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Post subject: B & E Strings Quieter Than Others
Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 1:01 pm
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Hey all,
I just purchased a new American Strat, my second one. I notice that the high B & E strings are noticeably quieter than the other strings. I thought it may be my imagination, so I compared it to my older strat (also an American, 15+ years old) and , sure enough, the strings are definitely quieter. This is the case regardless of switch position, so I don't think its a pickup issue.

So my question is, what adjustment(s) can be made to increase a string's volume relative to other strings?

I'm not an expert by any means, so please bear with me.

Thanks for any help!


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Post subject: Re: B & E Strings Quieter Than Others
Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 1:17 pm
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You might try raising your pickups on the treble side via the adjustment screws that hold the pickups to the pickguard. Use half-turn increments and check the volume after each tweak.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: B & E Strings Quieter Than Others
Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 6:44 pm
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x1

The other method would be to lower the action of those strings at the saddle.
Also I would check the magnets relative strength to the rest of the strings. It shouldn't be an issue w/ a new axe, but its easy to check.


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Post subject: Re: B & E Strings Quieter Than Others
Posted: Wed May 20, 2015 12:13 am
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Which model guitar do you have?
Has the guitar been set up at all?
Are the B/highE strings quieter both open and fretted (along the whole fretboard)?

In addition to pickup height and/or string action related causes, it may also be defective strings, problem with the nut, and/or string tree, and/or saddles, and/or high/low fret(s).

(There's the odd possibility of degaussed pole pieces, too - but not likely to happen on all three pups at the same time.)


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Post subject: Re: B & E Strings Quieter Than Others
Posted: Wed May 20, 2015 5:14 pm
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jmattis wrote:
Which model guitar do you have?
Has the guitar been set up at all?
Are the B/highE strings quieter both open and fretted (along the whole fretboard)?

In addition to pickup height and/or string action related causes, it may also be defective strings, problem with the nut, and/or string tree, and/or saddles, and/or high/low fret(s).

(There's the odd possibility of degaussed pole pieces, too - but not likely to happen on all three pups at the same time.)


It is a brand new American Strat. Yes, they are both quieter along the entire fretboard. It was purchased from Sweetwater.com ... allegedly set up by them but I doubt anything was really done.


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Post subject: Re: B & E Strings Quieter Than Others
Posted: Wed May 20, 2015 5:23 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
You might try raising your pickups on the treble side via the adjustmenant screws that hold the pickups to the pickguard. Use half-turn increments and check the volume after each tweak.

Arjay


Thanks; I haven't tried this yet, but after reading your post I took a look and compared the new strat to my older one. I notice that on the new strat, the pickups are much higher and closer to the treble side strings than the pickups on the older strat. Maybe that means nothing but its pretty noticeable.


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Post subject: Re: B & E Strings Quieter Than Others
Posted: Wed May 20, 2015 6:09 pm
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sgt1917 wrote:
Thanks; I haven't tried this yet, but after reading your post I took a look and compared the new strat to my older one. I notice that on the new strat, the pickups are much higher and closer to the treble side strings than the pickups on the older strat. Maybe that means nothing but its pretty noticeable.


What it *may* mean is, the tech at Sweetwater discovered the problem before shipment and tried to compensate for the lack of volume without actually troubleshooting to determine the real cause. It's possible that the nut is incorrectly slotted for the B and E strings or that the strings themselves are dead.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: B & E Strings Quieter Than Others
Posted: Wed May 20, 2015 10:49 pm
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Hello,
I think that's normal. Since 2012 American standard Strats are loaded with Fat 50 pickups, which are "vintage voiced". While I love the tone of them, I experience the same issue with high E and B, especially if compared to the G string. That is the result of the vintage staggering of pickups pole pieces, back in the days they had wound G too.
I would much prefer to have a more modern staggering to limit that inconsistency in volume. When soloing sometimes I miss that extra volume on high strings.

