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Post subject: Re: New Stratocaster American Standard with a few "issues"
Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2014 11:28 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
milcs wrote:
...Their recommended setup is 0.10'' (0.25mm) relief at the 8th fret and 4/64'' (1.6mm) action at the 17th fret. I mean... is this even possible?...I lowered the action to 0.33-0.4mm, but the action is around 2.5mm on the bass strings (and around 1.6mm on the trebble)...


Double-check your math. 1/10" = 2.54 mm, not .25 mm. :wink:


:) 0.010''. Why complicating it all with an imperial system!?!?!?! :P


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Post subject: Re: New Stratocaster American Standard with a few "issues"
Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 1:52 am
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Really?

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Post subject: Re: New Stratocaster American Standard with a few "issues"
Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2014 10:04 am
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Congrats on the new Strat and I am really glad to see you are taking a real interest in doing things yourself. But I have to agree with (jmattis) and at least get one pro setup by a good tech and you will really see how incredible your guitar can play. y explaining to him just how you like everything and when handed back the guitar ask him to write the measurements he used and then from there you can start doing your own set-ups. I am fortunate enough to have one of my best friends own his own shop (which is a 3 generation owned business started by his grandfather, that has been open for over 80 years). So anytime I buy a new guitar I always take it right to the store to have him checkout everything and do the first set up. I don't have to say a word as he knows exactly how I like my guitars setup. My #1 Strat is an 02 Beck sig that is setup basically like Becks(after looking at his setup lol) with a few lil mods that I prefer.I had a refret last year and had the radius changed starting at the 12th fret, so it goes from 9-1/2" to 12" and what a difference that made. I can also bring my action down as low as Becks without any buzz anywhere but that is a bit too low to my liking' though great for shred techniques especially sweeping and legato. But I prefer a bit of relief where the string has some bounce and I don't feel like I am playing a flat board. I can do my own but I rather have a friend who has been working on gear for 40 years and can also spot or detect things in a minute that I wouldn't until it was an issue. I know just where you are at playing wise and how you wan't everything to be just perfect= it will come with time. Don't stress yourself out as there is no issues with your guitar that can't be fixed quickly. It sounds like you ordered this guitar from a store. Well let this be a lesson the next time you buy a guitar to take it out of the case and go plug it in while in the store, and go over the whole guitar to make sure everything is as it should be. Good luck and put the time in woodshedding and you'll have the best friend you could ever hope for life and = the gift of making music!


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Post subject: Re: New Stratocaster American Standard with a few "issues"
Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2014 1:47 pm
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Howdy... and thank you for your nice post!

I have booked myself a visit to a luthier on Saturday!!!
In the meantime, I have been fiddling with my guitar a bit. I have set the relief at the neck at a little hair above 0.010''. Unfortunately, the action is at around 2.5mm on the bass side, going to 2mm on the treble. I think this is quite high, but I can't really lower the action, otherwise I have buzz everywhere I play.
As it is, it is playing OK. I can play it without any buzz... The problem comes when I strum a chord or pick a string a bit stronger. And then I can hear a bit of a metallic rattle...
At this point... I am not sure what is the guitar's problem and what is my technique problem! :)
Are we supposed to always light pick a electric guitar? :D


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Post subject: Re: New Stratocaster American Standard with a few "issues"
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 11:23 am
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The problem comes when I strum a chord or pick a string a bit stronger. And then I can hear a bit of a metallic rattle...

we've already talked about this.. it's normal.. no luthier on the planet is going to be able to take the "BUZZ" out of low action setup with a heavy picking hand... Learn your touch..


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Post subject: Re: New Stratocaster American Standard with a few "issues"
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 6:33 pm
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Yeah, it's always a bit of a compromise to get the lowest possible action with the least amount of rattle, even on the highest quality guitars.

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Post subject: Re: New Stratocaster American Standard with a few "issues"
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 4:56 am
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KidBlast wrote:
The problem comes when I strum a chord or pick a string a bit stronger. And then I can hear a bit of a metallic rattle...

we've already talked about this.. it's normal.. no luthier on the planet is going to be able to take the "BUZZ" out of low action setup with a heavy picking hand... Learn your touch..


:D

I know... but is 2mm on the low E, low action? Given Fender suggests 1.6mm, I would say this is a bit on the higher action spectrum!

Regarding picking and strumming, I have been working hard to improve my technique and it is helping! But watching videos on youtube, people strumming those bass notes quite hard and no buzz... I can't stop wondering what's wrong! :)


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Post subject: Re: New Stratocaster American Standard with a few "issues"
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 8:10 am
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It's hard to gauge things like how hard someone is strumming or hitting notes from watching YouTube . Those are the things that come with practice. Eventually you should be able to change how loud a note or chord sounds just by adjusting your technique . Practice more and take lessons from a real live instructor would be my advice.


