Favourite strings for a Strat?

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davekershaw
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Re: Favourite strings for a Strat?

Post by davekershaw » Thu Apr 03, 2014 2:06 am

andygabrys wrote:i use d'addario as well. the exl 115 blues rock 11 gauge.

i use the trem a lot. the strat I have has the roller nut and locking tune, but a conventional american strat trem bridge with no locks on it.

Once I had the guitar setup and the nut adjusted properly and lubed its stayed in tune pretty well even after abusing the bar. Most of the trem stuff I do live tends to be like a chris Isaak wicked game kinda vibe and its good for that.
Thanks Andy.
I have the lock tune heads too on my Deluxe. Do you bother to wind at all, or just lock and tune? I find myself still making a couple of winds out of habit.

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Re: Favourite strings for a Strat?

Post by davekershaw » Thu Apr 03, 2014 2:07 am

bobporri wrote:I've been using Super Slinky's on all my electrics for many years. I try other brands once in awhile, but not often. I used the 10's for awhile and prefer the more solid and consistent tone, but ended up back with the 9's because of hands getting a bit weaker and they help with bending and accuracy/feel for me personally.

Bob P.
Thanks Bob.
Yes, I use the Slinky 9's too. Nice feel.

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Re: Favourite strings for a Strat?

Post by andygabrys » Thu Apr 03, 2014 7:46 am

davekershaw wrote:
andygabrys wrote:i use d'addario as well. the exl 115 blues rock 11 gauge.

i use the trem a lot. the strat I have has the roller nut and locking tune, but a conventional american strat trem bridge with no locks on it.

Once I had the guitar setup and the nut adjusted properly and lubed its stayed in tune pretty well even after abusing the bar. Most of the trem stuff I do live tends to be like a chris Isaak wicked game kinda vibe and its good for that.
Thanks Andy.
I have the lock tune heads too on my Deluxe. Do you bother to wind at all, or just lock and tune? I find myself still making a couple of winds out of habit.
no Dave, i just pull them tight straight through, lock them and starting tuning up to pitch. very quick. no slack in the windings that could cause tuning instability.

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Re: Favourite strings for a Strat?

Post by davekershaw » Thu Apr 03, 2014 7:50 am

andygabrys wrote: no Dave, i just pull them tight straight through, lock them and starting tuning up to pitch. very quick. no slack in the windings that could cause tuning instability.
Thanks Andy.
Yeah, my way kinda defeats the object! :D
Will just lock and tune with the new set.

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Re: Favourite strings for a Strat?

Post by bobporri » Thu Apr 03, 2014 7:54 am

Sperzels on my Strat. No winding here.

Bob P.

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Re: Favourite strings for a Strat?

Post by davekershaw » Sun Apr 06, 2014 8:42 am

Just put some slinky Regulars on, and they seem fine.

Once I got them on though I noticed that the tremolo unit was real high at the back.
Fender recommend the gap should be 1/8th inch, and it's way more than that.

I've had the Strat ten years now, so it probably needs a full set up.
I've looked, but there's no-one local I can take it to. Last music shop in town has just closed.

So, I'm thinking of having a go myself.

This article covers the tremolo unit:
http://diystrat.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/ ... aster.html

Mine's the standard tremolo with two pivot screws, as in the top photo.

Anyone successfully done a full set up themselves? Maybe wish they hadn't!

Would it be best to look further afield, and get it done professionally?

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Re: Favourite strings for a Strat?

Post by rdance » Sun Apr 06, 2014 10:22 am

i use whichever ones are on sale :D but ghs seem to last longest for me.

agree with andy on stringing through locking tuners. i just grab the string with a pair of pliers, pull it through the tuning peg as hard as i can, and screw the lock down quick. only winding is to get it in tune, maybe an 1/8 to 1/4 turn.

if you can get used to 11's you will enjoy a noticeably bigger tone. there are ways to make 11's feel nice and buttery like 10's. i use a high graphite nut and high action so i can dig under and bend...but i also have the largest frets available installed to match the action.

hey, i haven't done guitar tech talk in a long time, that was fun. good luck dave.

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Re: Favourite strings for a Strat?

Post by andygabrys » Sun Apr 06, 2014 11:48 am

davekershaw wrote:Just put some slinky Regulars on, and they seem fine.

Once I got them on though I noticed that the tremolo unit was real high at the back.
Fender recommend the gap should be 1/8th inch, and it's way more than that.

I've had the Strat ten years now, so it probably needs a full set up.
I've looked, but there's no-one local I can take it to. Last music shop in town has just closed.

So, I'm thinking of having a go myself.

This article covers the tremolo unit:
http://diystrat.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/ ... aster.html

Mine's the standard tremolo with two pivot screws, as in the top photo.

Anyone successfully done a full set up themselves? Maybe wish they hadn't!

Would it be best to look further afield, and get it done professionally?
if you don't have anyone that can do it, might as well learn yourself.

I used to tech my guitar cause I always had the trem tightened against the body so I got a little more tuning stability on oblique bends etc. Then I took it to a local guy who adjusted the nut height and such and its a much better playing instrument. He also asked if I wanted to go to a floating setup on the trem, and I am giving it a go. yes, it the gap is more than 1/4" you are not going to have a nice playing instrument.

the good news is that its a guitar, not a computer. you can hit it with a hammer and still play it. no fear!

one thing about the american deluxe strat - is the neck has a tilt adjustment too which really makes it a can of worms getting everything adjusted to the right angle if you are going for floating bridge. The neck tilt is quite a pain.

I am with Craw - 11's on my strat. I go for a little lower action though. takes some skin but feels right to me.

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Re: Favourite strings for a Strat?

Post by davekershaw » Sun Apr 06, 2014 3:46 pm

Thanks fellas.
Ask a question here and you always get answer!

I'll have a go myself. Don't fancy messing with the truss rod, but the rest I'm sure I can manage.

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Re: Favourite strings for a Strat?

Post by davekershaw » Mon Apr 07, 2014 6:31 am

Set the trem unit to 1/8th inch and also reset the action and intonation.

Feels it's like a different guitar!

Thanks again fellas.

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