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Post subject: Pure nickel vs nickel wound?
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 7:38 am
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Going back to a previous thread, I have had a few setup issues lately with a 2013 American Standard Strat. could this have anything to do with the fact that I changed from Ernie ball super slinkys to Fender 150L's? I know pure nickel is supposed to be softer and more flexable than nickel coated steel or plain steel, could this be the reason I am getting a lot of string rattle? my strings are at 2.5mm at the 17th fret and my neck has just a fraction more relief than Fender recommends. I can get the strings as low as 2mm, but I still get a slight rattle from the D and G strings, sometimes the B too. it's been that long since I used the Ernie ball super slinkys, but still I don't remember things rattling half as much as they do now.

The other option I guess would be going up to 10's, but I don't want to do that on a Strat.
although it does look like the E B and G string slots have been cut for 10's or 11's. the string height at the nut seems pretty much where it should be, but still the strings look like they are sitting very deep in the nut. there is a slight dead sound from the E B and G strings too which I am guessing is because they are sat so deep in the nut.

Any suggestions guys?


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Post subject: Re: Pure nickel vs nickel wound?
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 9:06 am
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Sounds like the perfect time to replace the nut with a bone nut.... It's simple to do, but it does take Patience and you must get fret files. These will cut your string slot but most importantly they will cut the notch with a concave bottom....
Strings ride better in a round slot cut to their size....

If I remember correctly I went thru installing a new Bone Nut in one of my build threads...
Stratopartster I & II .....

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Post subject: Re: Pure nickel vs nickel wound?
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 9:31 am
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I haven't read any older posts, so some if this may be already covered...but...

I've used a variety of strings types (steel, nickel-plated, pure nickel) without any problems. And, remember, this is only for the wound strings...you are concerned with rattle and height on the plain strings, mostly?

As far as overall size, no fear from going up a size, I'm using 11-48 without problems.

But, there may be a problem with the nut on your guitar. I'd recommend making some careful measurements of the slot depth and/or distance to the fingerboard and comparing them to specs* before taking on a project to change replace it...either by yourself or by a professional as it might not be the cause of your problem.

*I do recall a recent post wherein, someone (Ceri?) posted some recommend nut measurements. You can search posts or perhaps find it in the support pages?

If you are comfortable with guitar maintenance, follow the procedure posed in the Support pages as this usually will either correct a problem or help you to identify a cause. If not, take it to someone trustworthy for a good inspection as a relatively new guitar should not have these kinds of issues.

Cheers.

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Post subject: Re: Pure nickel vs nickel wound?
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 9:53 am
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Doesn't the American standard strat already have a bone nut fitted?
I'll have a look to see if I can find the nut measurements.

Thanks :-)


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Post subject: Re: Pure nickel vs nickel wound?
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 10:05 am
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kiss nation, you didn't mention if this string rattle was audible when playing through an amplifier or if you only hear it when noodling unplugged. There is a difference. If you can hear it through an amp then you have an honest to goodness issue. If you can't hear it through the amp then it's just normal. Almost all Fender electrics have a little bit of unplugged string rattle if the guitar is set up to where most players like it, i.e: with 9s and low action and minimal relief.

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Post subject: Re: Pure nickel vs nickel wound?
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 12:37 pm
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Sorry I should have mentioned that.
I only hear the rattle from the strings when the guitar is unplugged. I can't hear anything through the amp. I do get some rattle from the D string around the 12th fret. but the G string rattles from the 5th to the 20th fret. a little rattle has gone away since I raised the height of the strings to 2.5mm, but it is still there ever so slightly.
I don't really mind the strings being as high as they are. my first guitar, before I had any idea about different string heights had the strings set quite high, so my fingers just got used to it. but there are times I wish I could lower the action a little.


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Post subject: Re: Pure nickel vs nickel wound?
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 12:51 pm
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I have another guitar which is an epiphone les paul standard. this is also strung with 9's. but the strings are elixirs. even though there is no problem with this guitar, the strings are at 2mm at the 17th fret, they also look like they are cut a little deep in to the nut. but the only rattle I get on this guitar is when I pick hard.


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Post subject: Re: Pure nickel vs nickel wound?
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 7:52 pm
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Even with the mild weather we have here in L.A., I find that this time of year plays havoc with my guitars. Between temperature and humidity changes, I find I'm having to tweak a truss rod pretty often to keep the buzz and rattles at a minimum. I doubt it's your brand of strings, since that would have nothing to do with you G, B, or high E strings.

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Post subject: Re: Pure nickel vs nickel wound?
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 7:18 am
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I've had fender pure nickel strings on my strat for quite a while now. before that I used ernie ball super slinkys. I can't remember having that many problems with them. but I do remember changing them because I found out that they were only nickel plated steel, or in the case of the plain strings, tin coated carbon steel. a friend suggested I try pure nickel strings because of the difference in tone, pure nickel is also more flexible so it's easier to bend nickel strings compared to nickel plated steel.

I still think the guitar could use a new nut though. the only thing putting me off right now is the price. I've been quoted anywhere from £15 to £35 to replace the nut. is it possible to buy a stock nut already cut for 9's and simply replace it myself?


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Post subject: Re: Pure nickel vs nickel wound?
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 9:23 am
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The only question I have now is what nut material should I go for.
currently the nut is a synthetic bone nut, which I think is a posh way of saying plastic.
should I go for bone, tusq, brass, graphite, or should I consider a roller nut?


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