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Post subject: Fender american strat question
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 3:39 pm
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I have two quick questions about my strat. The first is should you be able to see the entire block through the backplate slot? Right now my block is to the left. My bridge is set almost flat to the body, but even then shouldn't the springs be adjusted so you should the block out of the backplate slot? I'm no expert so any help is appreciated. Also how do you measure how high up your bridge is? Thanks


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Post subject: Re: Fender american strat question
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:01 pm
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ynk50 wrote:
I have two quick questions about my strat. The first is should you be able to see the entire block through the backplate slot? Right now my block is to the left. My bridge is set almost flat to the body, but even then shouldn't the springs be adjusted so you should the block out of the backplate slot? I'm no expert so any help is appreciated. Also how do you measure how high up your bridge is? Thanks


Give us a picture so we can see what you a referring to :!: 8)


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Post subject: Re: Fender american strat question
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:09 pm
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ynk50 wrote:
... how do you measure how high up your bridge is? Thanks


Do you mean how high the saddles are? Or are you referring to how much the trem is floating?

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Post subject: Re: Fender american strat question
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:23 pm
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this is not a pic of my guitar but as you can see in this one you can't see most of the block. So is this bad?

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Post subject: Re: Fender american strat question
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:24 pm
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Im referring to how high the trem is floating


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Post subject: Re: Fender american strat question
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:26 pm
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ynk50 wrote:
I have two quick questions about my strat. The first is should you be able to see the entire block through the backplate slot? Right now my block is to the left. My bridge is set almost flat to the body, but even then shouldn't the springs be adjusted so you should the block out of the backplate slot? I'm no expert so any help is appreciated. Also how do you measure how high up your bridge is? Thanks
Hi ynk50 and welcome to the forum.

    1. If the bridge is floating, then you should be able to see the string holes in the block through the slot in the back plate.

    If the bridge is flat against the body of the guitar because of spring tension, then the string openings in the block may be partially obscured by the back plate. This is the case with my FSR American Standard where I have installed five springs but can still manage to change strings without having to remove the back plate.

    If the bridge is completely blocked off by a piece of wood, then you will probably not be able to see the string holes through the slot in the back plate. I've blocked off the trem this way in my American Deluxe and got another back plate where I cut a new slot.

    2. According to the Stratocaster Setup Guide a 1/8" gap is recommended.

HTH

Cheers!
BM

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Post subject: Re: Fender american strat question
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:31 pm
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ynk50 wrote:
this is not a pic of my guitar but as you can see in this one you can't see most of the block. So is this bad?


No, it's not bad. It looks quite normal to me. If you are concerned about it I suppose you could use a Dremel to enlarge the opening but I don't really understand why you'd want to.

ynk50 wrote:
Im referring to how high the trem is floating

I don't understand why you would want to measure the height of the bridge float. Typically you set the claw to give you as much float as you prefer and then you adjust the saddles to give you the action you prefer. Then of course you'd want to check the intonation as it could change slightly by adjusting the float and saddle heights.

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Post subject: Re: Fender american strat question
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 8:30 am
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As far as the slot in the plate goes...don't sweat it. Essentially it's supposed to aid in changing strings so that you don't have to take the plate off whenever you change strings. That said, the greatest majority of Strat players I know (myself included) usually just end up taking the plate off and leaving it off. The only time I really ever have the back plate on my Strats any more is if I'm selling one. Unless you have a big ol' red neck belt buckle that gets caught up in the springs, it's just not a big deal ("If someone asks you for your I.D. and you show them your belt buckle, you just might be a red neck!" LOL!).

With how high the trem floats, that typically falls under personal preference. If you pull up on the bar to raise the pitch, then you need a bit of room based on how high you want to raise the pitch. If you only push down on the bar...or don't use it at all, a lot of folks simply deck the trem...tighten the spring claw back so the trem plate rests against the body on the theory that this gives you a bit more sustain. As BMW said there, you will want to check your action and intonation afterward as changing the float will likely affect everything else as well.

Peace,
Jim


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Post subject: Re: Fender american strat question
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 1:41 pm
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ynk50 wrote:
The first is should you be able to see the entire block through the backplate slot?


Depends on your trem setting. If you set your trem very low or even resting on the body, you won't see the holes in the block.
I have all my strat trems rested flat on the body because I don't use them and I see none of the holes in the block entirely.
That's why I simply remove the backplate for quicker access for restringing.

It's perfectly normal.

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