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FDP Forum / Fender Guitars: Stratocasters / Help with setting up a Fender Strat?
(This message was last edited by papersoul at 11:33 AM, May 9th, 2012)
http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/screws_bridge.htm
(This message was last edited by papersoul at 12:26 PM, May 9th, 2012)
(This message was last edited by papersoul at 08:48 PM, May 9th, 2012)
(This message was last edited by papersoul at 07:36 AM, May 10th, 2012)
FDP Forum / Fender Guitars: Stratocasters / Help with setting up a Fender Strat?
Next 20 Messages
papersoul
United StatesMay 9th, 2012 10:42 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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Hey guys, I have tons of experience setting up Gibsons and PRS guitars but almost none setting up Fender Strats. Can you all help me and tell me everything I need to do? I can;t get rid of some buzzing and trying to avoid a fret dressing since it will cost $125. The frets have plenty of meet. I was thinking of buying some steel wool to polish them and smooth them for smoother play. This guitar sat for 9 years unplayed! It is a 2003 Highway One.
I installed Ernie Ball 10-52, am adjusting relief, saddle screw height and intonation. What else?
I also need to buy shorter sadle screws. With my action set to 2/32", the screws are sticking way up like little knoves! Yikes.
I don't use a trem so I have four springs on the trem and have it down tight, but I may need one more spring to make it five.
This is the first strat where I ever had to deal with buzzing. All my american standards of the past were buzz free at 2/32"
Thoughts?
Thanks!
5Strats
Contributing Member
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Edmond/OKC
Axe VictimMay 9th, 2012 11:02 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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It may need a truss rod tweak.
papersoul
United StatesMay 9th, 2012 11:11 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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I have been tweaking the hell out of the truss rod since yesterday, LOL. How much relief do you normally want on a strat? Personal preference?
5Strats
Contributing Member
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Edmond/OKC
Axe VictimMay 9th, 2012 11:15 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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I set my Strats up without measuring, I just know what I like.
Where on the fretboard are you having the string buzzing issues?
papersoul
United StatesMay 9th, 2012 11:22 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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Low E is buzzing all over and the G string is buzzing around the 7th fret and again around the 14th. Action is 2/32"
rfrakes331K
Contributing Member
USA
RonHalen Jokingly He SaysMay 9th, 2012 11:22 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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You need to set intonation. Instructions are on Fender's support page.
papersoul
United StatesMay 9th, 2012 11:30 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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intonation is easy, that I can do in my sleep :) , it is more finding ways to combat fret buzz. If I can't get rid of it, the guitar will be sold in favor of an American Standard.
Is it a BIG problem that it doesn;t have a micro tilt??? My PRS does not have a micro tilt and the action is low and buzz free!!!
VGP
used relics
Why not make 10 louder? - These go to 11May 9th, 2012 11:35 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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Maybe you might need to raise the action and/or shim the neck...
papersoul
United StatesMay 9th, 2012 11:38 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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Well all my guitars I keep the action at 2/32"...if not capable, it gets sold. Really sucks because my PRS is a bolt neck, no micro tilt and is rock solid! No buzz. Come on Fender.....I may sell it if it can't be resolved.
Anything wrong with shimming a neck? does that simulate a micro tilt? Doesn't that kill wood contact?
DrKev
Contributing Member
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Irishman in Paris
Forget Tone - go with Note ChoiceMay 9th, 2012 11:55 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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2/32" is pretty low and is in fact the minimum guide value recommended by Fender. The simple fact is that a lot of people will get fret buzz at that action, no matter what guitar they use. If you can't get this one set up to your usual specs without fret buzz, a fret dress may indeed be required, or sell it.
Only shim the neck if you can't adjust the saddles to get the action to the right measurement. (BTW, shimming does not harm your tone in any way and is often used in every factory of every single bolt-on guitar maker).
Also remember that the more time you spend on this the more hyper-sensitive you'll become to buzz that you might not normally notice. Give it rest and come back to it, or compare it to the other guitars of similar radius set to the same spec that you are happy with.
Good luck!
papersoul
United StatesMay 9th, 2012 12:02 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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Not sure what to tell you is that I know what I like, I have been setting my guitars to 2/32" for 25 years. My 2000 strat I should have never sold....I had the action a little lower than 2/32" at times on that guitar and no buzz! Nice, why did I sell!? Stupid.
