Wyatt's dad I hate to be the first to tell you " Dad" But if your watching Dave and your pants are still down, there is a good chance you are the Gay Rocker.
Thanks Dave ! I decided to write down some of this info because I should try to adjust my strat. Winter (+central heating) has dried the wood and the neck seems to be too much bowed. So... googlegoo...inches..."thou you shall not use inch"...WHAT?... metric system...googlegoo... Neck relief = 0,012" (twelve "THOU") is 0,3048 mm String height = 2/32" or 4/64" is 1,5875 mm Magical numbers for european strat- tweakers to remember are 0,3mm and 1,6mm. Fret positions to remember are 1st, 7th, 17th.
Why the hate for Ernie Ball strings? When I started playing about 40 years ago I used to break fender .009 high E string constantly. Went to D’Addario and Ernies ever since and problem went away.
Those were some good tips! Fyi, The springs being on an angel isn't a problem. It's how I was taught and have done it for many years and a luthier from Fender's Custom Shop recommends doing it that way in one of their tips videos on their UA-cam channel. I can understand what your saying and why someone might think that. If the center spring was defective I suppose it could fall out. But I would think at that point you'd want it out so you could replace it. By putting them on an angel you get a tad more tension without having to crank the claw in as far. Either way the end result is the same. Thanks for the video!
The guitar will go out of tune for a number of reasons. If the vibrato spring balance is not equal to string tension, it will be prone to go to the sharp/flat. Having said that, we are asking a lot of the guitar to stay in tune when using the wang bar. If you stretch a piece of metal, U don't expect it to return to shape. Locking tuners also help a lot as do nuts with rollers. Pre-stretching the strings will also help on any guitar. Do this by tuning, pulling strings fairly hard and re-tune X3.
If I read it correctly the Fender set up guide recommends that Fender two fulcrum bridges should be set at an angle, the same as the vintage six screw bridge, not floated parallel to the body. It says to adjust the two pivot screws, with no spring or string tension on the bridge, so that the bottom of the bridge plate just sits flat against the body. Then adjust the spring tension so that the back edge of the bridge plate is 1/8 inch above the body. Set this way the plate will sit at a slight angle.
Wow! Dave: i just discovered your channel. In addition to my Martin HD35, I have a Fender Strat Highway 1 with high action. This vid is fabulous. In 5 minutes+, I have learned some basic adjustments. And I really like your downhome Canadian style
I watched your channel for almost a year but never bothered with strat stuff as I son't like tremolo systems - HOWEVER my buddy gave me his 'superstrat' with a Floyd Rose and your advice on the block would have saved me hours + broken string
Wow!! Dave that is the first time I ever seen a guitar that has the same finish as mine... I got the exact same guitar.. Thanks for the video.. Learn something new everyday. Cheers
Just got a MIM "players" plus top brand new out of the box from Fender. They are still shipping guitars with the original spring config shown. I already moved the springs to the outer prongs; just letting people know.
There is the option of the GR-55 guitar synth that will give you a whole lot of guitar sounds and brands. Great also if you want to make a bass guitar sound even like an upright bass. There is a little bit of setting up, but once you've got it, you would not put the guitar down. Saves you having to get used to different guitar feels (making mistakes because your'e just getting used to it).
I bought a really manky bitsa Strat of uncertain progeny recently... this has been sooooo usefull! It plays real nice now - even sounds like a real Strat. too !! Awesome. Thanks Uncle Leo, thanks Uncle Dave 🙂 ps that tilt feature looks pretty effective.
My bro and I have been buying guitars like new toys and talking about learning a new trade for ourselves,he suggested taking my guitars apart but I said "hey you have your own to start with" He won't spend more that $150 while I'm putting out $700 so he's not putting tools on mine. We talk about our dad taking us to guitar shops in Long Beach ,Ca 1967 and looking at the fine Gretch of that day,it was dreamy.
It is. When Strats are bottomed out like that it's called, synchronized. There are advantages and drawbacks to either float or synchronized. If it's bottomed out and a string breaks, the other strings don't got out of tune. If it's floating and a string breaks, all of the strings go flat. The trade-off is that you can't pull back on a synchronized trem.
Great info I appreciate very much all that you share . I just started viewing your vids while I was looking up info on string change for a Deluxe Strat I just added to my tribe. Strings too high,twangy sound and buzz are the challenges and I haven't done more than restring and polish. So more of your vid menu before walking into this new land.
Dave...I just got a Strat...Why do they put the back springs on in the wrong spot? The springs on the block are angled like you showed. Should I move them?
