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Post subject: On Strats Nicely Tweaked
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 3:41 pm
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Martian and others:

What are some common tweaks to a 2005/2006 MIM Standard Strat?

I like the description of the Texas Special pups (and having been to Austin's 6th Street a few months ago, love that Texas Sound! No it wasn't the Shiner Bachs).

I found John Atchley's website Guitar Nuts on modifying the electrics to quiet the hum by shielding the innards and adding a capacitor. Only soldered a few things in my time so this one may wait a while till I get the nerve.

Graphtech offers a new set of saddles, a nut and trees. My acoustic has a Graphtech Tusq saddle that is great so I know their stuff works.

I'm expecting delivery of the new repair guide from Erlewine, so maybe all will be revealed - I like to tinker with stuff but haven't dared take the back cover off the Strat yet (got it two weeks ago.)

What the general thoughts on tweaks? I like the way it sounds. I'm a beginner so the 'quack' can be too quackie at time but it's getting better....always looking for improvement....

Thanks

James

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Post subject: Re: On Strats Nicely Tweaked
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 6:18 pm
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James,

First and foremost, welcome!

I've been using Fender and ONLY Fender Strats as my #1 guitar since 1968. I've had many which would be worth phone numbers today if I still had them, regardless of how they played or sounded. I've run the gauntlet with them from dogs to gems. The oldest I've owned was from 1958 up through 2007. Since you specifically cited MIMs, I'd like to dispel a lot of myths, web hysteria and downright nonsense on what "needs" to be done to them.

My disclaimer: I am speaking for myself and from my own reality. I'm sure that MANY here will object to what I'm saying but at least I can speak from 40 years experience and never being without multiple Strats at any given time.

Since you used my word, "tweak", I'll tell you what I did with my MIM further on in this post. Bear in mind that your phrase, "common tweaks" could be anything from changing the strings to disemboweling the entire guitar, albeit unnecessarily, especially when it comes to MIMs.

Many players judge Strat pickups by their "quack". Loosely speaking, this is when either the neck or the bridge pickup is combined with the middle pickup. It is how snappy and pleasing the tone is to the listener. Personally, I never judged the pickups for that. I judged them individually on their own sonic merits. See, by doing this, if they had the dynamics I was looking for, I knew the quack would be there. Believe it or not though, I hardly use the traditional "quack" pickup combos. Rather, I use the neck and the bridge in combo from time to time. How I accomplished that electronically is discussed further down.

Texas Specials are over wound Strat pickups. They are great for a growly type of Strat sound and overdrive an amp easier than any other Fender Strat pickup. Midrange (which is where the balls of any pickup lies) is extended unfortunately, at the expense of high end. On the down side, they are farty on rhythm, string separation isn't great and have minimal quack due to them being over wound. Yes, they are a hair louder too then most Fender Strat pickups.

I read through the Guitar Nuts site. I commend JA for his research and his generosity for sharing his knowledge, findings and ideas. Ironically, I've never had a problem with noise from any of my Strats to the point of where I felt I needed any additional shielding. Of note though, is that I'm from the old, "Plug In Direct and Play" school. (Tube amps, of course.)

Remember this well: Contrary to popular belief, if it ain't broke, DON'T fix it.

Graphtech has some great products. I've used them on many Strats that I've had to replace 'tired' string nuts.

I've read Erlewine's book. There's lots of good stuff you can learn from it. I've noticed though, that in there and even in Stew-Mac's free tutorials, the methods they show you tend to mandate you having to buy lots of proprietary tools from them in order to accomplish the job(s) at hand. Granted, many luthier standard tools are necessary, yet bear in mind that there are multiple successful ways and deviations to still accomplish your tasks with equal success and less "specialty" tools.

OK, here's where it hits the fan: Contrary to popular belief, there is no shred of evidence presented even here on this forum that the woods used in current MIMs are inferior to their US counterparts. Not as pretty, yes but cheap and cheesy, no. More laminations? Usually, yes, but this does not guarantee a better sounding solid body guitar either way. It's the luck of the draw when it comes to each and every guitar, regardless of country of origin. Of note: the CNC machines used in the US and Mexico are identical so form, fit and function are not an issue at either plant either.

The quality of the hardware on the MIM stuff is not substandard. Rather, the US counterparts such as the finish, appointments and cosmetics are more detailed and ornate. Or to put it another way, the US stuff has Lexus trim and detail whereas the MIM has Toyota. And let's face it, Toyotas are pretty damn good cars in their own rite.

