Fender Stratocaster Made in Mexico... Set up

[Ajet Lukoviq]

Hey guys i bought a Fender made in Mexico yesterday and it feels very solid its a nice guitar it has good pickups and a nice neck but the thing that is bothering me is that the previous owner was a complete idiot and he has done some mods that i don't quite understand

I'm not that experienced in guitar tech stuff but it appears that he has Put some sort of indentation in the fret wire but only in the E B G strings
and because of the low action The string makes a Horrible buzzing noise every time i bend it over those indentations i tried Raising the action but the saddles are maximum height and still the action is pretty low Any help would be welcome if you need any more information just ask i will post pictures if needed too

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Fender Stratocaster Made in Mexico... Set up

I'd say take it to someone who can resurface your frets, or possibly (though I hate to say it) refret your guitar. They might be able to resurface and/or polish it out, and I hope they can.

 

[Ajet Lukoviq]

Re: Fender Stratocaster Made in Mexico... Set up

But i have seen many people do these indentations themselves

Could you tell me how to raise the action even more without touching the saddles because the saddles are at their max height but still the actions is quite low

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Fender Stratocaster Made in Mexico... Set up

Raise the tremolo bridge itself up. Fender Stratocaster Setup Guide

My advice: put the guitar back at factory specs and see if you still get the buzzing.

 

[Chocklit_Thunda]

Re: Fender Stratocaster Made in Mexico... Set up

Ummm.... I don't think those indentations are on purpose..... You get them when your fret wire gets worn down under the strings from too much use.....

 

[Ajet Lukoviq]

Re: Fender Stratocaster Made in Mexico... Set up

so is there anything i can do to fix this fret wear

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Fender Stratocaster Made in Mexico... Set up

so is there anything i can do to fix this fret wear

What I told you: either see if they can be resurfaced by a guitar tech, or replaced if they're really bad.

 

[Securb]

Re: Fender Stratocaster Made in Mexico... Set up

What I told you: either see if they can be resurfaced by a guitar tech, or replaced if they're really bad.

A new Fender OEM Mexican neck would be about the same cost if not cheaper than a fret job. Even if you resurface and level the frets there probably wont be much meat left on them. It sounds like new neck time

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Fender Stratocaster Made in Mexico... Set up

A new Fender OEM Mexican neck would be about the same cost if not cheaper than a fret job. Even if you resurface and level the frets there probably wont be much meat left on them. It sounds like new neck time

+1 If it's cheaper, a new neck. Didn't think of that, thanks Securb!

 

[Ajet Lukoviq]

Re: Fender Stratocaster Made in Mexico... Set up

Damn looks like I'm ****ed i bought that Mexico strat for 380 $ it has a seymour duncan in the bridge and i thought i did good on the deal

Is there any way that you could minimize the annoying fret buzz from the fret wear without changing the frets

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Fender Stratocaster Made in Mexico... Set up

Damn looks like I'm ****ed i bought that Mexico strat for 380 $ it has a seymour duncan in the bridge and i thought i did good on the deal

Is there any way that you could minimize the annoying fret buzz from the fret wear without changing the frets

My advice is still to do a complete factory spec setup like the link shows you and check neck warp (part of the link's instructions) and then see if it's still buzzing.

 

[Securb]

Re: Fender Stratocaster Made in Mexico... Set up

^+1 I have played guitars with the same condition you are talking about that didn't buzz and played great. Every axe and situation is different, it is a piece of wood. If you can't do a proper setup take it to a tech that can, stay away from the chain music stores. Get a tech you can sit down with tell him your expectations and see if they are reachable with that guitar.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Fender Stratocaster Made in Mexico... Set up

I think if I were you, the OP, I'd take the guitar to the best repair person in your town and talk to him or her about doing a fret level and set up on that guitar.

Most players lack the skills, experience and tools to level a fretboard, recrown all of the frets and then polish them up again and remove all of the file marks and what not. I've been doing my own fret work for many, many years but I'm a professional wood worker with a full shop and tons of wood working tools and guitar repair tools.

If you, the OP, want to tackle the job yourself you'll have to invest in some proper tools. And you'll have to gain the knowledge and experience. You could really mess it up - in fact, the first time, you probably will really mess it up.

Here's a really good book by Dan Erlewine that you might want to study before undertaking the job: http://www.amazon.com/The-Guitar-Player-Repair-Guide/dp/0879309210

There's no reason you shouldn't learn how to set up your own guitar - but doing a fret level, recrown and fret polish is beyond the skills of most guitarists who don't have prior fine wood working experience.

It's best left to professionals.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Fender Stratocaster Made in Mexico... Set up

Deep wear in the first three frets, usually under the treble strings, is often a sign that the guitar was played extensively by someone at their early stages of development, playing the 'cowboy chords', i.e. the open chord shapes.

One way to deal with it is a partial re-fret. A good repair person/ luthier would be able to quickly tell whether there is enough fret material left to level the frets and recrown them, or if a partial refret would be needed.

Is your fretboard maple or rosewood ?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Fender Stratocaster Made in Mexico... Set up

Without seeing it - who knows? I've also seen guitars that have been in the case when it fell over hard on its face, driving the unwound strings into the frets and scarring them.

Regardless, I'd take to a pro and have it checked out. Might not be that bad.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Fender Stratocaster Made in Mexico... Set up

Damn looks like I'm ****ed i bought that Mexico strat for 380 $ it has a seymour duncan in the bridge and i thought i did good on the deal

Is there any way that you could minimize the annoying fret buzz from the fret wear without changing the frets

If you are happy to play with higher action and your saddles are at maximum height then you shim the neck a bit.

You can generally not raise the whole trem in the screws if it is a 6-point trem. It only works with 2-point trems.

Or you can try a fret level yourself but you will have to crown them.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Fender Stratocaster Made in Mexico... Set up

I've also seen guitars that have been in the case when it fell over hard on its face, driving the unwound strings into the frets and scarring them.

Good point, i've had that happen to a guitar in a gig bag. (Now i have strips of towel that i put between the strings and the fretboard when i put my guitars into their cases for travel, and i've never used a gig bag since that incident).

I agree, the only real way is to have it visually inspected by someone with expertise in this area.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Fender Stratocaster Made in Mexico... Set up

+1 for either a comprehensive fret levelling and redress or three new frets and rather less fret levelling and dressing.

My 1996 MIM Tex-Mex Strat was refretted before I purchased it. I paid roughly the same price as the OP. I have since treated the thing to almost its own value in SD pickups. I kept the MIM in preference to a 1996 Am Std.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Fender Stratocaster Made in Mexico... Set up

Pics?

 

[Ajet Lukoviq]

Re: Fender Stratocaster Made in Mexico... Set up

As you can see i tried to capture the fret wire damage as good as i could and also i took a picture of the bridge to show just how high the saddles are but for some reason the strings sit pretty low