Hi, you good Fender folk. I'm sure this has been mentioned many times before on these fine boards, but i'm too lazy to use the search function.

Basically, i've had my '08 MIA Strat for about 18 months and i've always used Fender Bullets, but i've just put Ernie Balls on as my local store had sold out of my usuals. They're the same gauge, 9-42-s, and i'm having serious problems keeping them in tune, i'm getting bad fret buzz on the bottom 2 strings and my bridge isn't raised as much as normal. I'm not that technically minded, i'm of the plug in and play variety, but i know this isn't normal. I've made no adjustments to the saddles whatsoever, and the thought of sticking that Allen Key into the back of my baby fills me with utter dread. Any ideas?

Anyway, thanks in advance and thanks for all the helpful hints and advice this lurker has gleamed from the many wise Fender enthusiasts on here.

I have Ernie's on all my stratocasters and they buzz a little bit because of the super slinky action, but it's nothing too noticable. It is odd that the same gauge would give you that much of a difference.

In your case, I'd say just hold out until you get your next set of strings (assuming you're going back to Bullets). But if you are changing strings for good (which I wouldn't discourage because I love my slinkys!!) I would recommend doing a resetup of the guitar.

That could include raising the saddles a bit and moving them forward/backward a bit, depending on the sharpness/flatness of the 12th fret.

if you've never set up a guitar, Fender has great resources for helping one do that right here on the website. Check out some of the Resources links at the top.

Cheers for that. I've had a bit of a play with the saddles, and it seems a bit better. I've never owned a Strat, always played cheaper guitars. So i'm a bit reluctant to attempt a complete set up by myself right now, even though i know i need to learn how to do one. Also got a gig on Monday, so i don't want to balls it up before then.

I fancy going up to 10's, so i think i'll get my local tech to guide me through a full set up come next payday.

Thanks again.

I would say that's a good idea. Seeing a visual of how you do a setup can be much more helpful than learning from text and pictures. It really isn't as hard as you think and there's not much that goes into it, it's just pretty precise work that you'll get used to once you do it a few times.

After your gig on Monday, I would say go ahead and toy around with it before taking it to your shop's luthier. It's always good to toy around with a guitar and know your way around it and what each modification does.

For example, raising the saddle to fix buzz might also cause fretted notes to go too sharp if you haven't adjusted string length to recompensate.

Most luthiers will gladly let you look on while they set it up, because a lot of a setup has to do with preference anyway!

My point is, while a luthier can do a great setup, there isn't necessarily one right or wrong way to do it. Action, pickup height, and other things of that nature are purely preference and no one knows what you want more than you so it would always be best if you learned to do it yourself as soon as possible.

Most set ups only require loosening the strings and raising the saddles. It's easier than changing a car tyre.

Cheers, gents. I guess i panicked so i thought i'd ask the experts. Who'd have guessed i've been playing for 26 years? It's my Strat, and i love it to bits.

Anyhow, just had band practice and i sounded great. As ever.

Still reckon i'll get that set up and the 10's fitted though.

Thanks for the peace of mind. I really feel embarrassed troubling you guys with trivialities like this.

Oh. And i think i'll stick with the Ernie's. Sorry, Fender.