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Post subject: Sustain loss in new stratocaster
Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 10:53 pm
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I’ve been wanting a real strat (or at least as close as I can; MiM) for so long because I love the Fender line. Been trying so long to get my hands on the elusive strat but they’re expensive to me. 2 weeks ago I shelled out $730(after tax) for a MIM Fender Stratocaster. I loved it, great guitar, I left the tremolo arm out until my springs I ordered come in so it doesn’t wiggle and be too loose. But I didn’t play it for about 2 days, and it just sat on my stand. I go to play it tonight and the sustain is almost completely gone. The 12th fret high E rings out for maybe 2 seconds and then it quickly goes mute. Same with a couple of other frets too, but it’s not all of my frets, but they all do seem to not have much sustain in general; just some less than others. Now keep in mind I’ve never made any adjustment to this guitar other than to tune it. I even have the original strings; he’ll even the plastic is still on it. I have no idea what this could be because as I said, it just sat on my stand for 2 days and I pick it up and it seems screwed. Any suggestions on what to do?
This really puts a damper on my opinion of strats(at least the player model) because if the sustain just vanished without me modifying it, that says volumes on the quality of the guitar.


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Post subject: Re: Sustain loss in new stratocaster
Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2019 1:37 am
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I'm guessing there is nothing wrong with the guitar, it just needs a setup. I won't advice you to do any quick fixes or try-thises, because I don't know even the basics of how the trem, truss rod, string height etc. are now.

The absolutely best way would be to invest in an "initial setup for a new guitar" done by a good pro, that's usually about 80 $£€.
But if you want to DIY, start by reading the Stratocaster Setup Guide and ask the forum for further help. For DIY, you need some basic setup skills and tools.


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Post subject: Re: Sustain loss in new stratocaster
Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2019 8:16 am
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The guitar will naturally change as it acclimates to your home. Wood is a living, moving thing and will change as temperature and humidity change. It's why guitars need an initial setup when new, and why they need to be touched up from time to time.
We're talking about a guitar that was built in Ensenada, that was then shipped to a warehouse of the company that you bought from, that then went to you. Each time, the neck will move for a couple of weeks before it stabilizes.

There are a couple of things that can cause what you describe... If the action is too low, the strings will "fret out" on higher frets. This will vary from string to string, because the saddle height is (or should be) different for each string. If the pickups are too high, the magnetic pull can dampen the strings.

Doing a setup is not complicated, but it's hard to describe on a forum, and it does take a few measuring tools and feeler gauges.
First step is to check the neck relief. With the strings held down at the 1st and 17th frets, you want right around .010 to .012 clearance between the string and middle fret. Any less is too straight, any more is too much.
This needs to be checked first, because it impacts everything else.
Next is to check the string height at the 15th fret. A good ballpark is 4/64", but up to 6/64 is acceptable. Published numbers are a starting point, each guitar and player may want slightly different, but that's your ballpark.
Next is pickup height. Fretting at the 20th fret, you're shooting for 5/64" on most pickups... 8/64 on Texas Specials. The magnetic pull of the pickups will impact intonation and sustain, as well as output. A lot of people simply drop the pickups flush with the guard and gradually bring them up until they are happy.
Finally, intonation. This is done last because everything done to this point has an impact on intonation.

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Post subject: Re: Sustain loss in new stratocaster
Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2019 8:17 am
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The first thing to do before a setup is change the strings. Old strings could mess with your sustain and intonation (playing in tune). After that, follow the posted Fender guidelines for setup.


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Post subject: Re: Sustain loss in new stratocaster
Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2019 10:07 am
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I’ve went to guitar center to one of their fender certified techs and he tweaked everything I could thing of on the guitar and gave a whole new setup, I’ve also already changed the strings on it as well. My guess is that at this point it has to be a pickup issue. I’ve used different amps, different guitars on the amps I’ve been using, pedals, different amp to guitar chords. The only thing that’s certain is it IS the strat. And considering it’s had a full setup and new strings the pickups are the only thing left I could think of. Like I said, the sustain just dies very suddenly, like the vibration is continuing on the neck and string, but the sound dies. I also noticed if I take one of the notes that kind of sustains, and sustain it for 4 or so seconds and then bend up on it to make it go higher pitch, the sound produced from the amp actually stays the same as just me plucking the note. I’ve also noticed that a lot of my notes IF they sustain produce a very wobbly sound, as if I have a tremolo setting on. Such a shame boys, I do think it is the pickups.