Cheers!
Alberto


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Post subject: Re: B & E Strings Quieter Than Others
Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 1:12 am
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Have to agree with Guitarman1984
I have a Japanese 1968 reissue with staggered pole pieces which are very staggered and have noticed a slight drop in volume when playing the B and E strings , even though my treble side is set higher than the bass side

Back when the earth was flat , one of the problems with pickups was "Second string overpowering tendency", wheras the B string was naturally louder than all the rest through a "set flat" pickup without pole pieces...... I for a while, played a home made esquire fitted with a vox pickup similar to a tele neck pickup on which the loud "second string" was noticeable

What i am trying to say, is I personally don't think it's a "string height compared to the other 4 strings" issue, but rather a pickup pole piece issue , which would affect the volume way more ......Thankfully, I was able to adjust my pickups so it is barely noticeable

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Post subject: Re: B & E Strings Quieter Than Others
Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 12:33 am
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To a certain point, I agree with ted j and gtrman84 - the characteristic chime of a vintage sounding Strat has a definite, yet subtle, "loud-G" aspect. Somebody called this "a natural EQ adjustment".
But, it should IMHO not be so definitive that the B and highE seem out of balance compared to other strings.
And of course we're again near 'psychological hearing'; the "sound" experience heard is very subjective... I recall there once even was a poll on the forum about flat/staggered polepieces :wink:

But to the OP: would be nice to know the final outcome of the matter.


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Post subject: Re: B & E Strings Quieter Than Others
Posted: Mon May 25, 2015 1:54 pm
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jmattis wrote:
To a certain point, I agree with ted j and gtrman84 - the characteristic chime of a vintage sounding Strat has a definite, yet subtle, "loud-G" aspect. Somebody called this "a natural EQ adjustment".
But, it should IMHO not be so definitive that the B and highE seem out of balance compared to other strings.
And of course we're again near 'psychological hearing'; the "sound" experience heard is very subjective... I recall there once even was a poll on the forum about flat/staggered polepieces :wink:

But to the OP: would be nice to know the final outcome of the matter.


Well, I appreciate everyone's replies, but with the divergence of opinion and/or expertise, I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't mess with it. Actually as I've continued to play it, I think I'm becoming accustomed to it, i.e., as a "different" sound. It's still a great sounding guitar.


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Post subject: Re: B & E Strings Quieter Than Others
Posted: Tue May 26, 2015 2:04 pm
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jmattis wrote:
To a certain point, I agree with ted j and gtrman84 - the characteristic chime of a vintage sounding Strat has a definite, yet subtle, "loud-G" aspect. Somebody called this "a natural EQ adjustment".
But, it should IMHO not be so definitive that the B and highE seem out of balance compared to other strings.
And of course we're again near 'psychological hearing'; the "sound" experience heard is very subjective... I recall there once even was a poll on the forum about flat/staggered polepieces :wink:

But to the OP: would be nice to know the final outcome of the matter.


I also agree that the "loud G" aspect should be subtle, but I can definitely say that's not the case with fat 50. The G is clearly louder than B and high E... I play with 0.11 strings so this could enhance even more this aspect.
I got used too, whenever I feel I need a more even string balance I pick up my 1987 mij strat with flat polepieces!

Alberto


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Post subject: Re: B & E Strings Quieter Than Others
Posted: Tue May 26, 2015 10:16 pm
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guitarman1984 wrote:
... I play with 0.11 strings...


:shock:

Good gosh! I hope that the 0.11 is the low E, but still the biggest strings that I've ever heard of anyone using! :lol:

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Post subject: Re: B & E Strings Quieter Than Others
Posted: Wed May 27, 2015 12:28 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
guitarman1984 wrote:
... I play with 0.11 strings...


:shock:

Good gosh! I hope that the 0.11 is the low E, but still the biggest strings that I've ever heard of anyone using! :lol:


Did I write it wrong??? I use the following strings:
Power Slinky Nickel Wound, Gauges .011 .014 .018p .028 .038 .048

I don't think I'm the only one!
:D


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Post subject: Re: B & E Strings Quieter Than Others
Posted: Wed May 27, 2015 12:29 pm
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guitarman1984 wrote:
shimmilou wrote:
guitarman1984 wrote:
... I play with 0.11 strings...


:shock:
:shock:
Good gosh! I hope that the 0.11 is the low E, but still the biggest strings that I've ever heard of anyone using! :lol:


Did I write it wrong??? I use the following strings:
Power Slinky Nickel Wound, Gauges .011 .014 .018p .028 .038 .048

I don't think I'm the only one!
:D


:shock:
Oh yessssss, there was a missing 0 of course :mrgreen:


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