Strat intonation difficulties

[GrooveHT]

Hey folks...I've been having insane tuning difficulties with my strat lately. I did just put locking tuners on, which makes me a little more confused. I also have graphtech string-saver saddles at the bridge (two-point vintage-style trem), so I'm pretty sure its not binding at the bridge. My thoughts, maybe the trem/springs are to blame, or the nut, which I've never even touched. Any thoughts?

 

[texasguitarslinger]

Re: Strat intonation difficulties

I venture to say the trem springs are the culprit. If you don't use the trem then put a piece of wood between the metal bar that connects to the bridge and the interior wall of the cavity. If you do use the trem then get higher tension springs.

 

[GrooveHT]

Re: Strat intonation difficulties

Thanks tex...yeah, I do use the trem quite a bit...nothing Steve Vai, but it gets some use. The trem is not stiff at all, come to think of it, and just the other day I was thinking how much more I preferred the action on my EB/MM Luke and Axis SS. I wasn't sure if that came from the springs or not, but I'll give it a try!

 

[Curly]

Re: Strat intonation difficulties

first double check all your set up specs ... if it was fine before, though, that should give you a clue

 

[GrooveHT]

Re: Strat intonation difficulties

Mmmm, wasn't fine before, but the locking tuners didn't help much. The new tuners are great for string changes, and the strings don't slip out, but I'm getting the same irregularities in intonation. I just changed the springs out, and they were pretty weak and noisy (they've been in for about 9 years) so maybe they were the culprit?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Strat intonation difficulties

Do you have the vintage six screw setup? If so, the trem pivots on those six screws and the screw heads determine where the trem returns to. If so, raise the middle four screws a little so that thier heads do not touch the top of the baseplate.

Do all of your adjusting with two outside screws.

If you tighten your springs in the back of the guitar so that the trem only dives and so you can't pull up on it it'll tend to stay in tune better.

There's probably some binding going on at the nut too...maybe a rough or sharp edge that the windings are catching on.

A well cut nut with ramped string grooves that are not to deep and which ramp off towards the peghead side of the strings helps alot too.

Your strings should not be buried in overly deep grooves in the nut...they only have to be deep enough to keep the string from popping out of the groove.

Lew

 

[GrooveHT]

Re: Strat intonation difficulties

Hiya Lew, long time no see...a few months back before the army started moving me around, we were talking about getting me some pickups!

I have just a two-point trem on this strat...I did just replace the springs, and these new ones are a LOT stronger; even after tuning adjustments, its become dive-only. I'm perfectly happy with trying that out, so I'll see how it works for me. As far as the nut goes, I was thinking of maybe getting it replaces, perhaps with one of the earvana nuts?

Oh, and I'm still in the market for two singles for the neck and middle positions! Maybe SSL-1s or 3s? The Pearly Gates bridge that I have is great though!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Strat intonation difficulties

How ya doin' man? I remember that conversation.

You might also try a little graphite in the grooves of the nut...you can use pencil lead. If you had some nut files you could smooth those grooves a little. You might be able to do it with some folded 320 wet or dry sandpaper too.

As for pickups, I can only tell you what I like: the SSL-1's for vintage alnico 5 tone and the Antiquity Texas Hots for alnico 2 tone, which is a little fuller in the mids and has a slightly warmer and chunkier tone.

Good luck! Hope you're staying out of harms way...

Lew

 

[GrooveHT]

Re: Strat intonation difficulties

Lew,
I'm doing well man. The army has had me away for 2 months, the last of which was spent out in the Mojave desert. Yay! Lost 18 pounds though, so there are perks. Great sun, lots of sand, good for the skin, wonderful weight loss program...anyway! I even had the cajones to bring a guitar out there! My trusty steinberger didn't fail me once

I'll try lubing the nut (honestly, I'm trying not to laugh as I read that aloud). I'm still thinking about having a new one installed, as it's original also (think this is a 95 strat). Somewhat related, does the nut have anything to do with sustain? The strat isn't quite sustaining like I want it to, and I was wondering what I could do to improve that. Thanks for all of your help!

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Strat intonation difficulties

If the action, truss rod, and bridge are set where you like them, and it still seems to have tuning problems, really evaluate the intonation. Lew's suggestion about the nut being cut properly is paramount. Spend the time to fine tune the intonation by
making sure every note from about the 10th fret to the 19th is dead center on your tuner. If all those notes are in perfect tune, as well as the open note, your intonation
job will be much more accurate. Your guitar will always seem in tune, then.

 

[GrooveHT]

Re: Strat intonation difficulties

I'll definately give it a whirl, thanks GJ

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: Strat intonation difficulties

I'm assuming since you have a strat that you have one or more string trees on the headstock? Those are a pain in the ass for intonation, and I hear that they only mess things up even more. Also putting new tuners in your guitar might not have been a good idea... every hole you drill makes the guitar that little bit more troublesome. Anyway other than that, I've got no more to say... happy strat-fixing!