I bought a MIM lonestar startocaster with the texas specials and a pearly gates on it. I've been playing live a lot more and it just feels like there is something lacking in the tone, but i can't quite put my finger on it. What are some simple mods or adjustments i could make to improve the tone?

What do you feel is lacking with the tone?

Play around with the pickup heights. That's one thing I'd do.

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MIM Std Tele, MIM HSS Strat, Homemade Mongrel Tele, Blues Jr, Champ600, coupla pedals...sweeeet!

i think there is too much treble on the hum bucker and they have a very "metalic?" sound, not sure how to describe it, but aren't very smooth at lower volum/gain.

I had a lonestar mim with texas s. and pearlly gates.. It was my first strat and I traded her in for a srv... I thought the guitar was awesome.. Sometimes you dont know what you got until its gone. What do you think is missing???? Maybe add some compression if you havnt done so already... What gear you using? I think its a fantastic axe...
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I would like to make the suggestion of replacing the tremolo string block with a shallow drilled brass unit, it will darken the tone a shade.

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Marriage is like playing cards...

At first all you want are Hearts and Diamonds.

But in the end, all you really want is a Club and a Spade.

I think your problem might be in your amp or pedals or cords. Take your guitar to a dealer and get one of the guys to compare to another guitar and quickly check the set up and pick up height. The Atomic pick up I find to be slightly dull and rolled rolled off in the highs compared to the industry standard Seymour Duncan JB. The Texas Specials have a upper midrange peak which some people like and some don't. Maybe the pick ups got wired out of phase but that is very unlikely.

HI Dan.

First thing to do is devise a plan of attack to find and then remedy the problem.

Start with all your gear.
What guitar did you use with your current setup?
If it was a LP or metal guitar type, they have a more low mids focused sound. Compensate on the amp or on whatever effects your using.

Starting at the guitar start at the headstock, work back. 1 change strings, 2 adjust neck relief if required, 3 adjust action, 4 adjust pickup heights.
All of them things except no'4 will yeild minimal results at best. String height can cause a lot of change if the strings are too low. Bass strings in particular need a good bit of room to move properly. Having your strings crashing against frets often causes horrible metallic sounds.
After that consider your electrics on the guitar. Is the tone control wired to the bridge being the main point. If not wire it up. If it is, use your tone control.

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No no and no

Make sure your guitar is set up properly. Fender's suggested specs: http://www.fender.com/support/stratocas ... _guide.php

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Obligatory gear list: Fender, Rickenbacker, Gibson, Gretsch, Vox, Martin, and more Fender.

you could change capacitors. thaqt will defenitly change the tone. higher value darker tone.

i play through an epiphone valve jr. stack with a boss dd-7 and a hardwire valve distortion and when i play live its through a Dr. Z... i've been working with the pickup height. i guess the name for the sound was more tinny with lighter strums. Maybe its just in my head after reading like 70 posts of how the lonestar is a dud. haha.