Hey everyone!

I've recently changed the strings on my Highway One Strat from 009's to 010's, and I noticed that the bridge sticks out a lot more than before.

Here are some pics:
http://img4.imageshack.us/i/snapshot200906272m.jpg/
http://img3.imageshack.us/i/snapshot20090627a.jpg/
http://img3.imageshack.us/i/snapshot200906271.jpg/

I've also noticed that the strings make a little "snap" noise whenever I bend or tune one of them, and they go out of tune pretty quickly when I'm bending. Also, I need to use a little more force than before when I use the tremolo arm, because the bridge is stiff and doesn't float freely (I have 3 springs in the backplate). I also sense a lot of tension whenver I move the strings sideways from the saddles or move the bridge a little bit.

I suspect my guitar needs a setup (I've never had it setup since I bought it 2 years ago), but if I go to a music shop and tell that to the guy, he won't understand (I live in Portugal, and there are no synonyms for "setup" here...), so could anyway gimme some tips on what I can do to solve/fix this, or what should I have the guy from the shop adjust? And how quickly should I get this done (in case the tension might permanently damage my guitar's neck)?

Thanks in advance to those who can answer this, and sorry for the bad image quality, those were taken with my webcam.

Cheers!

From 9's to 10's will require a new setup,an additional sring for the increased tension and perhaps a truss-rod tweak.There has to be guitars tech's somewhere near you. Do it quickly. Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

Yep, a change in string guage requires a full setup. Perhaps loosen the strings and avoid playing it if you're worried about tension on things, at least until it can be brought to a tech.

This isn't uncommon, I'm sure the tech will know what the problem is.

Goto this site and find yourself a fender dealer in portugal.

http://www.fender.es/dealerfinder/index.php

The dealer will have to have a repair person to qualify as a authorized dealer.
I really think that guitar needs more than internet advice to sort it out. The trem appears to have been screwed down at the front. Going from 9-10 gauge wouldnt have done that. Also that neck looks very bent.

Man spain/portugal is the ancestral home of the guitar surely theres someone around you can take it to.

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No no and no

Thanks for the answers guys, gonna get it setup on Monday by a proper luthier.

Btw, seeing as I have a gig tomorrow (Sunday evening), you might advise agaisnt playing this guitar right? Something might go bad in the middle of a solo or something?

Anyway, thanks again, have a great weekend!

Odds are low that you would actually damage you guitar, but if you have another option go with that. Playing an improperly set up guitar sucks. It makes everything harder, and sound worse. it can suck the joy out of playing. You could have tuning issues, just plain no fun.
If you have another guitar, I would suggest using it, until you can get this one sorted out.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Aloha,
rawnoise I suggest that you grab this book! http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Player-Rep ... b_title_bk

I own it and it tells you how to set up any guitar, in easy to understand terms! The book is priceless, now you can rely on your skills (since it sounds like you don't have a shop you trust nearby) to set up and take care of all of the issues regarding your guitar. This book gives plenty of attention to strats by the way. Now...I would do this first, (after you order the book) get another set of strings (same size) that you had on originally. Put them on. This should return you to where you started. Now you can at least play the guitar while you read and learn how to set it up properly. It's not difficult to do, you just need to learn how to do it! If you want to make an adjustment now...It looks as though you could tighten the screws holding the spring claw in the tremolo cavity. This looks like it would adjust for the higher tension with the heavier gauge strings. The bridge should not sit so high... maybe 3/8" off off the guitar top. Turn each screw 1/4 turn at a time. Watch to see the bridge lower. Continue until it is much closer to the guitar top. But new gauge strings will pull harder/or less on the bridge depending on weather you go heavier or lighter with the strings...yeah?. The trick is to find the balance between the pull of the strings vs. the pull of the springs! It is hard for me to know just what is going on with the guitar but try reinstalling the original gauge strings... that is a great place to start.

Hey guys, thanks a lot for your replies, you've been a great help!

The gig last night went okay, the guitar did fine, and today I drove to Lisbon (Portugal's capital city) to drop the guitar at a Fender authorized dealer, and they're gonna get it setup for me by Friday, so I guess that's the end of my problems!

Hammerhead, thanks for the book tip, it will save me 200km of highway whenever I wanna get my guitar setup

Once more, thanks to everyone and have a great week