After adjusting the truss rod, clockwise to reduce relief and counter-clockwise to add relief, then reattach neck in the body with the screws and retune the strings in order to recheck the relief in the neck. Photo 2 It’s crucial to know the intended tuning and string gauges before you set up a Strat. I had 12-56 for strings and five new springs holding the bridge down. That means truss rod, string height (action), pickup height and tremolo height all have to completed before you do intonation. Metal saddles hold your strings firmly. This allows only for frequency drop with the tremolo, but it is worth it due to increased sustain. Keeping it in tune was a mess. We will use the fret rocker tool to check all the frets on the neck and make sure there are no high frets. Most Stratocasters use a Bi-Flex truss rod which allows you correct neck curvature in either concave or convex positions. Your email address will not be published. Tremolo bridge. These things work really well, sound excellent, and virtually eliminate string breaking at the saddle. Do this for the rest of the strings cutting about 3 & 1/2″ behind the tuner of the D and G strings. There’s no need to measure the distance of each pole piece as the pole pieces are not individually adjustable. The radius at the bridge saddles will be flatter again than 16”. You can .do this with an action gauge card, ruler in 64ths of an inch or mm, or feeler gauges. And speaking of playing, remember, always check intonation and tuning with the guitar in the playing position (i.e. The trem should properly float at that action height. Adjust until the 2 notes are the same. But, if you do this adjustment by measuring with a ruler it will still sound off. The first step in the setup process is the initial evaluation of the instrument. The final major adjustment is setting the intonation for each string. What strings should I use on my Stratocaster? More info. If this happens you’ll have to take your guitar to an authorized Fender Service Center. First, sight the neck just to see what condition it's in. What is a Saddle? String up your guitar. Saddles, spring tension, fixed one-way vs floating bridge. But setting it up correctly can be a challenge, even for experienced players. Using the proper screwdriver or allen wrench, rotate the small height adjustment screws that are threaded into the saddle to raise or lower them. NZ$35.00. Unfortunately, acoustic guitars present a far more challenging situation. It comes into direct contact with your strings, and as we’ll see in this article, affects action, intonation, and even the tone of your acoustic guitar. If the note is flat, move the bridge saddle closer to the nut or the front of the bridge plate. You want to make sure that the pickups are evenly matched volume wise when you are adjusting them. If you do these adjustments with every string change your guitar will always play it’s best. More info. It had a vintage-style, six-screw bridge—not the two-post design of modern Strats. This allows only for frequency drop with the tremolo, but it is worth it due to increased sustain. Then use your ruler to measure from the top of the fret to the bottom of the string at the 17th fret. The way I have my strat set up now, the bridge saddles are very low. We look at three different Stratocaster bridge upgrade options, American and Vintage styles, that can fit in either Fender or Squier guitars. If you want the best performance out of your Stratocaster you must lubricate. Copyright © 2021 Guitarist Lab – Privacy Policy, 10 Steps to Making a New Replacement Nut For Your Guitar. Then fret the low E string at the 12th fret and play the note. This will make the bridge pivot on the two outside screws while leaving the four inner screws in place for tremolo stability. You want to go through the guitar and find out as many possible problems beforehand so they can be properly fixed or addressed so you don’t waste any time going back to correct them later on. I also like to play very lightly and quickly when I solo so I like my higher strings as low as possible for increased speed. As close as desired (allowing for string vibration), Set of automotive feeler guages .002″-.025″ or .05 mm-1 mm, Ruler with 1/32″ and 1/64″ increments or 0.5 mm increments. Take the end of string and put it down into the hole of the tuner and bend it over to the right and manually wrap the string once around the tuner like the pictures show below and tune the string up. You want your pickups close enough to have good output but not so close as to affect the vibration of the strings. The most important areas to lubricate are the slots in the nut, the bridge pieces anywhere the string touches and the pivot points on the tremolo. That’s because your intonation is not set correctly. This way I know I’m getting the highest output without any magnetic influence on the string. A quality tremolo bridge is important for the sustain. I wouldn’t go any lower than just above the 1/64″ mark for all the strings except the B and high E strings. The two most common types of tremolo found on Stratocasters is the 6-screw Vintage tremolo and the Two-Point Knife Edge tremolo found on the American series of Stratocaster. It had a vintage-style, six-screw bridge—not the two-post design of modern Strats. With the guitar on its