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Post subject: Heavier Gauge Strings for my Strat
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 4:50 am
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I have a 2010 American Special Strat that is fitted with Ernie Ball Standard Slinky 10s. Because I'm primarily a rhythym player, I'm considering upgrading the Strat to 11s to get more body and tone. I've recently done this with my American Deluxe Tele and even though a dropped it in to a specialist thinking the Guitar needed a full setup, it wasn't necessary and it now plays like a dream.

After this, I'm thinking about restringing the Strat myself with the 11s. I'm not worried about the bridge rising up etc.... as I have the bridge decked to the guitar body with four springs in the tremelo block, this is my personal preference. I'm not anticipating any other issues but I just want to be sure that there isn't anything that I may have overlooked.

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Post subject: Re: Heavier Gauge Strings for my Strat
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 5:49 am
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Hi torresfan, I'd just go for it & then see what needs to be done. You may not have to do anything or you may need to do some minor tweeking, i.e. intonation, tightening the trem claw a bit, making sure the strings aren't binding in the nut etc. There won't be anything major though. IMHO it's always best to do some checking & measuring in any case when you change the string gauge. Most of that you can do yourself. Bottom line though I guess is if it feels alright after the change then fine, if it doesn't, then it'll need further attention. This might help.
http://www.fender.com/support/articles/ ... etup-guide


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Post subject: Re: Heavier Gauge Strings for my Strat
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 6:55 am
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Thanks Mojjett. I'm going to go ahead with this tonight. :)

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2003 Gibson ES-355
2015 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
2002 Gretsch Duo Jet
1980 Rickenbacker 360/12 Fireglo
2014 Martin 000X1AE
2014 Fender Blues Junior III


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Post subject: Re: Heavier Gauge Strings for my Strat
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 5:42 pm
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I have an american special that I had upgraded to 11's and it still plays great with no problems :D


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Post subject: Re: Heavier Gauge Strings for my Strat
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 9:29 pm
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When you have your old set off the guitar, before you put on the new set, it's a good idea to take the new loose strings, and put them in their respective nut slots, one at a time. Slide the string back and forth in the nut with some down pressure and watch for any binding. They should glide smoothly. If you feel them catching at all, it would indicate either the slot's a little rough, or just a little small for the string, or both. If any of them binds, expect tuning issues when you bend with the trem or your fingers.

If you get binding, get the nut set up for the larger strings. I had a binding problem and just cleaned things up with a little 600 grit sandpaper. I have just a .010 nut file, but by wrapping a little of the 600 grit paper around the file, it was usable in any of the slots for the little bit that I needed to adjust. I also use a tiny amount of petroleum jelly in each slot every time I change strings. My trem is full floating and I can abuse it, and do major string bends with no tuning issues.

A tiny smidge of p-jelly under the string tree where the strings contact can't hurt.

Bottom line is that when you use your trem, your strings move back and forth...they must be able to glide.

While you're at it, make sure the trem springs aren't binding at all. I had a spring rubbing on the body once, and it messed with my tuning.

Check your neck relief before and after the string change. In theory, because you'll be putting more tension on the neck, a little adjustment to your truss rod should be necessary.

When you're done, bend each string with your fingers, and do some aggresive use of the trem. If you hear any "pinging" it's a string catching at the nut. Any pinging means you'll have tuning issues. You can determine with string is pinging by elimination. Just totally detune the first string, and check for pinging again. If you still have pinging, retune the first string and do the same thing with each string until you find the slot that's causing the ping. clean up that slot again and retest.

People tend to look at their trems as the source for tuning problems. As long as the trem is able to move freely, it's not likely the issue. It's the nut 99% of the time.

Reset your intonation for the heavier gauge strings.


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Post subject: Re: Heavier Gauge Strings for my Strat
Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 2:37 am
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Thanks for the great info. :)

I performed this task last night and I'm happy to report that there are no issues as yet. The strings are travelling freely in the nut and the Guitar chimes like a bell.

