Favourite strings for a Strat?

[Russell Landwehr]

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.
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?
-snip-
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.

Good on ya
I've sent mine out twice to two different people and regretted it both times. And I'm a keyboard player, so what does THAT say.

[davekershaw]

Good on ya
I've sent mine out twice to two different people and regretted it both times. And I'm a keyboard player, so what does THAT say.

Thanks Russell. Glad I had a go myself!

[mojobone]

I'm same as Andy, (D'Addario XL115s, they're consistent, long-lasting and hold tuning longer than anything else I've tried) less the locking tuners and roller nut, four springs in the trem cavity and down-only setup. Tuning's very stable over a pretty good range; it doesn't always return perfectly after dive bombs, but usually a quick tug on the strings or the bar can put it right, as long as I don't completely dump the bar.

Intonation and action adjustments, even truss rod adjustments are pretty simple and easily reversible; you can learn through trial, error and a good tuner, or you can get Dan Erlewine's excellent book, which will definitely keep you out of trouble. The one thing that often requires professional assistance is dressing the nut slots; it's easy to screw up, but...nut blanks are pretty cheap.

[andygabrys]

I'm same as Andy, (D'Addario XL115s, they're consistent, long-lasting and hold tuning longer than anything else I've tried) less the locking tuners and roller nut, four springs in the trem cavity and down-only setup. Tuning's very stable over a pretty good range; it doesn't always return perfectly after dive bombs, but usually a quick tug on the strings or the bar can put it right, as long as I don't completely dump the bar.

Intonation and action adjustments, even truss rod adjustments are pretty simple and easily reversible; you can learn through trial, error and a good tuner, or you can get Dan Erlewine's excellent book, which will definitely keep you out of trouble. The one thing that often requires professional assistance is dressing the nut slots; it's easy to screw up, but...nut blanks are pretty cheap.

yeah - that's the book Mojo - thanks for the reminder. I've never actually bought it.

[funsongs]

Any recommendations? Had tuning problems when not using bullets?

Slightly off-topic, wondering:
do you use the lock-method installation at the tuner pegs?
I only started doing that recently, after noticing the luthier/set-up guy always returned my acoustics with new strings installed that way.
(ed. maybe not so off-topic, didn't read all the comments through - pardon the RePete)

[mojobone]

If you mean the first wrap goes over the tag-end of the string and the rest under, definitely yes. The reverse parentheses shape of the post helps lock the windings together, reducing slippage. There's also good reason to take at least two wraps under for the E string and three for the A and D strings; this provides a better breaking angle over the nut and helps keep the strings in the nut slots during heavy strumming. (why two on the E? because three produces too much down force, causing the string to wear out the nut slot faster as you work the bar) The string retainers deal with the rest, though some players prefer not to use them as it's one more place that can pinch/drag on the strings when you use the whammy bar. You can buy retainers with little wheels, or use a drop of graphite lube under the standard retainers. I also recommend that you lube your nuts.

[davekershaw]

If you mean the first wrap goes over the tag-end of the string and the rest under, definitely yes. The reverse parentheses shape of the post helps lock the windings together, reducing slippage. There's also good reason to take at least two wraps under for the E string and three for the A and D strings; this provides a better breaking angle over the nut and helps keep the strings in the nut slots during heavy strumming. (why two on the E? because three produces too much down force, causing the string to wear out the nut slot faster as you work the bar) The string retainers deal with the rest, though some players prefer not to use them as it's one more place that can pinch/drag on the strings when you use the whammy bar. You can buy retainers with little wheels, or use a drop of graphite lube under the standard retainers. I also recommend that you lube your nuts.

Yes, like you Peter, I've only recently started doing that myself.
Nicely described Mojo.

I'm gonna try lubin' my nuts too - or are we still talking guitars?

[andygabrys]

[
I'm gonna try lubin' my nuts too - or are we still talking guitars?

[funsongs]

Yes, like you Peter, I've only recently started doing that myself.
Nicely described Mojo.

As lame as this sounds, I think dyslexia is likely to blame for me having a heck of a time remembering the locking maneuver, even when it's right in front of me.
The last time I did a string change, I had to watch a You Tubetorial AS I was putting each string on!
It's annoying how such a seemingly simple task can be such a royal pain.
And in stark contrast, it was likely dyslexia that enabled me to quickly adapt to driving on the left when I spent 2 weeks in the UK driving a right-hand drive rental car.
Ok... the first hour in town was a bit of an acid-trip revisited;
but once I got the hang of it....
(no pedestrians were injured)... they just looked like this
Thanks, Mojo, for the detailed instructions. I'll be more observant and careful next time around

[davekershaw]

And in stark contrast, it was likely dyslexia that enabled me to quickly adapt to driving on the left when I spent 2 weeks in the UK driving a right-hand drive rental car.
Ok... the first hour in town was a bit of an acid-trip revisited;
but once I got the hang of it....
(no pedestrians were injured)... they just looked like this

So it was you!
I remember reading about the incident in our papers. Seems an American was pulled over, then blamed his erratic driving on his jeans which made him twitch. When he mentioned what was twitching he was arrested.