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Post subject: Admitedly silly questions about my new Strat
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 9:16 am
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I just got a wonderful new "10 for '15" Limited Edition Oil-rubbed Ash American Standard Stratocaster.

I noticed two very small stickers (1/4" or so) on the small chrome plate (2" X 2 1/2") on the back of the guitar where the neck meets the body -- one sticker says "CE" in a strange typeface, the other has a drawing of what looks like a trash can with an X over it and a black bar under it (like: don't throw this away?). Just curious as to whether anyone knows what those stickers really mean. Do you leave yours on?

Also, is there any guidance as to tell how far to screw the tremolo bar into the bridge? I've done it gently, but it seems to tighten and then loosen as it goes deeper, and I don't want to do any damage. It feels like it actually might be pressing down on the wood beneath, though that's probably not the case as that would seem like an odd design.


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Post subject: Re: Admitedly silly questions about my new Strat
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 10:32 am
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The stickers are to comply with European safety and waste disposal regulations. CE is French "Conformité Européene". The trash can means the item should not be disposed of in general waste.

The trem arm should meet resistance against a small coil spring at the bottom of the hole. The springs are easily lost and some players stick the circular label back over the hole when removing the arm.


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Post subject: Re: Admitedly silly questions about my new Strat
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2015 11:18 pm
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Thanks for the info, 64.

I'm particularly pleased to be warned about possibly losing the spring. I must say I'm surprised there isn't a more elegant way to keep from losing it when you remove the arm! Re-affixing a papery piece of tape seems like an odd design choice on such a refined instrument.

Does anyone sell a chrome-looking plug that might fit that hole to keep the spring in? Other solutions?

I suppose I could just make sure I shake the spring out to store it when I take the arm off to put the guitar in its case . . .


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Post subject: Re: Admitedly silly questions about my new Strat
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2015 11:58 pm
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Cover the spring in Vaseline and pop it back in the hole and put the arm back in.
The Vaseline should keep the spring in place at the bottom of the hole.

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Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.


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Post subject: Re: Admitedly silly questions about my new Strat
Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2015 10:16 am
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Welcome to the wonderful world of Stratocasters, the world's most iconic and beloved electric instrument, idol of millions, and bane of Gibons, etc., etc.
One quick warning about the wang bar: don't screw it in over tight-the trem bar must be able to swing freely when not in use. I have seen threads on more than one bar and bridge stripped from over-tightening. Ask a friend (or the music store clerk) familiar with that model Strat to show you how far the bar should be screwed into the bridge.


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Post subject: Re: Admitedly silly questions about my new Strat
Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2015 5:35 am
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Yes, the spring dropping out is a bit of a pain, and I'm not keen on the vaseline method (although it's good to have the lube on there) because - if it DOES drop out - it makes a right mess!

I prefer using a plastic bolt with the same thread (you can get them in model-making and hardware shops), cut down to 1/2" and screwed in a few turns - you can easily do this by hand - then casing the guitar. Or you could try a bit of shaped rubber and jam it in.

I've also had hard cases where, if you position the arm right, the lid will close while the arm's still fitted, without pressing unduly on the trem. This may be because I bend my arms slightly to suit my requirements, but worth checking, perhaps?

Anyway, enjoy your Strat!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Admitedly silly questions about my new Strat
Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2015 1:32 pm
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If you have the vintage style case (rectangular, 2 side pockets, neck in center), it closes easily if you turn the bar just past the output jack. It would drive me crazy to take that bar off and minding the spring all the time. The question isn't silly. Why do we have to deal with something "silly" like this on a nice guitar?


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Post subject: Re: Admitedly silly questions about my new Strat
Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 7:52 pm
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LawFlow wrote:
If you have the vintage style case (rectangular, 2 side pockets, neck in center), it closes easily if you turn the bar just past the output jack. It would drive me crazy to take that bar off and minding the spring all the time. The question isn't silly. Why do we have to deal with something "silly" like this on a nice guitar?

On my PRS, the bar is just push in / pull out. No need for screws or springs. Going much deeper into the trem block, and the bar being thicker, there's also much less risk of it breaking - the contact surface for the strat bar is just the threads, which is very small compared to this:

Image

Personally, I wouldn't mind if Fender stopped using the threaded whammy bars (and the short Mustang ones that fall out for that matter).


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