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Post subject: Capo on or off to set string height to Fender specs?
Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 7:04 am
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To set you guitar to Fender specs do you use a capo for measuring the action. In Dan Erlewines book he sais to put a capo on first fret and measure at 17th. On the Fender website there is no mention of a capo.
So is the capo on or off?


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Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 7:11 am
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I believe the Capo is on the 1st fret just like Mr. Erlewine. That's at least what it says in the factory manual that came with mah strat ^^

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Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 7:18 am
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Capo off for string height. Capo on for neck relief, and the string pressed at the 17th fret too. Although I depress the 15th and set the measurement between the 8th fret and the underside of the string to .008".

Fender wrote:
Players with a light touch can get away with lower action; others need higher action to avoid rattles. First, check tuning. Using a 6" (150 mm) ruler, measure the distance between bottom of strings and top of the 17th fret. Adjust bridge saddles to the height according to the chart, then re-tune. Experiment with the height until the desired sound and feel is achieved.

Note: For locking tremolo systems, the individual string height is preset. Use the two pivot adjustment screws to achieve the desired overall string height.
Neck Radius String Height
Bass Side Treble Side
7.25"
9.5" to 12"
15" to 17" 5/64" (2 mm)
4/64" (1.6 mm)
4/64" (1.6 mm) 4/64" (1.6 mm)
4/64" (1.6 mm)
3/64" (1.2 mm)


No mention of a capo.

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Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 1:07 pm
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You always fret at the first fret when setting string hieghth.

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Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 1:23 pm
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I wish Fender would confirm this. Anyone from Fender out there?


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Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 1:37 pm
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If you can wait until tonight I can scan the page from the official Fender manual that came with my Strat. That has the instructions and a diagram showing the strings fretted at the first fret.

Because you want the 1st fret height relative to the last fret height thus ensuring that your truss rod is not over or under adjusted.

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Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 1:47 pm
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ICS not being funny but my above quote was from the online fender instruction manual here
http://www.fender.com/support/stratocaster_setup_guide.php.

I just dont see whats so hard to understand about it. If your attempting to set your guitar up yourself and struggling. Its time to take it to someone to do it for you.

I largely discount a lot of what Dan Erlewine has to say. He works for a shop and his job is to sell you stuff. Not maintain customer satisfaction then secure repeat purchases of $2K+ instruments.

The last bit of hogswash I read of his was some garbage about no tone like a perfectly straight neck under tension and that fretbuzz in that case didnt matter.. Well a necks under constant tension anyway. It was a whole sales pitch geared up to sell a fretboard straightedge for $72. I made 2 for £3.50, one for 25.5" scale and one for 24.75" scale. I set about straightening the neck on my baja tele and hating fretbuzz put the neck relief into the frets. As opposed to the usual method of frettops parralel to the fretboard and relief put into the neck. There was no difference in tone at all. It was just some sales pitch to convince people they need his tool, then sell it to you at a extortionate price.

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Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 1:49 pm
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ics1974 wrote:
I wish Fender would confirm this. Anyone from Fender out there?


:arrow: Go to support at the top of the Fender Webpage
:arrow: Click on Manuals
:arrow: Click on Instruments
:arrow: Click on Fender electric gutars and basses (current)
A MANUAL WILL SHOW ON YOUR SCREEN
:arrow: Scroll down to the bottom left corner of page 12 of the manual and you will see the diagram of a capo at fret one direct from Fender.

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Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 1:53 pm
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String height matters not if you capo or not. It is about if they ring/buzz and feel comfortable.

When doing a truss adjustment, you must capo the first fret

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Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 1:54 pm
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nikininja wrote:
ICS not being funny but my above quote was from the online fender instruction manual here
http://www.fender.com/support/stratocaster_setup_guide.php.

I just dont see whats so hard to understand about it. If your attempting to set your guitar up yourself and struggling. Its time to take it to someone to do it for you.

I largely discount a lot of what Dan Erlewine has to say. He works for a shop and his job is to sell you stuff. Not maintain customer satisfaction then secure repeat purchases of $2K+ instruments.

The last bit of hogswash I read of his was some garbage about no tone like a perfectly straight neck under tension and that fretbuzz in that case didnt matter.. Well a necks under constant tension anyway. It was a whole sales pitch geared up to sell a fretboard straightedge for $72. I made 2 for £3.50, one for 25.5" scale and one for 24.75" scale. I set about straightening the neck on my baja tele and hating fretbuzz put the neck relief into the frets. As opposed to the usual method of frettops parralel to the fretboard and relief put into the neck. There was no difference in tone at all. It was just some sales pitch to convince people they need his tool, then sell it to you at a extortionate price.


I guess you are right. If the setup guide dosn't mention it then it's not meant to be there. I have heard many others say to use a capo but they must have got the idea from Dan's books.
I am going to go with the capo off method.

Thanks


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Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 2:00 pm
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mthorn00 wrote:
ics1974 wrote:
I wish Fender would confirm this. Anyone from Fender out there?


:arrow: Go to support at the top of the Fender Webpage
:arrow: Click on Manuals
:arrow: Click on Instruments
:arrow: Click on Fender electric gutars and basses (current)
A MANUAL WILL SHOW ON YOUR SCREEN
:arrow: Scroll down to the bottom left corner of page 12 of the manual and you will see the diagram of a capo at fret one direct from Fender.


I went to the guide. Yes the capo is on for checking neck releif.
My question is about string height (action). They have a picture of this as well with NO capo. page 13
This confirms this for me now.
Thanks for the link to the guide.

Edit
===

It's interesting with this guide the suggested string height is different as well.
string 1-4: 5/64" (2mm) +/- 1/64 (.4mm)
string 5-6: 3/32" (2.4mm) +/- 1/64 (.4mm)


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Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 2:14 pm
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Glad it helped, remember that's to check the "straightness of your neck" not your string hieght (that's a more personal thing and should be adjusted to your personal taste and fretbuzz tolerance)

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Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:05 pm
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mthorn00 wrote:
ics1974 wrote:
I wish Fender would confirm this. Anyone from Fender out there?


:arrow: Go to support at the top of the Fender Webpage
:arrow: Click on Manuals
:arrow: Click on Instruments
:arrow: Click on Fender electric gutars and basses (current)
A MANUAL WILL SHOW ON YOUR SCREEN
:arrow: Scroll down to the bottom left corner of page 12 of the manual and you will see the diagram of a capo at fret one direct from Fender.


That diagram is for checking the relief. The diagram on the next page is for setting string height, and no capo is used.

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Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 6:28 pm
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mthorn00 wrote:
Glad it helped, remember that's to check the "straightness of your neck" not your string hieght (that's a more personal thing and should be adjusted to your personal taste and fretbuzz tolerance)


Sorry I didn't say "relief" Voodoo. :D

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Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 9:42 pm
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Excellent advice gents.

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