Ok, so here is my new post.

First here is a picture of my guitar.





As I said in my first topic, I ordered Fender Super Champ XD amp, but I'm still waiting for it to arrive.

I still haven't done anything on guitar, didn't change strings. I have played guitar without amp, and I can hear it's not perfectly tuned up (for example if E major sound OK, open G major sounds bit out of tune), but I presume that is because of old strings. Will that change with new strings or do I need to set it up, as explained in users manual?

Also I have read somewhere when I change strings I should change one by one, not taking them of all at once, but replacing one by one. Is that true?

That's all I came up with so far. Probably more questions soon.

Thanks.

Even with old strings and intonation off you should be able to get open position chords to ring in tune.

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Guitars:
1. mid 70's Ventura MIJ Gibson l6-s clone (Pre-lawsuit) in Black with Rosewood FB and EMG 81 BR/ 85 Neck
2. ESP KH2 Neck Thru
3. 2008 Am Std Strat in 3 tone sunburst

So? You think that something is wrong? Anyone else?

Most likely it just needs a proper setup; new strings, intonation, action, etc. Take it to the shop where you get your strings and they should have someone on staff who can do this for you. It's a pretty big undertaking if you've never done it before.

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The mind is like a parachute; it doesn't work unless its open-FZ

Well, it's the nature of any guitar that it will never sound perfectly in tune for every chord you play. Ditto for a piano.

You're going to have to adjust the intonation on your guitar. Additionally, anytime you change string guages you'll need to re-adjust your intonation. You'll find plenty of information online about how to adjust your saddles for proper intonation. All you need is an electronic tuner and a couple allen wrenches. You could have it done for you, but I highly recomment you learn to do it yourself. That way you can fine tune it as needed and save a lot of loot.

Bottom line: it's normal for your guitar so sound a little off right now. Putting new strings on it might make it a little better, but to get it sounding sweet, you gotta adjust your intonation.

congrats and very nice

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sombody get me a doctor!

Hi Marin,
Welcome. I was following your earlier thread. Nice guitar. It is not necessary to change the strings one at a time. You can take all the old ones off and it will not affect the guitar. You can use the manual that came with the guitar to set up your Strat but these are just guidelines and not mean't to be the perfect setup. Please be sure to use the same gauge strings that the guitar is set up for or you may find your bridge block rising up on you if you use a lower gauge string. I believe the Knopfler originally came set up with 10-46 gauge strings. Good luck and enjoy your new baby...

Yes, something is wrong...

But honestly, and I mean no disrespect, it just sounds like you need to check the tuning. I will tune mine with a tuner and then go by ear to fine tune. It just sounds like you need to check the tuning by ear and fine tune it. Then try the chords again. This happens to me sometimes and I always go back and check the tuning and find one or two strings that is slighly flat or sharp. Also, I don't always rely on the fifth fret technique of tuning. If you are slightly off one one and then another, by the time you get to the E string, it can be way off. I will actually tune using diads in thirds or fifths (ie. Two note Power Chords), which most people look at me and go, I have no idea how what you just did. But it works for me. I am so in tune with the way power chords should sound that I can tune my guitar with them

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Guitars:
1. mid 70's Ventura MIJ Gibson l6-s clone (Pre-lawsuit) in Black with Rosewood FB and EMG 81 BR/ 85 Neck
2. ESP KH2 Neck Thru
3. 2008 Am Std Strat in 3 tone sunburst

Thank you all for answers.
Biggest problem for me is that there is now official Fender shop around or dealer and I don't belive this shop's in my city. (this is paranioid )

It's really a beautifull guitar and I want to get the best of it.

Marin.
Its true that guitars will never ring completely true in every open chord possition. However some guitars ring truer than others. It could be down to old strings, that i feel is unlikely with your new guitar. Whilst new guitar strings are usually bad its because they have been left stagnant for a time, leading to corrosion on the strings. Strings wearing out sound bad because of metal fatigue. They simpy lose their ability to return to their normal straight line when a fretted note is released, or dont come under as much tension when fretted as a new string would.
Its far more likely that the nut slots on your guitar are not cut deep enough. Its something i've seen quite a bit on new fenders.
Its an easy fix for someone who knows what they are doing. I suggest you get the guitar to a tech for a setup and mention nut slot height to him.
It could be that your ear is good a fair few people notice this problem. Luckily earvana and others make compensated nuts that sort out the problem of low fret intonation.

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No no and no

Great idea on the nut nikinija

It may be a good idea to lube the nut and string trees on a new guitar. I use a sharp pencil on my guitars and draw in the slots and trees to get some graphite in there. I did this to my strat right away when I got it. Be sure to blow off the excess. Don't wipe first

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Guitars:
1. mid 70's Ventura MIJ Gibson l6-s clone (Pre-lawsuit) in Black with Rosewood FB and EMG 81 BR/ 85 Neck
2. ESP KH2 Neck Thru
3. 2008 Am Std Strat in 3 tone sunburst

'Course, what none of us are quite certain about is Marin's level of knowledge at guitar setup and such.

Marin, I'm assuming this is a guitar you ordered off the internet or similar? Which would explain why you haven't taken it back to be set up by the shop. Without intending any disrespect to your experience (about which I know nothing) I suggest you need to find a tech you trust and have him set the instrument up properly for you. Any issues with the nut or other will emerge at that point.

Techs don't have to be Fender Authorised to be good. But seek local opinions to help find a decent one: we sometimes hear of awful techs out there!

I'd be sadly disappointed if there's anything actually wrong with your beautiful looking Strat. Most likely a tweak here and there will get you rolling happily.

Good luck - C

Very unlikely that theres something wrong at build level, with this standard of guitar. Though its not unheard of.

When nuts arn't cut deep enough low fretted notes ring sharp because the fret position is set at best for a correctly cut nut. It can be improved on though.
When the nut is set too high the string pulls way sharp as it would if the string height was !8mm odd high. when your on those low frets:shock: . Its because you are at the furthest fretting point from the center of the played string.

Great guitar though. Swap you a custom classic for it?

Yeah ok I knew you wouldnt be interested.

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No no and no

Marin is classically trained, yes? I assume he meant classical guitar in his first post.

Marin, I spent many years playing only classical and flamenco guitar before getting back into electric guitar recently. If your classical guitar is like mine, you probably adjust the G string quite frequently depending on the key you're playing in. For me, it needs to be sharper if I'm playing a lot of open C and G position stuff, flatter for A and D... or just halfway between the two and I accept that I'm going to be almost imperceptibly out. Heh.

With your new M.K., you're probably experiencing something similar to my feelings when I bought a custom shop strat early this year... the tuning sounded way off, and I thought its previous owner must never have had it set up properly. However, as soon as I changed the strings the problem went away. Once the strings had settled in, the guitar's intonation was spot on... so much so that I realise my older strat has gone out over the years and I'd just not noticed.

Change the strings first, and if you still have problems you should do as suggested and get the guitar set up by someone you trust. If it's brand new it probably does need a little work to get it in top shape; that's perfectly normal.

Absolute proof that no guitar intonates correctly????
I've never had much more than baa baa black sheep as far as lessons go but hear the same thing. The G and B strings are worst for it.

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No no and no