side, look down the fingerboard edge for overall straightness, back-bow, relief (forward bow) and humps, as well as high or uneven frets. Be sure that you take a measurement of all settings before you adjust anything. Then go through the process of adjusting the saddles with the bass side at 5/64” and treble at 4/64”. If the nut slot is flat, then the string will rattle and buzz when played open. We did this step already in the evaluation so most of the time the neck is already straight and ready to go, but if not, repeat the process we went through above until the neck is straight and there is a .005″ gap of relief between the bottom of the E strings and the top of the 7th fret. Let’s get started! Move the third saddle back from the second saddle using the gauge of the third string as a measurement. The saddle screws stick up and hurt my hand. Do the same for all six strings and your guitar will be properly intonated. So I had to move it back toward the starting point on the adjustments to get it to intonate properly. Then with the thumb of your right hand, fret the low E string down around the 17th fret. You will then need to grab your truss rod tool and turn the truss rod nut clockwise until that gap is gone on the bottom edge of the ruler. Lets say the low E for example and tune it to pitch. In part achieved through proper nut height and neck relief, the height of the strings is also determined by a Stratocaster's adjustable bridge saddles. Then tighten only the two outside screws back down until they’re flush with the top of the bridge plate. If you don’t have a straight edge or notched ruler, you can use a capo, a .005″ feeler gauge, and your hands to check the relief of your neck. Using a 6" (150 mm) ruler, measure the distance between bottom of strings and top of the 17th fret. I would suggest putting them very close to the string but don’t let the string vibrate against them. To do this, remove the plate on the back of your guitar to access the tremolo springs. Once you have completed all the above adjustments your Stratocaster should play very comfortably and stay in tune very well. Then slide each gauge between the top of the 8th fret and the bottom of the sixth string. You can go to our Factory Setup Adjustments page to look at what the adjustments were from the factory on a sample American Deluxe Stratocaster. The radius of the saddle slots on a Gibson bridge should already be set when the bridge … Then loosen all six screws at the front edge of the bridge plate until they measure 1/16″ (1.6mm) above the top of the bridge plate. You want to check the nut slots to see if any are too low that strings might be resting or buzzing on the first fret when the neck relief was adjusted straight. Set of 6; Triple Tree String Retainer Also sold separately; Includes 1 tree, 3 different size spacers, and 1 mounting screw. The same basic principles apply for setting up a Telecaster.] I noticed there were only two springs holding the tremolo to the claw, which explained why the bridge was tilting forward so much (Photo 2). It’s important that you’re sure about your string size. If you hear the strings buzzing and vibrating a lot, then simply raise the action on that string. So I set the front edge level with the top of the pick guard. A quality tremolo bridge is important for the sustain. We find the sustain to be improved when tremolo springs are tightened so the bridge leans hard against the body. To check the string height first make sure your guitar is properly tuned. They are threaded, with a spring inbetween to keep tension, on to screws located in the back of the bridge that can move the saddle forward or backward to adjust the length of the string in order to set the intonation. The action is how a guitar plays, specifically the distance of the strings to the fingerboard. First, check tuning. Fender string height specs are in the table below: Now that your string height, truss rod and tremolo are all in adjustment it’s time to adjust your pickup height. Also, leave your factory measurements in the comment section of that page for others to use. Unfortunately, most truss rod adjustments on a Stratocaster’s neck are located at the heel. If the note is sharp use a Phillips screwdriver and move the bridge saddle farther away from the nut or toward the back of the bridge plate. They are threaded, with a spring inbetween to keep tension, on to screws located in the back of the bridge that can move the saddle forward or backward to adjust the length of the string in order to set the intonation. Tremolo bridge. Use a small screwdriver to adjust the saddle. 