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Post subject: Strat set up
Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 9:24 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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I had been thinking about installing 10's on my strat for quite a while now and finally pulled the trigger. My question is does anybody know of a reputable tech in so cal, lets say the l.a. area to setup my guitar? I don't really trust the couple of gc techs I've come across but wouldn't be opposed to anyone that comes with high recommendations.

Feel free to pm me if you'd rather not discuss here.

Thanks in advance.

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Post subject: Re: Strat set up
Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 9:49 pm
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Location: Perth, Western Aus.
I don't think a set up is necessary. I've changed from 9s to 10s to hybrids a few times, even 11s one of twice, and my tuning and intonation remains fine. I wouldn't bother trying to lower or raise the neck for a such a small gauge change.

Others think I skimping on something, but when my guitar is fine, I think not.


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Post subject: Re: Strat set up
Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 10:01 pm
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Cool, I'll give that a try then.
Thanks.

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Post subject: Re: Strat set up
Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 11:10 pm
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Drubbing wrote:
I wouldn't bother trying to lower or raise the neck for a such a small gauge change.


Exactly what do you think a "set up" consists of?

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Post subject: Re: Strat set up
Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 11:22 pm
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hi socal323, I'm not anywhere near L.A. so I can't help you there, but I always encourage people to do thier own setups. It's so easy Fender provides each new Strat w/a pair of hex wrenches & a setup guide can be found here.
http://www.fender.com/en-IL/support/art ... tup-guide/


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Post subject: Re: Strat set up
Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 11:29 pm
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It's true, going from 9s to 10s may not require any adjustments at all, but its very convenient to be able to check everything yourself, even you don't want to do the setup yourself.


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Post subject: Re: Strat set up
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 12:29 am
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bluesky636 wrote:
Drubbing wrote:
I wouldn't bother trying to lower or raise the neck for a such a small gauge change.


Exactly what do you think a "set up" consists of?

A set up to me consists of truss rod adjustment, intonation, and raising/lowering saddles as required. That's what a tech is doing on mine, to get it optimally set up and address a specific issue I have.

That's not something I'd bother with when just changing string gauges. If I did want to bother, I wouldn't pay someone else to do it.


Last edited by Drubbing on Fri Feb 15, 2013 7:19 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Strat set up
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 6:56 am
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mojjett wrote:
It's true, going from 9s to 10s may not require any adjustments at all, but its very convenient to be able to check everything yourself, even you don't want to do the setup yourself.



you may need to tighten the spring screws for the tremolo. 10s will pull the bridge up.. the tension screws that hold the tremolo springs will need to compensate.


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Post subject: Re: Strat set up
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 3:03 pm
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you may need a little tweeking.....i changed from 9s to 10s...heavy bottoms 50s or 52s cant remember...lite top 10s...i luv my strat even more now...it has a real beefy bottom end....i had to tighten the trem claw and reset my intone but other than that not much to do


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Post subject: Re: Strat set up
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 3:47 pm
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Thanks for all the great info.

To address some of the replies

Bluesky
As far as set up is concerned, I was wondering if I would have to redo intonation, adjust truss rod, pick up height, etc etc. Kinda what Drubbing posted. I guess the easiest way to find out is to do it.

Mojjet,
I looked through my guitar case and found all the literature regarding the set up of the guitar. I had completely forgotten it was there so thanks for the reminder. So I think I'll give it a whirl. Cant wait to see how it sounds.

Thanks again for all the suggestions.

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Post subject: Re: Strat set up
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 8:59 pm
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In LA - Andy Brauer - he is the AB in Sheptone AB Tributes.
Does the setup and maintenance of anyone here.
He was the guy that ran out and fixed Slashs setup when it malfunctioned at Chavez Ravine 2009.
He is in North Hollywood - really nice guy too.


