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Post subject: Re: Test drove the new Stratocaster Elite
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2016 6:45 am
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bipbip wrote:
Hello there people I got a problem with the Elite. The tremolo arm doesn't lock in to its place and is no more stable where I leave it, drops down... I think there was a springy mechanism inside that doesn't function any more... I always felt it was vulnerable. I used it quite heavily nevertheless. Any ideas on how to fix it?


There is no spring in the trem unit on the Elite Strats since they have the snap-in trem arm. There should be 2 small set screws in the trem block that adjusts the "play" or "swing" in the arm. I think it's the upper set screw that adjusts the play:

Image

That American Deluxe Strat Plus model that Bigsby has uses the American Standard tremolo with the screw-in arm; that trem does have the small spring that fits down in the block.


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Post subject: Re: Test drove the new Stratocaster Elite
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2016 7:31 am
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John C wrote:
bipbip wrote:
Hello there people I got a problem with the Elite. The tremolo arm doesn't lock in to its place and is no more stable where I leave it, drops down... I think there was a springy mechanism inside that doesn't function any more... I always felt it was vulnerable. I used it quite heavily nevertheless. Any ideas on how to fix it?


There is no spring in the trem unit on the Elite Strats since they have the snap-in trem arm. There should be 2 small set screws in the trem block that adjusts the "play" or "swing" in the arm. I think it's the upper set screw that adjusts the play:

Image

That American Deluxe Strat Plus model that Bigsby has uses the American Standard tremolo with the screw-in arm; that trem does have the small spring that fits down in the block.

Thanks a lot, it worked. I managed to do some cosmetic damage at such a simple job, I love myself so much. By the way I still think there was something that felt springy in there that is no more.


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Post subject: Re: Test drove the new Stratocaster Elite
Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2016 7:13 am
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Bigsby wrote:
bipbip wrote:
I think there was a springy mechanism inside that doesn't function any more...

It's not really a mechanism, just a small spring. If you remove the arm & turn the guitar upside down there's a good chance it will fall out.

If that's the problem there are two ways to fix it:
1) Replace the spring
2) Wrap plumbers tape around the thread on the arm - I've not tried this, but I've heard it works as well.

Sorry I missed your post... thanks... it turned out there is an screw at the back of the trem block where one can adjust the trem arm - make it tighter looser...


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Post subject: Re: Test drove the new Stratocaster Elite
Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2016 10:22 am
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bipbip wrote:
Sorry I missed your post... thanks... it turned out there is an screw at the back of the trem block where one can adjust the trem arm - make it tighter looser...

...and sorry I jumped to the wrong conclusion; when you mentioned 'springy' I thought your Strat had the screw in arm with a spring to keep it tight.


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Post subject: Re: Test drove the new Stratocaster Elite
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2016 5:36 am
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For anyone interested I modified a Seymour Duncan prewired pickguard and fit it onto my Elite Strat, no problems except that cutting out for the truss rod adjustment wheel wasn't fun and didn't work out too neatly. But it is not obtrusive at all so I can say mission is accomplished.


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Post subject: Re: Test drove the new Stratocaster Elite
Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2016 4:32 am
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Hello people, a new Elite strat issue came up. The amazing tuning stability of the guitar is gone - I suspected it wouldn't last anyway, but it is still a big blow to my happiness with it. The higher two strings - but especially the B - go out of tune pretty fast with any severe trem use. Interestingly it goes out of tune in the opposite direction than I'd think it would - it goes sharper! Initially I had the trem decked to the bridge, presently it is floating. I think it could be related to the bridge/trem set up but I can't tell how. It would be quite a relief for me to know whats going on and how and if it can be fixed. I will take the guitar for a proper set up when I can (its not in a close quarter of my town) but until that time, maybe you can help and others benefit from the info as well.
Best regards...


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Post subject: Re: Test drove the new Stratocaster Elite
Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2016 9:05 am
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Strings going sharper, and especially the treble strings is something I experience twice a year, spring and fall, on several guitars. The reason in my case is that the humidity is higher: During summer, AC units also work as dehumidifiers, and during winter, the humidity is naturally low. But spring and fall are open window seasons here.
So I'd like to exclude humidity changes as a factor, before looking at the guitar itself.

