Adjusting a fender strat

[floyde]

I've been playing guitar for many years now, but I had never owned an american deluxe strat until very recently. I've been a fan of this guitar since I started playing, but since it is my first one, I've no idea how to adjust it properly.

The pic below illustrates my problem. The tremolo is just way too high (I think:confused:) and I'm guessing that's why the strings are so tight. I want the strings to be much more loose, so that I won't break my fingers every time I try to do a bend.

I tried adjusting the big screws on the bridge, but I'm not sure if I should tighten them or do the opposite. I was also thinking that maybe the tension on the strings is due to the springs on the back of the guitar, so maybe I should adjust that. Or perhaps it has to do with the string's gauge :confused:.

Anyways, if anyone can help me lower the bridge and loosen up the strings I'd really appreciate that. Thanks

[JG271]

If you open up the plate on the back of the guitar you should see a spring or three. These will be held into the body of the guitar by screws, turn the screws out from the body slowly and carefully - and if you have three screws make sure to turn each screw by the same amount.
You'll probably only need to do about half a turn before the strings become looser - although adjust it to how you want

EDIT: Come to think of it i'm not too sure about that one - it will slacken the strings but the bridge may well still stay high.

[Capt Underpants]

That tremolo is floating way too high.

I don't know how to adjust a strat -- I just know how I like mine set up, and I pay someone else to do it. They'll adjust the neck (if needed), make sure the intonation is correct, make sure the tremolo is set up properly, and give you a new set of strings for 35-40 bucks. It's worth it IMO.

If you want to do it on your own, though, ask these guys (http://www.fenderforum.com/forum.html). I've been reading this forum for quite some time, and people there are really helpful.

[machanback]

when I owned a strat, mine did the same thing. When I bought mine, It came with a third spring. If you open the back plate on your guitar, as previously mentioned, you will see two springs. You can put this third spring in, and it will pull the bridge back down. If you are not comfortable doing this, just take it to your local guitar store and they will install it for you, although it is fairly simple. Takes about as much time as installing RAM. Of course, I bought my strat 20 years ago, so I don't know what is included with them today.

[bartelby]

What gauge are you using?

[floyde]

Thanks guys, I think JG271 had it right, except I had to tighten the screws. I got the bridge down finally. The strings are still a bit tight, but I think it's a gauge problem.

What gauge are you using?

Much thicker than the strings the guitar had originally :o. It's still not too thick though, I'm using, .010-0.046 strings. It's my first floating trem guitar, so I just realized that different string gauges will generate different tension on the floating bridge.

[floyde]

Ok... something's wrong... I'm confused :o The bridge is down but the strings are still to tight. Should I switch to lighter strings? or could there be something else causing the tension?

[mperkins37]

I would put a set of 9's on it and use 3 springs, I have a strat an Ibanez & a Krammer, all of which have Floyd Rose/Fender tremolos.
If going 10's or higher you get more tone, but the longer neck scale of the strat lends to a stiffer feel than a Les Paul.
Put a set of 9's on it, use 3 springs, tune it up, THEN start with incremental screw adjustments. I have a slight forward profile because I pull up to raise notes a step occasionally. Once it's in do not change brands or thickness of the string set or you will have to re-setup. You may have to re-intonate it also, depending on what was on it when purchased. But that's another story.

[John.B]

My main electric is a hardtail American Strat and the backup is a "normal" trem Am Strat with all five springs installed (prevents me from having to block the trem, personal preference). That said, I play 10s on both guitars and find them slightly jangly which I like. 11s are also in a similar camp but have slightly fatter tone. I can't play .009s, I constantly break the high E string, and the tone is too "thin", it has no definition.

I can't imagine that the tension on an American Strat using 10s would be too tight for anyone. Not nit picking but as a kid I learned on an acoustic, maybe that clouds my judgment. There has to be something else. Are you sure you are tuning to A4 = 440Hz?

BTW, if you are switching string gauges (say, from 10s to 9s) be sure to double check the intonation afterwards.

[floyde]

I can't imagine that the tension on an American Strat using 10s would be too tight for anyone. Not nit picking but as a kid I learned on an acoustic, maybe that clouds my judgment. There has to be something else. Are you sure you are tuning to A4 = 440Hz?


Well I always felt 9s were too girly for me :D. But I don't remember 10s ever being this tight on my other guitars. I even have an electric-acoustic with electric-like neck that people keep telling me is way too tight. The strat is not as tight as the electric-acoustic, but it's pretty close.

