I posted earlier regarding a new stratocaster I got. It came with the strings not under the string tree. I loosened the strings to get the two strings under the string tree, but when I re-tuned them, I noticed that the tremolo was sitting pretty far up, like farther than normal. I've heard that a proper floating tremolo should sit up enough to fit a penny underneath it. I could fit about three pennies under it. How can I remedy this problem?

Take off the trem cover on the back of the guitar and tighten the claw where the springs attach to the body. Do it slowly and both sides evenly. I'd measure the distance. My 72 floats 1/8" off the body. I don't have a new Strat but I believe the trem still works the same way probably better. This thing is new??? I'd let the dealer do it. It should have never left the store like that.

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Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal

It was bought online - so there is no dealer to take it to without expending too much energy. Is the process fairly easy? Do I have to loosen the strings before tightening the claw?

You might want to bring it in to a music store for a set up if you don`t want to do it yourself.

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You might want to loosen the strings to make it a bit easier. There are plenty of video's online explaining a setup...but I will caution you that you can do the claw ajustment and set the intonation but don't adjust the truss rod because you are on a roll after the easy stuff. It's easy to make a costly mistake on the trust rod if you don't know what you are doing.

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CREDO ELVEM IPSUM ETAIM VIVERE

Thank you all for the tips.

I took off the back plate and tightened the claws a bit and it worked like a charm! I didn't mess with the truss rod at all.

Thanks!