It depends on the era you want to emulate. I would say a Strat as I don't recall them playing tele's. Tele's have a wide range of sounds, but I reckon you can get all that with the Strat and more. Also the Epiphone Casino I would say is a classic Beatle guitar, but again, with some thoughtful selection of pick-up switching and tone control, you'll get close to that. Having said that, there is a magic thing playing with a semi-acoustic. Don't copy them, just get close to it, master the feel.
Hi Dave, thank you for some info, I'm hoping to have a Fender again by next fall/winter(after taking a guess at what my budget is going to look like after paying bills/rent etc. for the next 4 months), have a great summer/fall!.
I liked your comment on the "Fender Custom Shop Master Builder Tips". He angles the springs "just because". That's what I call master builder. Thank you for your real tips. By the way, how do you deal with vintage style bridge saddle's screws. Mine are popping out of the saddle and i don't think that cutting the screws is a good solution. Thank you
Great Video, When your playing those notes up the neck @ 12:18 to 12:28 on the 5th & 6th strings the guitar sounds normal opposed to how my Strat sounds. Mine has a twangy banjo'ish strange type of doink harmonic sound plugged in & unplugged, I can't find the cause & have exhausted everything I can think of, any experience with what I described?
So much great information in all your vids! Thank you so much. Now I have a way better understanding on how my guitars work and the need for a proper set up for each one! My next guitar is gonna be a Strat for sure, someday, someday....
Hey Dave , Wassup? You are my go to guy for guitar setup knowledge. I’m sure I’ve watched this video prior to today’s viewing. I have a few strats , both vintage and modern trem systems. I like the modern trem for the ability to simply adjust the 2 bridge height screws once the proper saddle heights and radius are achieved . Good move on fender after 4 plus decades. I still like the vintagey aspect of the original bridge however. So, a few weeks ago I routed a battery compartment into a roadworn strat I bought last year having installed the mid boost circuit and not wanting to have to unstring the damn thing to change a dead battery. When I removed the trem cover I was surprised ( guess I shouldn’t have been) to find the springs were set up in the fukakta offset scenario as shown in this video, from the factory! Safe to say they have some good Kush down in Ensenada. Any who, I just left it since I have yet to employ the whammy bar on this axe and the guitar is dialed in to my liking. I had marked the trem screws before surgery and didn’t want to mess with the setup. Yada yada. Funny they Gooched the guitar at the factory. Keep the vids coming. Be well. Tom
Love your vids, bro. Q: It appeared to me that you that the whole bridge raised 1/8 as opposed to just the rear of it. Reading the Fender support page, they indicate the whole bridge should sit flat against the body when the tremolo is pulled back, then, when tuned to pitch, 1/8 inch raised at the rear of the trem. That's how I always set them up (I also add a wee bit of chapstick to the pivots as a lubricant.) your thoughts?
How do we know when the neck needs micro tilt adjustment? Is there any way to measure that? Perhaps more precise question is if action is too high, how do we determine if neck needs micro tilt adjustment or lowering the strings(lets say that the neck is straight)?
I've got a cheap Strat copy with the row of 6 screws holding the bridge to the body. It was just slapped together, and before I set it up, I'd like to know how to adjust those screws. Few people ever mention this, but it seems there'd be differences in how well it works, depending on how tight or how loose those screws are. Any thoughts, Dave?
Fender Custom Shop sets the springs like that. 3 together on the claw & spread out on the trem. Why do you think? I have a Clapton strat, blocked trem. Just wondering.
If I don't have the action high enough, bending strings becomes difficult. I like a medium-high action, with the treble side raised a bit higher for bending. I like having it high enough to play loudly acoustically without buzzing!
He's mentioned a number of times that he uses the 'middle' guidelines of the specs as a starting point. Those should work well in most cases for most people. If the user has special desires they need to tell him, and they probably also don't need someone else to set up their guitars for them. If you raise the strings too high, they don't intone correctly - they will play sharp when you fret them. But you do whatever you want.
Davey, I'm fixing a strat with a padouk neck and one of the 4 neck bolts/ screws isnt grabbing--it just spins. Its not so hogged out when I would want to drill and dowell. What do you recommend? Some type of glue or solution?
Hey Dave, I have a Godin SD which I don't think they make anymore. in the back of the guitar the tremolo block (where the strings go through, has a smaller width, not as chunky) compared to this guitar. It has three springs holding the tremolo, and the springs are set up like the springs in the beginning of this video, looking like a triangle or whatever. Should I spread them out and make them straight? Would this effect the tone at all, or just make the tremolo better? also would it stay in tune better than it does now, I stopped using the tremolo because the tuning goes out of whack. Thanks!! Your videos are great, Keep it up!
