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Post subject: Strato Questions
Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 4:42 pm
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Hi. Looking for some advice. Been playing guitar for a little over a year, and now ready to purchase an electric. I am having an American Stratocaster custom made from Fender, and had a couple questions:
1. The pickups I am getting are American series Stratocasters HSS. What is the difference between that and noiseless?
2. I am getting the standard .009-042 strings. What is the difference between those strings and .010-.046?

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: Strato Questions
Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 5:44 pm
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David, those are the kinds of questions you need to pose to your Custom Shop builder, or team, BEFORE you place the order. Since it seems reasonably clear you don't know the most basic things about guitars, I think it might be advisable to simply buy a Strat "off the rack" before consigning someone to build you what could very well end up being a really expensive conversation piece.


.009s are thinner than .010s
As an acoustic player with a year under your belt you prolly should have some idea what that means.


HSS refers to the configuration of the guitar with regard to location of pickups, specifically Humbucker bridge, Single middle, Single neck. The HSS designation does not in any way reference which model of pickups are used, much less provide info for a comparison to noiseless.

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Post subject: Re: Strato Questions
Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 5:53 pm
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BMW-KTM wrote:
David, those are the kinds of questions you need to pose to your Custom Shop builder, or team, BEFORE you place the order. Since it seems reasonably clear you don't know the most basic things about guitars, I think it might be advisable to simply buy a Strat "off the rack" before consigning someone to build you what could very well end up being a really expensive conversation piece.


+1000!

Forewarned is forearmed -- some basic research is clearly in order here.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Strato Questions
Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 6:34 pm
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Thanks for that information. I forgot to mention that I'm left-handed and there is virtually nothing (American strato-wise) on the rack I can at least test out. So I've been relegated to looking on line.


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Post subject: Re: Strato Questions
Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2015 7:34 pm
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BMW-KTM wrote:
.009s are thinner than .010s
As an acoustic player with a year under your belt you prolly should have some idea what that means.

Not necessarily. As a beginner/learner it's not uncommon that the teacher replaces the strings when needed, with the same thickness. And if a classical guitar, it's not even certain that they need a change in a year.
But yeah, it doesn't take a lot of thinking to figure out that thicker strings are harder to press and bend, but have higher mass so they affect the pickups more and ring for longer.

If coming from a classical guitar or 12-string, he probably has plenty strong fingers after a year, and might feel more comfortable with 0.010s than .009s. Or perhaps not - we all differ.

BMW-KTM wrote:
The HSS designation does not in any way reference which model of pickups are used, much less provide info for a comparison to noiseless.

Well, the bridge pickup in a HSS is by definition in the noiseless family because it's a humbucker, but that's pretty much all we know. Yeah, pickups differ, even within their class.

OP: Try and compare, even if a southpaw. If there aren't any lefty guitars in the store, try a right-handed guitar, not to play right-handed, but just to hear the sound the pickups make before ordering something you might not like.


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Post subject: Re: Strato Questions
Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2015 1:32 am
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Just my tuppence:
I believe the OP is ordering a guitar on the American Design Experience pages, not Custom Shop.

So, on the pickups: The HSS AmSeries set (Diamondback humbucker, "normal" single coils) compares soundwise to an American Standard HSS, the HSS Noiseless set (Atomic hummer, N3 mid/bridge) to an American Deluxe HSS. If you have a chance to hear (/play) those, you get a pretty good idea. The latter also has the S1 switch plus the passing lane, so there are more sound options.

On strings, the gauge = thickness = tension = play feel is different, but after acoustics both will probably feel easy, maybe even "loose" to you. The sound differences are really subtle - and that's supposing the guitar is set up for the gauge in use.
So my advice would be: play the guitar, learn to set it up, then experiment with string gauges.


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Post subject: Re: Strato Questions
Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2015 10:22 am
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Thanks. And yes, I was referring to a custom design from Fender. I just have not been able to find much of anything to test out left-handed. I did however listen to some on youtube and had a couple employees at guitar center play the model for me and was able to hear it (the American Strato) Not being able to play it myself, I guess I am at the mercy of hoping for a good return policy if I don't like it? However I cant image not liking it. Do you have any other suggestions?


