Trem Set-Up Question

[SixStringSlinger]

When I got my American Deluxe Strat, it came (for whatever reason) with 10-52 gauge strings. They were thicker than I was used to at the time (which was 9-42), but I liked how they pulled up on the trem, tho where the topsof of the saddles were about parallel with the body. After a while I wasn't able to find any 10-52's, so I settled for 10-48's, which I like, but don't pull up on the trem as much. Can anyone enlighten me as to how I can use my current gauge and still have my trem where I like it? Please keep in mind, I'm a total rookie who's only qualified to change strings and, on a good day, ajust intonation. Speaking of, how would this screw with my intonation, if at all?

[bajabuster]

Your intonation is changed now, as the saddles are riding at a different place.
You take off the back plate on the guitar, screw the two wood screws about a 1/4 turn each, further out of the body. Check how the height looks now, and then further adjust in either direction as necessary.. All this does is adjust the tension of the springs pulling on the strings.
The guitar must have been used, as Am. Dlx. come from the factory with 9-42 strings.
hope this helps...

[SixStringSlinger]

Thanks. I take it if it comes out uneven I can just turn one screw till it evens out? Also, will this affect the way she "handles" in any way besides giving me a little more pulling room on the bar?

[Willie D]

Originally Posted by SixStringSlinger

I take it if it comes out uneven I can just turn one screw till it evens out?

Yep.

Originally Posted by SixStringSlinger

Also, will this affect the way she "handles" in any way besides giving me a little more pulling room on the bar?

It shouldn't. You'll probably be real happy with the results.

[SixStringSlinger]

Very cool. I tried pushing down on my bar till it was about where I want it to be, and I noticed that at the hight end of the fretboard (lengthwise) the action went up by the barest bit. shouldn't be an issue. One last question: Should I do anything to the strings before doing this? The way I figure if I wanted to bring the trem down then they would need a little slack, but since I'm going up I should be good.

[claudel]

You'll want to keep the strings tuned to the pitch you'll be playing them at while setting the trem.

The trick to setting up a floating trem is to adjust the springs until the
trem floats at the height you want it to with the strings tuned up.

You might need to set the intonation and saddle height too.

Make sure there's no string binding in the nut slots too, although going down a gauge
that shouldn't be a problem.


You'll probably have to go around the loop a few times till you get it the way you want it.
But you can't really cause any irreversible problems adjusting things...

Good Luck

[SixStringSlinger]

I think things should be fine. I've already played the guitar set up how I wanted, just with a higher gauge that pulled more. Intonation may need a tweak, but I'll wait until I'm done, seeing as it can use a tweak as is. It may end up better or worse. I can work a tuner and a Phillips head, so I'm good.

[Mark Davis]

If you got it new it came with 42-9 here are the specs.

Model Name American Deluxe Stratocaster®
Model Number 010-1200-(Color #) and 010-1202-(Color #)
Series American Deluxe Series
Colors (700) 3-Color Sunburst,
(720) Amber,
(723) Olympic Pearl,
(764) Montego Black,
(791) Chrome Silver,
(Polyurethane Finish)
Body Select Alder
Neck Maple, Modern “C” Shape,
(Satin Polyurethane Finish)
Fingerboard Rosewood (p/n 010-1200) or Maple (p/n 010-1202), 9.5” Radius (241mm)
No. of Frets 22 Medium Jumbo Frets
Pickups 3 Samarium Cobalt Noiseless™ Strat® Pickups (Neck/Middle/Bridge)
Controls Master Volume (with S-1™ Switch),
Tone 1. (Neck Pickup),
Tone 2. No-Load Tone Control (Middle and Bridge Pickups)
Pickup Switching 5-Position Blade and 2-Position Push/Push S-1™:
S-1 Switch Up:
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup in Parallel
Position 3. Middle Pickup
Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup in Parallel
Position 5. Neck Pickup

S-1 Switch Down:
Position 1. Bridge Pickup in Series with Middle Pickup
Position 2. Bridge Pickup in Parallel with Special Capacitor and in Series with Middle Pickup
Position 3. Bridge/Middle/Neck Pickups with Neck and Bridge Pickups in Parallel and in Series with Middle pickup
Position 4. Neck Pickup in Parallel with Special Capacitor and in Series with Middle Pickup
Position 5. Neck Pickup in Series with Middle Pickup
Bridge Fender Deluxe 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Pop in Arm
Machine Heads Fender®/Schaller® Deluxe Staggered Cast/Sealed Locking Tuning Machines
Hardware Chrome
Pickguard 3-Ply Mint Green on (700),
4-Ply Brown Shell on (720, 723),
4-Ply Aged White Pearloid on (782),
4-Ply Black Shell on (791),
1-Ply Beveled Gold Vinyl on (764)
Scale Length 25.5” (648 mm)
Width at Nut 1.6875” (43 mm)
Unique Features S-1 Switching,
Aged Plastic Parts,
Abalone Dot Position Inlays,
Highly Detailed Fret and Nut Work
Strings Fender® Super Bullets® 3250L, Nickel Plated Steel, (.009 to .042), p/n 073-3250-003
Accessories Standard Molded Case,
Cable,
Strap,
Straplocks,
Meguiar’s Mist and Wipe Kit
Case Standard Molded Case
Introduced 1/2004

[SixStringSlinger]

I know what it's supposed to have come with, that's why I found it odd. The guitar was in perfect condition, the plastic and stickers still on the pickguard with all the case candy included and unopened. Plus, I imagine if I had 9's on it the trem would float even lower, if at all. I don't know why, but that's how it was.

[chuckamok63]

Every once in a while a store will restring a guitar to move it out of the store. Shop wear will definitely kill the original strings and smart shops will freshen them up so they're more appealing. Whoever you bought it from either liked heavier strings, didn't look/care, or couldn't sell those heavy a** strings

[SixStringSlinger]

I got it from Sam Ash. I would have preferred to buy it from Guitar center (I tend to like them more overall, but Sam Ash had one in stock the way I wanted it (sunburst finish, rosewood neck), so I went there, tried it, liked it and bought it. It was supposed to be brand new. It weas inside the case, which was inside a cardboard box the guy had to tear open. Either it was new and something weird happened or someone put on a real good show. Either way, she truned out great. the only problem I ever had was the middle pickup crapping out, but it was still under warranty. It took Fender a month to ship the new pup, but since then I haven't had a single problem besides the trem thing (which isn't really a problem, just something I'd like to tweak).

[mellecaster]

Originally Posted by SixStringSlinger

I know what it's supposed to have come with, that's why I found it odd. The guitar was in perfect condition, the plastic and stickers still on the pickguard with all the case candy included and unopened. Plus, I imagine if I had 9's on it the trem would float even lower, if at all. I don't know why, but that's how it was.

Uh...Big Ole Hint....that unopened bag of case candy...should contain a very nicely written "Owners Manual"....which would have answered all your questions about your Tremolo....but I guess that ain't as much FUN ??