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Post subject: Re: New Stratocaster American Standard with a few "issues"
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 8:26 am
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Personally, when I take a guitar in for a setup I tell them I want low action even if it means some buzzing.

At the other end of the spectrum are players like George Thorogood. I heard an interview where he said he gets his sound by playing the electric as if it were an acoustic.

It is amazing what a good tech can do though. Well worth the money.


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Post subject: Re: New Stratocaster American Standard with a few "issues"
Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 11:16 am
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Howdy my fellow Strat lovers!!! :)

Quick question from the masters amongst you...
Today I decided to lower the action as much as I could and reduce the relief.
Regarding the relief, there is an "odd issue" with it. So... I can't lower the relief to 0.010'' (it is really close though). I reach a point in which the truss rod won't turn anymore (and I don't really want to force anything).

Is this normal? I thought the truss rod would keep turning and even allow a "negative" relief!?

Help?

PS: The guitar settles for over one week. I couldn't turn the truss rod... Just to clarify that! :)


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Post subject: Re: New Stratocaster American Standard with a few "issues"
Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 11:18 am
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Wayne2 wrote:
Personally, when I take a guitar in for a setup I tell them I want low action even if it means some buzzing.


I am really convinced I want to take it to a luthier ASAP. I can't work out the G. There are little buzzes everywhere... Saddles rattling mostly, I think. But can't get rid of it!!! :)
Also, it seems that down the neck, the notes are lackluster (can't really explain it better) when I go to low. They don't die (or fret out), even when bent... They just sound like they are missing something! :D Can't explain better...

Oh well! Love exploration...


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Post subject: Re: New Stratocaster American Standard with a few "issues"
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 7:24 am
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milcs wrote:
Howdy my fellow Strat lovers!!! :)

Quick question from the masters amongst you...
Today I decided to lower the action as much as I could and reduce the relief.
Regarding the relief, there is an "odd issue" with it. So... I can't lower the relief to 0.010'' (it is really close though). I reach a point in which the truss rod won't turn anymore (and I don't really want to force anything).

Is this normal? I thought the truss rod would keep turning and even allow a "negative" relief!?

Help?

PS: The guitar settles for over one week. I couldn't turn the truss rod... Just to clarify that! :)

Sorry for bumping this... Just wondering if anyone could advise me on my truss rod.
Is it normal to not be able to have 0 relief before I can no longer turn the truss rod?


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Post subject: Re: New Stratocaster American Standard with a few "issues"
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 7:44 am
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milcs wrote:
Sorry for bumping this... Just wondering if anyone could advise me on my truss rod.
Is it normal to not be able to have 0 relief before I can no longer turn the truss rod?


You shouldn't be hitting the end of the adjustment range of the truss rod.
You need to do as advised and take it to an experienced guitar technician.

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Post subject: Re: New Stratocaster American Standard with a few "issues"
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 9:19 am
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Stratmangler2 wrote:
You need to do as advised and take it to an experienced guitar technician.

+1000(...)000

@milcs: You're getting dangerously close to damaging your guitar.
Also, this whole thing starts to have a grim troll shade to it. No more forum posts before you have the guitar set up by a good luthier, please.


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Post subject: Re: New Stratocaster American Standard with a few "issues"
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 10:30 am
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Look, I understand your advise to get an expert look at it... I will do it when I have the time!

In any case, there needs to be a demystification here... Stratocasters beg to be tweaked. Starting with how easy it is to completely build a guitar from parts, to a bridge in which all strings can be adjusted, to an adjustable truss rod, etc... Only someone really reckless can damage a guitar! I can assure you... I am not!

Carrying on... I don't know why you say this is a troll post! Honestly I don't understand it and, indeed, it offends me a bit! If I can't come in a forum full of stratocaster owners to ask questions... Where can I go?

I have doubts and I am trying to learn... There is zero danger of me damaging my guitar! Thank you for your concern, but that is not going to happen. I could go an and create a new thread with the subject "Can't turn the truss rod any further". In that case my thread would not be a troll one? I honestly don't get your reasoning...

Bottom line... I am discovering my guitar! I will keep on doing so! I have read, spent lots of time in forums, watching videos and playing with different setups (high action, low action, high relief, low relief, etc...)! I surely am not going once a week to a luthier to have it setup high, low, medium... so that I can find out what is the best for me! I am sure you can agree...

With that all out of the way... it is really simple what I am asking really!
Is the truss rod supposed to stop tightening before I have a flat neck (or even a back bow)? I assume, from the previous answer and from reading around, that it is not. What can be the reason for this? Those are my simple questions...

Cheers

PS: Yes, I will take the guitar to the luthier! I know that already... :twisted:


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