Re: Strat Setup

On 29/12/2010 12:19 PM, Jim wrote:
On 12/28/2010 4:36 PM, Mark Bedingfield wrote:
On 29/12/2010 11:30 AM, jtees4 wrote:
On Wed, 29 Dec 2010 09:27:48 +1100, Mark Bedingfield
<atari030@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On 29/12/2010 9:18 AM, jtees4 wrote:
On Tue, 28 Dec 2010 08:55:30 -0800, Jim<inse@ttle> wrote:

On 12/28/2010 5:39 AM, LenBum wrote:
I've got a few questions about the way other people, especially
luthiers
set up stratocasters. I have 2 strats, one a 1997 American
standard with
maple neck and the 2 pivot bridge. The other is also an American
standard from 1986 with a rosewood fretboard and 2 pivot bridge.
Over
the years I've been fairly satisfied with how I set these up. I said
fairly. Doing a setup using the fender setup guide or using Dan
Erlewine's "How to make your electric guitar sound great!", I
can't get
the measurements these guides seem to achieve. Getting the string
action
to 4-5/64th's at the 12th fret for me and have it somewhat rattle
free
and playable is impossible. Right now the 1986 has 7/64th
clearance at
the 12th fret and the 1997 has 6/64th. I know I know, that's very
close.
But each has at least some rattle issue when set up like this. The
neck
relief on both is about the same. Right about .006-007. The string
saddles are raised to about 75% of their max height on both. The
maple
neck plays a little faster for me simply because the neck is
slightly
wider and the action a fraction lower. And this itself is
interesting
because this neck is in need of a fret leveling or even fret
replacement
as the frets have some small channels formed by the strings. The
other
neck is in really good shape. I did use the micro-tilt "slightly" on
both. One other thing that I am cosidering. The rosewood neck has
a nut
that a luthier out on about 6 years ago. By eye it looks slightly
taller
than the one on the maple neck. One that I installed this year. I am
cosidering taking that one out and shaving it a bit. Well, that's
about
it. Is getting a fast rattle free strat neck impossible? Also
considering the person playing it, I don't have the softest touch
either. Could a compound neck be in my future? No, I love the
feel of
the maple neck on my strat. At worst I'll settle for some rattles
as I
don't play out at all. Any suggestions or ideas would be
appreciated.

He's not local, but this guy did a superb job on my early '71
hardtail
(four bolt 60's): http://www.mikelull.com/repairshop.htm And yes, I
had
him do a compound radius, but nothing really drastic. The guitar has
gotten many positive comments from other players that try it.

I had another guy set up my MIM Tele, because it didn't need any
work.

I don't know about the other guys on the list, but I have no problem
setting up a tune-o-matic guitar. But Fenders? Best left to the
experts, IMHO.

Mike Lull's partial client list:
http://www.mikelull.com/endorsers.htm

I've done a pretty good job with strats...BUT...it never is an easy
job. Gibson or the like...zip zip and it is done.

Really? I find the tune-o-matic a PITA. Individual saddle adjustment on
a Strat isn't hard.

Mark

I don't find the saddles hard, but the rest of it...especially if a
shim is involved. I don't see how a tune-o-matic can be a pain. I can
see how it may not allow as much adjustment as you may want.

That's my main issue, can't put the saddles exactly where you want em.

But the shape of the Tune-o-matic follows the neck contour. I set my
heavy strings higher (like most guys), but all you need to do is adjust
one side of the bridge up or down, and all six are proportionally adjusted.

True, but string height can be adjusted individually on a Strat, making allowances for string width and rattle too. I tend to have the bass side higher than the treble side and get each string as low as possible, then adjust the saddles to roughly follow the contour.


I
only have one guitar with a TOM. 3 Strats, P base and 2 Tele's were easy
enough to set up with only 1 needing a shim.

Mark

I'm sure that there is a learning curve. I didn't mess with the Strat,
and never will.

I thought I had my Tele pretty well dialed in. ...until a pro gave it a
try!

Tune-o-matics are very intuitive to me. Not so with the individual
saddles. Heck, some of my saddles have slopes on them (not the same
height on both of the tiny screws). That's not intuitive. But it's how
the expert does it.

Me too, if it works it works. I'd have no doubt a pro could do it better than I do, but I can't afford to have 12 guitars setup like that. ;-)

Mark

.

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