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Post subject: Possible change of frets on Classic 50's
Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 2:19 am
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Hi guys,

So, I own a MIM Classic 50's Series Stratocaster. The tension is quite high on it and it can make bending either a hit and miss or very hard, especaillay at the top end of the neck, i.e. 21st fret on the high E string. It's fitted with 10's and I really like the feel of them and wouldn't want to change to 9's so I'm wondering what else I can do. When I take it for it's next set up, I'm already gonna tell the guys I'd like to try a different set of stings. I was thinking of Hybrid Slinky's or something but I don't know if they would make muych difference. Any suggestions would be great.

Also, whether changing the frets would help or not, I don't know which is why I'm asking. But I'm actually cosidering the 6105's just for a change in feel. I loved the feel of them on the road worn series and I very almost bought the road worn instead of the classic but the classic has the 7.25 radius which I prefer. So would anyone recommend changing out the frets for 6105's on 7.25 radius neck? Would it help with lowering the tension at all? Or would it just feel really good regardless?

Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated!


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Post subject: Re: Possible change of frets on Classic 50's
Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 2:48 am
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FrooFender wrote:
Hi guys,

So, I own a MIM Classic 50's Series Stratocaster. The tension is quite high on it regardless?

Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated!


The tension OR the action ?

Frets ; nothing to do with that .

Have you some other guitar ? How they feel ? Are you a experimented player or beginner ?

IMO your guitar need just a good set up.


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Post subject: Re: Possible change of frets on Classic 50's
Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 3:16 am
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stratele52 wrote:

The tension OR the action ?

Frets ; nothing to do with that .

Have you some other guitar ? How they feel ? Are you a experimented player or beginner ?

IMO your guitar need just a good set up.



No I do mean the tension. The guitar is set up perfectly fine. The guys at the shop know how to set it up and nail it everytime. I'm just wondering if there is any way of reducing the tension so it's easier to bend. Sorry for the confusion.

The only other guitar I have is a Squier Affinity. It's not much to compare to in anyway though because it is in desperate need of a set up but I just don't play it so I see no point.


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Post subject: Re: Possible change of frets on Classic 50's
Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 3:38 am
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Tension is only matter of strings size or brand (?) Not frets size.

More easy to bend , yes bigger fret help and smaller string gauge too.
The proper action help too . Action very very low =more difficult to bend.

Smaller strings gauge is easy to try and not expensive.

But don't invest in new frets until you are sure that's what you need . New frets installation is half the cost of your guitar.

Sell your guitar and buy a one that you can do bend easely If you are sure set up is fine and small string won't do the job.

With little pratice any guitar player can do bend with any size of frets if strings gauge are not 011 or bigger.

Did you play since many years AND often ?


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Post subject: Re: Possible change of frets on Classic 50's
Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 5:13 am
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the only way to change the tension is lighter strings or a shorter scale. Gibson/epi use a shorter scale, so do I think the majority, if not all fender jags/jazzmasters etc. there are also a couple of short scale teles.

bigger frets will help you to bend, but they wont change the tension. bear in mind though all our favourite 60's and 70's players had to use vintage size small frets. and they had no problem blowing the rest of the world away. I would guess they also didn't have thin guage strings.

personally, I also love the idea of a vintage radius and big frets. but I also love small frets.

guess its why I have more than one guitar :lol: :lol: :lol:


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Post subject: Re: Possible change of frets on Classic 50's
Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 5:33 am
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moochy13 wrote:
the only way to change the tension is lighter strings or a shorter scale. Gibson/epi use a shorter scale, so do I think the majority, if not all fender jags/jazzmasters etc. there are also a couple of short scale teles.

bigger frets will help you to bend, but they wont change the tension. bear in mind though all our favourite 60's and 70's players had to use vintage size small frets. and they had no problem blowing the rest of the world away. I would guess they also didn't have thin guage strings.

personally, I also love the idea of a vintage radius and big frets. but I also love small frets.

guess its why I have more than one guitar :lol: :lol: :lol:



+1


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Post subject: Re: Possible change of frets on Classic 50's
Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 7:11 am
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I agree with what's been posted, and I'll add that a flatter neck radius is more conducive to easier string bending. While doing a re-fret, the radius can be flattened if desired. It might be cheaper and easier to get a new neck with a flatter radius and bigger frets than to have the work done to existing neck. No worry about keeping it original for resale value.

