Hey guys, i have a Superstrat from 1989 that ive finally come to restringing it for the first time, and i strung it up as you would normally (One string at a time) and when i finally got it up to tune perfectly, i tested it at the 12th fret and it was completely out, so much out that innotation via the Floyd rose bridge was impossible, since the sadles went as far as they could go. The a string is the furthest out but they're all pretty much out.

However i did replace the strings with 10 - 46s, the strings before it were thinner but i dont know how much by. However to counter balance the 10s, i had to put in two extra springs in the back (Making it 5 in total).

Im presuming that the truss rod needs to be messed with. Any insight on this?

Thanks guys

_________________
"Oh, it's a windy and sunny day
And I can hear the faint sound of distant waves
The past weeks have been going by so fast
It's all the same, the bright sky and shining sun
I have a feeling it's gonna be a fun day"

Hi BTC: changing string gauges shouldn't cause problems with intonation. Switching from 9s to 10s should be well within the tollerances of any type of bridge, including a Floyd. However, changing string gauges will always necessitate a full new set up, as the tension on bridge springs and neck are now different, and also fatter strings intonate in different places.

A full set up will also be required on a guitar which has not been played for a long time, especially if it was left unstrung. The neck might have moved towards backbow without string tension on it (perfectly normal, nothing to be dismayed over).

You are probably familiar with Fender's set up guide:

http://www.fender.com/support/stratocas ... _guide.php

That isn't everything there is to know about set ups - whole books exist on that subject. However, it does contain everything you should need in this case.

It can never be stressed strongly enough: the sequence is vitally important. When people get into trouble with this stuff it is nearly always by not following the sequence, but by tinkering with one aspect of set up on its own. Essentially:

Bridge (trem springs)
Relief (trussrod)
Action (saddle height)
Intonation (saddle placement)

In that order.

Get each step right before moving on to the next. Unless there is actually something wrong with the guitar (which is not impossible but unlikely) that will get you where you are going.

Good luck - C

PS And to anyone else, I am well aware of the many additional things I haven't mentioned. But let's not cloud the issue with stuff that almost certainly doesn't apply here, huh?

So then Mr Big the Cat.

Which way do your saddles need to go now to correctly intonate the guitar? Are the fretted notes flat or sharp?

Are you intonating using a tuner? If so have you tried intonating by ear (much more accurate if you concentrate)?

Can we see a picture of the bridge in question?

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No no and no

Thanks ceri!

I'll give it a go!

Also the neck on it is

Thickness:
17.0mm at fret-1
20.0mm at fret-12
Width:
43mm nut
56mm at fret-22
Radius: 430mm fretboard radius (16.93")

any idea on the amount of relief i should give it?

_________________
"Oh, it's a windy and sunny day
And I can hear the faint sound of distant waves
The past weeks have been going by so fast
It's all the same, the bright sky and shining sun
I have a feeling it's gonna be a fun day"

Ive tried with a tuner (a Very reliable one) and by ear, and my ear confirms with the tuner.

All the strings are too sharp too

And a picture of the bridge?

_________________
"Oh, it's a windy and sunny day
And I can hear the faint sound of distant waves
The past weeks have been going by so fast
It's all the same, the bright sky and shining sun
I have a feeling it's gonna be a fun day"

Judging by that picture, you have plenty of room to move the saddles back. Which is where then need to go if the fretted notes are sharp.

Other than that, if the picture is old, it sounds like the posts have moved towards the neck, or a extrordinary amount of knife edge has been eaten away over the years.

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No no and no

Good grief, that's a skinny neck! This is an Ibanez or something, right? The little glimpse of the front we're getting in that bridge photo makes us hungry for more - gotta see this thing! Please!

With that type of neck and bridge I'm assuming you're the sort of player who wants a low relief. So with the strings capo'd at the first fret and fretted gently at the last one you might aim for something around 0.2 mm / 0.008" above the eighth fret.

For action you probably need to aim for something around 1.5 mm at the 17th fret and then see if you can get it lower from there.

Any help?

Cheers - C

ok, you caught me, Its an ibanez.




Its a 1989 USCGR (Its an american made ibanez)
Im not a shredder, i do like the action low. Also, the saddle was loose in that picture (i took all these just now) i had it right on the end

_________________
"Oh, it's a windy and sunny day
And I can hear the faint sound of distant waves
The past weeks have been going by so fast
It's all the same, the bright sky and shining sun
I have a feeling it's gonna be a fun day"

Also, on a side note, i cannot get at the truss rod, the gap is just too small to fit anything down there!

Any recommendations for a tool for this?

_________________
"Oh, it's a windy and sunny day
And I can hear the faint sound of distant waves
The past weeks have been going by so fast
It's all the same, the bright sky and shining sun
I have a feeling it's gonna be a fun day"

I'd address the problem at hand firstly. Theres no excessive neck bow going on there and you need a inordinate amount to affect intonation to the degree you mention.

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No no and no

Now we know the truth! Traiter to the Fender cause! Just kidding!

_________________
"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


facebook.com/313DBC

Then what could be causing it?

and I use a fender twin reverb so im not a 100% traitor!

_________________
"Oh, it's a windy and sunny day
And I can hear the faint sound of distant waves
The past weeks have been going by so fast
It's all the same, the bright sky and shining sun
I have a feeling it's gonna be a fun day"

Just joking mate! I had a Fender amp, but wanted more wattage without the price tag!

_________________
"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


facebook.com/313DBC

Hmmm... kinda has the "Flight of Icarus" vibe goin'...

ORC

+1 on nikininjas comment.
If that is where your saddles sit at the moment it looks like all are set on the sharp side (pushed towards the neck)