I also messed with the big screws that hold the bridge on the front of the guitar, so perhaps it has something to do with that. Anyway I was thinking that the springs are for the bridge's angle and they can't possibly affect the string's tension; since that has to do with how much the tuners are turned (it will be a lot less if the springs are tight). So I still don't know what's going on lol

[Capt Underpants]

Well I always felt 9s were too girly for me :D. But I don't remember 10s ever being this tight on my other guitars. I even have an electric-acoustic with electric-like neck that people keep telling me is way too tight. The strat is not as tight as the electric-acoustic, but it's pretty close.

I also messed with the big screws that hold the bridge on the front of the guitar, so perhaps it has something to do with that. Anyway I was thinking that the springs are for the bridge's angle and they can't possibly affect the string's tension; since that has to do with how much the tuners are turned (it will be a lot less if the springs are tight). So I still don't know what's going on lol

Ask the people on the forum above or take it to an experienced tech. By now the intonation's probably all messed up if you did all that adjusting w/o touching the saddle. You put heavier guage strings on w/o setting it up, and expect that forcing the bridge down will fix your problems?

A strat is an instrument. It is a fine-tuned machine. If you don't know how to set it up properly, then take it to someone who does.

I had my strat set up by a tech with 11's. The bridge is the correct height, the intonation is perfect, and the action is exactly where I like it.

If you want to learn yourself, I believe all strats come with a booklet (at least mine did) that tells you how to adjust the truss rod/saddles/trem block properly.

Good luck.

[floyde]

Ask the people on the forum above or take it to an experienced tech. By now the intonation's probably all messed up if you did all that adjusting w/o touching the saddle. You put heavier guage strings on w/o setting it up, and expect that forcing the bridge down will fix your problems?

A strat is an instrument. It is a fine-tuned machine. If you don't know how to set it up properly, then take it to someone who does.

Unfortunately, I don't have access to that kind of service where I live, so learning is the only way. I'll ask in the forums you mentioned, thanks

[John.B]

Well I always felt 9s were too girly for me :D. But I don't remember 10s ever being this tight on my other guitars. I even have an electric-acoustic with electric-like neck that people keep telling me is way too tight. The strat is not as tight as the electric-acoustic, but it's pretty close.
I don't want anyone to get the implication that I think 9s are in anyway a putdown. I don't like them because I don't like how they make my playing sound, and as a pathological string bender I've busted three 9s in three sets once. I know the metal guys that do lots of tapping love 'em.

I'd take your guitar to a guitar shop and play it side-by-side with another Strat to see what the differences are.

[maiku25]

i have the reverse problem of you, my bridge is way too low and i dont have a nearby guitar shop either

ok, to lower your bridge best bet is too add another spring in the back like previously mentioned. This will not loosen your strings. the only way I know of to do that, is to play low-tuned, withall ur strings tuned down a couple frets, or use lighter strings. I play with a set of D'Addario 8s which were really hard to find, but they're really nice for bends and using whammy effects.

However, using lighter strings SHOULD lower your bridge, because the strings will give less tug. My guitar was originally for 10s and since I use 8's i need to correct my problems - I will most likely have to take out on of my springs.

If you fiddle with the springs, you have to set them all back nicely!
2 springs either line up, or make a sort of V pattern, depending on the guitar.
1 spring goes right down the middle, and 3 should line up with one on either far side, and one down the middle.
This is all relative if your guitar (strat in this case) has 5 spring holes/catches on either side.

good luck!:)

[mperkins37]

There is a slight chance that you tuned the low e up an octave. I have done that before & it will double the tension. Try & slack all the strings. re-tube with an electronic tuner from the high e up to the low, repeat the process until the strings have even tension.
It's a longshot, but it has happened to me once or twice.

[Capt Underpants]

There is a slight chance that you tuned the low e up an octave. I have done that before & it will double the tension. Try & slack all the strings. re-tube with an electronic tuner from the high e up to the low, repeat the process until the strings have even tension.
It's a longshot, but it has happened to me once or twice.

You tuned your low e up an entire octave and it didn't break :eek:

Props... that's intense.

[maiku25]

Its not possble to tune a low E up an octave... Besides, real men dont use tuners.

[maiku25]

If you open up the plate on the back of the guitar you should see a spring or three. These will be held into the body of the guitar by screws, turn the screws out from the body slowly and carefully - and if you have three screws make sure to turn each screw by the same amount.
You'll probably only need to do about half a turn before the strings become looser - although adjust it to how you want

EDIT: Come to think of it i'm not too sure about that one - it will slacken the strings but the bridge may well still stay high.

This will slacken the strings until they're tuned right again then they'll just be tight again :(

plus this will just make te bridge go even higher.