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Post subject: Re: Sustain loss in new stratocaster
Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2019 12:07 pm
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All three pickups going bad at the same time, on a new guitar, is nearly impossible.

But that new description gives one thing to check: pickup height. If the pickups are set up high, screw them way down to the pickguard level and see (well, hear) if the problem disappears.


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Post subject: Re: Sustain loss in new stratocaster
Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2019 8:40 am
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Can I ask, Illuminauti, what you've been playing in the past? As I understand it, this is your first Strat. If you've been used to the sustain of set-neck, humbucker-equipped Gibsons (for instance), the sustain from a Strat might disappoint. Especially if you play at home and can't turn the amp up a bit?

The attraction of a Strat (in my opinion) is the variety of tones available, but they don't sustain like a Les Paul. Or at least, mine never have, and I have a very good tech who sets them up to perfection.

So are you expecting too much, I wonder? Just a thought...

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Sustain loss in new stratocaster
Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2019 11:58 am
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I get the impression we are talking feedback sustain here rather than the natural acoustic sustain of the guitar not plugged in.

That being the case single coils are a completely different beast to humbuckers. But they will still do it, see Gary Moore, Hendrix etc. But they also take technique. Even where you stand in relation to the amp can make a difference and this will change subject to the venue as well.

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Post subject: Re: Sustain loss in new stratocaster
Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2019 5:48 pm
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Illuminauti wrote:
IF they sustain produce a very wobbly sound, as if I have a tremolo setting on. Such a shame boys, I do think it is the pickups.

This is a classic symptom of "Stratitis" and is generally caused by the pickups being set too high.

A problem in the pickups will not produce a tremolo-like effect... they are either going to work or they won't work, or if the coils are damaged by being shorted, the output will be low.

Grab a screwdriver and run the pickups... neck and middle.... all the way down to flush with the pickguard. Plug it in and play on the bridge pickup and see if it has improved.
Then gradually bring the middle and neck back up until they sound good.

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Post subject: Re: Sustain loss in new stratocaster
Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2019 5:55 pm
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Mattis is right the pickups are probably too high if you hear a wobbly sound.

But I'd questioning how good the "certified " GC is if they put the pickups too high

One thought, if some notes sustain and some notes muted sound, then might be a high fret.

I have a Epiphone Sheraton that had a couple of wonky frets, the tech I had leveled a few frets and set up the guitar for under $80.

Check a string, a fret at a time, listen for which note is muted

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Post subject: Re: Sustain loss in new stratocaster
Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 1:34 am
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Eracer_Team wrote:
..... if some notes sustain and some notes muted sound, then might be a high fret.



A very fair point. Perhaps get a fret rocker and check them, they are only a few quid and once you have it you have it for ever.

But it could also be the some notes do sustain and some don't. Notes a semi tone off the string harmonic are far less likely to sustain than a note on the harmonic.

There are other tricks which help the natural sustain on a Strat. If you don't use the trem then deck the bridge. Also loosen all the neck screws a little, while still in tune, and see if you get a crack noise when the neck seats on the end of the pocket. Re tighten the screws after.

I think others are also on the money with PUP height as well.

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Post subject: Re: Sustain loss in new stratocaster
Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 8:30 am
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Quote:
Also loosen all the neck screws a little, while still in tune, and see if you get a crack noise when the neck seats on the end of the pocket.
Yes, this reminds me of a 'sustain-blocker' I used to find on 90's Strats - forgot all about it until John mentioned the neck/body joint - the paper sticker Fender put on the back of the neck (body end), so you didn't have perfect wood-to-wood contact. First thing I removed on a 90's Strat (stuck it under the pickguard instead). Perhaps OP has something like that - a non-wood neck shim might do much the same thing?

I agree Gary Moore, and especially Jeff Beck, don't have a problem with sustain, but I did point out that OP might be playing at home with low volume. Personally, I find that cranking the amp makes a lot of difference! Which of course isn't a problem at stage volume...

Cheers - Peter.


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