My mexican strat was never properly set up. I've researched and tried all I could, but the intonation is just incorrect and it's frustrating.

I've been playing guitar for a year and adjusted the action and truss rod based on friend's guitars. It's not perfectly calibrated but enough so there's no fret buzz. I've also got the bridge sitting on the body, rather than floating. Lastly, I tried to put the saddles where they belong. I've got the bottom four strings just about where the should be. The high e and b strings are just flat when pressed on the 12th fret and there is nothing I can do. I've loosened each saddle as far forward as possible, but they are both still very flat.

To remedy this, I've tuned the top two strings sharp so when I play around the 7th fret area everything is close to being in tune (but it's painful to hear sometimes...)

So I'm not sure what to do. I do not want to take it to a "professional" at guitar center because I took my acoustic there and got it back with loads of fret buzz. Is there something I'm doing incorrectly? Please help me!

How do I get to a list of authorized dealers?

Also, this was a handed down guitar. Some of the frets are slightly worn down on the high three strings. Although I only notice fret buzz on specific frets, is there a remedy for this besides replacing the entire neck?
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If the problem is prominent on frets 1-4 then it could be due to saddle height. At the 12th fret the only way would be to move the saddle forwards towards the neck. Other than trying longer screws, getting the nut slots checked or installing a earvana compensated nut. I'd check the pitch of the neck. I aim for as much as 2 - 2.5mm of difference in the action of strings between the 1st and 14th frets. Somewhere after the 14th the frets start to taper down as they get towards the neck pickup. So measurement at the end of the board can sometimes be useless. so if your action at the first fret is 1mm for example then at the 14th it would be 3-3.5mm. When depressed at the first fret the action at the 14th would be 2.5mm. I hasten to add thats a rough approximation of what suits me. Setting neck pitch has more to do with feel then measurement.

Whatever the problem is take it to a repair shop, just dont use the same one that let you down before.

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No no and no

Hey 12345,
Take a deep breath and walk away for a minute. Then go here if you haven't been already. It will walk you thru a basic setup and you may eliminate your intonation problem without having to pay someone else to do it.[http://www.fender.com/support/stratocaster.php][/url]

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I'm not slow... and I'm not fast... just sort of halffast...

Oh by the way welcome to the forum...

I can never get those links right but type it in. Good luck

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I'm not slow... and I'm not fast... just sort of halffast...

thanks everybody. I did my own novice setup using that as a guide. I don't have any professional measuring tools so I just did most slight adjustments by sight, using a few reference guitars from my friends. I know the action isn't perfect string by string, and I didn't fiddle with the truss rod very much, but I don't understand why the intonation is so off.

Thanks for the detailed advice nikininja, but I don't even know what 2 mm should feel like. :\

I think my best bet now is to just bring the guitar to sam ash and ask them what could be fixed. At least I tried!

thanks everybody. I did my own novice setup using that as a guide. I don't have any professional measuring tools so I just did most slight adjustments by sight, using a few reference guitars from my friends. I know the action isn't perfect string by string, and I didn't fiddle with the truss rod very much, but I don't understand why the intonation is so off.

Thanks for the detailed advice nikininja, but I don't even know what 2 mm should feel like. :\

I think my best bet now is to just bring the guitar to sam ash and ask them what could be fixed. At least I tried!

mate theres no shame in taking it to a pro to sort out. Do yourself a favour for the next couple of years and try to see what different techs do to set a guitar up. You can learn alot that way.

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No no and no

good luck 12345

it is possible that your guitar was manufactured incorrectly (the bridge could be in a slightly OFF position).

Another thing that can mess up setting of the intonation is if the pickups are too close to the strings ... but that would affect all strings.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

pickup height is a whole separate problem. First pickup is slanted downwards, while second and third pickups (hss strat) are slanted upwards.

If I wanted to replace the pickguard, are there any instructional websites or guidelines I should follow? I'm quite a novice around the mechanics of a guitar, but I don't mind doing things myself.

Watch your pickup height too. You could be getting string pull.
I agree, take it in for a setup. You've only been playing for a year. You'll learn a lot more as you go. You really can't set a guitar up "by eye". Neck relief, the nut not being cut correctly, pup and saddle height need to be measured for best results. You can't get that by looking at someone's guitar. Each guitar has it's own setup. It can vary from instrument to instrument even the same make and model. The setup measurements are just guidelines.

what is string pull? also, I noticed that my Ibanez acoustic is slightly sharp at the twelfth fret, and sharper on the higher frets. The higher the action on the higher frets, the higher the relative pitch. It's not terrible because the strings are in tune with each other. Is there a fix for this other than readjusting the entire saddle a millimeter or two?

It's magnetic pull on the strings from the pickups. If the pickups are too close to the strings, it can cause bad intonation and loss of sustain.

Yes if the pickups are to close to the strings you are going to get unwanted harmonics.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Hey Strat guy ... I seen you over on Fender Talk also ... so here's this again:

I have run into this problem once before too. I did a re-setup and it came out fine. I would suggest having a look at the saddle heights to make sure they are still where they should be.

Stratocaster Setup Procedure

Above is a setup procedure I made from basically the Fender specs but in a step-by-step manner - hopefully to make it easier. I do this for myself on my Fenders and my ESP ... maybe you will get something out of it too - don't know.

You may need to just get a new set of strings and do a setup (or at least most of it). If that doesn't work out, then you can always pay someone else to do it for you.

Good luck! Let us know what happens ...

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GUITARS: 2006 ESP LTD with Floyd Rose | 1999 MIM Fender Stratocaster w/Seymour Duncan
AMP: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Limited Edition Python
PEDALS: Electro-Harmonix Metal Muff | MXR Distortion III | MXR Stereo Chorus | MXR Phase 90

[quote="nikininja"]

Well how convenient to have this matter on a thread once again. I spoke to it earlier and coincidently on the train into NYC with a fellow player and traveller.

I've set my strings about as high as Niki's on both my Clapton and my Gilmour in order to eliminate any choking above the 18th fret and to have the notes ring true. I am at the limit of the saddle screws in this, but I don't partcularly care for the action that high. I plan to get both guitars back to my tech and run through this issue with him.

The classic Strat setup does not seem to provide the fretting accuracy I am looking for. The Gilmour, right out of the case, played in error. So why is it that Strats, in my experience, do not seem to lend themselves to a low, fast action that notes true to the 21st fret or above?

Sure would be interesting to know how Dickson sets up Clapton's guitars. His notes are right on clear to the rear strap button

Your thoughts are appreciated.

Doc

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"Another day in paradise!"