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Post subject: First string change
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 4:42 pm
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So I just changed the strings on my strat for the first time. I got it about 3 weeks ago and even though it had been recommended that I change the strings immediately, the strings looked good and sounded good (to my untrained ear) as well.

Today I decided to move from the factory setup (9s) to 10s. Took my sweet time, put on some d'addarios and it was pretty easy. Admittedly I do still have to look into the setup part -neck relief, intonation- but from what I've read that usually doesn't take a lot of work when moving from 9s to 10s. I just hope I can figure the intonation part out because I tend to have a lot of trouble finding that harmonic note on the 12th fret. Must be a beginner thing.

Now there were 2 surprises in the process for me. First of all, according to the specs the MIM Standard Strat is fitted with Fender USA Super Bullets 3250L. I believe these are supposed to have the bullet end instead of a ball end. The strings on my guitar however had a ball end.
Just to be clear, I ordered my Strat online and checked with the store before if they could do any setup, they told me they didn't do that and I'd be getting the guitar the way it was shipped from the factory. When it got to me I got the guitar in an unopened Fender box so as far as I can tell the strings on there have to be the ones that were put on by the factory workers. Now I'm unsure what kind of strings they were, if they were the strings as specified or something different. I'm not even entirely sure on the gauge now... Any thought on this?

The second surprise came when I first started tuning and playing the new strings. Wow, they are so much louder when played unamplified! Of course it could just be my imagination, but there seems to be a pretty big difference there. I can't wait to see what it'll sound like through the amp. Anyhow, I'm glad I changed the strings, I was a tiny bit worried about it before I started but it seems my Strat will be just fine :D


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Post subject: Re: First string change
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 5:43 pm
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New strings wil always have a bit of extra zing to begin with. Old strings will often sound duller.

Personally, I don't bother messing with my set up when changing stings, even if switching gauge. When it's set up right, it's set up, and changing strings isn't going to change intonation or relief, but some guys just have to check all the numbers.


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Post subject: Re: First string change
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 5:56 pm
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Drubbing wrote:
Personally, I don't bother messing with my set up when changing stings, even if switching gauge. When it's set up right, it's set up, and changing strings isn't going to change intonation or relief, but some guys just have to check all the numbers.


:shock:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: First string change
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 6:13 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
Drubbing wrote:
Personally, I don't bother messing with my set up when changing stings, even if switching gauge. When it's set up right, it's set up, and changing strings isn't going to change intonation or relief, but some guys just have to check all the numbers.


:shock:

Arjay


Really? You're easily shocked then. Messing with the truss rod and intonation is not really a great idea for a beginner IMO. Getting it properly set up at a shop, given he's bought online, is. Factory setups aren't always great, so better to start with a good base.

No, I see no point in messing with it just to change strings, unless something needs fixing.


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Post subject: Re: First string change
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 6:15 pm
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Do as you will.

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Post subject: Re: First string change
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 11:59 pm
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http://www.fender.com/en-IL/support/art ... tup-guide/
Learning to do a proper setup is easy, & it saves money. Changing strings may or may not effect intonation & truss rod. It's alway good to be able check it yourself in any case. Why throw money away on a setup if you can diy. Most of the time I don't need to adjust anything, true, but then again, there were times when indeed I did, & at no extra cost. It's not rocket science. :wink:


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Post subject: Re: First string change
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 1:06 am
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Drubbing wrote:
Retroverbial wrote:
Drubbing wrote:
When it's set up right, it's set up, and changing strings isn't going to change intonation or relief.


:shock:

Arjay


Really? You're easily shocked then.



Arjay is not the only one! :shock:

Honestly, if you play guitar, then you should also know what you have to do and do it right.
If your trem is locked down like mine, you're at least right regarding changing 1 string size up or down.
Once you decide to change 2 sizes up or down, you might(!) already get into that amount of change in spring tension, that will make a new setup necessary! 3 or more sizes definitely will!

If you have a floating trem, you DEFINITELY will have to make adjustments, even when using the same string gauge but a different brand of strings, since even different brands have different string tensions.

It's like driving a car: it's not enough to just know how to press the gas pedal down the floor!

As someone posted above: there's enough advice online to even show a beginner the very basics of guitar maintenance and setup. Three of the very basic setup steps MUST be known by every guitarist, whether beginner or not: adjusting trem balance, string saddle height (= string height) and trussrod adjustment! It's a MUST!!
It's the VERY BASICS, just as checking proper tuning before playing, whenever picking up my guitar.

Of course, it's up to you (you said, you personally don't care), if you don't care about a change in string height , a tilting of the trem baseplate or a bow in your neck after changing strings, that's your own way to see it but please, don't give advice like "you don't have to do anything" to beginners because it's not true in general. (just in case you should do that sometimes)

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My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!


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Post subject: Re: First string change
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 2:06 am
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Smokin' Frets wrote:
Of course, it's up to you (you said, you personally don't care), if you don't care about a change in string height , a tilting of the trem baseplate or a bow in your neck after changing strings, that's your own way to see it but please, don't give advice like "you don't have to do anything" to beginners because it's not true in general. (just in case you should do that sometimes)


It is, and I said as much that is was an opinion. People post for them. However forums are where you'll find people who'll do more than others do.

I don't use my trem, but I haven't blocked it either. I change strings monthly and my height and tuning is just fine. If my height or intonation appeared a problem I'd learn to fix it. Til then, I won't bother and I haven't needed to so far. So you don't *have to* do anything IMO. How shocking.

