[Musemaniac]

Honestly it sucks. The high end frets are impossible to play because it's simply not accessible. How do you guys manage ?...

[Will_Wood]

1 word with a hyphen: Cut-away

[spacecrumbs]

I have a cutaway on one of mine and the other I normally just play with it flat to my lap when I want to reach up past around the 12th fret. Why do you have to go that high anyway, no sustain up there on an acoustic so it's kinda pointless I would think.

[Will_Wood]

I have a cutaway on one of mine and the other I normally just play with it flat to my lap when I want to reach up past around the 12th fret. Why do you have to go that high anyway, no sustain up there on an acoustic so it's kinda pointless I would think.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

yep.

just put everything an octave lower, or put it in a different key. it seems simple to me...

[dogpoo]

you could always do it classical style: with much pain and effort. i can go up to the 15th fret on my classical without much difficulty now, back when i first started my fingers felt like they'd been distorted to the point of falling off.

[narad1986]

You get used to it...and you learn how to make it sound good

Although , my next guitar will be a steel string with cutaway.....

[deamhain]

I find anything on the E, A or D a bit difficult much beyond the 17th fret (well, nigh on impossible in fact!) I can get those notes elsewhere but I'm never, or at least hardly ever, up there anyway.

I'm interested to hear what sort of stuff you're playing though. Are you trying to play some screaming electric stuff on your acoustic? If you are, don't it won't work! What will work and sound good though is to take some of the advice earlier and modify what you're playing to suit. Drop it down an octave, just change the bit that needs changing..muck around with it etc.

Of course, you may be playing some real fiddly acoustic or classical pieces, in which case good luck to you! I'd still like to hear what they are though.

[billy16]

I don't use my higher frets very often. The cutoff is about 12. I'd get a cutaway, but I really don't like the way those look.

[narad1986]

Tip ; If you go that high on acoustic , try to fret the note with the edge of your nail.... sounds clearer .

[diebrucke]

I don't use my higher frets very often.    The cutoff is about 12.      I'd get a cutaway, but I really don't like the way those look.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I know what you mean - I have a Maton cutaway, but it frightens me to have to look at something so non symetrical. Did I mention I have a phobia about non-symetrical things?
All kidding aside if you use a cutaway and it has a really good action, it can't be beat. It's easier, not harder, to play high up on the neck if you think about it. All the frets are right under your nose so to speak, and less energy is used playing these notes because your arm is not stretched out. Am I making sense?

[deamhain]

I don't use my higher frets very often.    The cutoff is about 12.      I'd get a cutaway, but I really don't like the way those look.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I know what you mean - I have a Maton cutaway, but it frightens me to have to look at something so non symetrical. Did I mention I have a phobia about non-symetrical things?
All kidding aside if you use a cutaway and it has a really good action, it can't be beat. It's easier, not harder, to play high up on the neck if you think about it. All the frets are right under your nose so to speak, and less energy is used playing these notes because your arm is not stretched out. Am I making sense?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Aye, but not much fun if you've got fingers like mars bars.

[BaasLian]

I don't use my higher frets very often.    The cutoff is about 12.      I'd get a cutaway, but I really don't like the way those look.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I know what you mean - I have a Maton cutaway, but it frightens me to have to look at something so non symetrical. Did I mention I have a phobia about non-symetrical things?
All kidding aside if you use a cutaway and it has a really good action, it can't be beat. It's easier, not harder, to play high up on the neck if you think about it. All the frets are right under your nose so to speak, and less energy is used playing these notes because your arm is not stretched out. Am I making sense?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Aye, but not much fun if you've got fingers like mars bars.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm sure you can get a file in a local hardware store

[grzegorz_panek]

If I get a custom luthier guitar one day, it won't have any cutaway. I don't think I need one, I rarely go outside the 12th fret, hardly beyond the 17th. I don't need anything more than 19. The 19th fret is there to check intonation, and that's it. For me.

[AcousticSmash]

maybe your just not that great at acoustic guitar cutaways are ok, depending on what you are playing in terms of styles. If you are doing some crazy stuff django reinhardt then you would probably like a cut away acoustic or full hollowbody single cut acoustic. I tend to never go past the 12 fret even playing slide stuff. I heard cutaways go out of tune easier, is that true?

[AcousticSam]

dont think so. i have a cut away and i dont even use anything past the 12th fret really. IMO, if your playing the high frets, it should be played on electric......with heavy distortion.....mmmmm