Maybe your guitar is that "Special"

My local GC thinks P90 is the latest workout program.

Colorman,


Try a set of new Strings. Personally, I think 9's are too light for a Strat. I use 10's (Ernie Ball Regular Slinky). But put the gauge of your choice on the guitar. Stretch the strings & re-tune over & over again until there is no change in pitch. If that doesn't do it, you probably need a set-up.

It seems overwhelming if it's something that you haven't done before. I followed Fender's suggestions in the book that came with the guitar & now I have my American Standard set-up perfect for me.

When I bought my Strat I followed the info in the book as a guide & adjusted everything from there to my taste. It's also available here:
http://www.fender.com/support/articles/ ... etup-guide

Your Special Strat should have a book with it outlining a setup also.

It's not too hard, just take your time & get the tools suggested in the book. I decked the trem on mine so it wouldn't float, but it can still dive. IMO, decking the trem improves the tuning stability on a Strat.

Hope that helps.

Hey Colorman, welcome to the forum.

I know everyone's saying to change the strings (and you should try that anyway), but my guess would be that it's most likely an issue with how your tremolo is set up. Take the back plate of the guitar off and have a look back there at the springs and spring claw. Stock Fenders come with three springs most of the time, and they're set up at the factory to "float". Take a look at your bridge and see if it's flat with the top of the body or if it's coming up slightly. The purpose of having a floating tremolo is so that you can easily use the tremolo bar. 99% of people hardly use it, and since it can cause tuning instability like you're talking about most people will lock it down flush with the body. To do this you'll need to tighten those two screws you see in the back of the guitar after you've taken off the back plate. This will cause the springs to pull tighter and the bridge to come down closer to the body. When you tighten them be careful not to tighten too much, you really don't want to strip those screws out.

Personally, I use four-five springs in my Strats. Sometimes even after you tighten the screws as much as you can, the bridge still isn't locked down to the body. In that case, you'll need to add springs.

Of course, it could possibly be a nut or string issue too. But to really be able to tell what it is, you'll need to take it to a professional guitar tech. There's only so much you can do yourself, and if it is a nut issue that's really not something you should try fixing yourself. A good set up will also make it play much better. I'd really look into that than just returning the guitar, because the next one will be set up with the same kind of strings and have the same floating tremolo as the one you have now. Taking it to a tech is really your best option unless you really, really just want another guitar.

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That's pretty much what I told him, only not so much detail. I learned the hard way that a bad nut or poorly set up bridge can cause all sorts of problems.

_________________
1975 Sunburst Stratocaster rosewood finger board
1979 Stratocaster with roseowood finder board
2001 Candy Green Clapton Stratocaster
2007 Andy Summers Inspired Telecaster
2007 '51 P-Bass
2012 Taylor 110
2015 Mystic Ice Blue Deluxe Stratocaster Plus

THANKS FOR YOUR REPLIES I CHANGED STRINGS AND MADE A COUPLE OF ADJUSTMENTS AND IT'S PLAYING LIKE IT'S MADE TO. I'M REALLY ENJOYING MY GUITAR AND NOW I MOVE ON TO ABLETON AND DO SOMETHING I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO. I HAVE SO MUCH TO LEARN AND I CAN'T THINK OF TO MANY OTHER THINGS BETTER TO DO IN RETIREMENT. THANKS AGAIN FROM COLORADOMAN !

Last reply on this subject. After changing strings it played better and then started the same tuning problem. Soooo I took texasguitarslingers advise and tighten the bridge springs. Played 3 hours last night and it never lost tune. I don't use a pick and it seemed like the strings were never in the same place twice on the fretboard, they are now. It sounds like the beautiful instrument it is. Thanks texasgunslinger I would appreciate adding you as my first friend. Please get back to me. I was born and raised in Texas and have several family members in the Houston area. However I moved to colorado 28 years ago and I'll never move back.

Colorman.