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Post subject: Advice Please - Classic Player 60s Strat Neck Adjustment
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 8:44 pm
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Hi,
I have a question about a problem with my Classic Player 60's Strat neck.

I did my first truss rod adjustment on my Strat tonight, and had to turn it about a full turn (did 3 separate adjustments over about an hour), which I found alarming. It is still a bit like a railway track, which worries me.

Does anyone have any advice about straightening the neck further? I do not think that I can turn the truss rod any more, and am not sure that that would do the job because the neck is not just uniformly 'warped' continuously from one point to another - it is warped, straitens out and then dips again.

There seems to be some uneveness in the height of the strings, so I think that I will have to fool around with the saddles, too, I think.

The guitar is playable, but not ideally so.

I really like the guitar, but must say that - especially considering the cost - I have been quite disappointed because of this issue, and because the frets need dressing; they are sharp at the ends.

Thanks for any replies.


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Post subject: Re: Advice Please - Classic Player 60s Strat Neck Adjustment
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 10:42 pm
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drutgat wrote:
......the neck is not just uniformly 'warped' continuously from one point to another - it is warped, straitens out and then dips again.


I would've left that instrument hanging on the store's display rack. No way would a POS like that come home with me.

The guitar should be returned to the point of purchase for an exchange or a refund.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Advice Please - Classic Player 60s Strat Neck Adjustment
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 12:11 am
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It is, of course, possible that you have a defective neck.

Then again, how experienced are you in setting up a guitar? That "my first truss rod adjustment" suggests you're kinda new at this.
If so, get a good pro to set up the guitar. He/she can also evaluate the neck a lot better than the forum - we're kinda teleworking here...
And that fret end problem is also taken care of in a first setup...


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Post subject: Re: Advice Please - Classic Player 60s Strat Neck Adjustment
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 2:00 am
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jmattis wrote:
It is, of course, possible that you have a defective neck.

Then again, how experienced are you in setting up a guitar? That "my first truss rod adjustment" suggests you're kinda new at this.
If so, get a good pro to set up the guitar. He/she can also evaluate the neck a lot better than the forum - we're kinda teleworking here...
And that fret end problem is also taken care of in a first setup...



+1


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Post subject: Re: Advice Please - Classic Player 60s Strat Neck Adjustment
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 5:13 am
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drutgat wrote:
I did my first truss rod adjustment on my Strat tonight, . It is still a bit like a railway track, which worries me.

Does anyone have any advice about straightening the neck further?

There seems to be some uneveness in the height of the strings, so I think that I will have to fool around with the saddles, too, I think.

The guitar is playable, but not ideally so.

I really like the guitar, but must say that - especially considering the cost - I have been quite disappointed because of this issue, and because the frets need dressing; they are sharp at the ends.

Hey drutgat, here's my best advice; DON'T BUST YOUR TRUSS ROD! :oops:

Around here, NJ, it costs $250 to get it fixed. :shock:

It's unlikely that the neck is warped, but it can happen. I've never seen one, but I've read about it. :)

The good news is that with a professional set-up your guitar will be much better. :D

I would advise spending the money on a good set-up and learn as much as you can from the guitar tech. :idea:

Measure everything you can think of after he's done, make notes. In time, you be able to do it yourself. 8)

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Post subject: Re: Advice Please - Classic Player 60s Strat Neck Adjustment
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 6:24 am
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Hi Arjay, danagos, jmattis, Retroverbial,
Thanks for your replies.

I may have overstated the problem with the neck - it is not unplayable, just not fully suited to me, and several guitar playing friends have commented on the concave 'warp', and resulting (a-little-too-high)action.

Unfortunately, this was a special order, and there were no other Classic Player 60s I could find to play in any of the guitar stores where I live, so I have nothing to compare it to" not see/experience the neck before I received the guitar.

Yes, this was my first experience in adjusting her neck, but I must say that I found a couple of videos on YouTube quite helpful, and did other research, as well as having previously adjusted a truss rod on one of my acoustics under the tutelage of an experienced friend of mine.

And, even though I did not have the Strat where I would like it to be in terms of playability, it is better than it was, so I think that I am headed in the right direction.

Still, I think that the advice to have a professional look at it is good advice - even though I would like to have avoided that if possible.

Many thanks for all of your replies,
drutgat.


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Post subject: Re: Advice Please - Classic Player 60s Strat Neck Adjustment
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 12:14 pm
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drutgat wrote:

Still, I think that the advice to have a professional look at it is good advice - even though I would like to have avoided that if possible.

Many thanks for all of your replies,
drutgat.



Find a qualified luthier if you want a good job .


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Post subject: Re: Advice Please - Classic Player 60s Strat Neck Adjustment
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 4:55 pm
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Hi stratele52,
This stuff is not exactly rocket science – I have a friend who has learned how to maintain, and build basses over the years, and in terms of the kind of maintenance that I will have to do, it seems that the skills can be acquired with practice and little application.

I am not worried, and would be very surprised if a luthier could do anything more with the neck.

