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Post subject: Classic Player '60s problem
Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 7:39 pm
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I ordered a used classic player '60s strat from another guitar center's online used inventory and it got here Thursday. The action was pretty high, so I went to my local gc (Nashville) to have it set up. I don't know if it was doing it before the setup, but I noticed that notes on the low E string above the 12th or 13th fret were sounding quite strange. I'm pretty sure it wasn't fret buzz, it just sounded tinny. Like you're on a submarine or something. Kinda muddy-ish, really metallic and nasally. Just nasty. I mean, I suppose it was sorta subtle, but it was definitely there, so I took it back today and the tech re-did the setup. I think it took care of some of it, but I think it's still there. I know the springs behind the middle 4 saddles aren't extended all the way to the saddles: they're kinda free to vibrate, and this could be the issue (I hope!). I got the axe for $450 and I hope this isn't a big issue, because the thing's in perfect condition and it plays sooo nicely otherwise. Oh yeah, you can hear it both unplugged and through the amp, and the pickup heights are compensated.
Anyone experience anything similar? Should I take out my anger on that dang cs 2 point tailpiece?


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Post subject: Re: Classic Player '60s problem
Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 2:06 pm
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supersix wrote:
...I noticed that notes on the low E string above the 12th or 13th fret were sounding quite strange. I'm pretty sure it wasn't fret buzz, it just sounded tinny. Like you're on a submarine or something. Kinda muddy-ish, really metallic and nasally...I know the springs behind the middle 4 saddles aren't extended all the way to the saddles: they're kinda free to vibrate...Should I take out my anger on that dang cs 2 point tailpiece?


Based on your complaint, premising the E string isn't defective and the fret(s) are in proper order and, not having your guitar in front of me, I surmise you have three separate issues here:

1. "Stratitis";
2. Springs rattling;
3. Displaced hostility.

Let's go in reverse with the issues:

3. No, it's a good tailpiece, regardless of what others may say.

2. If those saddle springs have front to back looseness where they are affecting playability, simply take them out, one at a time, stretch them and reinstall them. If you cannot intonate a guitar on your own, make a note of exactly where each saddle is before you begin backing out their screw so that you know exactly where to reseat the saddle upon restoring the screw, thus retaining proper intonation. A small piece of masking tape directly in front of the individual saddle prior to screw removal should help you.

1. This is a condition where the magnetic polepiece(s) of the pickup(s) are either too close to the string(s), actually sucking them in magnettically and/or the magnetic flux of the pickups have to be synchronized. In other words (and oversimplified), you have 18 magnets, individually, "doing their own thing" instead of all working together.

A. On the low E, verify that the polepieces are approximately the thickness of at least a nickel away from the string as you fret the string at the 12th fret.
B. To synchronize the magnetic flux, gently depress all 6 strings with both hands at the same time until all 6 strings are just about to touch all 18 polepieces at the same time. Wait a second or two. Next, slowly, gently and evenly begin releasing your hands' pressure, thus restoring the strings to their natural position.

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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 3:52 pm
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Haha, "displaced hostility." Thanks for the advice Martian. I'm just kidding, got nothing against the trem on this baby. As bad as I am at playing, I'm not even going to try to take a wrench to the thing. Luckily, this being Nashville, there's no shortage of quality guitar shops, and plenty specialize in Fenders so I'll take it to one of them. Again, it's probably just a small issue, but it can drive you nuts if it's your favorite axe.


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Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 4:25 pm
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supersix wrote:
Haha, "displaced hostility." Thanks for the advice Martian. I'm just kidding, got nothing against the trem on this baby. As bad as I am at playing, I'm not even going to try to take a wrench to the thing. Luckily, this being Nashville, there's no shortage of quality guitar shops, and plenty specialize in Fenders so I'll take it to one of them. Again, it's probably just a small issue, but it can drive you nuts if it's your favorite axe.


Glad to help! And per your last sentence, ain't it the truth!!!

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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 5:28 pm
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Hey supersix
I live in the 'Boro, we're practically neighbors so

Hi neighbor!

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Last edited by Troublecall on Tue Nov 25, 2008 2:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 5:43 pm
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Hey Troublecall, nice to meet you neighbor! No doubt you're just as spoiled as me with the music scene here :D Take it easy man!


