Hi there,

Does your Strat have string trees? If so, being unable to hear your audio, I have no suggestions that haven't already been made.

But if not, you can get a 'ringing' noise from (usually) the G between the nut and tuner. I have a Custom De Luxe (Custom Shop) Strat which has already had a new nut from Fender GB, and which has cured some problems, but ultimately the break angle (over the nut) is just too shallow - even with staggered locking tuners. If you hit the strings hard while muting, on high gain, and also while playing anything where the G harmonics occur, this nasty oscillation thing happens.

Much though I didn't want to drill holes in a Custom Shop Strat, it has to be playable! So I fitted Am Std trees and it's transformed the sound, completely curing the unwanted tone and increasing sustain. Being the round barrel-type trees they don't affect tuning with heavy trem usage.
It's how the CS should've made these Strats in the first place - not that they agree with me, but they haven't heard this one!

Before you drill holes in the headstock, try running a pencil or similar though the strings between nut and tuner - anything to force the G and B strings down a bit. I don't know what you're hearing, but could apply to any Strat without trees and isn't immediately obvious. I only sussed it by experimentation.

Cheers - Peter.

It would seem I am more curious that what is healthy, and my curiosity drove me to test out if the strings were defective as strayedstrater proposed. I only changed the B string and immediately, after retuning the guitar, discovered the problem to be seemingly gone from that string (note that I am still using my own modular amp). I then tried to replace my stock fender high E string too, only to get the same result. Both strings were replaced with Rotosound pinks (9-42) that I had as replacements.

I have no idea why changing the strings would solve the problem, but I'll be taking the guitar in for maintenance anyway. I left the G string as it were with it's oscillation so the guy setting my guitar up will have some reference. And I'll keep you updated after Thursday as to whether or not this actually was the solution to my problem. (I'll get the pickups adjusted anyway, as you said bluesky636).

Peter S: Yes, my strat has a single string tree for the high E and the B string.

As I said, I'll be sure to update this thread again when I have either good or bad news. Until then, I just want to thank you all for your suggestions, as they have increased my knowledge quite the bit. For me it helps to be prepared when facing the professionals in the shops and repair stations

Looking forward to reading the results of your visit to the guitar tech. Hope he is a good one.

_________________
Bill

Wolf,
Might be getting some "wolf tones" also known as stratitis,
+1 to what has been said, pickup height measurements,
and lack their of a set up.
Hope you get it sorted out.

_________________
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

So, as promised, here's the situation after the maintenance:

It would seem that I had plainly teared through my guitar strings. I had not really payed attention to the wear I had caused them, but after changing all strings the oscillation is gone from the high E and the B strings as I wrote earlier. I still have a very minor oscillation on the G string, but the guy in the shop did not seem to know any fixes for it.

There's still some fret buzz on the guitar, but only on rare occasions can it be heard through the pickups. I guess I'll have a look on adjusting it when I have read some more and have found some more courage

I'm not really satisfied with the whole maintenance thing they did, but there's not really much to do about it. It wasn't a real luthier performing it and I guess the end result shows that (still some fret buzz on both the low and high frets of the A string as well as the low E string)... unfortunately. But since the effect of the fret buzz is so rarely heard through the amp, I am satisfied for now. And with the oscillation all but gone I am happy again.

If you are not satisfied with the job that was done, you should take it back and demand that they redo the job properly. From your description you still have problems. Minor ones, but they still should not exist. I do not remember if you said where you live, but is there a larger city near by that may have someone better qualified to do the job?

_________________
Bill

I have to agree with Blue Sky - if its not too far away. My 2011 Am Deluxe Strat played like butter when new from the case. No fret buzz, low action - real super. Having been played in I took the guitar back to the dealer for a six week checkover, and string change - and it came back with fret buzz. It's an hours drive to the dealer, so I couldn't be bothered with the hassle of arguing over a set-up (that was effectively free). I took it to a local shop, and the guy has removed the fret buzz - at the expense of the action, which seemed to be about half an inch, but did remove some of the buzz by a poor nut slot!! The guy isn't a luthier - but a keen enthusiast, so I can't knock him.

Anyway, using the advice from here, I've managed to lower the action and do the truss rod adjustment myself. It's not quite as good as when it came out of the box, but close - but I will take it to a local luthier to get a bone nut fitted soon and a pro set-up.

In all of this, I too had some strange 'twang' on the G and B string. Mine has dissapeared after a string change and the nut slot being flled and recut. I have had someone say that you can get some strange noises on the am delxue with standard fender strings. I'vce just changed again to bullet ends, and am happy for the mean time.

Hi again,

OK, you have a string tree on E & B, but you seem to have the problem on the G? In which case try simulating a tree on G. Then fit a G/D tree if it cures it! (Or a pair if you can't get one that matches).

My Custom Deluxe came with 10's in standard pitch. My trouble was probably caused partially because I use 9's tuned to E flat. However, I have other Strats with no such problems, including a 2006 with only 1 tree, so it seems to be down to the particular guitar. Let's face it, they're great guitars but aren't as well made as they should be - I've had Strats which may as well have come in kit form as I've had to adjust nearly everything on them!!!

In this case I've just copied the trees on my 1991 Standard - which had 2 from new - and as I say, it's completely cured the problem. If someone later moans that it isn't original any more, well - I'll have to live with it!

Cheers - Peter.