90 Another good thing to remember is to lubricate the pivot points on the pivot screws at the front of the tremolo. If you encounter excessive resistance during this adjustment your truss rod is maxed out. Photo 2 It’s crucial to know the intended tuning and string gauges before you set up a Strat. This greatly increases tuning stability and makes the guitar smoother to play. Palm muting becomes a test of endurance. The most common Strat bridge has 6 steel saddles with each one holding a string. On a Strat, you should have your tremolo bridge balanced/floating or set hard to the body as you normally would. You will have to adjust the spring tension with the screws on the spring claw, re-tune the guitar and then check the gap at the back of the bridge. Once you have completed all the above adjustments your Stratocaster should play very … Saddles, spring tension, fixed one-way vs floating bridge. Adjust bridge saddles to the height according to the chart, then re-tune. From here you can lower each slot until you feel each string is low and comfortable enough for your playing style. This is also the best time to check the string heights at the nut and see if the nut needs to be replaced or shimmed. To check the adjustment make sure the guitar is tuned properly and then affix a capo behind the 1st fret of the guitar. Pull the string to the tuner. Then starting at the 6th string play the open string and the play the note an octave higher at the 12th fret. Make sure you adjust each side of the bridge saddle evenly so that it stays level with the bridge or tremolo plate. A critical adjustment that is easily overlooked is the string height at the nut. We will go through the most critical adjustments that affect the playability of your Stratocaster. This will help reduce any stress or potential damage to the headstock from the sudden loss of tension. Add to Wishlist | Add to Compare; Add to Cart. Using a ruler or a string action gauge card and holding the guitar in playing position, measure from the top of the 12th fret to the bottom of the string. If you’re setting your bridge flat to the body but still want the trem to work, this setup will work for you, too. To adjust the intonation tune your strings to standard tuning. Add to Wishlist Any fixes? A correctly adjusted nut can help improve playability and intonation on the first couple of frets especially for barred or open chords. Joined: Jun 21, 2003 Location: Swampyville, Australia. Pickup height adjustment is usually a pretty simple task on a Stratocaster. After the intonation is set, apply some of that nut sauce or lubricant to each strings notch in the saddle to help reduce friction at this contact point for better tuning stability. Whenever you change strings I would check all the adjustments and adjust any that are out. Bass side strings are the E-A-D string and Treble side strings are the G-B-E strings. Wilkinson 10.5mm Wide Metal Guitar Strat Saddles Set for Squier Standard/Mexico Fender Stratocaster Tremolo Bridge, Chrome with Black Screws (Set of 6) 4.0 out of 5 stars 24 $12.90 $ 12 . The adjustment specification is as follows: Most Fenders use the 9.5″ to 12″ radius so you’ll be shooting for a .010″ (0.25 mm) gap. For example, If the second string is .011" (0.3 mm), you would move the second-string saddle back .011" (0.3 mm) from the first saddle. If there are issues like this at the nut or you prefer a different material, then it will have to be taken out to be either replaced or shimmed. Then a fret level and crowning would need to be done to them before moving on. Recheck the action and tuning. Doing this will help flush out any fret or nut issues that can be taken care of now before we go any further. To level the front of the 6-screw tremolo pull the tremolo arm up until the back of the bridge is flush with the body. First, check tuning. Setting A Vibrato Unit. Bridge Saddles » Strat; Strat. You may like them a little farther away from the strings. Your email address will not be published. This includes the pots, pickups, jack, and switch to make sure everything is working properly. The first thing you want to do is plug in the guitar and check out all of the electronics. After you make this adjustment you will see that the pickup will be angled closer to the 1st string and farther away from the 6th. Required fields are marked *. You can check out our fret level article that shows you step by step how to go about one. In the table below you’ll find the Fender specs for pickup height adjustment but here’s a tip. That’s good because almost every player needs a custom string height to suit their own personal playing style. If you are not comfortable or have the right tools then please let a qualified luthier or repair shop do this for you. This is where our Big Bends Nut Sauce comes into play. If the note is flat, move the bridge saddle closer to the nut or the front of the bridge plate. You want the notes to ring loud and clear without any distortion or warbling, which can happen if the pickups are too close to the strings. Then retune the string to pitch. Now with the old strings off you want to clean up the guitar before we put the new strings on. So, we have to adjust the intonation with a good tuner or you can simply use your ear if you have a good ear. Amazon's Choice for fender stratocaster bridge saddles Fender Bridge Saddle for American Standard Stratocaster and Telecaster Guitars ('08-present), 6 Pack, Nickel 4.7 out of 5 stars 54 Then re-tune the guitar and listen to it while you play. A good place to start for the action on a Strat is 4/64″ on all the strings. Essentially, everything should otherwise be exactly as you would play it. To get a good view of this you can pull back on the tremolo until the bridge is flush with the body and then look at the front edge of the bridge. Using a 6\" (150 mm) ruler, measure the distance between bottom of strings and top of the 17th fret. To straighten the neck you want to check how much relief there is first. The most common Strat bridge has 6 