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Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 11:41 am
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Now, I AM AN AMATURE, but I've had this problem, myself, I think. Ok, to get it strait, on the bass e string, the further past the 12th fret you go the wierder it soundfs, right? Is it almost a warbling metallic sound, kinda vibrato'ish? And when you play the 12th fret up on the a string is it a little better, and the d string a little better and so on? If this is what you mean, its the pickups. Basically, because there's more mass on the E string then the rest of them, they're being pulled harder to the magnets in the pickups, and its making the natural elipse of the string's vibration stretch in a wierd fashion, and its coming out as strange string sound. All I did was back the pickups away from the strings a bit, and it helpped tremendously. Here's a crazy question, too: if it got worse after the set up at GC, could they possibly have put lighter strings on the guitar, as well? The lighter the strings the more wabble the E will have to the magnets. Thats the big reason you should have a guitar properly set up when you change string thickness, aside from the neck bending differently. Let me know, I'm curious!


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Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 11:45 am
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OH, and I've also found that on most strats you're going to get at least some of that sound on the bass E string past the 12th fret, so I don't ever expect it to be perfect, unless somebody else here can tell me what I may be doing wrong :D , but hey, I got lots of other strings and frets to play with, so I don't worry about it.


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Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 4:56 pm
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Hey popsbpython, yeah, the second time I went to have a set up, the tech definitely re-biased the pickup heights away from low E. I think this helped alot. I mentioned that it also sounded funny unplugged. You can still get a metallic-ish sort of sound unplugged (if you listen past the fret buzz), but I think it's definitely better now. I think it's mostly just in my head now, but I'm definitely relieved. Again, you can't beat $450 for this axe, but I just hoped it wasn't a case of "you get what you pay for." I got a lot more!

Oh yeah, forgot to mention, I always play ernie ball 9's, so that variable never really changed. Maybe the previous owner used something beefier, but when I got it, it seemed like the last guy bought it, never got it set up, and traded it in. Who knows?

Anyways, thanks for the help, take care!


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Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 5:37 pm
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Yeah, 450 or even retail, you still got a really great guitar. IMHO, the pickups are worth at least half the value; I don't know how they got something that sounds that good in something that affordible. What color did you get, anyway?


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Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 1:48 pm
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Yeah, I could probably turn around and sell the loaded pickguard on ebay for $200! Even then, those pups sound so good, I would be the one getting ripped off!
Mine's sonic blue, and I must say, it looks superb. Great color, I think every level stratocaster should be available with it.


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Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 6:35 pm
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Yeah, I got a similar deal a year ago on one at a local store with a pretty big ding in it. I didn't really know the series, and didn't care for the color (burgendy mist), but I LOVED the neck and wanted it for a standard I was customizing. Didn't even plug it in, just paid $425 for it thinking I'd switch necks and sell it somewhere for what I paid for it, but after I did the switch I made the mistake of plugging it in and insstantly fell in love. UNFORTUNATELY, "short nerdy white dude" insecurities settled in (in no way helpped by the teasing of some friends about playing a pink guitar, of course :wink: )and I ended up trading it, but I'll tell you, that was a hard guitar to part with...still kinda regret not swapping those pickups out first. Haha...I don't care what they say, looks do matter.


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Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 9:29 pm
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Yeah, I hear ya man!


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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 7:13 am
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Just want to observe what an excellent post that first one by Martian was. If that ain't a value for money offering I don't know what is.

There's one more possibility that it could be, which I've heard about but never experienced, so I'm not the man to help you with it. It sometimes happens that the trem springs resonate at certain frequencies and add metallic sounds to the overall tone. The fact that you say you have this issue plugged and unplugged makes me wonder about that.

If I remember rightly Forum member Nikininja has had this issue and if he looks in he may be the best person to talk about it.

Though I reckon Martian's saddle spring thing is your best place to start. Begin with that one and then see...

Cheers - C


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Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 3:12 pm
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Good luck with your strat, I got mine last year. I got a 3 tone sunburst at GC brand new for $499. With the 69 pickups it is hard to beat. The only thing that I dont like that much is the color on the pickguard, kind of green? Do all the pickups have AY written on the back of them?


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