Hey Dave, What about the "tone" you supposedly lose by using the neck tilt? I've always been afraid to use that feature (I have a 3-bolt G&L with micro-tilt). Do you think there's truth to that or is it more urban myth? Ed Roman (RIP) used to really rail about not having the neck in full contact with the body. What say you on the topic?
ok ive been playing for a while but I didn't know you could access the truss rod through the neck plate. I am correct right? You adjusted the truss rod though the neck plate???????????
I have an, almost identical 50th anniversary Strat, the bridge height looked a bit high to me, I would have adjusted that using the two screws, rather than adjusted the neck angle. The tremolo was knocking on the guitar body when the tremolo arm was moved backwards, I have mine a little higher so it can go in both directions without knocking. Otherwise great setup advice.
Hey Dave! I got my stratocaster and changed the the strings to tens. Will I have to follow same procedures to get same results and free buzzing??? Would it be a different approach in the set up process??
Hey dave, i was wondering where you get the setup specs for all the different companies. is there a website with records for all these? im looking for an ibanez RG spec sheet
Hey Dave, great vid. I recently bought a Strat and am tinkering with it. I didn't like the floating tremolo. Didn't like the tuning instability, and the pull on the strings. So I tightened the strings like this one was at the start, so the bridge is pulled hard against the body. You seem to think that's a bad thing - why? Just curious. I thought it was a good solution because I can still bend down but don't have the other disadvantages, but I haven't completely blocked it off. You seem to know what you're talking about and I wondered if you thought that was a bad idea?
Yeah. The shop I bought it at did a set up but I don't think it was that great. I had to fix the intonation myself, but that likely changed when I tightened the tremolo springs. But also the action--its never been properly curved around the neck, and I think it could be lower. I know another shop where the guys know their stuff. Not sure I trust myself fiddling with the action (and don't have the tools), so I'll probably pay them to fix that.
Hey Dave, my Strat has one of the Hipshot TremSetters where the middle spring normally goes... do I take a different approach with that thing installed?
My 15 cs strat came blocked. Do I simply loosen string tension or wait till restring to remove blocked term? From someone who knows much less than you do although I did replace my Nocaster bridge with a Glendale to good result.
Davey i have a question you may be able to answer for me.Do you commonly come across realy bad tuners on cheap fender and squire guitars? i bought a korean made Fender (not squire) lite ash telecaster and ive tried everything to keep it in tune and i know its not the neck because it can be got onto tune.it dont stay in tune for more than one song. i put new strings on and did a string lock on them but still no good.the neck is birdseye maple could it react to temp easier than others? Help!!
Hi Dave. I have a new top-tip for you. I tried that stinkin goo linseed oil on my rosewood board and now I smell like a freakin plumber. I cleaned it all back off using Jack Daniels to cut back to the wood n get all that oily stinky stuff gone. I then applied a thin coat of margarine and... you guessed it... it plays like BUTTER! musta overcooked the JayDeeeeeeeee.....
I just bought my first one the other day! A real nice one brand new old one. A custom one in candy tangerine. But i can not for the life of me get it to stop fret buzzing? Ive checked everything I possibly can but i have no experience in any of “setting up a guitar”? Could you help me?
Do you have a video that talks about Fret Fade? i.e. When you bend an E string up 1 1/2 - 2 steps around the 17-21 fret, the note fades out due to curve of the neck. In order to stop this I have to use a herculean grip, which still doesn't always work.
The middle string should have the same tension as the other two; the only difference is as the outer 2 are longer the entire single spring force for the outer 2 will be less per unit length. The outer 2 may have issues as the force does not line up the same as the middle at an angle. All 3 should take the same force in tension, but the outer 2 less per unit length; imagine as these are like the hypontenuse of a triangle, more length = less force per length.
Dave - Love your vids! I have an issue with a 78 Standard Strat. I have a warble issue on the sixth string. I had a new nut cut in to replace the original that flaked on me. I mentioned it to my dude but its still there and he was not familiar with a good fix for the issue. I won't even gig with this guitar anymore because the 6th has this horrid warble that gets worse all the way up the neck. Ideas?
Hello sir that piece of tape or plastic you flicked in the beginning of video looks like something to cover the trimello hole when the arm is off the spring in that hole won't fall out. Just saying I wish I had a tech like you hear in New Mexico... Thank you.