I also intend to experiment a little with adjusting the string height at the bridge.


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Post subject: Re: Advice Please - Classic Player 60s Strat Neck Adjustment
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 6:31 pm
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How are you checking the neck relief/warp?

Using a straightedge? Fretting a string at the first and 17th fret and checking the gap between the top of the 7th/8th fret and the bottom of the string? Or are you just sighting along the neck?

Holding the neck up and just looking along its length is very unreliable. Waviness/uneveness of the edges of the fretboard can make a neck look warped, humped, "S"-shaped.

If you think the neck has humps/dips, you really need a straight reference to check that. Either a straightedge or a taut guitar string.

If your climate is drastically different than the factory in Ensenada, or if you or the store changed strings to a different gauge (or even a different brand), needing a full turn of the truss rod (or even more) isn't particularly alarming. It's doubtful that you've run out of adjustment range and can probably tighten the rod quite a bit more (if needed, assuming that you've been checking relief the right way).

If you've ever tightened a nut on a bolt that has threads that stop partway on the bolt's shaft, you can tell when you've run out of threads on the rod. This type of threaded shaft: Image
There's a difference between hitting a hard stop like that vs just having the adjuster get harder to turn. Depending on the stiffness of the neck and the string gauge, the adjuster can need a lot of torque to get the neck where you want it.

Of course there are people who can't recognize when a nut has seized or run out of threads on the rod. Mechanical aptitude is both a gift and a learned skill -- some people have it, some don't but can acquire it, others never get it. If you have any doubt, have a pro that's done it before check your truss rod.


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Post subject: Re: Advice Please - Classic Player 60s Strat Neck Adjustment
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 6:39 pm
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drutgat wrote:
drutgat wrote:
I did my first truss rod adjustment on my Strat tonight...which I found alarming...railway track, which worries me...Does anyone have any advice...I do not think that I can turn the truss rod any more...neck is not just uniformly 'warped'...it is warped, straitens out and then dips again...Thanks for any replies.

Hi stratele52,
This stuff is not exactly rocket science...it seems that the skills can be acquired with practice and little application...I am not worried, and would be very surprised if a luthier could do anything more with the neck.

Good for you drutgat, you've solved most of your problem in less than 20 hours and concluded that a Luthier couldn't help you much.

Another satisfied customer at the Forums! :roll:

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Post subject: Re: Advice Please - Classic Player 60s Strat Neck Adjustment
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 8:45 pm
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I agree with strayedstrater, how are you checking the relief? If you're turning the truss rod nut counter clockwise, then that is why you're not getting the preferred results.

You should have around .010" gap at the 8th fret using a feeler gauge with a capo at the 1st fret and your finger holding down the 6th string at the last fret.

G


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Post subject: Re: Advice Please - Classic Player 60s Strat Neck Adjustment
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 12:39 am
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drutgat wrote:
This stuff is not exactly rocket science.

Absolutely true - and we were all beginners once.

I still recommend using a good pro for the first setup - preferably one that lets you follow the procedure to learn to do it yourself the next time.
You'd learn a lot faster this way.

drutgat wrote:
I also intend to experiment a little

That's OK too, provided you have a well set up guitar to start experimenting with.
My SOP for any problem guitar is to set it up to factory specs. They are a good, experience-based reference point. Then experiment - and go back to facspecs if it doesn't work..

BTW, a Stratocaster is not the easiest guitar to setup, with its floating trem and design/construction base where adjusting one thing always affects another. That's the beauty and agony of it.


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Post subject: Re: Advice Please - Classic Player 60s Strat Neck Adjustment
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 1:28 am
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drutgat wrote:
Hi stratele52,
This stuff is not exactly rocket science – I have a friend who has learned how to maintain, and build basses over the years, and in terms of the kind of maintenance that I will have to do, it seems that the skills can be acquired with practice and little application.

I am not worried, and would be very surprised if a luthier could do anything more with the neck.

I also intend to experiment a little with adjusting the string height at the bridge.



I know how to adjust and fix anything in guitar ( except big frets job ) , I do a lots of guitar set up/ mods since many years but drudgat look to have some many problem for a beginner ......

He can start with buying and studying some book like this one ;

http://www.danerlewine.com/guitar_repair_books.html

This one is great too ;

http://www.amazon.ca/Fender-Stratocaste ... ratocaster


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Post subject: Re: Advice Please - Classic Player 60s Strat Neck Adjustment
Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 4:23 pm
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Could it be possible the OP could be turning the wrong way as the adjustment is done at the butt end on this model rather than near the nut?
(not trying to be a wise guy, just throwing it out there) 8)


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Post subject: Re: Advice Please - Classic Player 60s Strat Neck Adjustment
Posted: Mon May 26, 2014 11:39 pm
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Okay Everyone please TIME OUT HERE!

The OP has bought a brand new guitar and special ordered at that.
Okay, why are you messing with it, take back to the store and have then set it up like they should have in the first place.

If they can't, then take it to the Fender warranty station and have then fix it.

I just fail to understand all the drama here, a new guitar has a warranty, right?

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