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Post subject: Re: Possible change of frets on Classic 50's
Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 7:53 am
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Ok, I hear what you are saying. Getting another neck is a good idea! I might pursue that if get the money.

As I assumed already, the only thing that might help is a lighter string gauge. Do you guys know of any type/brand which have the thickness of 10's on the bottom but light gauge strings on the top which would help with bending. I don't really bend that high on like, the E, A and D string so it wouldn't be a problem with having thicker gauges on the bottom.

(Thanks for the replies, they've been helpful!)


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Post subject: Re: Possible change of frets on Classic 50's
Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 8:25 am
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buy some individual strings and make up your own set.

i once snapped a string at a gig, and had to put a 'B' string on in the high E position. i never bothered to change it until all the strings needed changing. i cant remember what gauges i was using, but it meant my high e and B strings were the same size.

but if im understanding you right, you want easier bending on the higher strings B and E yeah ? which means you will have to go to 9's, you don't have much choice.

if you don't like the tension that a set of 10's is giving you on the thin strings, your only option is go smaller. i used to use .13's on my guitars, including those with vintage radius and frets. sounded huge but was hard work.

for example fenders super bullet regular heavy strings are

.52
.42
.32
.17
.13
.10

however their set of 9's have

.42
.32
.24
.16
.11
.9

so you could build a set that was

.52
.42
.32
.16
.11
.9

your guitar would need a decent setup though, and youd probably have to keep using that same setup. but you would have the thicker low strings and easier to bend high strings. what this does for the sound and setup, i couldn't tell you.

also bear in mind you can get the G string wound or unwound, which makes a difference.


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Post subject: Re: Possible change of frets on Classic 50's
Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:52 pm
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Tension too high?

You could downtune. Try e-flat.

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Post subject: Re: Possible change of frets on Classic 50's
Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 10:27 pm
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I use the Hybrid slinkys, and they work great on my classic 50's. no bending problems at all.

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Post subject: Re: Possible change of frets on Classic 50's
Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 12:45 am
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FrooFender wrote:
... the thickness of 10's on the bottom but light gauge strings on the top which would help with bending. I don't really bend that high on like, the E, A and D string so it wouldn't be a problem with having thicker gauges on the bottom...


The low E is the top string, 6th string, while the high E is the bottom string, 1st string.

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Post subject: Re: Possible change of frets on Classic 50's
Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 9:26 am
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String Tension is a function of the string, you can't change the "spring rate" of a certain gauge of string.

Here is the Da Ddario String Tension Chart

http://daddario.com/upload/tension_chart_13934.pdf

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Post subject: Re: Possible change of frets on Classic 50's
Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 2:14 am
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It sounds like a hybrid 9-46 set is what you need and is exactly what I use.

I would try setting the guitar up your self first though, using the guides on Fenders site as a starting point, as this can greatly effect how the guitar feels.

A lower action and a flatter neck (less relief) with 10s may be exactly what you are looking for.

Try getting the neck pretty flat with only a touch of relief in it, then I would drop the high e as low as I can get it without it choking on bends or buzzing.

Then set the other strings to the same height with the thicker strings set slightly higher to avoid buzz.

Intonate the guitar and you are done.

Everyone benefits from learning how to do set ups and you could try it out first on your Squire before setting up your Fender.

Trust me I have never found a shop or manufacturer that sets a guitar up the way I like it and I even tweaked my custom shop strat.


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