Ironically, the MIM Strats have more of the feel of an older Strat whereas the new US stuff doesn't. Truth be told, I can't get used to American Standards and the like.

The biggest difference in the electronics of the MIM vs. the US models is the pickups. The MIMs are essentially a tad less wound than their US stuff and use ceramic bar magnets whereas the US stuff uses Alnico polepieces. Tone wise and as a rule, Alnicos are sweeter sounding and ceramics are more aggressive. This is a rule, not an absolute. Granted, the MIM stuff is cheaper to manufacture but there are MANY, boutique manufactured pickups out there wound about the same as the MIMs which use ceramic magnets for their predetermined sound. Again, "Lexus vs. Toyota."

So, what did I tweak?

Not liking Fender's factory Strat specs, I replaced the strings with my favorite brand, lowered the action, made the neck straighter and floated the bridge at a lower angle. No, the guitar doesn't buzz.

The B and G strings were hanging up in the nut so I feathered (slightly reshaped) their slots and gave them a touch of graphite; problem gone.

I installed a Fender Super Switch and a 1 Meg Fender blender pot so I can get any combination of the pickups in the order I deem most important to my stylings.

The machine heads, the string tree, the bridge saddles, block, springs, etc, etc, all work just fine. The intonation is right on the money. Did I mention, if it ain't broke, don't fix it?

I removed the OEM pickups and installed a DiMarzio Area 67/58/61 combo because like I said, I've had many a Strat covering many a year and these are the years of the pickups I like best for these positions. You have my word, this was an astounding coincidence. I honestly didn't care whether they were humbucking or not (which they happen to be) as long as they got me in the ballpark of the tonality I wanted which they surely do.

Lastly, I replaced the backplate and the tremolo tip to match the pickguard and the rest of the knobs respectively.

My guitar plays and sounds like a million bucks now! It sustains quite nicely too. It has been my #1 since April of 2007 which is when it was made and when I bought it new over many a nice, new American Strat.

Have you noticed that the stuff I tweaked had NOTHING to do with US or MIM? Rather, the tweaking I found the guitar required could have just as easily been for an American model of any year.

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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 6:58 pm
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I always thought that tweaking a strat involved putting on a brass nut, a brass tremolo, and brass knobs !?!? :lol:

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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 6:33 am
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Great! I have nothing useful to add: I'm just boosting this thread back to the top so's more people see Martian's post.

And Orvilleowner's joke, of course.

Cheers guys! - C


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 6:48 am
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Ceri wrote:
Great! I have nothing useful to add: I'm just boosting this thread back to the top so's more people see Martian's post.

And Orvilleowner's joke, of course.

Cheers guys! - C

I figured you would like Martins post ,I defininitely did!


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:58 am
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fhopkins wrote:
Ceri wrote:
Great! I have nothing useful to add: I'm just boosting this thread back to the top so's more people see Martian's post.

And Orvilleowner's joke, of course.

Cheers guys! - C

I figured you would like Martins post ,I defininitely did!


Thanks, guys, you make me blush! :oops:

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Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 3:53 pm
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Martian,

Thanks for the depth of your response. I really appreciate it. You confirm what I had gathered from my limited knowledge. It makes sense that Fender would not have the MIMs drastically different from the MIAs. It's not good marketing strategy. If I had a bad experience with a MIM I wouldn't ever consider a MIA. I drive a VW Jetta, if it were crap I'd never consider an Audi in the future. Anyway, based on your post, I'm gonna take my time, learn what this baby has to offer and then see what needs to be done. So far, I'm loving it.

BTW, I went into the local GC expecting to leave with a Squire. I played one or two, then saw the used Fender that I ended up buying. So, I'm really happy because I didn't think I'd be the owner of a Fender at this point in my playing.

Again, thanks for the advice.

James


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Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 4:08 pm
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jrc127 wrote:
Martian,

Thanks for the depth of your response. I really appreciate it. You confirm what I had gathered from my limited knowledge. It makes sense that Fender would not have the MIMs drastically different from the MIAs. It's not good marketing strategy. If I had a bad experience with a MIM I wouldn't ever consider a MIA. I drive a VW Jetta, if it were crap I'd never consider an Audi in the future. Anyway, based on your post, I'm gonna take my time, learn what this baby has to offer and then see what needs to be done. So far, I'm loving it.

BTW, I went into the local GC expecting to leave with a Squire. I played one or two, then saw the used Fender that I ended up buying. So, I'm really happy because I didn't think I'd be the owner of a Fender at this point in my playing.

Again, thanks for the advice.

James


You're quite welcome! Now, enjoy that Fender!!

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