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Post subject: Re: Strato Questions
Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2015 12:57 pm
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David Goodman wrote:
Do you have any other suggestions?

C'mon - you're getting a Stratocaster, which is a legend, and you chose the HSS which makes it even more versatile. I'll give my standard advice: play on, play LOUD :wink:

A little more seriously:
It takes time to get to know a guitar (combined with the pedals, amp, other gear you're using). Choose the amp in at least the same quality level as the guitar, and then give the whole rig a year, again: at least.
Plus, if you are not experienced in setting up electric guitars, let a good pro do a full setup as soon as you get your guitar. Ask the tech to use factory recommendations, unless he/she/it has some tricks&tweaks that he/she/it finds significantly better. Later on, you can start adjusting the guitar yourself, just make a note on what you do so it's easy to return to "default settings".
And read the Strat Setup Guide


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Post subject: Re: Strato Questions
Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2015 4:19 pm
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Hi David:

Looks like you have an adventure in your quest to get the Strat that's right for you.

The others here have pretty much covered most of the ins and outs.

I will add this though. as far as string gauge goes, two thoughts are that you can choose gauge according to how you play (think finger pressure, bending, etc.), or you can choose gauge according to what tone you prefer, or a combination or compromise of both of these choices.

For tone, you might randomly choose a preference, or specifically choose one (such as Surf music which tends to use heavier strings - as much as 13 gauge! Although, that is a personal choice and I use 10s, but I once used 12s). Heavier and lighter gauge can be found throughout the genres. Lighter is more popular today than yesteryear, and yet many consider heavier strings in order to give that Strat sound. What's a true Strat sound? That's a Pandora's box, mostly because different years had different equipment, experimentation, and so on.

To sum this confusion up, Strat strings are usually as low as 7 gauge, high as 13 gauge, likely stock at 9 gauge, and commonly changed to 10 gauge with little or no equipment change.

One gauge above or below stock usually causes little or no problem; but, too heavy can increase the pull on the neck and the grooves in the nut require filing. Also different brands of strings can create more pull on the neck, but this is seldom a concern.

I know this can be confusing for a Strat's new owner; however, you might do well to go with the stock strings at first. If you don't like the sound, test other brands at the same gauge, and if you still aren't satisfied, move up one gauge and repeat the test method. Of course 8 gauge and 7 gauge are options, but less common. Other than that, it's a change in your guitar as mentioned.

Finally, a good setup by someone with experience is a must whether you keep the stock strings or change them.

Hope this helps you, David. Best of luck in your decision.

FSB
YMMV

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Post subject: Re: Strato Questions
Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2015 4:51 pm
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Thank you! Please excuse my ignorance, but can you please explain what exactly a set up is/entails? And since I can't find much of anything off the rack that is left-handed, what do you think about having a custom set up direct from Fender?


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Post subject: Re: Strato Questions
Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2015 7:21 pm
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David Goodman wrote:
Thank you! Please excuse my ignorance, but can you please explain what exactly a set up is/entails? And since I can't find much of anything off the rack that is left-handed, what do you think about having a custom set up direct from Fender?

You are welcome, David. That's why we're here.

A custom setup from Fender may or may not be what you need. I would save any expense here and apply it at home when you are ready. Guitars are usually setup prior to shipping, but there are variables such as temperature differences and individual preference to be brief, which sometimes comes after you have played the guitar with a better understanding of what you will need. One may even find, like I have, that a setup may need to be adjusted several times until satisfaction. Different playing styles even require different setups. String height and locked or floating tremolo for example can be different setups for each musician.

Generally, a Strat will play fine when a standard setup is done. Although, it may play well straight out of the box, it is usually advisable to ensure that it is done, first, by someone with experience, and that your guitar still meets the expected specs upon receiving your guitar.

Basically, further setup at your home base will tweak Fender's settings. Guitar playability is a personal as well as standard spec situation. Standards in most everything are usually minimum, and can often be improved for maximum usability. This extra attention, of course, is not impossible, but it is difficult to do (if not costly) at the manufacturer.

There are many videos (YouTube, etc.) that show Stratocaster setups, and some that show different approaches.
Just type Stratocaster setup in your search for area of YouTube for example.

