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Post subject: 99 Am. Std. driving me crazy!
Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2015 6:42 pm
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Hey folks first time poster here, please go easy on me. I have a 99 American standard lefty strat, I love this guitar but it is driving me crazy. The intonation is off, I have done all of the usual, new strings Fender super bullet 9's, neck relief, action, nut action, trem claw balance, proper trem floating gap, pivot bolt correctly set, all fine. I had it set-up by a few small indy guitar shops, the intonation always seemed off regarding the g string, I've had a so called "professional" set-up done by one of the shops, and they didn't even set the action, I know because I intentionally set the high e action, really low because of my dis-satisfaction from the work done by the previous tech. I've recently had a go at doing the set-up myself, As I have said at the start of this post I've checked all of the tolerances for the above measurements, lowered all of the pickups flush to eliminate magnetic pull whilst adjusting intonation, I've used an electronic tuner during adjustment of the saddles. I just can't seem to get this thing to play in tune with itself. If anyone can give me some insight to what I could possibly doing wrong,or tips to improve my ability to make this guitar play properly. I would greatly appreciate it.

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Post subject: Re: 99 Am. Std. driving me crazy!
Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2015 7:10 pm
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Indie ? What does that mean ?

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Post subject: Re: 99 Am. Std. driving me crazy!
Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2015 7:12 pm
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ido1957 wrote:
Indie ? What does that mean ?

Independent mate, not a chain shop

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Post subject: Re: 99 Am. Std. driving me crazy!
Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2015 8:47 pm
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Hi Heid68,

Can you be more specific? Are your strings high (action)? How are you adjusting the intonation, and how are you checking it? Did you run out of room when the saddle was adjusted for string length, or what.... :?:

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Post subject: Re: 99 Am. Std. driving me crazy!
Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2015 9:06 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
Hi Heid68,

Can you be more specific? Are your strings high (action)? How are you adjusting the intonation, and how are you checking it? Did you run out of room when the saddle was adjusted for string length, or what.... :?:

Thanks for the reply. String action is set to 4/64" on bass and treble side 17th fret, and checked for fretboard radius, with a radius gauge to 9.5", I am checking the fretted tone at the 12th fret to the harmonic 12th fret as this is the true note , I retune to pitch after each adjustment and let the strings settle, stretch and retune to pitch, it shows on the tuner to be +1 cent sharp when fretted, on the decay end of the fretted note. Plenty of room for adjustment, I intially roughed out the intonation as per Fender specs, high e 12.75" from the centre of the 12th fret wire to where the string just breaks over the saddle. Nut has been lubed with chapstick and a bit of pencil graphite. Any pearls of wisdom you could offer? It's really frustrating. Cheers.

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Epiphone, Dot 335.
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Post subject: Re: 99 Am. Std. driving me crazy!
Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2015 10:18 pm
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"lowered all of the pickups flush to eliminate magnetic pull whilst adjusting intonation"
I hadn't ever heard of that, but it doesn't sound realistic to set the intonation sans magnetic pull of the pups and then expect it to be intonated after engaging the desired pup height.

Are you using the middle pup as your baseline or another, if so I would set it to its specs for intonation purposes?

Are you setting your saddle radius w/ the neck radius?

"it shows on the tuner to be +1 cent sharp when fretted, on the decay end of the fretted note"
If you tune the G string flat 1, are the remaining notes on the fret board off or just the open G?
Honestly 1 cent, is pretty dadgum close for most peoples ears.

Have you stretched the strings enough?


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Post subject: Re: 99 Am. Std. driving me crazy!
Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2015 10:52 pm
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sfceric64 wrote:
"lowered all of the pickups flush to eliminate magnetic pull whilst adjusting intonation"
I hadn't ever heard of that, but it doesn't sound realistic to set the intonation sans magnetic pull of the pups and then expect it to be intonated after engaging the desired pup height.

Are you using the middle pup as your baseline or another, if so I would set it to its specs for intonation purposes?

Are you setting your saddle radius w/ the neck radius?

"it shows on the tuner to be +1 cent sharp when fretted, on the decay end of the fretted note"
If you tune the G string flat 1, are the remaining notes on the fret board off or just the open G?
Honestly 1 cent, is pretty dadgum close for most peoples ears.

Have you stretched the strings enough?


"When setting up a guitar, one performs a series of adjustments. Since these adjustments effect each other, they must be performed in a specific sequence. First, I change the strings. I then LOWER the pickups until I know that they will not magneticly disturb the free vibration of the strings and hence distort the guitar's intonation." Stephen White, Vintage Guitar Magazine.
Cheers for the reply,
I have stretched the strings enough, I use a Stew mac under string gauge, and a neck radius gauge to check my saddles. I lower the pups to remove the effects of stratitus, if I take the magnets out of the equation I know the intonation is true. Just the g mate all over the neck, if I octave the g string with both the high e and the a string it is off. Although it reads +1 cent sharp on the decay of the fretted note, I am a soft player which is why I set it on the decay as opposed to the attack. I am at a loss.

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Carvin Ae-185.
Epiphone, Dot 335.
Squier, Affinity Tele.
Ibanez, AEG10, acoustic


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Post subject: Re: 99 Am. Std. driving me crazy!
Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 1:46 am
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One cent off;
sharp when fretted;
on one string only;
driving you crazy.