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Post subject: Re: Strat set up
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:36 pm
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Update:

Finally installed tens on my strat and all I can say is WOW!!!! I should have done this a long time ago. The strat is now snappier, brighter, and most importantly BALLSIER. Played it through my bandmaster cranked to ten (best neighbor in the world) and it was magical. I'll never go back to nines again is all im saying :wink: .
For what it's worth, I went with fenders 3250R's (nickel plated) as they were on sale and couldn't find the 3150r's I was originally out to get which are the bullet pure nickel strings. After I'm done with these babies I'm gonna try the pure nickels just to see what they sound like. But I'm definitely sticking to tens.

Oh and on another note. I'm definately going to have to adjust the tension on the springs. After installing the strings the bridge lifted away from the body way more than I'd like it to be. So might have to also check the intonation as well.

Good day.

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Post subject: Re: Strat set up
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 11:15 am
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Drubbing wrote:
I don't think a set up is necessary. I've changed from 9s to 10s to hybrids a few times, even 11s one of twice, and my tuning and intonation remains fine. I wouldn't bother trying to lower or raise the neck for a such a small gauge change.



At the risk of being blunt, I'm sorry but that's flat out -bad- advice. I'm rather surprised that others around the forum haven't jumped on that one big time.

In the case of changing to a heavier string gauge, you not only need to do a bridge and truss rod adjustment to compensate for the extra tension from the heavier strings, you also need to have the nut properly filed! Think about it...assuming the guitar is new, that nut was filed for .009 gauge strings at the factory. Don't you think that putting a thicker string on is going to cause the nut to pinch the strings a bit? Likewise, if you're changing to a thinner gauge and that nut was properly filed, don't ya think it's going to lay those strings too close to the fretboard??

I'll admit that I'm not as particular about some setup issues as others are around here...I don't believe for one minute that you really need a radius gauge to setup the saddles on a bridge. And no, I don't use a feeler gauge to set the action...I've been playing long enough that I -know- what the action should feel like on my instruments. That said, there are some things here that should be obvious. Heavier strings = more tension on the neck. You may not notice it immediately but if you do put a feeler gauge there, you will see there is a difference and simply adjusting the trem springs does NOT compensate for improper neck relief...if anything it screws with the action a bit and makes it that much hard to set the intonation correctly. Likewise, thicker strings are NOT going to sit correctly in nut slots that were filed for thinner strings...one of the number 1 causes of tuning instability on a guitar. I totally agree that 10's sound better...but PLEASE take the time to do it right or have it done properly by a qualified tech!


I can't help the OP with suggestions about a good tech out there in CA...I'm here in Ohio and in any case, I've been doing my own setups for many years. I do certainly encourage people to learn how to do their own and the setup guides here on Fender.com are a great place to start...it's an invaluable skill to say the least and well worth learning to do correctly, particularly for a gigging musician who may be changing their strings 2 or 3 times a month. That said, telling someone they don't need a setup when changing string gauge (or even just changing strings) is again just -REALLY- bad advice.

As always, my own personal opinions.
Jim


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Post subject: Re: Strat set up
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 9:23 pm
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It's been a while scince I went from 9s to 10s on my strat, but as I recall I didn't need to adjust the truss rod or file the nut. I flattened bridge because that's just the way I wanted it. I believe I intonated as well. So it wasn't necessary to adjust everything & it was perfectly playable. So to say you have to do all that just isn't necessarily the case. By all means do all the measures & test it's playability & what needs to done, do it. & by all means learn to do it yourself. I do agree that one can assume that no adjustments are necessary after a string gague change is not the best advice.


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Post subject: Re: Strat set up
Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 4:58 pm
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Mojjett,

I agree, I went through all the adjustments and the only settings I touched were for the bridge height and the intonation. Everything else checked out ok. No fret buzz, all my bends on the 12th 15th and 17th frets were good, pick up height was good, truss rod angle was correct, and it sounds and plays great. Now I can't say this would hold true for everyone so at least go through all the adjustments and check them to make sure they are good to go. The only string that may need some adjustment to the nut seems to be the bass side e string. I'm gonna give it some time to work its way in otherwise I'm gonna have to file that nut.

Thanks to everyone for all your insight and recommendations. Saved me about $40 by giving me the courage to do it myself.

Peace.

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