I do prefer hardtails, especialy at set up time. I have mine locked down, the way i play produces a trem warble at times if i don't, I'm sure you understand what i mean? I am self taught so i probably have bad habbits. I have an understanding of how Jeff Beck found his sound but he can control that warble with incredible skill, skill a bit beyond mine lol.I must be ok i have 4 students to teach bad habbits to, i'm compiling a list of Guitar maintanence videos to recommend them. I shall include this on the list. Thank you Dave.
They are! I have 5yr old stock fender strings on my special American strat. lol. I put them thru hell. d addario really advanced there products(D add makes fender strings now)
Hi Dave, would there be any problem with having all 3 spring positioned closer to the centre (basically closer together, still parallel to each other, but in the centre)? I'm looking to make the tremolo more sensitive, thanks
Great video! Thanks for sharing. I see I need to do a little work with my guitar. I have exactly same looking Strat. Mine is from 2006. But out of your video it looks like you got different pickups than on mine. Are they the original ones?
Thanks Dave, I can't wait to get home tomorrow so I can attempt to fix my strat which looks exactly like this one and by that I mean the before part lol..Well mine has maple neck,,take care and tks once again!
SORRY JUST PLAYING, THIS IS A GREAT VIDEO, I OWN 16 STRATS AND THIS GIVES ME SOMETHING TO DO THIS WEEKEND AND SAVE A FEW BUCKS WHILE IM AT IT, THANKS TONS MAN.
I'm trying to work with the Floyd Rose Terror...I mean Trem system,I have the intonation right on at the 12th, but the 1st string is fine but the 2nd and 3rd are sharp totally wrecking the A major and pretty much anything with a open D or A string.The action is still a bit high, but any lower and the thing buzzes from the 7th fret back. The sweetest spot is at the 5th and 7th position. I'm 55 yrs old and have set up quite a few guitars but this is my first Floyd. Everything is running flat after the 12th fret almost a whole tone at the 20th.I hate to sell the damn thing and stick it to someone else...but it wasn't a cheap guitar listing at 1299.99 and selling for 799.99. would really appreciate a suggestion or three! Keep up the good work...
This is consistently one of the most informative channels on UA-cam. Well done, Dave. Thank you for taking the time to make these great videos!
Dave you are my longest running UA-cam Channel. Thanks for years of laughs and information. It's definitely Dave's World of Fun Stuff. Thank you.
Best tutorial i've found on how to float a 2 point american strat tremolo. Thanks Dave!
Well, you picked the right guy to set it up. You can see that Dave does his work with dedication and love of what he does. Good luck and enjoy.
This is one of the best Fender set up I've seen in a long time.
Oh man, that crunch when you adjust the neck tilt is unsettling.
Thanks Dave. I can never watch this too many times. I appreciate your patience. You know how us old guys are.
Best set-up video for Stratocasters on UA-cam. Thanks Dave.
I'd like to personally thank Saul Rosenberg for this thoroughly helpful tutorial
I flipped a coin, it was either look at internet porn or Daves world of fun stuff.
My pants are still off, but I'm watching Dave.
#Wayatt's dad@@longerlife5192 You had to flip a coin?? Clearly your true intentions "came out" in the end.
Wyatt's dad I hate to be the first to tell you " Dad" But if your watching Dave and your pants are still down, there is a good chance you are the Gay Rocker.
What a coincidence, me too! lol
This the funniest comment I have read in months!
You made a good choice.
I let a long and McQuade do my strat set up. I walked outta there with a worse guitar than I did have... this video helped. Thanks
Best video I've seen you do. This is why we watch.
Thanks Dave !
I decided to write down some of this info because I should try to adjust my strat.
Winter (+central heating) has dried the wood and the neck seems to be too much bowed.
So... googlegoo...inches..."thou you shall not use inch"...WHAT?... metric system...googlegoo...
Neck relief = 0,012" (twelve "THOU") is 0,3048 mm
String height = 2/32" or 4/64" is 1,5875 mm
Magical numbers for european strat- tweakers to remember are 0,3mm and 1,6mm. Fret positions to remember are 1st, 7th, 17th.
thanks man. that is very helpful. danke sehr from germany
This is great.
Dude this was so helpful, internet win for sure
you can use Post Its as shims to float the bridge a specific interval like a semi tone off the body
- you also adjust the springs till they fall out
"Ernie Ballsacks." Lol that made my day.
MMB 1215 I keep laughing as well
MMB 1215 I use GHS in my strats
Why the hate for Ernie Ball strings? When I started playing about 40 years ago I used to break fender .009 high E string constantly. Went to D’Addario and Ernies ever since and problem went away.
