Improving Resonance in a Stratocaster

[j9fd3s]

Re: Improving Resonance in a Stratocaster

I actually went back to this (pictured, from years ago) last night and it solved my problem. I had my Strat like that for maybe 8 or 9 years and went back to floating last year after reading an article in a magazine. Silly me. I changed it back to being "hardtail'd" and now it's really connected feeling, the action is higher (good for this guitar, it was too low) and it's all around more resonant. I tried a lot of tricks last night and that was the one that did it f or me --- the trick that I had told everyone else to do for 10 years :laugh2:


BIG THANKS TO EVERYONE!

i think that right there is my problem too. notice that the trem block actually hits the body?

my good axe does that too. my bad one doesnt. the trem route is different between the two... the black strat is about 1/16th different in size, and its in a slightly different place

time to make a little shim i think!

 

[mrturtle_91]

Re: Improving Resonance in a Stratocaster

I don't know how much difference it will make on an american strat, but on my squier affinity, I changed the saddles from the cheap stock ones to stainless steel ones from guitarfetish and it made a world of difference, improved the tone and resonance so much.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Improving Resonance in a Stratocaster

i think that right there is my problem too. notice that the trem block actually hits the body?

my good axe does that too. my bad one doesnt. the trem route is different between the two... the black strat is about 1/16th different in size, and its in a slightly different place

time to make a little shim i think!

Hell yeah man, report back with results!

Also, thanks to the man who recommended Callaham's upgrade kit. Callaham and I went to the same school and I would love to give him my money moreso than anyone else for a Strat upgrade.

I am more tempted by the day...

 

[j9fd3s]

Re: Improving Resonance in a Stratocaster

yeah the callaham stuff looks really nice, i like his attention to detail.

so i polished the bottom of the trem top plate(callahams plate would be a huge imrpovement!), and the top of the trem block.

put it together with a shim in the body cavity, and it sounds much much better!

pic isnt so hot, and the trem is off center, cause i only put 1 string on, necks not even tight either

so theres a little way to go, but i made progress so i'm stoked!

 

[Eric Dahlberg]

Re: Improving Resonance in a Stratocaster

Xotic makes trem springs that are more accurate to the ones in vintage strats and that they claim make a huge difference to the tone. Considering what a big deal everybody makes about heavy steel blocks these days, I wouldn't be surprised if Xotic's claims are true.

 

[j9fd3s]

Re: Improving Resonance in a Stratocaster

Xotic makes trem springs that are more accurate to the ones in vintage strats and that they claim make a huge difference to the tone. Considering what a big deal everybody makes about heavy steel blocks these days, I wouldn't be surprised if Xotic's claims are true.

if you're playing acoustically sometimes you can hear springs, so you could be right

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Improving Resonance in a Stratocaster

if you're playing acoustically sometimes you can hear springs, so you could be right

Springs only make a difference when you are not hardtail'd like the picture of my sunburst Strat.

 

[Eric Dahlberg]

Re: Improving Resonance in a Stratocaster

if you're playing acoustically sometimes you can hear springs, so you could be right

The idea is that the springs provide more tension to the bridge and have a similar effect as a heavier trem block, thus the effect is audible even with the amp'd sound. Anyway, these aren't my claims, they're Xotic's, though I do intend to install a set to try them out for myself.

 

[Gunny47]

Re: Improving Resonance in a Stratocaster

Callaham Trem block - it did wonders in my custom shop.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Improving Resonance in a Stratocaster

I put a full Callaham bridge (w/ block and saddles) into my Tokai Strat and it made a huge improvement.

Somewhere on the net i was reading a '10 tips to improve a Strat's Tone' or something like that, and one interesting idea there was to remove the backplate (the cover over the trem springs). The author seemed to expect that eyebrows would be raised, but insisted it makes a difference. Of course if you don't usually have the plate on you aren't going to know the difference. Could be worth a try if you do have the backplate on though......

 

[Eamonn]

Re: Improving Resonance in a Stratocaster

Biggest difference for the least outlay of cash, is to swap out the machined bridge saddles for the bent metal type vintage style. Next would be swapping out the alloy tremblock for a Detemple or a Callaham.

 

[glassman]

Re: Improving Resonance in a Stratocaster

ImmortalSix, here's a low buck alternative to experiment with: since your objective is to improve the physical coupling of the block to the body, try inserting a couple of small ball bearings between the body and the block. Position them as low in the body as the route permits and locate them between the Low E & A strings and centered on the B string. Use spring pressure to adjust how it sits in relationship to the front mounting screws. I did this on a Strat I used to own that had the same disconected feel you describe.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Improving Resonance in a Stratocaster

ImmortalSix, here's a low buck alternative to experiment with: since your objective is to improve the physical coupling of the block to the body, try inserting a couple of small ball bearings between the body and the block. Position them as low in the body as the route permits and locate them between the Low E & A strings and centered on the B string. Use spring pressure to adjust how it sits in relationship to the front mounting screws. I did this on a Strat I used to own that had the same disconected feel you describe.

