 Guitar people help please
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ok got me a mexican strat. It brand new, and i tried to replace the strings today.. I have replaced strings many times on guitars.. But this one is kicking my butt.. I will get one string in tune, then the next then the first one will be out, and the tremlo is lifiting.. Its not a Floyd Rose just a Fender stock on I guess.. SO what am i doing wrong? HELP PLEASE
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The proper way to tune any guitar with a tremelo is with "Cross Tuning." This is a method of tuning back and forth across the strings. If you start at the bass E string and tune in succession to the treble E string you'll find that the bridge will tilt toward the peghead and all of the strings will be flat. Here's what you do (it is best to use a good electronic tuner for this): Your strings are numbered 1 to 6 (#1 being treble E, #6 being bass E.)
Start with some tension on all strings, but make sure none are above pitch (all strings should be flat.) Tune #6 up to pitch. Tune #1 to pitch Tune #2 to pitch Tune #5 to pitch Now repeat this from the beginning(6, 1, 2, 5.) After you have re-tuned 5, tune #3. Now tune #4. Repeat from the beginning until you are in tune.
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Black '07 Speedmaster FTW!
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Quote:
ok got me a mexican strat. It brand new, and i tried to replace the strings today.. I have replaced strings many times on guitars.. But this one is kicking my butt.. I will get one string in tune, then the next then the first one will be out, and the tremlo is lifiting.. Its not a Floyd Rose just a Fender stock on I guess.. SO what am i doing wrong? HELP PLEASE
Dahla is right. But, tuning strats with trems can/is a PIA.
When my students start out with a Fender Squire Strat with tremolo, i block it with a piece of wood. They need a guitar that stays in tune, they're not ready to wang on a bar yet anyway. You can also tighten the springs in the back, or add an extra one if there are only 3 springs. Try to get the bridge flat against the body.
But, if you want to keep the vibrato system, here's what i do:
Use bigger strings, they stay in tune better. I use a .010 set with a .050 or .052 for a sixth string because i bang that one pretty good sometimes. SRV used real heavy strings.
Adjust the springs in the back of the guitar if you used bigger strings. Break in the strings if they're new by stretching them and playing them with a lot of bends, and/or use the whammy bar,etc, to stretch them out first. Make sure the tuning keys are not loose, and the strings are wrapped around the string posts real good. When you stretch by hand, hold down each string somewhere in the middle of the fret board and pull up with your right hand. This will help prevent string breakage while you're tuggin' on 'em.
Use a drop of oil or guitar grease on the bridge saddles where the strings come across, and also in the nut grooves.
You can use graphite as well. I use break free (like used for guns) and guitar grease, or graphite.
After you get in tune, play the heck out of it and re-tune until it pretty much stays there.
Oh, and definitely check your intonation especially if you've blocked up the trem. There's a lot of sites that'll tell you about all this, probably.
A lot of people change out the vibrato system (as well as the pickups) for a Wilkinson or some other brand. The metal is not the best on the Mexi strats. But, it should get you by with some work.
Hope that helps a little.
Last edited by churchkey; 02/06/2008 8:31 PM.
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Re: Guitar people help please
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Intonation isn't that hard actually. just tune the string to the right pitch, and then tune the 12th fret (same string, the 12th fret is one octave higher than the open string) 12th Fret Plays Sharp - move the saddle away from the fingerboard 12th Fret Plays Flat - move the saddle closer to the fingerboard repeat on the other 5 strings and you're done. 
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Re: Guitar people help please
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Well you didn't say 6 bolt or single pivots but this will work:
Pop off the back cover and tighten the screw nearest the neck joint to increase your spring tension. The trick is to replace one string at a time but it's likely too late for that so here's what you do next: tune the D a bit sharp, then get the G close but flat, then the B, then the A, and go back to the D, the G, the B, the A and the high E (1st) save the low E for last. Now work your way from the center out until you are close. Check the spring tension again and tighten if need be. Tune to pitch from the center out. Stretch, retune, one more check on the springs, tune.
I've seen a lot of string stretching techniques, here's one that works: place the string so your 8 fingers are on one side and two thumbs are opposing, somewhere near the 12th fret. Pinch. Do not pull the string up, you'll just end up filing the nut and tweaking the wang bar. A good pinch will drop the tuning 1/2 step and much more nearly replicates pressing the string down between the frets.