That said, common causes of tuning problems include sticky string trees,nuts and bridges. Whenever doing a string change, I run a pencil through the nut slot, underside of the string tree, and top of bridge, just to get a tiny amount of graphite lubrication.
And if the guitar has bent steel type string trees, replacing them with modern versions, or at least dremel polish the underside so it's smooth and not snagging. I've seen many "butterfly" string trees with burrs or grooves, which snags the strings and can cause the slack to be taken up while you're not playing, sharpening the open B and/or E.

Sure, whammy bars can cause tuning instabilities too, but as you say, unless there are other factors, that tends to more often cause flattening, as the strings are pulled more. But sure, check out the trem too - spring tensions, good contact at the knife edge (or edges), and that nothing snags anywhere.


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Post subject: Re: Test drove the new Stratocaster Elite
Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2016 9:05 am
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paris wrote:
Popped into my local music store and checked out the new Stratocaster Elite Series. Here are my overall thoughts:
1. Pickups - Sounded good. Like Strat pickups, about as good as N3s to my ears (but truth be told, I didn't have the N3's to compare).
2. Compound back of neck and neck joint contour- No my taste, but I can see how someone might like it. I prefer a Clapton soft "V" or the current "C" shape.
3. Rubber Knobs - Nice touch, but not really needed from what I can tell. I will say I can see how they might prevent slippage. (Does that really happen?)
4. S1 Switch - There are have been a few variations on this switch. Though I do not know the official word on this version, from playing the guitar, it seems like the S1 switch pickups in parrell.

There are other features to this guitar that I didn't mention, but I don't really think they pertained to the actuall playablity of the guitar.

Conclusions:
Overall, a nice modern guitar. It played well and sounded great. It's pretty much an updated Deluxe Series. So on the whole, I'd prefer my 2015 Dlx Strat Plus. The neck felt just as good, if not better to my taste and I can get more tonal colors and versitility by using the personnality cards. I think this will appeal to a modern player. Vintage guys might not dig as much.


I am considering a DLX Strat plus my self, and want to know how they perform vs the Am Standards. Thanks

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Post subject: Re: Test drove the new Stratocaster Elite
Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2016 1:24 am
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arth1 wrote:
Strings going sharper, and especially the treble strings is something I experience twice a year, spring and fall, on several guitars. The reason in my case is that the humidity is higher: During summer, AC units also work as dehumidifiers, and during winter, the humidity is naturally low. But spring and fall are open window seasons here.
So I'd like to exclude humidity changes as a factor, before looking at the guitar itself.

That said, common causes of tuning problems include sticky string trees,nuts and bridges. Whenever doing a string change, I run a pencil through the nut slot, underside of the string tree, and top of bridge, just to get a tiny amount of graphite lubrication.
And if the guitar has bent steel type string trees, replacing them with modern versions, or at least dremel polish the underside so it's smooth and not snagging. I've seen many "butterfly" string trees with burrs or grooves, which snags the strings and can cause the slack to be taken up while you're not playing, sharpening the open B and/or E.

Sure, whammy bars can cause tuning instabilities too, but as you say, unless there are other factors, that tends to more often cause flattening, as the strings are pulled more. But sure, check out the trem too - spring tensions, good contact at the knife edge (or edges), and that nothing snags anywhere.

Hey there thanks for the reply and sorry for late responding, I wanted to make certain what was going on. The temporary verdict is that the 'knife edge' and the connecting point on the pivots are rusted or otherwise slighly damaged and therefore tremolo use destabilizes the tuning - it doesn't get back to tune after trem use, stays at a sharper point. I think it will be fixed and I can confirm this was the issue by the end of this week. So your advice was ultimately to the point, you mentioned this possibility, but I needed a luthier to tell what is really going on anyway. Thanks again...


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Post subject: Re: Test drove the new Stratocaster Elite
Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 7:35 am
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New piece of info I felt I needed to make public: my luthier claims my elite strat pickguard has more ways than the part for the truss rod adjustment wheel different from a standard strat pickguard. The bridge side is different in measurements and is responsible for some problems I have been having with tremolo use. I think you better get this piece of info verified or denied by an authority or your own measurements before making any pickguard modifications.


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