String Guage & Action Adjustment

I finally broke down and put 11's on my 3 year old American Standard Strat. I like thicker strings and have used 11's on my Les Paul and other guitars for years.

I was initially hesitant to change the string guage on the strat as I was told just after I bought the instrument that Fender designed the strat for use with 9 super bullets. I prefer DR 11's.

Right now, in order to avoid string buzz, the action must be set very high. I hate it! I like LOW action on all of my guitars. I've tried adjusting the saddles and the micro tilt (shim) on the neck but to no avail. Every setting combination results in action that is way too high for my style of playing. Apparently the micro tilt was all the way down (factory setup) with the 9's on it so cranking the tilt up actually makes the problem worse not better (it raises the neck).

I don't want to give up on it and put the 9's back on. I really don't like lighter strings. I can't imagine that Fender would have designed this guitar to function properly with only one string gauge in mind.

Any help with suggestions for making the adjustment's necessary to lower my action would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Mike

11 gauge strings (11-49) are perfect for strats. Stevie Ray Vaughn used 13's on his strats. I myself use 10-52's. It all depends how you set them up. I have never experienced any problems at all. It can happen that the nut slots need to be adjusted, i.e. widened. You can buy these special needle files.
I am afraid, to get the proper benefits without string rattle, you have to get used to a slightly higher action. The trade off is a far better and fatter tone.

Stick to 11's, you are doing the right thing.

I recently went from 10's to .09's on all my Strats and raised the action as well. I find the Strat has a fatter tone even with lower string gauge but with higher action that compensates for it. The tension now feels like .10's or .11's with the higher action. I can bend strings without feeling like they are rubber bands. Many guitarists in the 60's and 70's used lower gauges and still got the fattest tone possible. SRV was the only one that used really heavy strings to achieve fat tone. He also used a dozen amps on 10 for a wall of sound. Heavy strings and low action just won't do it. IMHO

Jeff 8)

Keep trying on your setup. I've used 11s on my 89 AS for years and can set the action low. I typically have the relief at .007 and set the strings at 3/64 hi E 5/64 low E to start. I then reset them about 1/4 of a turn lower each day for a few days until they start to buzz and then I set them back up 1/4 of turn.

After what you've gone through, this one time I would take it to the Tech for a pro setup. Let him check it out and adjust. You'll be all set to do it yourself after that. It is very probable that the nut slots are not deep enough. 8) You could try giving the high action a chance for a week. High action and 11's = great tone, compared to low action and 9's.

Keep trying on your setup. I've used 11s on my 89 AS for years and can set the action low. I typically have the relief at .007 and set the strings at 3/64 hi E 5/64 low E to start. I then reset them about 1/4 of a turn lower each day for a few days until they start to buzz and then I set them back up 1/4 of turn.

Thank you to all that replied. I've tried doing as Kurt has suggested, and I was able to lower my action somewhat. I did it over time, a quater turn on the saddles each day as suggested above. It's still not at the height of my Les Paul but I'll keep playing it like this and hopefully I can get used to it. The action at this point is still a bit higher than my acoustic guitar.

I've checked my nut and the strings appear to be seated well but there is some binding of the "G" and "B" strings that I've noticed while tuning. I'll have it filed to correct the binding.

The thicker strings DO produce a much better tone with the Strat. I plugged in to my Hot Rod Deluxe, cranked up through the clean channel and WOW!! I'm definately keeping thicker strings on this guitar even if the action is high.

I most likely will take it in for a professional set up as Shakedown suggested, just to see if a luthier can get the action a bit lower (maybe by adjusting the truss rod) and to have the nut filed.

Thanks again for all your help everyone!

Mike