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2012 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
2013 Fender Pure Vintage 65 Stratocaster
2003 Gibson ES-355
2015 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
2002 Gretsch Duo Jet
1980 Rickenbacker 360/12 Fireglo
2014 Martin 000X1AE
2014 Fender Blues Junior III


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Post subject: Re: Heavier Gauge Strings for my Strat
Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 2:43 am
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If you put bigger , or smaller string your guitar need a truss rod adjustments for sure. Or you are very very lucky.

Your neck curve could take some hour or days to move, but sure it will move.


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Post subject: Re: Heavier Gauge Strings for my Strat
Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 2:49 am
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So far I'm very lucky but we'll see. If it moves then I will do a small adjustment.

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2012 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
2013 Fender Pure Vintage 65 Stratocaster
2003 Gibson ES-355
2015 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
2002 Gretsch Duo Jet
1980 Rickenbacker 360/12 Fireglo
2014 Martin 000X1AE
2014 Fender Blues Junior III


Last edited by torresfan on Tue Jan 10, 2012 3:15 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Heavier Gauge Strings for my Strat
Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 3:07 am
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torresfan wrote:
So far I'm very lucky but we'll. If it moves then I will do a small adjustment.



+1


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Post subject: Re: Heavier Gauge Strings for my Strat
Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 10:21 am
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I recommend doing a complete setup anytime you change string gauges.


Personally I do a complete setup every time I change strings.

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Post subject: Re: Heavier Gauge Strings for my Strat
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:41 pm
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There is usually a post on this forum about heavier guage strings and whether or not they actually make a difference in tone. I bought my '88 American Standard in 1990 and immediately changed the stock settings to 12s. This required the modification of the truss rod, filing the nut to accomodate the larger strings, adding an additional spring to the block, raising the seperate saddles to accomodate the closer distances (especially with the E and A), and lowering the pickups to avoid magnetic reactions--in short, an amateur set up was performed. I recently switched to 13s and had to make little or no changes to my already adjusted axe. I have enjoyed sweet, sweet tone for years and the guitar rarely goes out of tune. Indeed, our bass player tunes off of me! Once I dropped a half step in tuning the guitar seems to "like" the looser string set up and like I said, stays in tune better than any instrument I've ever owned or played. And I am a firm believer in greater tone with the larger strings. I guess I should also point out that I gave up on the trem and have the bridge flat to the guitar. I have zero skills utilizing the trem with anything that remotely sounds good.

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Post subject: Re: Heavier Gauge Strings for my Strat
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:41 am
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When I went from 9s to 10s (Fender - Pure Nickel), my bridge got pulled up more than a 1/4" off the body. I had 3 trem springs in at the time, installed a 4th, and it sat back down perfectly. I imagine if I went from 10s to 11s, I'd need a 5th spring. Let us know how it worked.


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Post subject: Re: Heavier Gauge Strings for my Strat
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 12:06 pm
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I always had four springs. Nothing has changed, still flat on the body and the neck hasn't moved a millimetre. I'm loving this guitar more and more. :)

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2012 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
2013 Fender Pure Vintage 65 Stratocaster
2003 Gibson ES-355
2015 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
2002 Gretsch Duo Jet
1980 Rickenbacker 360/12 Fireglo
2014 Martin 000X1AE
2014 Fender Blues Junior III


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Post subject: Re: Heavier Gauge Strings for my Strat
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 12:11 pm
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Sweet. I like your collection too!

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Post subject: Re: Heavier Gauge Strings for my Strat
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 1:10 pm
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torresfan wrote:
Thanks for the great info. :)

I performed this task last night and I'm happy to report that there are no issues as yet. The strings are travelling freely in the nut and the Guitar chimes like a bell.


And action is the same ?
With heavier strings , neck could be back bow so string will move freely for sure and with four springs bridge won't move. But action could be high a little bit.

Maybe you are a very good guitar playing who don't need the same (lowest) action .


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