steel saddles with each one holding a string. Fender recommends a 1/8″ (3.2 mm) gap between the body of the guitar and bottom of the bridge. https://diystrat.blogspot.com/2011/08/setting-up-or-adjusting-stratocaster.html Place a capo on the first fret. In this step-by-step guide to setting up your Stratocaster, I’m going to walk you through how I set up a Strat from start to finish. I don’t like to have the front edge flush to the body as I don’t like it to dig into the finish of my guitar. On a guitar with adjustable saddles like this Stratocaster, height adjustments are simple. I had my Strat set up almost exactly the way yours is in the picture for a while so I'd get a half-tone bend by pulling back the whammy and could get a true vibrato whenever I wanted. Adjust the bridge saddle to compensate for flatness or sharpness until the note at the 12th fret is in tune with the open string note. Then I use just a small amount of lubrication in each area. Gotoh S108 Tremolo Saddle Set - Gold. Posts: 892. Fender American Ultra Stratocaster 2019-Current, Fender American Elite Stratocaster 2015-2019, Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster 2010-2015, Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster 2004-2009 Series, Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster 1998-2003, Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Service Manual. You will first want to adjust the front edge of the bridge so that it is level with the top of the pick guard. Then I back the pickups off until I can hear that they are no longer influencing the vibration of the string. On a Strat, you should have your tremolo bridge balanced/floating or set hard to the body as you normally would. Setting up a guitar involves working with the bridge, nut, and neck adjustments to dial in the playing action to suit the player. If you have your pickups too close to the strings the magnetic pull will cause the strings to vibrate in an elliptical pattern instead of a circular pattern which results in problems with the guitars tone and loss of harmonics. And that wraps up our Fender Strat setup article. After everything is secure and cleaned up we can throw on the new strings! There is a hole drilled out in the block for each string and pops up out of the baseplate on the top side of the bridge in the middle of the saddles. Traditional Strat bridges are strung through the back body and up through the block of the tremolo. Have you ever noticed that after you tune your guitar it still sounds off when you play chords or notes and the higher you go on the neck the worse it sounds? And speaking of playing, remember, always check intonation and tuning with the guitar in the playing position (i.e. The fourth-string saddle should be set parallel with the second-string saddle. The core diameter and tension of your strings determine how the Strat’s spring claw must be set – which in turn carries over to saddle heights, intonation adjustment and truss rod tension. I have a guitar that I setup exactly to the following adjustments and after it was adjusted I could not intonate the low-E string. This will make the notes below and above the 12th fret as in tune as they can be with each other. Then, use the allen screws in the bridge saddles to adjust the height of the string. On electric guitars, adjusting the saddle height is usually a simple matter of carefully measuring the height and then using a screwdriver or allen wrench (depending on the bridge) to raise the strings appropriately. Then apply a nut sauce or lubricant to each slot to keep the strings moving freely and prevent any binding. Get out your feeler gauges. You get six beautifully cast aluminum bridge saddles with hardened steel roller bearings, complete with screws, springs, hardened steel height adjustment screw- all ready to assemble. You will want to adjust the truss rod nut counterclockwise until the ruler is resting flat and even across the frets and/or fretboard. With the capo set behind the 1st fret, hold down the low E-string at the last fret on the neck. Selecting your strings is crucial, because a Stratocaster should be set up with the actual string gauge that you intend to use. If the neck has a back bow, the ruler will rock back and forth at the ends because the neck is bowed up in the middle. The next thing to do is straighten out the neck if it is not fairly straight already. Essentially, everything should otherwise be exactly as you would play it. Here’s a good performance enhancing tip for the 6-point Vintage synchronized tremolo. The pickups are attached to the pickguard by 2 height adjustment screws on either side of each pickup. That was a conscious and deliberate decision. Remember, if you ever change string gauges you’ll have to perform this adjustment again. It is important to take care of any problems with the frets now so we can make sure that we can setup up the guitar as best we can without any buzzing or dead spots on the neck. Selecting your strings is crucial, because a Stratocaster should be set up with the actual string gauge that you intend to use. Just use your Big Bends Nut Sauce for that. The core diameter and tension of your strings determine how the Strat’s spring claw must be set – which in turn carries over to saddle heights, intonation adjustment and truss rod tension.