Problem with intonation - Stratitis problem

[gto234]

Hi,
I have a rockinger strat kit that is the same as a vintage strat.
I have a problem that I've been told that is common to strats.
If I play the 6th string(bass E) at frets 8-21 the sound that comes from the amp is very strange.It sounds like out of tune and like playing two notes if you understand what i mean.If I lower the height of the pickups(3 single coils) it doesn't sound so terrible but the tone is thin and sucked away by the low height of the pickups.What problem is this?Constructional or problem with pickups that have strong magnetic field?Can I solve this problem?

P.S. Sorry for my bad English,Greece here!

 

[gto234]

Re: Problem with intonation

Re: Problem with intonation

OK I read a few threads and now I am definately sure that my guitar has the "Stratitis" problem.I found two suggestions:
1)lowering or changing the pickups - not welcome
2)put a shim under the neck - welcome but it will do any good?

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: Problem with intonation

Re: Problem with intonation

OK I read a few threads and now I am definately sure that my guitar has the "Stratitis" problem.I found two suggestions:
1)lowering or changing the pickups - not welcome
2)put a shim under the neck - welcome but it will do any good?

A shim under the neck won't fix the problem. Stratitis is cause by the magnetic pull of the pickups. Unlike humbuckers where the magnet is in the bottom, on a SC the pole pieces are the magnets. When they are too close to the strings the magnetic pull alters the natural string vibration in a negative way causing the problems you describe. The only solutions are lowering the magnets away from the strings or using pickups with a weaker magnetic field or both.

 

[gto234]

Re: Problem with intonation - Stratitis problem

Thanks for the answer.I will deal with the pickups hoping that the poblem will go away.