Wow man, never heard that one before

So your approach is to focus the transfer of energy on 2 points?

 

[glassman]

Re: Improving Resonance in a Stratocaster

Wow man, never heard that one before

So your approach is to focus the transfer of energy on 2 points?

Yes, and those two points are closer to the core of the instrument. It places the pressure point on the mass of the block. Unlike a wood shim or smashing the block against the body, there is less damping. A single point would be ideal but there could be stability problems.

I got this idea after checking out an old Jazz player's Strat. He wouldn't talk about his modifications but I noticed he had 3 stainless steel turnbuckles instead of springs and they were at the low E, A and B positions and there were metal balls visible between the body and the block. I used 5 springs on mine but I would bet that the turnbuckles would have made a better connection; never tried it though...

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Improving Resonance in a Stratocaster

Yes, and those two points are closer to the core of the instrument. It places the pressure point on the mass of the block. Unlike a wood shim or smashing the block against the body, there is less damping. A single point would be ideal but there could be stability problems.

I got this idea after checking out an old Jazz player's Strat. He wouldn't talk about his modifications but I noticed he had 3 stainless steel turnbuckles instead of springs and they were at the low E, A and B positions and there were metal balls visible between the body and the block. I used 5 springs on mine but I would bet that the turnbuckles would have made a better connection; never tried it though...

Wow man, interesting stuff.

Sounds like that guy was serious about the force if he was using turnbuckles!

 

[glassman]

Re: Improving Resonance in a Stratocaster

Wow man, interesting stuff.

Sounds like that guy was serious about the force if he was using turnbuckles!

If I recall correctly, I don't think he had them really cranked down (as far as I could tell). I assumed that he just didn't want springs in there.

 

[j9fd3s]

Re: Improving Resonance in a Stratocaster

ImmortalSix, here's a low buck alternative to experiment with: since your objective is to improve the physical coupling of the block to the body, try inserting a couple of small ball bearings between the body and the block. Position them as low in the body as the route permits and locate them between the Low E & A strings and centered on the B string. Use spring pressure to adjust how it sits in relationship to the front mounting screws. I did this on a Strat I used to own that had the same disconected feel you describe.

that is interesting....

 

[j9fd3s]

Re: Improving Resonance in a Stratocaster

so just to update, i'm 90% done with my troublemaker, and so far so good!

i pulled the whole thing apart, and did a bunch of stuff.

so to recap; i pulled the bridge apart, and a couple passes with the sand paper reveal that the trem block isnt flat, and the bottom of the top plate is well, its crap, lots of tooling marks from the bending, holes didnt line up very well, and it wasn't flat!

so i polished the top of the block, and bottom of the trem plate, put the two together, and tightened the screws.

step 2 was basically to reseat the neck, and loosen the neck tilt screw all the way (its an AM std), i also sanded the back of the neck plate, which wasn't flat either. the neck got tightened after the strings were on an in tune, then i tightened the neck tilt screw, just a tad

step 3 i cut a new nut, at one point i put a different neck on, and had broken the original.

step 4 in examining my guitars i notice that my other am std the trem plate is flat on the body AND the trem block is against the inside of the trem cavity. on this one its not! initially i cut a shim, but i found i can raise the 2 pivot screws on the trem.

this was weird, but it tilts the whole assembly back, until the block is against the body. rear of the trem is still against the top of the body. oddly the geometry of the whole thing keeps the string height unchanged, its just the whole trem assembly is tilted back.

at this point acoustically the guitar was really killer! the nasty overtone it had was GONE, and it'll transmit tons of vibration.

i'm still working on pickup heights, and the nut, but plugged in its WAY better too! sustain is LP like (its got mini 59n/JB jr bridge)

thanks for all the help, i bought this thing in 2000, and after fighting it for years i'm finally happy with it

you guys rock!

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Improving Resonance in a Stratocaster

thanks for all the help, i bought this thing in 2000, and after fighting it for years i'm finally happy with it

If you took it to a good luthier to have it fixed, it would've set you back 'bout $ 30-50 bucks. How can you quantify nine years of guitar unhappiness?

 

[Eric Dahlberg]

Re: Improving Resonance in a Stratocaster

so to recap; i pulled the bridge apart, and a couple passes with the sand paper reveal that the trem block isnt flat, and the bottom of the top plate is well, its crap, lots of tooling marks from the bending, holes didnt line up very well, and it wasn't flat!

Wilkinson tremolos are better quality than this, not to mention that many of them have steel blocks. Guitar Fetish makes some cheap bridges that seem good, too.

so i polished the top of the block, and bottom of the trem plate, put the two together, and tightened the screws.

How did you polish them? What is your block made out of?

i'm still working on pickup heights, and the nut, but plugged in its WAY better too! sustain is LP like (its got mini 59n/JB jr bridge)

If you're going for an LP, you might want to try a Little 59 in the bridge, as well. My ash body strat with a Little 59 in the bridge sounds very similar to my LP with a C5 in the bridge. The strat has a quicker, slightly harsher attack but this can help with Fender amps that sometimes make the LP sound dull.