[Saturday] Bump!

Just curious whether schmintan has been getting on any better with his setup...?

Cheers - C

Sorry Ceri, I should have replied sooner. I set the neck relif as best i could, but without feeler guages its not hugely accurate, and too fine a measurement do do with a ruler. Ive ordered a feeler guage from ebay which will hopefully be here in a few days so once that arrives, proper setup will begin. Until then im just gona play the strat as is.

Waiting for the tools to do the proper setup made me take out the acoustic yesterday actually so im giving fingerstyle another go. funny how things happen like that.

As soon as i have an update il post it here. Il make sure not to forget as it will be good to have closure on this thread, which will make it usefull for any other folks with setup issues.

Until then, guys, once again thanks for the help. il update soon.

[Sunday] Hi schmintan: next time you check this thread - I noticed that Joe O Hanlon lives in Navan so I asked him for tech recommendations in case it might be useful to you. This is what he said:



If I remember right you are much further south? Still, bit of a drive but that one might be helpful for you. And the Gumtree suggestion is good too.

Keep us posted...

Cheers - C

A long but VERY HELPFUL post, at least for me. I got a few real good tips from it. Thanks Ceri

Old Shooting Star

_________________
ca.1983 Larivee L-07
50s replica Tele kit
08 LP Studio-Wine Red
07 Squier Bullet Strat - MIC
94 Fender MB4 Bass
84 Squire Standard Strat - MIJ - black
19?? Samik "Artist" acoustic - "peacock"

Fender Superchamp XD
Crate B160XL Bass Combo

Good grief, somebody actually read that post!

Old Shooting Star, I very much doubt you have anything to learn from me - but anyhow, thanks for your thanks!

- C

The section on checking nut height by using a capo on the first, then third frets will be very helpful for me since I've never come across a definitive method for determining this measurement.

_________________
ca.1983 Larivee L-07
50s replica Tele kit
08 LP Studio-Wine Red
07 Squier Bullet Strat - MIC
94 Fender MB4 Bass
84 Squire Standard Strat - MIJ - black
19?? Samik "Artist" acoustic - "peacock"

Fender Superchamp XD
Crate B160XL Bass Combo

Ah well, that's not the ultimate definitive scientific method. For that you measure your fret height with feeler gauges and then set each nut slot individually to the fret height plus your prefered little-bit-extra.

But the capo method is a very handy quick guide to whether the nut needs further attention.

Incidentally, I got that one from a long out of print book by Ritchie Fliegler. Ritchie was a much respected NY tech, a gigging musician, a repairer and builder of guitars and amps - and is these days I believe Senior VP For Marketing at Fender. So he's a gentleman who knows a thing or two about guitars!

Cheers - C

Hi All.

I just wanted to update on my setup issues, as my feeler gauge's arrived today.

As per Ceri's instructions :

1. I set the relif, it was well over 1mm and i the recommended, as per fenders site is 0.25mm. its now just about0.25mm

2. I retuned and set the string height, 1.6mm for each string at the 17th fret.

3. I retuned and found theres a bit of buzz on the 6th and 5th strings.

4. I then checked the nut i first capo'ed the 1st fret and measured string height at the 3rd, its .33mm. i then capo'ed the 3rd fret and measured string height at the 1st fret, its .23mm. note i just checked the 6th string in this instance, and not all strings.

The difference in string height close to the nut leads me to think i need a new nut, or at least have my nut shimmed, is that correct?

I will be raising the string heights for the 6th and 5th strings to remove the buzz, will this have any bearing on the nut measurements?

Its unlikely that a nut slots are causing rattle and buzz around the 5&6 frets. Its starting to sound more like a fret leveling job to me.

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No no and no

the buzz is on the 5th and 6th strings, not the 5th and 6th frets. the buzz is actually when i fret up around and above the 12th fret.

Strings E and A? It could well be pickups too high or a fret level depending on the type of buzz. Its definately not the nut slots, the nut doesnt affect that area one bit.

Sink your pickups right into the body and see if it remains. Other than that its string height or a fret leveling.

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No no and no

Pickups were indeed to high by almost 2mm on the center pickup. they are now all over 3mm away from the string, when the string is depressed on the last fret.

I really hate to think it need a fret level, considering its a brand spanking new strat deluxe.

is 1.95mm really all that high of an action, (up at the 17th fret). i mean, i would love if the guitar obeyed fenders spec's but i can still play it fine the way it is.

its just in my head, that i feel its an expensive guitar and should behave within the prescribed parameters. i guess its the same as when you get a ding on a new guitar, you just have to put it out of your head and stop fretting about it( pardon the pun).

is there more i can do here , besides a fret level? if not, i think il just leave it until i really need some work done on it in a few years time.

Those scn's are overwound. Try sinking them flush to the scratchplate. Also i was experimenting earier on my strats trying to reproduce any buzzy sounds on those strings without lowering them. I did notice the med/jumbo frets have a nasty habit of making funny sting noise if you finger too hard. Maybe thats occuring. Its all alien to me i never play them bass strings so high up the board.

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No no and no

Also check the pitch of the neck. Have any microtilt adjustments been made.

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No no and no