Hi everyone! I'm new to the Fender Lounge, and I was hoping you could help me out with a few problems I'm looking to solve:

1. I keep having problems on my B and e strings with tuning stability when I use the tremolo bridge, which I've discovered is because of the string tree. I've read about replacing the tree with a TUSQ XL string tree, but people have also used staggered tuners to remove the string tree altogether. Which method would you recommend?

2. I've been looking to swap out my neck & middle pickups, but I can't decide between blue Lace Sensors or Dimarzio Air Norton S. Are Lace Sensors really better, or am I better off with the Dimarzios?

*My guitar is a stock '10 MiM HSS Standard Strat

Get rid of the humbucker, buy a new set of tuners, adjust the saddles, etc.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

I chose the HSS because I, personally, can't stand the sound of a single coil bridge pickup--at least, not clean. For the neck, I'm all right with single-coil or humbucker.

You came to the right place.

I've only ever owned HSS Strats. I think that they work best with a bridge humbucker.

I recently purchased some GraphTech black TUSQ string trees; they're a worthwhile upgrade. However, an even more worthwhile upgrade is a set of Sperzel Trim-Lok locking tuners. They're staggered in such a way that the break angle is drastically reduced. So the E6 & A5 strings are set the highest, then D4 & G3 have middle height, finally B2 & E1 are almost touching the headstock.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-2/6 ... ggered.jpg

This photo explains it far better than I can.

If you want a more clinical, '80s-style, compressed sound, pick the Lace Sensors. If you want a more open, natural sound, pick the DiMarzios. The Fender Texas Special pickups are also brilliant for the money if you want a great natural-sounding pickup selection. My '87 Japanese Contemporary uses 2 Texas Specials and a DiMarzio Super Distortion; it's a great combination.

Hope this helps!

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'01 American Deluxe HSS Strat.
'87 Japan HSS Strat.
'11 Custom Shop FMT HSS Strat.

"Without music, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines and dates by which bills must be paid."

Troll alert .

Nice... best advice I've gotten so far. So I'm guessing you side with Sperzels on the "Sperzel Locking Tuners vs. Schaller Locking Tuners"? I've heard they're both good, as well as Grover's Locking Rotomatics. I mean they all get the job done... right?

And while we're on the matter of mods, any routing necessary to change to an H-H configuration? I've had this old idea of doing that plus a 3-way switch, 2 volumes & a split-coil tone, but it was for this old Squier. That one's LONG gone, though

Actually, opinion alert. Just what I'd do in a situation like this.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Why remove the humbucker, though? What does a it have to do w/ tuning stability?

I use both the Schaller & Sperzel lockers! $@! Strat has Sperzels, and Deluxe has Schallers (came as standard, had no choice ).

The Sperzels I prefer for having more clearly defined staggered pegs, and the satin finish is beautiful. Plus, they feel... just better. Not sure what it is. However, the Schallers have the bonus of quite a large locking wheel- the Sperzel one can be quite fiddly. They're both very good, just depends which one you would prefer to use. I seem to remember coming across something from the guy who ran Sperzel claiming that they were perfect to within a microcosm of measurement- he used to work in aircraft machining or something like that.

On the matter of the HH question, I'm pretty sure that Mexican models are routed out as HSH. So you should be fine. Personally I'd say stick with a 5-way switch and just enjoy the out-of-phase tones. Pretty sure the Big Apple Strat was wired up with a 5-way switch- have a look around for a wiring diagram.

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'01 American Deluxe HSS Strat.
'87 Japan HSS Strat.
'11 Custom Shop FMT HSS Strat.

"Without music, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines and dates by which bills must be paid."

No, I just think humbuckers aren't good on Strats.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Get the nut checks.

Photo of my 60th Anniversary MIM Strat showing SSH routing, forcing me to enlarge the routing to accommodate a neck humbucker.

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Dennis in CR
Rockin' since 1963

Sweet guitar

Bad times. Not too difficult to route out though, is it?

Agreed with paris- sweet guitar. Looks the nuts. Shoreline Gold?

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'01 American Deluxe HSS Strat.
'87 Japan HSS Strat.
'11 Custom Shop FMT HSS Strat.

"Without music, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines and dates by which bills must be paid."