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Calling all experts on Stratocasters!

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11/19/1999 1:39 AM

Charles Arsenault

Calling all experts on Stratocasters!

I noticed the other day that when I play my Stratocaster I get a really annoying beating (wavering ) effect when I play any note on the 3rd string between the 10th and 18th fret, the 18th being the worst. One fret up from the 18th is completely beat free. This phenomenon occurs either through an amp or even accoustically ( unplugged ). The beating only occurs on the third string because if I play those same notes on the 2nd string I don't get this effect. The first time I really noticed this problem is when I was using distortion, that really magnified the beating effect. I've just put on a fresh set of .011s and the problem still persists. My intonation is set fairly well, maybe it needs some adjusting? Maybe this is a typical trait of the Strat? At first I thought it might be a case of Stratitis but even when lowering my Texas Specials pickups the wavering was still there. Anyone have any ideas on this? Please help!

11/19/1999 2:06 AM

Benjamin Fargen

Charles,
Do you have the tailpiece slammed to the body or is it free floating? Did you go to the set of .011's when the guitar was still set up for.010?........sometimes if the tailpiece is slightly vibrating on the body you can get this type of wierd sound..........tighten up the tremolo springs or add another spring if the set screws are tapped all the way in..... make sure the tailpiece is flush with the body.......it will stay in tune better when you use the whammy bar....since the tailpiece has a way to return to the same spot.

Hope this helps.
Benjamin

11/19/1999 3:10 AM

Charles Arsenault

Hi Benjamin, thanks for your input. FYI the tailpiece was already tightened down hard against the guitars body, I've got four springs on there tightened almost all the way to the end, very hard whammy action. I've always used .011s on there, I just thought I'd mention the gauge to let you know that I'm not using wimpy strings. I tried your idea and it did make a bit of difference but only accoustically, through the amp with high gain it didn't have any effect at all. I did notice however that contrary to my original post that I do in fact get this beating effect beyond the 18th fret but only when going through my amp while using high gain, when unplugged the beating isn't noticeable beyond the 18th fret. I guess I'll have to try out a few other Strats to see if this is an inherant problem or not. But I suspect that your hunch about the vibrato bar being the culprit could be correct.

11/19/1999 6:03 AM
Steve A.	Charles: If the trem is not the culprit maybe the truss rod is causing the problem (the 3rd string is much closer to the truss rod than the 2nd string). I keep hearing about graphite necks and was just wondering if it might be a good idea to try filling up the truss rod cavity with powdered graphite (like the small tubes used for locks)... Anybody have any thoughts on this? Steve Ahola

11/19/1999 11:25 AM
anonymous	Are your springs ringing when you pluck strings pressed down at the warbling fret positions, and immediately afterwards damp the strings with your right hand?

11/20/1999 2:36 AM
Charles Arsenault	No, I don't detect any ringing in the springs.

11/19/1999 2:31 PM
Nyquist	I might be completely out of it (caus I read the posts very quickly) but it sounds to me like your pickups could be too close the strings thus creating some kind of overtone. Try lowering them and see how it works

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