Questions tagged [stratocaster]

The Fender Stratocaster is a model of electric guitar designed in 1954 by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares.

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11 votes
8 answers
11k views

Why is Stratocaster Low E-String Intonation at Limit?

I recently got an American Standard Stratocaster and I've been working on setting it up. I have tightened the intonation adjustment screw for the low E string to its limit and now the tension spring ...
0 votes
1 answer
151 views

Finding a Clean/Overdriven Fender Tone

I am trying to find this guitar tone, where it sounds solid and amped when clean, and, it seems like, when a player’s hitting harder gets very nice sounding overdrive. Like the telecaster in this ...
4 votes
3 answers
5k views

Fender Strat tremolo arm at an odd angle

When I screw in the tremolo arm to my Fender American Performer Stratocaster, it is angled back a bit such that it is quite high above the strings when turned towards the neck, very close to the body ...
5 votes
3 answers
1k views

Is there anything about a strat that lends itself to Eb standard tuning?

I have read that Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix tuned their Fender Stratocasters to Eb standard. I have not heard of it being done to other guitars. Is there anything specific to a Stratocaster ...
0 votes
4 answers
6k views

What is a Fender Special Run?

What is the differences between a FSR and a regular Fender guitar production model? At fender.com they say that: "FSR" stands for Fender Special Run. These products are specially commissioned by ...
2 votes
1 answer
197 views

Squier Stratocaster's Bridge Lift After Restringing with Ernie Ball Beefy Slinkies

Squier Strat, my high E string snapped yesterday, so I replaced all strings. I used Ernie Ball's Beefy Slinky (2627) with following gauge numbers: E (11) B (15) G (22p) D (30) A (42) E (54) When ...
2 votes
3 answers
176 views

What kind of Fender Strat is this

I was offered a Fender Strat Custom Shop Guitar and I am interested in buying it but I have no info about it, only some pictures and would like to know if it's worth it. Any help is greatly ...
0 votes
1 answer
530 views

What is the cause of low sustain or short note duration on 22nd fret on high E string for a 22-fret guitar?

I have a Fender Ultra Stratocaster with SSS configuration. The pickups are branded as Ultra Noiseless™ Vintage Strat®. I use Ernie Ball Mighty Slinky Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings, 8.5-40. ...
1 vote
3 answers
278 views

How to find where a loose wire goes in a strat?

I bought a new strat (used). I disassembled it and find a wire that just connects to nothing. I looked at 10 different strat wiring diagrams. I couldn't find it. My key (switch) is a 5 way switch. It ...
2 votes
1 answer
1k views

Very difficult to reach truss-rod with provided Allen key

Disclaimer. I am a total guitar beginner; I have no intention of messing with the truss rod if there is no need to, but after I bought my strat-type, I started noticing what I think are intonation ...
3 votes
1 answer
533 views

American Standard Stratocaster Volume Control Problem

My 2007 Fender American Standard Stratocaster has a problem with the volume control. The problem is that the volume drops off a "cliff" and cuts out suddenly when you move the control below ...
0 votes
2 answers
547 views

Can't properly set up floating bridge in strat

I have strat style Aria SG guitar with a standard tremolo bridge that i used to play in hard tail setup. I've been trying to set it up as a floating bridge using a youtube video as a guide. But after ...
1 vote
2 answers
1k views

Strings keep going out of tune right after tuning up

I changed my guitar strings yesterday and the new ones just don’t hold in tune. After less than a minute they go out of tune and I’ve noticed that my bridge is getting higher and higher as I try to ...
2 votes
2 answers
61 views

How do I keep my guitar in tune with out affecting the action?

I recently changed the strings on my strat from 9s to 10s. I play with my fingers and not a pick, so lighter gauge strings for me are hard to pluck because they bend so easily when I pull on them, ...
1 vote
3 answers
224 views

Playing the Power Chords on a Fender Strat

I'm trying to attempt playing the Power Chords on my Fender Performer Strat and I understand that I have to mute the G, B & E Strings with the finger that is at the root. For example., if I'm ...
0 votes
2 answers
101 views

Buzz when strumming a new Fender Performer HSS Strat

So this is a bit annoying for me as 3 days ago I got my first Performer Strat HSS and it was buzzing on the low E as I was playing the Pentatonic on the A Minor. Here is the related post: Fender ...
3 votes
1 answer
2k views

Electric guitar out of tune on 12th fret(intonation)

I just bought an electric guitar (stratocaster), and I'm a beginner, so setting it up is a welcome and annoying challenge. The issue I have is with the intonation. The high E is fine on the open ...
2 votes
1 answer
321 views

Custom HSS wiring Strat

I am looking for a schematic to wire an HSS Strat as follows: Volume for bridge with push/pull DPDT series/parallel switch Volume for middle and neck pickups Master tone 5 way selector: Bridge ...
5 votes
2 answers
16k views

Best practices for setting Stratocaster pickup height?

