JackBootedThug
MURDERATOR
I had a 60’s es-355 custom stereo and it had the tiniest neck ever. Super narrow. Really strange. Always ran 9’s and never noticed any issues with tension.
Well i raised the TP way above where i normally set them. Up 4 threads.Top wrap it. Set the action low and take all the relief out of the neck you can without it being a buzzy mess that frets out. Balance that bridge height and relief until it plays good. Lemme know how it goes. My Bigsby equipped Edwards ES is about the lightest string tension of any guitar I've owned until I top wrapped my Edwards LP. String gauges on both are 10 11.5 15 20 30 39, the bottom three are flatwounds.
That's great news Mach 1. You can always drop tune to Eb if you wanted to keep thicker strings. Unless you gig with other guys who demand E standard. I been doing that for years and gig that way too. Might require some light re-tweaking of bridge and/or truss rod once it settles in. Might need a slight intonation adjustment as well. Adjust it, let it sit or play it for a couple hours and double check things.Well i raised the TP way above where i normally set them. Up 4 threads.
Made a positive improvement.
Even my picking hand is easier to navigate .
Not perfect but id say 75% better.
I think 9s next time around will improve the other 25%