The longer you have your guitar, David, the more you will become accustomed to personal preference from neck position, to light or heavy playing style and string position that may or may not require higher or lower positioning of pickups, and more. You'll learn about intonation and how each string has adjustments to keep it in tune when pressing along the frets. Truss rod (neck angle) adjustment can be tricky so this is best left to an expert or, at the very least, go easy.

In short, David. Your Strat is made for precise adjustments that many guitars copy or simply do not have. Any setup done correctly will be one of if not the best thing(s) you can do to obtain the end result you desire.

To get you started in an understanding of the process here is Fender's take.

http://www2.fender.com/en-CA/support/ar ... tup-guide/

This is only one video that relates, and others may take an alternative approach, David. I present it only to give you a further explanation.



Hope, I have answered your questions. :D

FSB

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Post subject: Re: Strato Questions
Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2015 11:47 pm
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David Goodman wrote:
Thank you! Please excuse my ignorance, but can you please explain what exactly a set up is/entails? And since I can't find much of anything off the rack that is left-handed, what do you think about having a custom set up direct from Fender?


jmattis wrote:
let a good pro do a full setup as soon as you get your guitar.
And read the
Strat Setup Guide


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Post subject: Re: Strato Questions
Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2015 8:09 am
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jmattis wrote:
David Goodman wrote:
Thank you! Please excuse my ignorance, but can you please explain what exactly a set up is/entails? And since I can't find much of anything off the rack that is left-handed, what do you think about having a custom set up direct from Fender?


jmattis wrote:
let a good pro do a full setup as soon as you get your guitar.
And read the
Strat Setup Guide

+1
:wink:

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Post subject: Re: Strato Questions
Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2015 5:19 pm
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Very helpful, thank you. How risky is it to buy a guitar on line? Being left-handed it appears (at the moment) as my only option to get what I really want. Obviously there is a inherent risk when buying anything on line, but my main concern is not being able to play it prior to purchasing it. I have, however, heard it played multiple times. I've done lots of research and checked out numerous sites, and I really, really want an American Strat (in Lake Placid Blue with a Maple neck). The little voice inside me says to pony up and go for it and hope for the best.....

Thoughts?


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Post subject: Re: Strato Questions
Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2015 11:51 pm
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David Goodman wrote:
2. I am getting the standard .009-042 strings. What is the difference between those strings and .010-.046?

Generally, I prefer the sound of heavier strings.

.009"s I think of as unplayable. I suspect (this is my conspiracy theory) that they are installed by the factory so that new players will find them easier on their fingertips when they try them out in the store. To me they're too floppy.

.010's Are the factory strings for Les Pauls, but it happens I like that gauge for a Les Paul and using overdriven tone.

.011"s Now we're getting somewhere. I have these on my Jaguar and Strat, for cleaner tone with lots of reverb. I good compromise for me.

.012's Better sounding for Surf on my Jag or Strat, but occasionally I like to bend notes, and I find the .011's much easier to bend without being too floppy. Also, on my Jag I would have had to file the nut slots for the bigger strings because they don't sit in the bottom of the slot, and so the action is too high. I prefer not to make irreversible mods like that. If you put these on a Strat, consider adding more springs on the trem block.

.013's Ideal for Surf, by some accounts. I had these on my Strat for a while, along with 5 trem block springs, but I went back down to the .011"s.

Every time I changed gauges I went through a setup of the truss rod, the bridge (and/or saddles) height, trem block spring tension, and intonation.

Dick Dale's string gauges are .016, .018, .020, .038, .048, and .058 to .060, but then he's the Chuck Norris of Strat players.

Another thing is that (as near as I can tell) lighter string gauges are more easily detuned (sharpened) by the pressure of fretting, so intonation is better (or easier to adjust) with heavier strings. YMMV.

Quote:
How risky is it to buy a guitar on line? Being left-handed it appears (at the moment) as my only option to get what I really want.
That's sort of what I had to do to get my Squier VM Jaguar guitar, because there were none to be seen in my area. I special-ordered it through a local Fender-authorized dealer and had to pay something like 20% deposit or "restocking fee" or some such. Between the positive reviews I had seen on that model, and the pretty good reputation of the dealer (from which I had already bought two other guitars in the past), I took a chance and am pleased with what I got.

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