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Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
 Posted - 01/09/2009 : 20:38:31
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As it was interesting ideas with the neck screws/pocket discussions earlier today I would like to start a tread with the intension to share all the mods and tweaks for stratocasters.
I�ll start with the importance of having a lot of wounds on the tuning peg on the G-string, if there is no string tree there. This makes better sustain and tone for sure, with just a few wraps the angle over the nut is too swallow. |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2009 : 22:42:27
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I'd like a Strat (Eric Johnson) with staggered tuning posts to eliminate the extra friction caused by string-trees during note-bending & any binding points other than the nut which is a different topic altogether what considering compensating tuning methods & what not to fully maximize tonal transference to the bridge & body of the guitar & I might add that this seems to be the longest sentence I've ever written in my life but I believe contains a very valid point regarding string-trees.  |
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zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2009 : 00:41:22
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| tremsetter does wonders |
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leonard d rock
Silver Member
Philippines
301 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2009 : 01:43:49
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heres my NO CUTTING NO SOLDERING mod from waay back: open up your guitar and mark the Single coil pups of your strat N neck, M-middle, B bridge in case you get lost and want to return to stock. start by exchanging the positions of your neck and middle pup. suddenly your now bridge pup has now a tone control you can use. the now mid pup position has more mids. try also exchanging the original bridge and neck pups, you'll hear a subtle change in tone. plus listen to what happens to the combinations now coming from the 5way switch, there will be different combinations. choose your flavor. my favorite was this: bridge pup to the neck position, mid to the bridge, neck to the mids.
ldr |
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zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
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zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2009 : 08:08:01
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zerskies..... 100%.... these are great tips on how to improve your tone .... and not trying to be cheap here but it make a refreshing change that it doesn't involve spending a good few quid on new pickups..etc....i for one will defo be trying some of them out........have some of these for your hard work........ |
Edited by - FRANZONI on 01/10/2009 08:08:42 |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2009 : 09:08:27
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Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2009 : 09:10:59
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As the years has gone by I have lowered my pickups more and more, the neck one is at the same high as the pick guard on the bass side. This improves tone a lot and the infamous Stratitis is not as irritating.
If using three trem springs set two of them in the outer holes of the trem block and in number two from the outside of the claw. The last spring in the middle on both places.
"Tune" the springs, they should ring like a reverb, this is easy when you have the trem flat to the body. Adjust the claw. |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2009 : 16:54:18
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quote:
Originally posted by Goran
As the years has gone by I have lowered my pickups more and more, the neck one is at the same high as the pick guard on the bass side. This improves tone a lot and the infamous Stratitis is not as irritating.
If using three trem springs set two of them in the outer holes of the trem block and in number two from the outside of the claw. The last spring in the middle on both places.
"Tune" the springs, they should ring like a reverb, this is easy when you have the trem flat to the body. Adjust the claw.
Funny enough i have the pickups bit covered more by accident than design......... the reason mine are low is because i don't like them getting in the way when i'm chickin' pickin' and on the squier with the noiseless ones a lot of people recommended to keep them lower than usual to avoid the extra compression thse add to the sound.....the tem on my strasts is set flat so the springs are pretty tight anyway...keep them coming Goran.... all good stuff................. |
Edited by - FRANZONI on 01/10/2009 16:54:57 |
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zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2009 : 01:16:47
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| i have done a few of the tings to my strats they are very cheap and work wonders |
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Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2009 : 09:48:38
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Dental floss is really usable to polish the nut slots, preferrably non waxed. This is good on any guitar, most guitar nut slots are just filed not polished.
If you have trouble with the trem arm falling down or sitting to loose there are springs that fit in the bottom of the hole making the arm sit fine.
There are some tape used by plummers, don�t know the name in English, wrap a couple of turns around the end of the trem arm and put back in the hole. Works for a while. |
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Right Foot Boss
Gold Member
USA
881 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2009 : 10:57:59
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This topic could not have come about at a better time. Last weekend I got this huge urge to upgrade my Ibanez GIO. It has needed it for some time now.
Anyway I will be replacing the bridge saddles soon and am wondering if there is anything I should look for or aim to accomplish in the bridge area. I read the article in zerk's post about 10 ways to improve.. but I would like to know how to tell the difference between die cast and sheet metal saddles and bridges. |
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zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2009 : 14:50:54
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quote:
Originally posted by Goran
Dental floss is really usable to polish the nut slots, preferrably non waxed. This is good on any guitar, most guitar nut slots are just filed not polished.
If you have trouble with the trem arm falling down or sitting to loose there are springs that fit in the bottom of the hole making the arm sit fine.
There are some tape used by plummers, don�t know the name in English, wrap a couple of turns around the end of the trem arm and put back in the hole. Works for a while.
polytetrafluoroethylene .... or P.T.F.E. tape...(20 years in the trade and 3 years of college were good for something...... )....you can it in any plumbers suppliers or hardware/builders suppliers as well only a couple of pence for a roll,a piece of rubber(as in part of a childs school eraser) in the hole is also supposed to work but i have never tried it,as a plumber i usually went with the PTFE on the threads.....and i thought i had invented this one..... ......ah well as my mother always says.." great minds think alike..fools seldom differ "..... .... |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2009 : 14:52:54
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quote:
Originally posted by Right Foot Boss
This topic could not have come about at a better time. Last weekend I got this huge urge to upgrade my Ibanez GIO. It has needed it for some time now.
Anyway I will be replacing the bridge saddles soon and am wondering if there is anything I should look for or aim to accomplish in the bridge area. I read the article in zerk's post about 10 ways to improve.. but I would like to know how to tell the difference between die cast and sheet metal saddles and bridges.
those graphite saddles are supposed to be good for sustain and reducing string breakage...if you don't mind the look from the traditional ones....
P.S.... Something i read somewhere was that Rory Gallagher or SRV(could of even been both) used to put the sleeve off a piece of electricial wire,on the ball end of the string to reduce wear and tear on the part coming out of the trem to before it hits the saddle..never tried this myself but i think it might of been rorys brother Donal who said it in an interview.... |
Edited by - FRANZONI on 01/11/2009 14:56:38 |
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Topic |
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Tweaks/mods for stratocaster