I've put somewhere around 100,000 guitar strings on using this method and it works well for me, should work for you.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: Guitar people help please
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Ok tried everything but what Roadie said, mainley beacuse I broke the G string and do not have anymore to replace them tonight. I am as frustrated as a nun on prom night with this thing. I am gonna take it to the guitar center up the road tomorrow and let them have a loot at it, just incase there is something I am missing.. Thanks for the advise tho.. It was kind of getting back in tune after I tightend the living snot out of the springs..
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Re: Guitar people help please
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<<Intonation isn't that hard actually.>>
Not hard at all. I prefer using the strobotuner though.
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Re: Guitar people help please
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Last 2 elec guitars I owned were Fender strat hard tails.. I have never been a fan of the tremlo to start with. Not with the Line 6 being out there.. Oh well, will find out tomorrow how much of a idiot I am.
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Re: Guitar people help please
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Loquacious
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Ooo ooo ooo...I figured it out! Quote:
ok got me a mexican strat.
Mark
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Re: Guitar people help please
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The Mex's have good wood but I'm not a fan of the electronic components. I've seen some pretty good ones over the years, especially after the pickups and switches were changed out but there's nothing like a vintage American 6 bolt to make your heart sing.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: Guitar people help please
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Loquacious
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The hardware on Mexican or American Fenders is ALL junk. The only production-line Fenders worth owning are the American Vintage line...the hardware is quality, but you still have to swap out the crap pickups. American Standard and American Deluxe are pretty much just as bad as the Mexican series. Don't waste your money.
Mark
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These guys have some quality replacement parts (like the tremelo block). It's pricey as you might imagine, but it's good stuff. It's pretty much a given that you'll have to replace parts on any off the shelf/wall Fender unless it's custom shop or something. But, depends how serious someone is about all that i suppose. I like my Nash Tele and G&L's as far as recent stuff. http://www.callahamguitars.com/
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Re: Guitar people help please
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I was just looking on the musicians friend site and saw a bridge converter.. My understanding is, you remove the tremlo system and replace it with this.. Even got one with flames on it lol.. You ever tried this? Seems like what i am looking for.
Dont like what you see??? Big red X in the top right of your screen will fix it!
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Re: Guitar people help please
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Quote:
Intonation isn't that hard actually.
just tune the string to the right pitch, and then tune the 12th fret (same string, the 12th fret is one octave higher than the open string)
12th Fret Plays Sharp - move the saddle away from the fingerboard
12th Fret Plays Flat - move the saddle closer to the fingerboard
repeat on the other 5 strings and you're done.
Intonation adjustments are a painful lesson to learn when you take ALL 6 strings off your arch top jazz box the first time and then suddenly the bridge slides off the guitar and onto the floor. 
Getting to clean the fingerboard easily is not worth it. Now I do them one at a time...
Thom
I might be wrong, I sometimes am.
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don't bother...it's not worth your money. By the time you made it into something of any quality, you'd have replaced everything but the neck mount screws. The bodies are laminated and will never sound like a real guitar.
Remember, you can only polish a turd.
Mark
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Re: Guitar people help please
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Quote:
The hardware on Mexican or American Fenders is ALL junk. The only production-line Fenders worth owning are the American Vintage line...the hardware is quality, but you still have to swap out the crap pickups. American Standard and American Deluxe are pretty much just as bad as the Mexican series. Don't waste your money.
Quote:
don't bother...it's not worth your money. By the time you made it into something of any quality, you'd have replaced everything but the neck mount screws. The bodies are laminated and will never sound like a real guitar. Remember, you can only polish a turd.
Not everybody needs a '57 Strat and a class A tube amp, some folks just want to play and enjoy themselves. You're positioning yourself as an elitist and a gear snob, after all, even a '59 Les Paul is a laminated guitar and I dare say they are not "turds".
The most important single thing is that you actually have to play the thing before you buy it and listen to it. Then if it suits you , it's a good guitar.
I've heard thousands of guitars over the years, vintage and imported, and the bad ones were far and few between; there are a lot more lame left hands out there than crappy instruments.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: Guitar people help please
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Quote:
Quote:
Intonation isn't that hard actually.
just tune the string to the right pitch, and then tune the 12th fret (same string, the 12th fret is one octave higher than the open string)
12th Fret Plays Sharp - move the saddle away from the fingerboard
12th Fret Plays Flat - move the saddle closer to the fingerboard
repeat on the other 5 strings and you're done.
Intonation adjustments are a painful lesson to learn when you take ALL 6 strings off your arch top jazz box the first time and then suddenly the bridge slides off the guitar and onto the floor.
Getting to clean the fingerboard easily is not worth it. Now I do them one at a time...