I live Daddarios but never liked ernie balls 🤷
Jack of all trades,master of none
Bravo! Great upload. All the best Vladan.
one of the best fender strat setup on the internet!
Those were some good tips! Fyi, The springs being on an angel isn't a problem. It's how I was taught and have done it for many years and a luthier from Fender's Custom Shop recommends doing it that way in one of their tips videos on their UA-cam channel. I can understand what your saying and why someone might think that. If the center spring was defective I suppose it could fall out. But I would think at that point you'd want it out so you could replace it. By putting them on an angel you get a tad more tension without having to crank the claw in as far. Either way the end result is the same. Thanks for the video!
The guitar will go out of tune for a number of reasons. If the vibrato spring balance is not equal to string tension, it will be prone to go to the sharp/flat. Having said that, we are asking a lot of the guitar to stay in tune when using the wang bar. If you stretch a piece of metal, U don't expect it to return to shape. Locking tuners also help a lot as do nuts with rollers. Pre-stretching the strings will also help on any guitar. Do this by tuning, pulling strings fairly hard and re-tune X3.
If I read it correctly the Fender set up guide recommends that Fender two fulcrum bridges should be set at an angle, the same as the vintage six screw bridge, not floated parallel to the body. It says to adjust the two pivot screws, with no spring or string tension on the bridge, so that the bottom of the bridge plate just sits flat against the body. Then adjust the spring tension so that the back edge of the bridge plate is 1/8 inch above the body. Set this way the plate will sit at a slight angle.
Great video Dave! Your videos get better and better
Wow! Dave: i just discovered your channel. In addition to my Martin HD35, I have a Fender Strat Highway 1 with high action. This vid is fabulous. In 5 minutes+, I have learned some basic adjustments. And I really like your downhome Canadian style
Dave your the Man Cheers I love watching you ☮️ Peace.
I watched your channel for almost a year but never bothered with strat stuff as I son't like tremolo systems - HOWEVER my buddy gave me his 'superstrat' with a Floyd Rose and your advice on the block would have saved me hours + broken string
Thank you for speaking about the springs....on the FENDER OFICIAL manual,it says the way it comes (the way this guitar was) is the correct one
that string heightwas insane ,good work brother xx
Thanks for posting this I've been hoping u would for awhile
Wow!! Dave that is the first time I ever seen a guitar that has the same finish as mine... I got the exact same guitar.. Thanks for the video.. Learn something new everyday. Cheers
So I followed this tutorial and straight away aced blood moon by Tim h you deserve so much more than a like lol
Just got a MIM "players" plus top brand new out of the box from Fender. They are still shipping guitars with the original spring config shown. I already moved the springs to the outer prongs; just letting people know.
Thanks for the great Strat vid. They are very fussy, and Ive fought with setting them up for years now.
Great tips thank you :) what about the height of the 2 pivots of the bridge?
There is the option of the GR-55 guitar synth that will give you a whole lot of guitar sounds and brands. Great also if you want to make a bass guitar sound even like an upright bass. There is a little bit of setting up, but once you've got it, you would not put the guitar down. Saves you having to get used to different guitar feels (making mistakes because your'e just getting used to it).
Best strings I've found for strats are GHS Boomers.Incredible sustain.👊
Thanks for this video. I'm going to apply all these tips to my strat. Keep the vids coming!
I bought a really manky bitsa Strat of uncertain progeny recently... this has been sooooo usefull! It plays real nice now - even sounds like a real Strat. too !! Awesome. Thanks Uncle Leo, thanks Uncle Dave 🙂 ps that tilt feature looks pretty effective.
Glad it helped!
My bro and I have been buying guitars like new toys and talking about learning a new trade for ourselves,he suggested taking my guitars apart but I said "hey you have your own to start with" He won't spend more that $150 while I'm putting out $700 so he's not putting tools on mine. We talk about our dad taking us to guitar shops in Long Beach ,Ca 1967 and looking at the fine Gretch of that day,it was dreamy.
It is. When Strats are bottomed out like that it's called, synchronized. There are advantages and drawbacks to either float or synchronized. If it's bottomed out and a string breaks, the other strings don't got out of tune. If it's floating and a string breaks, all of the strings go flat. The trade-off is that you can't pull back on a synchronized trem.
Great info I appreciate very much all that you share . I just started viewing your vids while I was looking up info on string change for a Deluxe Strat I just added to my tribe. Strings too high,twangy sound and buzz are the challenges and I haven't done more than restring and polish. So more of your vid menu before walking into this new land.
