Hey everyone, new here. I just picked up a left handed white maple standard strat. I love it!!

I changed the stock strings to some thicker strings (D'Addario XL Nickel Wound Blues/Jazz Rock .011 .014 .018 .028 .038 .049)

After a few failed attempts at stringing I finally got it hah. Got her tuned up sounding good. But now I noticed my tremolo block is really pulled up high and I cant move it with the arm down. So I know it needs adjusting for the thicker gauge strings. Does anyone have a picture guide or video guide? Its not rocket science but when I read adjustment guides I got no effing clue what their saying.

Thanks!

WOW! those are pretty heavy strings, you may have to go to 4 springs
check this out for set up:

For vintage tremolos (standard Fender Tremolo), I have compiled things I have read and put to use with my Strats. When I got my first one I played Surf Music so wanted a good working trem. Well, it was pretty frustrating as I had the dreaded tuning problems. Being the wrench head I am, I thought with all these out there it must work so I just need to know HOW to make it work.

Some of this may be good things to be aware of, I'm not saying I have all the answers, you can find A TON of reading on these Strats and mods, these are just the things I have done and what works for me. I sell guitars too so send this to people who buy the Strats to help them set them up. YMMV



Tuning peg winding and stretching new strings !!

When you install new strings, tune them up close to pitch, and then starting at the end of the fretboard, pull up on the string a good 2 inches, 2-3 times, then more your hand up the fretboard 4 or 5 inches and pull up again, repeat all the way up to the nut. Tune the string to pitch and do this all over again at least one more time.

Some think having a heap of winds on the pegs helps keep them from slipping ( more is better) but that does more damage than good. You don't need much, you need to LOCK the string ends -- this is HUGE !:


How To Change Guitar Strings- Stringi...s to the tuner

How To String A Guitar | Replacing Guitar Strings



On MIM Strats if you have trouble with the e and B strings tuning, put a couple of washers under the string tree to raise it up about 1/16“-1/18“. The string angle is too sharp (with the tree screwed down onto the headstock surface) and can cause binding in the nut slots. Most Classics and Re-issues have a spacer already.

Tremolo, It's all about SET UP !

BRIDGE SCREWS:
Pull back (up) on the arm and adjust all but the two outer screws to 1/16" (1.6MM) off the plate. Keep it pulled back ( so the plate is touching the body in the back) and tighten the outer two screws so that they are just touching the plate. Now it will just pivot on the outer screws.


Tighten the spring claw screws so that the rear of the bridge plate is only about 1/16" (1.6MM) above the body. You will have to re tune, and then re-tighten the claw screws a few times to get all this balancing act done. It is worth it in the long run believe me.
Being the spring tension is a little greater on the treble side of the block, I have my screws in uneven ( the claw is slanted about 1/8 inch) so there is more spring tension on the treble end. I find the compensation helps.

If you still have problems your could go to 4 springs, but give the above a try for a while. If you use the trem a lot, or like a good vibrato, 4 springs can make it kind of hard to push (stiff) the tremo arm for some.

Two very important things to these Strat animals:

When you tune (because of the unique tremolo), do it evenly, i.e. tune the low E then the high e, then B then A and so on, OR tune the G and D and work outwards so it's a straight, even pull.

LUBE the nut and string tree, even were the strings go over the saddles. use Teflon lube or graphite.

Doing this really won't be that bad and will take you less than 30 min. set up

Keep playing, use the trem some and re-tune a few times, the key is to GET THE BALANCE ! Strings tension ( pull) EQUAL to the springs counter pull. After that, if you find yourself out of tune a little when you play, try pressing the arm down a couple times real good before messing around re-tuning and that can balance things out again and save re-tuning all the time. You should find that it will be back in tune. When you play and use the trem, and after a while find yourself out of tune ( by meter or ear) and keep retuning, you are just chasing the problem back and forth.

Trust me, if everyone had trouble, there wouldn't be a zillion Strats out there.

Be patient it will work

sjtalon

This guy is soo awesome, be prepared though, there are multiple vidoes, i just linked to the first one in his series.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgfMyJ76p4o

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1991 MIA Std Strat, Partsocaster, and a Blues Jr.

When ever you go from .09 to .011 strings the guitar will need a complete setup.

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