I've been there and done that too... 
Black '07 Speedmaster FTW!
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...and btw, +1 oldroadie!
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 yeah...I realize that...I tend to talk out my ****** when I'm hungover. I have a handful of G&Ls & used to be a part-owner of a guitar shop specializing in high end blues & folk instruments, so I tend to have very strong opinions when it comes to single-coil sticks. And similar to you and your gear, when you make your living with a guitar in your hands (or behind a soundboard, which I've done a few hundred times) you become narrow minded when it comes to the tools of the trade. I'm not on stage 250+ nights a year anymore (thanks Dad for the worst advice ever...grow up and get a "real" job) but I still have all high end pro gear and forget that not everybody needs it. And to further discredit my previous statement...I LOVE Harmony guit-boxes from the 50s-70s.
Mark
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Re: Guitar people help please
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To add on...as far as hardware goes, whether you're a working pro, or a living room picker, I 100% believe in having quality parts on your stick. Your guitar will sound better, tune/intonate better, stay in tune better, and will last much longer.
Mark
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Re: Guitar people help please
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There's no question there, Mark. My motto has always been "buy the best, you'll never be disappointed". All the same, a little knock-off "carboard" box can sure be a lot of fun.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: Guitar people help please
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Speaking of cardboard box...Mark want one of these!!!
Mark
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I just take my Ibanez with locking MH, and Floyd Rose to the local music store, guy is a whiz, does a complete tune up for $30....
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Re: Guitar people help please
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POST YOUR GITARZ!! 
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Re: Guitar people help please
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How's this Mark? 
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: Guitar people help please
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 This is what she looked like when I opend the box... I have a few other pics, but photobucket is being a pain right now.
Dont like what you see??? Big red X in the top right of your screen will fix it!
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  scary norwegian metal!  me with the guitar. taken when we were support for mortiis on a gig in oslo.
Last edited by dahla; 02/07/2008 6:12 PM.
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Re: Guitar people help please
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Quote:
How's this Mark?
oh sweet jesus...you have one!
tell me tell me tell me...do I NEED one? Can you bring it to GA? How's it tuned...mando-style, tenor banjo...
Or is it set up more like a reso with high action and use an open tuning?
Mark
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 Guitar people help please
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3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
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Home-made instruments are fantastic. Someday soon I intend to make myself a washtub bass. Always loved uprights and I'd love to own one (space and cash precludes, unfortunately) so a washtub's the closest I'm gonna get. (nylon strings, electric uprights, blah, blah, blah...not the same) Don't forget, music was around long before electricity/electronics and mass production and fine tolerances, etc. Play it. Enjoy it.
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Re: Guitar people help please
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3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
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I can relate to you guys... I just finished Guitar Hero 3 on the Xbox360  I have a Boosey & Hawkes Alto Sax that I've played on and off since school
Last edited by Lowey; 02/07/2008 6:59 PM.
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Re: Guitar people help please
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Quote:
oh sweet jesus...you have one!
tell me tell me tell me...do I NEED one? Can you bring it to GA? How's it tuned...mando-style, tenor banjo...
Or is it set up more like a reso with high action and use an open tuning?
No I don't but Daddy-Mojo's stuff is way cool and everybody needs one. video here This one is meant to be set up as the 1~4 strings (and probably open G or D for slide) but if it was me I'd buy the fretted one, tune it like a bouzouki and drone away.
Here's a nice 4 string Warrior bass and the last bass rig I built.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: Guitar people help please
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ooooooh sweet lord of thunder... that looks menacing oldroadie!! 
Black '07 Speedmaster FTW!
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Re: Guitar people help please *DELETED*
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Post deleted by churchkey
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Re: Guitar people help please
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I have one of these Taylor 814ce  and one of these Ibanez AK85  and for fun, one of these little Martins 
Thom
I might be wrong, I sometimes am.
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Re: Guitar people help please
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One exactly like this lives in my bedroom: 
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: Guitar people help please
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I love my Taylor. I am not very good yet, but when you do something right, it sound VERY right.
Thom
I might be wrong, I sometimes am.
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Re: Guitar people help please
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3/4 Throttle
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Re: Guitar people help please
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'71 ES335TD. Bought it in a pawn shop on State St. in Chicago in '75. 
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Loquacious
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dare i mention that i succombed to the syndrome again?
littlelarriveeparloronitswayfromutah...dang me!
Last edited by mert; 02/14/2008 6:21 PM.
allhailthefrenchpress
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