Is it already 1st of April..?


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Post subject: Re: 99 Am. Std. driving me crazy!
Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 2:18 am
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Heid68,

Fender guitar are easy to set up with some experience . Something you do wrong ?


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Post subject: Re: 99 Am. Std. driving me crazy!
Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 6:24 am
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jmattis wrote:
One cent off;
sharp when fretted;
on one string only;
driving you crazy.

Is it already 1st of April..?


Are you going to try to offer a constructive solution, or are you going to continue with the lame attempt at sarcasm? J have a general problem that I cannot seem to fix, this is not a wind-up, and I am not going to bite with regards to your post. Cheers, and good day sir

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American Standard Strat.
Carvin Ae-185.
Epiphone, Dot 335.
Squier, Affinity Tele.
Ibanez, AEG10, acoustic


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Post subject: Re: 99 Am. Std. driving me crazy!
Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 6:33 am
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Heid68 wrote:
jmattis wrote:
One cent off;
sharp when fretted;
on one string only;
driving you crazy.

Is it already 1st of April..?


Are you going to try to offer a constructive solution, or are you going to continue with the lame attempt at sarcasm? J have a general problem that I cannot seem to fix, this is not a wind-up, and I am not going to bite with regards to your post. Cheers, and good day sir



In other word ; you say you do everything , all set up

2 answers ;

1-The guitar is good for the garbage

2- You misses something

http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Player-Rep ... ds=stewmac


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Post subject: Re: 99 Am. Std. driving me crazy!
Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 6:37 am
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stratele52 wrote:
Heid68,

Fender guitar are easy to set up with some experience . Something you do wrong ?


Thanks you for your reply. I am sure it is something I am doing. When I set the intonation, as I have stated I have a very light playing style therefore, not much attack so I set my intonation +1 cent sharp on the decay of the fretted note, I allow the strings to settle double check my int, all seems to be spot on. When I play an open C Maj. the open G always seems out of pitch by nearly a semitone. If I tune the G to play in tune with the CMaj chord, when I octave the any note on G it doesn't match the notes on either the high e, nor the A. I don't know where I am going wrong, I have tried everything bar going to a guitar tech, I want to learn how to do it, because as I has stated the last two professional techs didn't seem to do a very good job. Thanks again for your reply.

_________________
American Standard Strat.
Carvin Ae-185.
Epiphone, Dot 335.
Squier, Affinity Tele.
Ibanez, AEG10, acoustic


Last edited by Heid68 on Sun Mar 08, 2015 6:53 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: 99 Am. Std. driving me crazy!
Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 6:48 am
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Many years ago ( 20 years ? ) I learn how to set up my guitars . I bought many books and mesuring tools .
Now I know where to look on my guitar and what to do when it do not play like I want .

I know now ;
1- there is not so many good guitar tech .

2- It is me I know better what kind of tune-up I like ( action , neck curve..... )

3- It cost less money and waist time to invest in some good tools and books than to pay a guitar tech and take a day to bring and pick up the guitar .
Guitar may need few tune up / years = $$$


But you must like to work on guitar .

Good luck for your work


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Post subject: Re: 99 Am. Std. driving me crazy!
Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 6:58 am
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stratele52 wrote:
Many years ago ( 20 years ? ) I learn how to set up my guitars . I bought many books and mesuring tools .
Now I know where to look on my guitar and what to do when it do not play like I want .

I know now ;
1- there is not so many good guitar tech .

2- It is me I know better what kind of tune-up I like ( action , neck curve..... )

3- It cost less money and waist time to invest in some good tools and books than to pay a guitar tech and take a day to bring and pick up the guitar .
Guitar may need few tune up / years = $$$


But you must like to work on guitar .

Good luck for your work


I have the complete guitar repair book, I have tried to follow that book to the letter. I think I will get a copy of the book from the link you provided. I appreciate you taking the time to try to help, I love this guitar and it annoys me not to be able to use it because I can't get it as close to true tempered as possible, I know the guitar is a flawed instrument, but if it's within +1 cent on the tuner it should not be detectable by ear. Could the neck angle cause problems? The only thing I haven't faffed about with is the micro tilt.

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American Standard Strat.
Carvin Ae-185.
Epiphone, Dot 335.
Squier, Affinity Tele.
Ibanez, AEG10, acoustic


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Post subject: Re: 99 Am. Std. driving me crazy!
Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 7:06 am
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Location: Coastal Bend, Tx.
"Just the g mate all over the neck, if I octave the g string with both the high e and the a string it is off. Although it reads +1 cent sharp on the decay of the fretted note, I am a soft player which is why I set it on the decay as opposed to the attack."

From this answer I cant tell if you tuned the open G flat or not, and then checked the rest of the notes fretted up the neck. If so and they were all off as well as the open G, change the string and start over...Sometimes strings are bad out of the box, rarely but sometimes...

IMO, setting on the decay is "tuning down" or catching a falling knife. The attack will always be sharper and ring louder than the sustain.

sounds like you want a stratavarious tone out of a guitar, good luck.


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