Dave...I just got a Strat...Why do they put the back springs on in the wrong spot? The springs on the block are angled like you showed. Should I move them?
Debris!! That was the moment I subscribed!! Great video. Excellent!!
It depends on the era you want to emulate. I would say a Strat as I don't recall them playing tele's. Tele's have a wide range of sounds, but I reckon you can get all that with the Strat and more. Also the Epiphone Casino I would say is a classic Beatle guitar, but again, with some thoughtful selection of pick-up switching and tone control, you'll get close to that. Having said that, there is a magic thing playing with a semi-acoustic. Don't copy them, just get close to it, master the feel.
I am so in love with your Strat.
Hi Dave, thank you for some info, I'm hoping to have a Fender again by next fall/winter(after taking a guess at what my budget is going to look like after paying bills/rent etc. for the next 4 months), have a great summer/fall!.
I liked your comment on the "Fender Custom Shop Master Builder Tips". He angles the springs "just because". That's what I call master builder. Thank you for your real tips. By the way, how do you deal with vintage style bridge saddle's screws. Mine are popping out of the saddle and i don't think that cutting the screws is a good solution. Thank you
Excellent job and video production, makes me want a strat.
Great Video, When your playing those notes up the neck @ 12:18 to 12:28 on the 5th & 6th strings the guitar sounds normal opposed to how my Strat sounds. Mine has a twangy banjo'ish strange type of doink harmonic sound plugged in & unplugged, I can't find the cause & have exhausted everything I can think of, any experience with what I described?
So much great information in all your vids! Thank you so much. Now I have a way better understanding on how my guitars work and the need for a proper set up for each one! My next guitar is gonna be a Strat for sure, someday, someday....
Hey Dave , Wassup? You are my go to guy for guitar setup knowledge. I’m sure I’ve watched this video prior to today’s viewing. I have a few strats , both vintage and modern trem systems. I like the modern trem for the ability to simply adjust the 2 bridge height screws once the proper saddle heights and radius are achieved . Good move on fender after 4 plus decades. I still like the vintagey aspect of the original bridge however. So, a few weeks ago I routed a battery compartment into a roadworn strat I bought last year having installed the mid boost circuit and not wanting to have to unstring the damn thing to change a dead battery. When I removed the trem cover I was surprised ( guess I shouldn’t have been) to find the springs were set up in the fukakta offset scenario as shown in this video, from the factory! Safe to say they have some good Kush down in Ensenada. Any who, I just left it since I have yet to employ the whammy bar on this axe and the guitar is dialed in to my liking. I had marked the trem screws before surgery and didn’t want to mess with the setup. Yada yada. Funny they Gooched the guitar at the factory. Keep the vids coming. Be well. Tom
Love your vids, bro.
Q: It appeared to me that you that the whole bridge raised 1/8 as opposed to just the rear of it. Reading the Fender support page, they indicate the whole bridge should sit flat against the body when the tremolo is pulled back, then, when tuned to pitch, 1/8 inch raised at the rear of the trem. That's how I always set them up (I also add a wee bit of chapstick to the pivots as a lubricant.) your thoughts?
How do we know when the neck needs micro tilt adjustment? Is there any way to measure that? Perhaps more precise question is if action is too high, how do we determine if neck needs micro tilt adjustment or lowering the strings(lets say that the neck is straight)?
I've got a cheap Strat copy with the row of 6 screws holding the bridge to the body. It was just slapped together, and before I set it up, I'd like to know how to adjust those screws. Few people ever mention this, but it seems there'd be differences in how well it works, depending on how tight or how loose those screws are. Any thoughts, Dave?
cool sign Davey.
Liked your tips on setting up the strat.
Keep on keepin" on
wish you lived in Jersey. We'd have some good talks
Fender Custom Shop sets the springs like that. 3 together on the claw & spread out on the trem. Why do you think? I have a Clapton strat, blocked trem. Just wondering.
Hi Dave,
Can I ask you....What are the measurements of the block you use....Thanks Dave great vids....Jon
nice work man.i hope everyone learned as much as i did
If I don't have the action high enough, bending strings becomes difficult. I like a medium-high action, with the treble side raised a bit higher for bending. I like having it high enough to play loudly acoustically without buzzing!
He's mentioned a number of times that he uses the 'middle' guidelines of the specs as a starting point. Those should work well in most cases for most people. If the user has special desires they need to tell him, and they probably also don't need someone else to set up their guitars for them. If you raise the strings too high, they don't intone correctly - they will play sharp when you fret them. But you do whatever you want.
Yeah but you have to raise it pretty fuckin high for it to play sharp. Like higher than anyone would choose to raise it.
