SRV Artist Signature Series Strat Question

LinkRS · **Joined:** Mon Jul 14, 2008 3:40 pm **Posts:** 6

Hi Everyone,

I am a newbie guitar player, and just picked up the SRV Signature Series Strat (my 3rd guitar), and had a question about it. First off, I love this axe! The look, the feel, the desgin, and not to metnion that SRV is one of the best blues guitartist I have ever heard! However, earlier last year I picked up a Mexican Standard HSS Strat, and ended up returning it because the bridge pickup and strings were not lined up properly. It was very annoying (at least cosmetically), and I replaced it with an Ibanez RG. Anyway, flash forward to today, and I got this SRV signature guitar, and was concerned to find that the bridge pickup and first string (high E) are misaligned. Is this something I should be concerned with, or is this typical of strats? I was led to belelive that MIM strats are subject to this sort of issue, which is why I stepped up to a MIA one.

Thanks!

Rich

cwpainter · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 11:50 am

Are you trying to say that the strings do not sit directly above the pole pieces on the pickup?

If so, that is normal.

JPD · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 12:42 pm

SRV Strats are MIM ? For $1500 I would think their MIA.

texasguitarslinger · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 12:59 pm

JPD wrote:

SRV Strats are MIM ? For $1500 I would think their MIA.

No, SRV Strats are MIA.

And yeah, it's perfectly normal for the pole pieces to not exactly align with the strings. I don't think it really effects the sound either.

cvilleira · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 1:35 pm

Yes the pole pieces do not line up when you are looking at them. Pickup height wise on Fender SRV's the bass side of the pickup is set at 1/8 and the treble side at 3/32 if your pickups are to close to the string you will get unwanted harmonics because of the magnet being to close and not allowing the sting to vibrate correctly because of the pulling down influence thats the only thing you need to worry about and its easy to adjust.

LinkRS · **Joined:** Mon Jul 14, 2008 3:40 pm **Posts:** 6

JPD wrote:

SRV Strats are MIM ? For $1500 I would think their MIA.

Hi,

Sorry about that. The SRV Sig is made in America, but I returned a previous MIM Fat Strat due to pup/string alignment. On the Fat Strat pretty much the only string that was directly over the pups was the 6th (low E) string, all the rest were pretty much on one side of the pup or the other. It really bugged me. For my SRV, it is only the bridge pup and the first (high E) string.

Thanks!

Rich

LinkRS · **Joined:** Mon Jul 14, 2008 3:40 pm **Posts:** 6

cwpainter wrote:

Are you trying to say that the strings do not sit directly above the pole pieces on the pickup?

If so, that is normal.

Hi,

Yes, that is what I am describing. The string is not directly over the pup, but this is only true for the first string and bridge pickup. So this is normal? Thanks!

Rich

cwpainter · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:46 pm

Very normal. Otherwise they would have had to make the bridge pickups longer than the other two. On the plus side it makes it so that when the string is bent (when you really want to hear the high e) it is directly over the pole piece.

LinkRS · **Joined:** Mon Jul 14, 2008 3:40 pm **Posts:** 6

BigJay wrote:

The string dont necessarily line up directly above the pickups.

However, the pick up height, in relation to the string, is adjustable. The screws holding the pup to the pick guard will adjust the pickup up and/or down and this will change the tone of the string when you play it.

Higher pickups, relative to the string, will sound "hotter" or "warmer". Lower pickups will sound softer and more mellow.

There really isnt a proper adjustment this way. Its really to your tone preferences.

However, if you adjust the from bridge pups too high, sometimes the string especially the low E, can hit the edge of the pup when you play high on the neck.

If your guitar is an American Signature SRV, you have got yourself a KICK-$@! guitar and should assume its not purely designed or assembled. Its a very nice piece.

Hi,

It is an American Signature SRV. I agree, it is absolutly KICK-$@! It is my first American made guitar, and I really like the tone, and everything. I am just making sure that I don't have a problem that needs to be addressed before my exchange window closes. Thanks!

Rich

LinkRS · **Joined:** Mon Jul 14, 2008 3:40 pm **Posts:** 6

cvilleira wrote:

Yes the pole pieces do not line up when you are looking at them. Pickup height wise on Fender SRV's the bass side of the pickup is set at 1/8 and the treble side at 3/32 if your pickups are to close to the string you will get unwanted harmonics because of the magnet being to close and not allowing the sting to vibrate correctly because of the pulling down influence thats the only thing you need to worry about and its easy to adjust.

Hi,

Thanks! I was hoping this was the case. However, due to my inexperience with electric guitars, I have done alot of research, and read that the string has to be lined up over the pup, or your tone is screwed. When I had my MIM Strat, I just chalked it up to a less-expensive model. So, when I got my MIA Strat, I was a little suprised to find it that way. With my "green" ear, the tone sounds awesome. Thanks!

Rich

budglo · **Joined:** Fri Jan 02, 2009 3:17 pm **Posts:** 1986

Congrats on the new strat.I bought one in 06 and think its an unbelievable strat. Remember that the custom shop texas specials are vintage staggered pickups too.I still love my SRV strat just as much as i did when i bought it .Good luck

JPD · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 3:15 pm

An SRV Strat is my next guitar.

budglo · **Joined:** Fri Jan 02, 2009 3:17 pm **Posts:** 1986

JPD, you wont go wrong with a SRV.I also see you have a bluesjr and a 08 strat.I just bought an 08 standard (MIA) and i have had a blues jr for years.The SRV will sound awesome thru the Bjr as does my new MIA strat.Good luck.

JPD · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 3:35 pm

I`m sure it will. MY MIM Strat has Texas Specials and it sounds great through the Blues Jr. The pedals help too, especially the CS-3. The sustain from that pedal is awesome, the notes just ring until you let off.

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