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Post subject: starcaster maintenance
Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 2:51 pm
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brand new instrument. wont stay in tune,

i understand this is entry level guitar. should i just buy better strings?


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Post subject: Re: starcaster maintenance
Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 6:53 pm
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By "won't stay in tune" do you mean "won't stay in tune at all" or "won't stay in tune when I use the tremolo"? Different fixes depending on the problem.

Strings are pretty much strings - most of them are pretty decent. I would go ahead and change them just because these strings have probably been on the guitar a while since these are sold in big box stores. Who knows how long it was in stock before you bought it, plus it's been in a box making its way from where ever they are built to the store you bought it from for quite a while. I've kind of drifted into using Ernie Balls for the past 10 years or so; however, there is nothing wrong with Fenders, D'Addarios, Dean Markley or GHS.

When you do change them, don't forget to stretch them out really well to help it stay in tune.


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Post subject: Re: starcaster maintenance
Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 8:39 pm
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May need someone with experience to look at the nut. Many tuning issues will be due to binding or burrs in the nut slots. Also, how heavy are you with the tremolo ?


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Post subject: Re: starcaster maintenance
Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 10:11 am
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thank you so much for your help. this my first time on any forum and this is my first electric guitar. i have some experience with acoustic.

i have been tinkering with the "intonation" adjustment,with some improvement, tho i think that is a separate issue. ,i will buy better strings .

by tremolo, do you mean what i call the "Whammy bar"? i removed it from the guitar almost immediately...it was fun, but it got in my way.

i understand that the nut may be pinching the strings. ..i will take a closer look..you recommend that this not something i should attempt to fix myself? . i am not afraid to try...i have a bunch of cheap guitars...and i do some trouble shooting.

part of the problem is ; i can get each individual string in tune , but it sounds off when i strum a chord..

thanks again

.


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Post subject: Re: starcaster maintenance
Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 12:44 pm
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winterdesign wrote:
i have been tinkering with the "intonation" adjustment,with some improvement, tho i think that is a separate issue. ,i will buy better strings .

part of the problem is ; i can get each individual string in tune , but it sounds off when i strum a chord..


Yes - that does sound like an intonation problem. Keep adjusting it; you might need some help if you're mostly experienced with acoustics as there are a lot of moving parts on a strat bridge but you can certainly try it yourself first.

winterdesign wrote:
by tremolo, do you mean what i call the "Whammy bar"? i removed it from the guitar almost immediately...it was fun, but it got in my way.


Yep - "whammy bar" is slang for tremolo; I typically just call it a trem.

winterdesign wrote:
i understand that the nut may be pinching the strings. ..i will take a closer look..you recommend that this not something i should attempt to fix myself? . i am not afraid to try...i have a bunch of cheap guitars...and i do some trouble shooting.


This you can also check this out yourself - as Steve-oh said there could be burrs, etc. If you don't have a tiny file you can actually use a wound string to smooth things out. You can also use some graphite lubricant on the nut (even rubbing a pencil lead will deposit some graphite in the nut.

Sound like you're on the right track.


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Post subject: Re: starcaster maintenance
Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 1:36 pm
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i carved out each string ditch, carefully, with a razor blade. it has already made a difference.

i will use your graphite idea next.

intonation: i have pulled the low E as far back as possible, and still sharp on 12 fret. i will continue to tinker with this .

thank you again. i hope to be able to return the favor at some point.


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Post subject: Re: starcaster maintenance
Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 3:54 pm
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Quote:
i have pulled the low E as far back as possible, and still sharp on 12 fret.


You may have to cut a little off the end of the spring to allow it to go back farther


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Post subject: Re: starcaster maintenance
Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 6:36 am
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12th could be sharp due to really high string height or excessive relief or "bow" in the neck. This would prevent you from possibly being able to adjust the intonation properly.


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Post subject: Re: starcaster maintenance
Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 8:00 am
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Follow Fender's Strat setup guide here and it should help your tuning issues and improve playability: http://www.fender.com/support/articles/ ... etup-guide Same guidelines applies for your Starcaster.

Steve is right you should check neck relief also. Setting up a Strat is like a balancing act, you tweak one thing and then you have to adjust something else to compensate. Make several small adjustments along the way instead of one drastic change. Good luck!

p.s. I bet new strings will make a big difference since those Starcasters come stock with cheapo strings.

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