Yep,i have it on may AM deluxe Tele...great for changing strings too
Love the video! Thanks for the good setup tips
Davey, I'm fixing a strat with a padouk neck and one of the 4 neck bolts/ screws isnt grabbing--it just spins. Its not so hogged out when I would want to drill and dowell. What do you recommend? Some type of glue or solution?
Hey Dave, I have a Godin SD which I don't think they make anymore. in the back of the guitar the tremolo block (where the strings go through, has a smaller width, not as chunky) compared to this guitar. It has three springs holding the tremolo, and the springs are set up like the springs in the beginning of this video, looking like a triangle or whatever. Should I spread them out and make them straight? Would this effect the tone at all, or just make the tremolo better? also would it stay in tune better than it does now, I stopped using the tremolo because the tuning goes out of whack. Thanks!! Your videos are great, Keep it up!
Thanks this was very useful! How do you adjust the neck tilt if you don’t have the tilt screw option? I have a Squier deluxe stratocaster btw.
Hey Dave, What about the "tone" you supposedly lose by using the neck tilt? I've always been afraid to use that feature (I have a 3-bolt G&L with micro-tilt). Do you think there's truth to that or is it more urban myth? Ed Roman (RIP) used to really rail about not having the neck in full contact with the body. What say you on the topic?
ok ive been playing for a while but I didn't know you could access the truss rod through the neck plate. I am correct right? You adjusted the truss rod though the neck plate???????????
Rick Standish That’s not the truss rod. It’s the neck tilt function that comes with American Deluxe strats.
I have an, almost identical 50th anniversary Strat, the bridge height looked a bit high to me, I would have adjusted that using the two screws, rather than adjusted the neck angle. The tremolo was knocking on the guitar body when the tremolo arm was moved backwards, I have mine a little higher so it can go in both directions without knocking. Otherwise great setup advice.
Nice video, can you provide measurements in millimeters too?
Hey Dave! I got my stratocaster and changed the the strings to tens. Will I have to follow same procedures to get same results and free buzzing??? Would it be a different approach in the set up process??
Hey dave, i was wondering where you get the setup specs for all the different companies. is there a website with records for all these? im looking for an ibanez RG spec sheet
That Deluxe sounds great. Well, that one pickup did anyway. Sweet Strat.
Hey Dave, great vid. I recently bought a Strat and am tinkering with it. I didn't like the floating tremolo. Didn't like the tuning instability, and the pull on the strings. So I tightened the strings like this one was at the start, so the bridge is pulled hard against the body. You seem to think that's a bad thing - why? Just curious. I thought it was a good solution because I can still bend down but don't have the other disadvantages, but I haven't completely blocked it off. You seem to know what you're talking about and I wondered if you thought that was a bad idea?
Cool. Thanks for the reply.
Yeah. The shop I bought it at did a set up but I don't think it was that great. I had to fix the intonation myself, but that likely changed when I tightened the tremolo springs. But also the action--its never been properly curved around the neck, and I think it could be lower. I know another shop where the guys know their stuff. Not sure I trust myself fiddling with the action (and don't have the tools), so I'll probably pay them to fix that.
Great thanks, I've gone from 10s to hybrids, having a nightmare getting it in tune for some reason, any tips please? Thanks
great tips Dave, thanks!
Hey Dave, my Strat has one of the Hipshot TremSetters where the middle spring normally goes... do I take a different approach with that thing installed?
My 15 cs strat came blocked. Do I simply loosen string tension or wait till restring to remove blocked term? From someone who knows much less than you do although I did replace my Nocaster bridge with a Glendale to good result.
Dave , Can I buy a new Strat and have you check it out to make sure it is set up right and if not can you set it up like you did Nathan's?
Davey i have a question you may be able to answer for me.Do you commonly come across realy bad tuners on cheap fender and squire guitars? i bought a korean made Fender (not squire) lite ash telecaster and ive tried everything to keep it in tune and i know its not the neck because it can be got onto tune.it dont stay in tune for more than one song. i put new strings on and did a string lock on them but still no good.the neck is birdseye maple could it react to temp easier than others? Help!!
Hey Dave. What If you have the trem blocked off (like a hard tail). Can you have the springs like that?
Hey Dave, why is the string action measured at the 12th fret on some guitars and the 17th fret on others? Great video, good information.
Hi Dave. I have a new top-tip for you. I tried that stinkin goo linseed oil on my rosewood board and now I smell like a freakin plumber. I cleaned it all back off using Jack Daniels to cut back to the wood n get all that oily stinky stuff gone. I then applied a thin coat of margarine and... you guessed it... it plays like BUTTER! musta overcooked the JayDeeeeeeeee.....
