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Post subject: Could I ask for your advice please?
Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2016 9:35 am
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Hi all

I have owned many guitars over the years but some would say I've finally seen sense and bought an American Standard Stratocaster ☺

I'm over the moon with the guitar but just worried it isn't set up properly.
I picked it up from the dealer yesterday after they said they would set it up before collection.

The current gap between the bottom of the tremelo and the body of the guitar is around 9 or 10 mm.
I've read that it should be 3.2 mm

Is this something I should adjust myself or get the dealer to do, keeping in mind that I don't have a lot of faith in them at the moment after the supposed set up before I collect.
I think all they've done is open the case and make sure the colour was right!

Any advice will be gratefully received, thanks for your time and in advance for your help.


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Post subject: Re: Could I ask for your advice please?
Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2016 9:44 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Quote:
The current gap between the bottom of the tremelo and the body of the guitar is around 9 or 10 mm.


Ridiculous!!! Yes, 1/8th" or 3.2mm is right for a floating trem.

If you feel confident, take the back cover off, tighten the 2 claw screws 1/2 turn at a time and loosen the strings off gradually until (1) the gap is right, and (2) the guitar's in tune. Some sort of tuner will be handy unless you have a good ear.

If this is all Greek to you(!), have a look at Youtube - there are plenty of good videos on there re Strat setup.

Congrats on the new Strat, anyway!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Could I ask for your advice please?
Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2016 10:22 am
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Peter has offered you solid advice. I recommend that you heed it.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Could I ask for your advice please?
Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2016 11:21 am
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Thanks Peter

I sort of knew what to do but wanted some input from long term users.

I'm just a bit put out with guitar dealers.
I've got a Jackson, a squire classic vibe 50's Strat (which I have to say is seriously impressive for the price), and an Ernie Ball Musicman Axis.

The only one that landed in my hands with a half decent setup was the Squire.
I was horrified at the state of the Axis when I opened the case, the strings were flapping around the case like spaghetti. Seeing as Ernie Ball say the tension should not be off the neck for any length of time things didn't get off to a great start, even more upsetting considering the price of the instrument.

It seems many dealers are happy to take the money for as little work as possible.

Anyway, rant over, thanks again Peter, I'll have a look and a little tinker (definitely not Greek by the way ☺)

Arjay, not sure how to take your comment and possibly not the friendliest welcome to the forum so I think I will just ignore it.

Cheers


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Post subject: Re: Could I ask for your advice please?
Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2016 11:42 am
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I don't think Arjay said or meant anything bad, he just agree with Peter's post. What did you find unfriendly about it?

I'd add that by the way you refer to the issue, you probably don't have much experience with setting up guitars, so if you can, don't try to do it all by yourself the first time, hire a tech and learn first, or you could mess up.

Congratulations for the new guitar, Am Std is a great series.

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Post subject: Re: Could I ask for your advice please?
Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2016 11:48 am
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I set up mine at 1/16 inches, less play for dive bombing ( to old do like that ) but always in tune.


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Post subject: Re: Could I ask for your advice please?
Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2016 12:52 pm
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I prefer mine with five springs and 1.5mm at the back, always in tune.

Anyway, to start things of
1. Are you capable with your hands, using fine tools
2. Do research first thanks to YouTube you can easily see how it's done.
3. Get the tools from two types of screwdrivers smaller and bigger + ones, Allen wrenches, measuring tools etc...
4. Learn how to adjust a thrust rod but first screw the spring claw to balance the tension of springs and strings you are using that's the whole point to begin with.
5. Adjust the trust rod
6. Adjust action
7. Adjust intonation
8.adjust pickup height
Etc...
If you're not ready to learn these or simply not good at setting thing up and not having a feel for it than take it to a specialist.

Cheers


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Post subject: Re: Could I ask for your advice please?
Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2016 12:59 pm
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de Melo wrote:
I don't think Arjay said or meant anything bad, he just agree with Peter's post. What did you find unfriendly about it?


I agree, Arjay is truly a nice guy, and everybody here welcomed me really nice, and that's not the case with most forums on just about anything.

You misunderstood something.
Cheers


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Post subject: Re: Could I ask for your advice please?
Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2016 2:56 pm
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Welcome to to forum. Don't be put off by seemingly unpleasant comments, people are solidly helpful here - and I'm one of the grumpy ones.

There are some exceptional videos on YouTube. One I particularly liked showed the use of PostIt notes to establish the ideal spacing subject to your desired back pull pitch change.

The floating trem is very simple but also very clever in achieving what it does. Because it works in a state of equilibrium, acting against a number of external influences, it can cause confusion in getting it set correctly for personal choice.

Watch many videos and the penny will drop as to what works best for you.

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After all this time I should be better.


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Post subject: Re: Could I ask for your advice please?
Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2016 3:18 pm
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Thanks very much guys

Apologies if I misunderstood, just seemed a little condescending and abrupt is all.
Maybe I misread.

I'm not a complete noob when it comes to guitars and I am confident with my hands but just wanted input and advice from long term Fender players. Which I got, so thank you again.

Adjusted the screws tonight, thanks Peter, and everything is perfect now.
I think I like the guitar even more than I did.

I had my musicman professionally set up by a world renowned maker some years ago and learnt a lot from him at the time. Although the musicman has a Floyd on it.

I suppose I had a little stage fright with the strat as it's so new.
A few months of rock and roll will soon polish the edges off a bit! ☺

Apologies again Arjay and thanks all for your input

Cheers


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Post subject: Re: Could I ask for your advice please?
Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2016 3:26 pm
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WaymoreProta wrote:
de Melo wrote:
I don't think Arjay said or meant anything bad, he just agree with Peter's post. What did you find unfriendly about it?


I agree, Arjay is truly a nice guy, and everybody here welcomed me really nice, and that's not the case with most forums on just about anything.

You misunderstood something.
Cheers


+1000


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Post subject: Re: Could I ask for your advice please?
Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2016 4:17 pm
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Not a problem, Nifty.

Enjoy the forum, sir.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Could I ask for your advice please?
Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2016 4:18 am
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Nifty wrote:
definitely not Greek by the way ☺

Sorry Nifty - no disrespect to Greeks! It's merely a British expression meaning something that you don't understand! As in " it's all Greek to me!"

Glad you got it all sorted.

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Could I ask for your advice please?
Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2016 10:22 am
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I know Peter, I'm British ☺

I meant you weren't speaking Greek.....or even Double Dutch! ☺
It made perfect sense.

Cheers mate
All the best


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