All my Gibsons and PRS guitars are all 2/32" and no buzzing. :) What do you recommend 3/32"? That is way high for me?
I checked and Fender recommends 4/64" which is 2/32" which is where I have it set. :)
Maybe you guys can tell me what type and size saddles screws to buy if I want shorter ones??? These are too long.
From here?
DrKev
Contributing Member
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Irishman in Paris
Forget Tone - go with Note ChoiceMay 9th, 2012 02:14 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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5/64"? :-D
Remember, Fenders numbers are minimum specifications as a guide and not hard rules or goals. But you do know best - if you're playing style handles that action normally without buzz then this guitar should too.
Saddle screws, I'm not really sure. Weren't early Highway One strats a weird saddle size or summat?
papersoul
United StatesMay 9th, 2012 04:28 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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I was told there are.better quality screws with smooth edges and also shorter screws I can buy. I was also told once I get these set, I can cut off the excess and file down the edges.
stratcowboy
Contributing Member
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USA/Taos, NMMay 9th, 2012 04:40 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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Check with Callaham Guitars for better saddle height screws (of varying lengths).
LeftRightOut
Australia
too many guitars and not enough handsMay 9th, 2012 05:15 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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i dare say that the frets may have some high or low spots,
or you may have a hump at the neck end of the fretboard
i'd ask the guys in the guitar mods section some advice there are some real good guitar techs in that forum
papersoul
United StatesMay 9th, 2012 08:15 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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I was hoping to ask, what is the quality of the fretwire on a 2003 Highway strat???
I spent two hours on my strat tonight. I think the nut needs to be cut down, It seems too high. I polished the frets with 0000 steel wool, cleaned it up, added some lemon oil to the fretboard, adjusted the neck, adjusted the action, intonation and pickup height. I still need to go back and double check intonation. I am trying to adjust my action higher on all my guitars, trying to get away from the super low action like I always used. I think you get better tone from higher action and no worries about buzzing.
Right now it is playing nice, and I am still getting used to the higher action. I am using 2.5/32" which is not that much higher but when you are used to using 2/32" for years, it is an adjustment. :)
Does Callaham Guitars sell the screws? Like I said, the screws on the NEW 2008 and later Standards rock!
Are the Callaham Guitars bridges any good? I could consider installing a new trem! :)
Now, I am starting to love this guitar!
Wish I could post a pic.
Rick Plays The Blues
Austria
May I try that again?May 9th, 2012 10:30 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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2/32 is not extremely low imho, but truth is, that many Strats will buzz with that action especially if you pick harder or check unplugged (where everyone picks harder)
I pick very hard and have an action of 5/64 on the high e.
Going to the lower strings, the action increases and at low e it is between 3/32 and 7/64.
I do not measure while setting up - I set to what I feel okay with, rather on the high side to avoid buzzing. These values are roughly remeasured.
6 Cylinder Slim
New England
Shoes for IndustryMay 10th, 2012 04:32 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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Low action is limited by how level the frets are, how hard you want to pick and what level of fret noise is acceptable to you. If you go through the whole setup process and the action is still too high for you, there are two possibilities. One is that the neck is straight and a simple fret dressing will allow you to put the action where you want it. The other is that the factory rushed the curing process, machined the neck before the wood was properly seasoned and the neck developed a twist. In which case, it might be better to move on to a different guitar.
Electron
Nullius in verba!
Nietzsche is my copilotMay 10th, 2012 07:23 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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Papersoul, I agree that super low action is a tone killer. Raising it just a little can make a huge difference, it did for me.
papersoul
United StatesMay 10th, 2012 07:33 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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I am actually enjoying the higher action! Very dynamic and I can alter my picking to much harder to get more dynamics and feel and love it now! Great strat! I just have to resolve the saddles, which are cutting up my hand also have my tech cut down the nut which I think is too high still.
On a side note.....how do you keep a strat maple fretboard, moist? I don't want it to dry out where the frets stick out!
Finally, what is the quality of the fretwire on the 2003 Highway One strat? My American Standard felt smoother with bends. Maybe it is the fretboard I am feeling.
Next 20 Messages
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