I just bought my first one the other day! A real nice one brand new old one. A custom one in candy tangerine. But i can not for the life of me get it to stop fret buzzing? Ive checked everything I possibly can but i have no experience in any of “setting up a guitar”? Could you help me?
Do you have a video that talks about Fret Fade? i.e. When you bend an E string up 1 1/2 - 2 steps around the 17-21 fret, the note fades out due to curve of the neck. In order to stop this I have to use a herculean grip, which still doesn't always work.
mtperrella it's because of the radius is so curved, like 7.5-9.5 or something like, gibson are like 12-16 (sometimes a compound of 12/16)
Dave - Do the two screws that hold the bridge need to be screwed down till they stop ?
The middle string should have the same tension as the other two; the only difference is as the outer 2 are longer the entire single spring force for the outer 2 will be less per unit length. The outer 2 may have issues as the force does not line up the same as the middle at an angle. All 3 should take the same force in tension, but the outer 2 less per unit length; imagine as these are like the hypontenuse of a triangle, more length = less force per length.
Great video's. where are you located. I take it that your in the toronto area?
Dave - Love your vids! I have an issue with a 78 Standard Strat. I have a warble issue on the sixth string. I had a new nut cut in to replace the original that flaked on me. I mentioned it to my dude but its still there and he was not familiar with a good fix for the issue. I won't even gig with this guitar anymore because the 6th has this horrid warble that gets worse all the way up the neck. Ideas?
Aha! I will check it out! Have you run into this before?
Perfect! Thanks man! Love the vids! Screw the people with no sense of humor - your funny as hell!
Hello sir that piece of tape or plastic you flicked in the beginning of video looks like something to cover the trimello hole when the arm is off the spring in that hole won't fall out. Just saying I wish I had a tech like you hear in New Mexico... Thank you.
I do prefer hardtails, especialy at set up time. I have mine locked down, the way i play produces a trem warble at times if i don't, I'm sure you understand what i mean? I am self taught so i probably have bad habbits. I have an understanding of how Jeff Beck found his sound but he can control that warble with incredible skill, skill a bit beyond mine lol.I must be ok i have 4 students to teach bad habbits to, i'm compiling a list of Guitar maintanence videos to recommend them. I shall include this on the list. Thank you Dave.
I noticed your pickup height was lower on treble side on the measurement is that correct?
They are! I have 5yr old stock fender strings on my special American strat. lol. I put them thru hell. d addario really advanced there products(D add makes fender strings now)
Hi Dave, would there be any problem with having all 3 spring positioned closer to the centre (basically closer together, still parallel to each other, but in the centre)? I'm looking to make the tremolo more sensitive, thanks
Is this the easiest way to hardtail a strat ? Just block it but leave the springs in ?
Great video! Thanks for sharing. I see I need to do a little work with my guitar. I have exactly same looking Strat. Mine is from 2006. But out of your video it looks like you got different pickups than on mine. Are they the original ones?
Thanks Dave, I can't wait to get home tomorrow so I can attempt to fix my strat which looks exactly like this one and by that I mean the before part lol..Well mine has maple neck,,take care and tks once again!
i have lipstick tube pickups in one of my strats, how should i keep the chrome finish clean?
Beautiful instrument
SORRY JUST PLAYING, THIS IS A GREAT VIDEO, I OWN 16 STRATS AND THIS GIVES ME SOMETHING TO DO THIS WEEKEND AND SAVE A FEW BUCKS WHILE IM AT IT, THANKS TONS MAN.
Little Sister
Do you want to sell any of them? 16 oh my goodness
What is the name of that thing you adjusted on the neck joint? My strat copy doesnt have that. At first i tought it was a different kind of truss rod
*****
Hm Thank you
I'm trying to work with the Floyd Rose Terror...I mean Trem system,I have the intonation right on at the 12th, but the 1st string is fine but the 2nd and 3rd are sharp totally wrecking the A major and pretty much anything with a open D or A string.The action is still a bit high, but any lower and the thing buzzes from the 7th fret back. The sweetest spot is at the 5th and 7th position. I'm 55 yrs old and have set up quite a few guitars but this is my first Floyd. Everything is running flat after the 12th fret almost a whole tone at the 20th.I hate to sell the damn thing and stick it to someone else...but it wasn't a cheap guitar listing at 1299.99 and selling for 799.99. would really appreciate a suggestion or three! Keep up the good work...
+roger weafer block it!