I recently bought my first stratocaster and after messing around with the heights of the pickups I've been having problems getting all three pickups to have the same volume. I'm having trouble ...
5 votes
3 answers
719 views

Strat tremolo bar has tightening issues

I got a standard American strat from 2015. When I tighten the trem bar, the bar stops tightening right over the strings. However when I loosen it, one turn and it flops around all over the place. What ...
2 votes
1 answer
422 views

Slanted single coil pickups on Fender Stratocaster [duplicate]

How does the sound produced from a slanted single coil pickup on a Fender Stratocaster differ from the regular non-slanted single coil pickups?
2 votes
1 answer
153 views

Differences between different MIM stratocasters

I was wondering if all ordinary and plus Fender Standard Stratocasters (Made in Mexico) have the same quality. For example, does the 150 euro more expensive Fender Standard Stratocaster Plus Top ...
3 votes
1 answer
88 views

Trying to Make an Accurate Model of a Stratocaster

I'm refining a 3D model of a Fender Stratocaster and I have a question about the way the neck is configured. I don't know much about electric guitars (I play classical), although, after a visit to ...
6 votes
2 answers
369 views

Humbucker troubles

I'm rebuilding a Stratocaster, and I put a new pickguard in that's a a very basic wiring setup for a strat: a single humbucker and a volume knob. I have my ground wire soldered in the back. Soldered ...
2 votes
3 answers
2k views

Is it normal for a string to buzz unless my finger that is fretting is almost against the fret?

I just got a stratocaster. I've never played the guitar before this week. When I try to play the D major chord, I get buzzing on the first and third strings. When my first finger on the third string ...
1 vote
3 answers
1k views

Give me some advice for my live guitar setup please

I've been playing on stage for about an year. My setup:- Fender Stratocaster(HSS),Fender Champion 100 watt solid state amp and a bunch of pedals, a Boss GT-1 multi-FX unit. I want advice on how to use ...
5 votes
4 answers
12k views

What are the indicators of a quality electric guitar neck?

I would like to replace the rosewood neck on my Fender American Stratocaster electric guitar with a maple neck. I have difficulty finding such shops locally, and I may resort to buying one (or even ...
1 vote
2 answers
2k views

Tips for tuning floating bridge guitars?

I have a Snark that I use to tune a Mexican Fender Stratocaster. When I tune to drop D, all the other notes get out of tune as well, and it takes me 2 or 3 minutes longer to tune because the strings ...
1 vote
1 answer
3k views

Fender Stratocaster center pickup gets in the way of palm muting

I have been playing guitar for probably about 10 years now and my primary guitar at the moment is an American Deluxe Fender Stratocaster with a humbucker for the bridge pickup and 2 single coils. The ...
2 votes
1 answer
108 views

Are all Stratocaster Standard guitar single pickups compatible?

Are all Stratocaster Standard guitar pickups compatible? Want to remove my Squire Strat pickups and install Rails Seymour Duncan in the bridge, HS-4 DiMarzio in the middle and SD Jr.59 (PAF) in the ...
4 votes
2 answers
1k views

What's a superstrat?

There's a stratocaster with SSS pickups or HSS pickups on Fender web. But some other manufactures made some guitar that they called a Superstrat. What really it is? Is it have a relation with a strat? ...
3 votes
1 answer
1k views

What are the differences between the range of cheaper Fender Stratocaster models compared to American Standard?

I've been lurking through the jungle of Stratocaster lately, and come across a few different models ranging from the original 50's up to the huge selection available today. What are the differences ...
13 votes
6 answers
3k views

What does it mean that a Stratocaster is vintage?

Looking at the lineup of Fender and Squier I see that you can find standard and vintage guitars for about the same price. For example, Squier has both a Standard series and a Vintage Modified series. ...
4 votes
3 answers
14k views

Why do unofficial Stratocaster clones have a differently shaped headstock?

I've done a fair bit of shopping for affordable Stratocaster clones. One thing I've noticed is that almost all of the clones I found had a nearly perfect copy of the body, yet the headstock was ...
1 vote
1 answer
1k views

Will changing the colour of my Stratocaster reduce its value?

I have a Highway One Fender Strat (American), which I'm told has a poor quality satin finish. This has started to "melt" on the bottom of the guitar. I paid about £800 for it in 2005/2006. It has a ...