Help! I have a tone issue

[UH_Dude]

Ok guys I have a squire strat, and I bought a cool rails that I installed normally in the bridge position. The thing sounds awesome when you first pick the string but after a second it just seems to crap out or go flat. The original pickup did this as well and I was hoping the new one would fix the problem. Now I'm wondering if I've got the height wrong, or maybe the adjustable saddle is not set up correctly. I'm kind of new to all this pickup stuff and could use some ideas.

Thanks,
UH Dude

 

[daCaT]

Re: Help! I have a tone issue

Start by screwing the pup down so the top of the pup is 3/8 inch from the strings. Strum away and see if the problem is gone. If not lower the pup further. Then turn both sides half a turn until things start sounding funny again. then back off 3/4 turn.

 

[UH_Dude]

Re: Help! I have a tone issue

I forgot to mention that I get this problem mostly on frets below 5 getting progressively worse as I move toward the bridge, open usually sounds fine. Thanks daCaT I'll get going on your suggestion.

 

[Toenail-Tommy]

Re: Help! I have a tone issue

Does it go dead, even when you're playing it acoustically. Put your ear against the guitar, and have a listen. No pickup will cure it if it is guilty of this. My Squire did a very similar thing. Then I spent some time fiddling, reading and ultimately setting it up nicely. Nice neck angle (truss rod), good saddle height, nut hieght and eventually intonation. All this while the pickups are set way low away from strings. Don't forget a good set of strings (I had good results with 0.10s and even better with 0.11s) Check the trem system too. I like lots of springs, high tension, sothat the trem is vitually blocked against the body. The action is a little higher than first prize super-low, and that helps eliminate fret buzz.

A pro set-up is well worth the cash. Knowing how to DIY is even better. From your description, I'd say you have a string-resonation-being-choked problem, not a pickup issue.

Good luck

 

[twoheadedboy]

Re: Help! I have a tone issue

Most likely a setup issue, not a pickup issue. CHeck carefully to see if the guitar does it acoustically.

 

[UH_Dude]

Re: Help! I have a tone issue

Thanks guys, lowering the pickup seemed to have helped some, but I'm still fiddling around with it. The instructions that came with the pup says to put it between 1/8 and 1/16 so according to deCaT I had it way to high. I tried Tommys way of listening to it acoustically and it doesent seem to do it since I lowered the pup but I have heard it do it acoustically through the amp although it is now a lot better. Does anyone know a site I can go to to read up on setting the tremlo? I've got regular size ernie ball stirngs on it and readjusted the tension rod so that should be good to go.

You guys rock