up the intonation. I work on it for three hours on the day I bought it and about 2 hours the day after. When playing cords it sounded terrible. I could never get the harmonics to be equal.
So I decided to take it back for another one. MY luck …. the rest of the mini’s where sold. So I asked for the store manager. He asked me what I did, so I explained. So he said let’s give it a spin. He plugs the guitar in and plays oldies, heavy metal and some country licks. I was stunned!
I ask him what did he do so sound so good. Then he explains that the mini strats are made for kids. They have extra large frets. Kids cannot apply the pressure that adults do. Therefore when an adults plays a mini strat they apply too much pressure stretching the sting causing it to go sharp.
So I grab the guitar and strum a “C” chord. It sounded absolutely … so out of tune. Then I put less pressure on the strings. I strummed the “C” chord again and it was right on.
So now you know the secret of adults playing a mini strat (or a mini whatever).
As far as instructing the young kids, I show my grandson two chords. I noticed after 10 minutes they cannot hold the concentration and want to move on. So we just move to strumming the new chords to a CD in the key of the chords shown.
From what my daughter told me, he goes home and plays for hours. This kid will surpass me with in the next 18 months.
Guitars:
Electric: Washburn HB-30, Squier Tele Custom Deluxe, Jay Turser Strat.
Acoustic: Seagull S6.
AMPs: VOX AD30VT, Peavey Envoy 110.
Modelers: V-AMP 2, Digitech RP-100A.
Pedals: Boss RC-2 Loop Station, Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble, Digitech Bad Monkey, Ibanez DE7 Delay/Echo, DOD VFX40B 7-Band Graphic EQ, Ibanez CS-5 Super Chorus.
Reverend Rawk
Originally Posted by marnold
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