Setting up my strat...

[Twitch]

This weekend I'm planning on picking up whichever Dan Erlewin book Barnes and Noble has in stock (he has two regarding guitar maintenance, is one better?), 2 additional bridge springs, and some .11 GHS Nickel Rockers.

This is going to be my first setup and I plan on tightening my bridge down since I never use the tremolo, then putting on the .11's (going up from .10's). Then setting the intonation/action.

My reasoning behind this is to INCREASE string tension, I like the strings tight to pick. Also I'm going up in string gauge so my strat will be better suited for slide.

Will this setup accomplish what I want it too?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Setting up my strat...

This weekend I'm planning on picking up whichever Dan Erlewin book Barnes and Noble has in stock (he has two regarding guitar maintenance, is one better?), 2 additional bridge springs, and some .11 GHS Nickel Rockers.

This is going to be my first setup and I plan on tightening my bridge down since I never use the tremolo, then putting on the .11's (going up from .10's). Then setting the intonation/action.

My reasoning behind this is to INCREASE string tension, I like the strings tight to pick. Also I'm going up in string gauge so my strat will be better suited for slide.

Will this setup accomplish what I want it too?

Yep. Good luck!

.011 is a little heavier than I feel comfortable with on an electric guitar, especially if the guitar has low vintage style frets, but that's just me. Plenty of guys swear by an .011 E string. I find them a little to hard to bend up a whole step, hold and then add a nice finger vibrato.

Try it and see...

 

[Twitch]

Re: Setting up my strat...

My main reason for going up to 11's is so that my strat will be better suited for playing slide.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Setting up my strat...

My main reason for going up to 11's is so that my strat will be better suited for playing slide.

I think you'll like it.

I have a rough time playing slide on a .009 or .010.

You're on the right track.

 

[Twitch]

Re: Setting up my strat...

:dance: Hopefully someday I'll have a nice Godin w/ humbuckers to play slide on

 

[Willis]

Re: Setting up my strat...

I would also recommend blocking the trem. I did it on my homemade Strat and it helps a lot.

 

[big_black]

Re: Setting up my strat...

Go to just about any hardware store and get some wooden shims. You don't really need them if you screw the claw all the way in and add all five springs, it just changes the sound a bit. Blocked trem with out shims= airy and a bit hollow sounding (not in a bad way), more chimy. Blocked trem with shims= less chime, more "solid" sounding. I liked my Strat with he shims better.

 

[Twitch]

Re: Setting up my strat...

I know what to do for adding 2 springs/tightening the bridge down, but does anyone have a link that explains how to block a trem?

 

[big_black]

Re: Setting up my strat...

First off, when I block a trem, I use all five springs. Tighten your claw down (the thing the springs hook on to). Tighten the claw ALL the way, flush to the body cavity. At that point your trem is pretty much blocked. You can a shims for added sustain (minimal IMO), and a different sound (less chimy). The shims you want are little wedges of wood. It is basically just a matter of measuring the lengths you need, cutting them to size and then fitting them in to fill the space. I also used a screw driver and a hammer and lightly tapped them down so they sit tight behind the sustain block. It is harder to explain than it is to accually do. Just go get a bag and go to town.

 

[TheJangus]

Re: Setting up my strat...

I know what to do for adding 2 springs/tightening the bridge down, but does anyone have a link that explains how to block a trem?

Dan Erlewine goes over it in How to Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great.