I'm clearly out of place on forums as I don't want to know every little thing about my guitar, nor am I interested in amassing as much gear as possible.

I'd add a good friend of mine is a very talented player of ten years, just passed an audition to tertiary guitar study. I asked him if he does all this, and he doesn't. He just changes his strings.


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Post subject: Re: First string change
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 2:34 am
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Drubbing wrote:
It is, and I said as much that is was an opinion.

. So you don't *have to* do anything IMO. How shocking.

I'm clearly out of place on forums as I don't want to know every little thing about my guitar


I know, it's just your opinion and that's perfectly fine to me, no probs. :)
I just would like to point out that there are things depending on taste and things depending on simple laws of physics.

There's always people who think 'doing just half of the necessary stuff is just fine'.
It's up to them, as long as I'm not the passenger of an airline pilot thinking that way :lol: :lol: :lol:

It's a matter of attitude.

As long as you stay within the limits of not HAVING TO CHANGE any setup, that's fine and works fine for you. Don't mess around if you don't have to. I don't either.
I've found my brand of strings and don't use anything else. I've found my gauge of strings and don't use anything else. This results in NOT HAVING to adjust anything, even with floating trem because physical forces don't change in that case. If I would change to Fender strings, I would have to. They have more tension than mine (Elixir nano web).

Once you reach the point of "HAVING TO" but not doing it, that's your problem then.
That's where professionality starts. Giving 100% is professional, giving less is ignorant (I don't mean you, don't get me wrong!! It's a general statement valuable for EVERYTHING people do).

That's just how I approach things, others do different ( with corresponding results :wink: )

If opinions and advice of experienced players annoys you and makes you think that you're misplaced in a forum like this, then I don't understand it.
Nobody forces you to do so and nobody offends you for your personal opinion, at least I don't!

It's up to you to find out, if thinking your attitude over is necessary or not.
Take advice and/or knowledge from others or don't, but don't retreat from helpful forums just because others have different opinions.

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Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!


Last edited by Smokin' Frets on Wed Feb 06, 2013 3:29 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: First string change
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 3:22 am
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patzw wrote:
I just hope I can figure the intonation part out because I tend to have a lot of trouble finding that harmonic note on the 12th fret. Must be a beginner thing.


One more thing here:

What do you need the harmonic for? You mean the pinch harmonic, right?

The pinch harmonic note over the 12th fret is ALWAYS the same as the unfretted string.
It halves the sinus curve of the oscillating string, resulting in being the same note as with the string unfretted. Just the exact point of the harmonic moves very very slightly along the string over the 12th fret (one doesn't notice, it's sooo minimal, but it is).

If you want to correctly set intonation, you use the FRETTED note on 12th fret. Use the same fretting pressure as when playing in the upper registers.

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Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!


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Post subject: Re: First string change
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 4:28 am
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Smokin' Frets wrote:
If you want to correctly set intonation, you use the FRETTED note on 12th fret. Use the same fretting pressure as when playing in the upper registers.


THIS.

Compare the fretted 12th to the open string or the harmonic to set the intonation.

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Post subject: Re: First string change
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 4:49 am
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Thanks for the advice so far. I'm not at home so can't take the time to reply to everything right now. Don't you hate it when you have to work when you could be spending that time working on or playing your guitar?

Honestly, if I could have avoided the setup part I probably would have. I know I don't have a great deal of knowledge right now and I don't want to mess up the guitar, but hey, a girl's gonna have to learn sometime, right? Also with the uncertainty about what strings were on previously, I figured I'd better make sure everything is the way it's supposed to be. After putting the new strings on the bridge plate came up quite a bit so I'm working on bringing that back down again. It's almost back where it belongs but then I had to leave for work :s

As for the harmonic: yes, talking about that. Pretty much every setup guide or video I've seen talks about comparing the open note to the harmonic note on the 12th fret. It's really good to know I can use the fretted note instead though, made my life a bit easier ;)


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Post subject: Re: First string change
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 4:55 am
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Nobby1974 wrote:
Smokin' Frets wrote:
If you want to correctly set intonation, you use the FRETTED note on 12th fret. Use the same fretting pressure as when playing in the upper registers.


THIS.

Compare the fretted 12th to the open string or the harmonic to set the intonation.


Right!
Forgot to mention the comparison (in fact, I took it for granted) and yes, one can use the harmonic for comparison, instead of using the unfretted string.
Thanx for completing, Nobby! :)

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My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!


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Post subject: Re: First string change
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 4:57 am
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patzw wrote:
Thanks for the advice so far. I'm not at home so can't take the time to reply to everything right now. Don't you hate it when you have to work when you could be spending that time working on or playing your guitar?


Yes!!!
As much as having to cope with providing my body with nutritions while rather wanting to finish that boss enemy in a video game, ha ha ha! :lol:
You're so right!

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Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!


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Post subject: Re: First string change
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 5:06 am
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patzw wrote:
Also with the uncertainty about what strings were on previously, I figured I'd better make sure everything is the way it's supposed to be.

That's the way to go! Perfect! :)

It's really good to know I can use the fretted note instead though, made my life a bit easier ;)


Not "can", actually you MUST.
It just doesn't matter, whether you compare the fretted one with the harmonic or the open string.
I personally prefer suggesting the open string since harmonics are not as easy to get for beginners. :wink:
I always use the open string and fretted 12th to compare.

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Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!


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