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Vintage threads from the first ten years
Taking my own advice...da
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 9/26/1999 3:03 AM |
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pgambon |
Taking my own advice...da I always tell guitar players that the most important thing when it comes to tone is the frets and set-up. Several years ago I fretted a strat neck I'd made with my new fret press. I didn't get this first try just right, but lived with the results for years. I decided that the strat just didn't "sing" and I was going to get rid of it. Bell goes off in head....relevel and crown frets.....oh da. Now she "sings" and is one of the guitars I reach for first. the point I'd like to share is that when the frets/nut/neck adj/bridge aren't in sync, you won't be drawn to play that guitar. Too often we talk ourselves into getting rid of the guitar or replacing the pick-up etc. My advice "set-up is #1". My advice to myself "don't forget it!". pg |
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| 9/26/1999 6:14 PM |
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| Stan Bailey |
Does anyone know of a site where I can get info regarding guitar setup? (truss adj., filing, etc) My Strat is a bit back-bowed and is breaking strings and I'm too strapped for $ to have someone else do it . I know there is a lot of excellent info in the archives but … Anyway, any knowledge is appreciated. Thanks, Stan |
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| 9/27/1999 4:09 PM |
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| Doc |
There may be some info on Stewaert MacDonald's website, in the Tech 101 section. What type of strat do you have (year & model)? Is the truss rod completely loose, and the neck wood is still back-bowed? (I take it the guitar isn't an american standard model. They have truss rods that will correct for up-bow & back-bow.) Sometimes the truss rod gets jammed in the tight position, and even if the nut is loosned it doesn't relax. Try deliberately flexing the neck forward, with the adjuster nut loose. You may hear the rod cracking loose. If the rod is actually free, and there is still substantial back-bow, there isn't much you can do short of stripping the frets, planing & sanding the fingerboard, and refretting. If the neck has already been refretted, then maybe the fret tangs are too wide, causing the back-bow. The best place to learn basic guitar tune-up & maintenance, and minor repairs, is with the book put out by Guitar Player mag, "Guitar Player Repair Guide" authored by Dan Erlewine, and available from StewMac. It's about $25, but well worth it. |
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| 9/28/1999 3:36 PM |
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| J Epstein |
I second the Erlewine book recommendation - basically, if you touch the guitar with any tool besides a pick or a polishing cloth, you should have this book. -j |
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| 9/28/1999 5:28 PM |
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| Stan Bailey |
It is a ~94 American Strat. And yes, no change in back-bow when completely loose. I tried deliberately flexing the neck as you suggested, with no change.
I had it refretted with extra jumbo frets so this may be the problem. At any rate, thank you very much for your time and info, and I will definitely order "Guitar Player Repair Guide" a.s.a.p. Stan | ||
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| 9/28/1999 7:16 PM |
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| Doc |
As far as I know, all American Standard strats have what's called a "Bi-flex" truss rod. It has a neutral position, but it can flex the neck back (to compensate for string tension) or forward (to compensate for the occasional neck that won't let the strings pull it forward enough). If your '94 neck's truss rod won't bend the neck forward enough to allow for a slight relief gap between the string line and the fingerboard, then I bet the refret was done improperly. The "luthier" pressed in frets with wider tangs than stock, which spread each fret slot apart a little bit wider. The stacked tolerances add up to a big curve in the wrong direction. |
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| 9/28/1999 9:34 PM |
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| Stan Bailey |
Hmm, that may explain why he charged me a 1/3 of his usual cost. Oh well, I guess I'll have to learn to do it myself and spread myself even thinner.  ) Thanks for the info!
Stan | |
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