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Post subject: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Praise and Issue
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 11:08 am
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Joined: Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:09 pm
Posts: 22
Location: Central Ohio
Lots of praise, and one issue!

I was incredibly lucky, and got one of these in a trade! I had a perfect, showroom condition USA Tele that just never "did it" for me. And I'm a Tele lover!

I came across a player, traveling across the country, gigging. She was a 100% devoted Tele Blues player. And a REALLY GOOD one!

She bought the 50th when it first came out, thinking she'd add a Strat to her gig gear rig. Tried it. Didn't like playing a Strat. Put it in the case.

She saw my ad, selling the Tele, and called me. We ended up trading even. The 50th was dead mint!

The setup was perfect! Not even a tweak needed!!!

And I gotta tell you ... It's the best sounding, and playing Strat I've ever played! I love it!

The tone variations are a major plus for me. I play a lot of different styles. Jazz, Classic Rock, BLUES!!! And a lot of Latin Rock. And recently got back into SURF! Lovin' it! (I'm 68.)

So a typical gig for me can include anything and everything from The Shadow Of Your Smile to Soul Sacrifice! Autumn Leaves to Apache! Caravan to Crossroads or Caught In A Crosasfire.

Yeah, I usually go to the PRS for Santana tunes. And yeah I have a Jazzmaster and a georgous Gretsch that're great for Surf. No doubt.

But ... I gotta tell ya ... The sound I get from my 50th is SO DRIPPY . . . if I play more than one Surf tune in a row, I gotta take a break, and MOP UP THE STAGE before I play another one!

I recently worked out my own version of Sleepwalk. Almost all harmony and chord melody. Very few single notes. And use the whammy all through it.

Using my "Surf Drip" pedal set up, it sounds incredible! I've never played that tune, at any gig, regardles of the venue, and not brought the house down with it! Be it a special event, outside festival, Animal club, or biker bar!!!

It also works great on Santana tunes! As well, obviously, for the Classic Rock, and Blues!

Now, that all being said ... I have a question. And issue, actually.

Can anyone tell me why this guitar is always going SHARP out of tune!?! Especially the G string! I sometimes actually give the G a slight adjustment while in the middle of playing a tune.

Our other guitarist also has a 50th, not a Deluxe. And his does the same thing. All strings move sharp. And the G is a big PITA!

A tech I work with told me it's because mine only has one string tree on the headstock. BUT, the other guy in the band's Strat has two, and does the same thing.

I have a LOT of guitars. I know how to set up guitars. And this is the only one I ever owned that goes sharp when you're playing it!

FYI: Intonation is right on. And I've tried tightening the bridge screws to pull the bridge tight against the body. So you can only dive. And I've tried loosening them so you can use the whammy "a bit" either way. Dive it down, or rock it a little to pull strings higher.

In both cases, the strings go sharp. And the G jumps like 20 to 30 cents!!! Currently using Fender 1046's. (I use fatter strings on some guitars. But 1046's on my Strats.)

BTW . . . I've gotten really good at tuning while playing a song since I owned this bad boy!
I owned this bad boy!

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I Got Da Blues!


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Post subject: Re: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Praise and Issue
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 12:00 pm
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Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:53 am
Posts: 4241
My best guess: the nut slot. It could also be the string tree (but you only have one); or the magnetic pull of the pickups (but you have SCN's).
The cure is easy: loosen the G-string, park it to the B-string slot, polish the G-slot with just a few draws of very fine sandpaper (the wet/dry version is nice, grit at least 1200), lube, restring, retune.

BTW, congrats on the new guitar.


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Post subject: Re: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Praise and Issue
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 1:57 pm
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Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
jmattis wrote:
My best guess: the nut slot. It could also be the string tree (but you only have one); or the magnetic pull of the pickups (but you have SCN's).
The cure is easy: loosen the G-string, park it to the B-string slot, polish the G-slot with just a few draws of very fine sandpaper (the wet/dry version is nice, grit at least 1200), lube, restring, retune.


+1

As well, you should carefully examine each bridge saddle for any nicks or burs that might create friction. Remove any you find via polishing.

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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