12
votes
Accepted
Why is Stratocaster Low E-String Intonation at Limit?
Assuming your A and D strings are intonated correctly, the length of that E looks about right, maybe even a little too far back.
As in the comments, check the neck relief and the action, and get ...
- 198k
7
votes
Humbucker troubles
Your wiring description is not all that clear.
I suggest you find a suitable wiring diagram (example here), and make sure your wiring matches.
I would then use a continuity tester to check your ...
- 755
6
votes
Accepted
Is there anything about a strat that lends itself to Eb standard tuning?
I've heard in interviews that because of the difference in scale length between a Les Paul and a Strat, that tuning a Strat to Eb will give it similar tension. But I am looking forward to someone's ...
- 17.8k
5
votes
Strat tremolo bar has tightening issues
If yours has a blind hole - which doesn't go all the way through - you can use a small coil spring - 5mm or 6mm - depending on the diameter of the vib. arm. It will produce tension as it gets ...
- 198k
5
votes
Accepted
Strat tremolo bar has tightening issues
I see two courses of action...
You could just take the damn thing off altogether, as I did 40 years ago ;-) or
Get a roll of plumber's PTFE tape from a hardware/DIY store & wrap it round the ...
- 28k
5
votes
Why is Stratocaster Low E-String Intonation at Limit?
This is a common problem. I run into this issue probably 10 to 15 percent of the time. The solution is to shorten (cut) the spring and sometimes also replace the screw with a shorter one (Don't want ...
5
votes
What kind of Fender Strat is this
Normally, the Fender logo aligns with the bottom straight edge of the headstock. The logo is usually either golden and smaller or large and black. Smaller and black is not one I've seen.
I think the ...
- 13.2k
4
votes
Why is Stratocaster Low E-String Intonation at Limit?
If nothing works that is easy, you can always shim the neck to creat more length. Based on the photo, you’re running flat on 12 and you can’t back it up anymore. If the truss rod solution doesn’t work ...
- 41
4
votes
Accepted
Slanted single coil pickups on Fender Stratocaster
The closer the sound is picked up (or picked, for that matter) to the bridge, the more treble (top) is heard. So with a slanted pup, the treble is slightly more exaggerated than it is from a straight ...
- 198k
4
votes
Fender Strat tremolo arm at an odd angle
Randomly came across this via websearch. The angle you see coming out of the trem block is normal for vintage-era and vintage-repro trem blocks. It's drilled at an angle on purpose so that when put in ...
- 41
4
votes
What kind of Fender Strat is this
A genuine Fender Custom Shop guitar comes with a Certificate Of Authenticity, which contains the serial number and describes the instrument and when it was made and sometimes also by whom. Without ...
4
votes
Squier Stratocaster's Bridge Lift After Restringing with Ernie Ball Beefy Slinkies
Sounds like the old strings were a lot lighter in gauge. The compensating springs connecting the underside of the mechanism will need tightening (or even adding to) to compensate for the extra tension ...
- 198k
4
votes
Is there anything about a strat that lends itself to Eb standard tuning?
Tuning standard down a half step is common in rock music regardless of guitar type. Two other well know examples are Guns and Roses and KISS. Incidentally those bands used guitars other than Fenders: ...
- 59.5k
3
votes
Best practices for setting Stratocaster pickup height?
I've always thought Strats sound best with a good gap. Too close & you can really hear the magnets getting in the way; strings will over-pitch more if you get too close at the low end - you hear ...
- 28k
3
votes
Accepted
Best practices for setting Stratocaster pickup height?
How to make better tone? / Pickup height secret!
1.3k upvote/45 downvote
Basically start at 2-3mm gap on bass side; 2mm gap on treble side.
ADDDENDUM ....
FENDER ...
- 2,199
3
votes
Accepted
Playing the Power Chords on a Fender Strat
The typical thing is to play 35xxxx with the first and third fingers.
It's not clear from your description, but you shouldn't be strumming string 4-1. But those strings can also start vibrating from ...
- 59.5k
3
votes
How do I keep my guitar in tune with out affecting the action?
The action and keeping in tune are not particularly related. You could adjust the springs that balance the string tension, but it seems like the problem is more to do with the strings binding at the ...
- 198k
3
votes
Accepted
Trying to Make an Accurate Model of a Stratocaster
From that diagram, it doesn't look like there is any difference in rake - it looks simply like you have not centred the neck correctly in your image.
While string lengths will all be slightly ...
- 37k
3
votes
Accepted
Give me some advice for my live guitar setup please
Something I've been doing lately to A.) to give the sound engineer more control over the mix versus my stage volume and B.) still be able to hear my amp without having too much of it in my monitors - ...
- 46
2
votes
Tips for tuning floating bridge guitars?
You could consider something like the EVH D-Tuna. I think it will solve some of your problems although I don't know enough tech to know if you could install this specific system on your guitar.
The ...
- 15k
2
votes
Accepted
Fender Strat tremolo arm at an odd angle
The vibrato sytem that Leo put onto his Strats in particular work on a balance system. The tension of the strings pull one way, while the springs inside the body counteract that by pulling opposite. ...
- 198k
2
votes
Why is Stratocaster Low E-String Intonation at Limit?
There might be many reasons. Some things to consider:
The thicker (higher gauge) the string is, the more compensation on bridge is needed.
Could it be that the low E string arcs over the nut, rather ...
- 17.8k
2
votes
Accepted
Very difficult to reach truss-rod with provided Allen key
The truss rod on real Strats is at the other end. You can't even see it until you take the scratch plate off, or reach it until you loosen the neck. You got an easy one there ;)
and yes, get a long ...
- 28k
2
votes
Is there anything about a strat that lends itself to Eb standard tuning?
Is there anything specific to a strat that lends itself to this tuning?
I'm going to say no.
Other Answers have pointed out that this tuning is used by many artists who are not Stratocaster guys. As ...
- 848
1
vote
Strings keep going out of tune right after tuning up
There could be many issues with your guitar that may cause these issues, but off the top of my head, it just sounds like your new strings haven't fully stretched yet. If you put new strings on a ...
- 445
1
vote
Strings keep going out of tune right after tuning up
I had originally deleted my answer but decided to edit it and post something because there seems to be a lot of focus on string slippage but first, steel strings don’t take long to stretch if they are ...
- 28.6k
1
vote
How do I keep my guitar in tune with out affecting the action?
When you press down or pull up on the bar does it stay in the position you moved it to or does it snap back to the home position? If it snaps back then Tim’s advice is on the money. If it stays where ...
- 28.6k
1
vote
Accepted
Buzz when strumming a new Fender Performer HSS Strat
I listened to the two recordings you posted and I'm not really hearing any issues with the guitar. There is slight buzzing in the recordings but I think it's instead related to your chord-changing ...
- 48
1
vote
Buzz when strumming a new Fender Performer HSS Strat
it buzzes a lot when I strum the G5, A5, B5, C5 and D5 Power chords.
If the neck is straight, the strings at the bridge could be a little low. Maybe just raise them up the smallest amount, measure, ...
- 11
1
vote
Playing the Power Chords on a Fender Strat
I must offer this, and it's fundamental to everything you are doing with your fingers, hands, and wrists;
Free your arms and elbows.
If you are playing whilst sitting slumped back on your bed, or ...
- 2,191
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible