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[Music Wolf]

I’ve owned a US Standard Strat for about 8 years but it has fallen from grace. Although I still use it in the studio, to add some variety, I haven’t gigged it for some time. It’s been modded with Bare Knuckles (HSS configuration) but, despite having a nice acoustic sound, it just didn’t work amplified.

I’ve just joined another band so I’ve been re-evaluating my live set up. It felt as though a Strat was needed so I gave it another try. I was thinking of reverting to the original pickups but first I raised the action (it was far too low for my playing style these days). A fraction of a mm extra on the string height and it has suddenly come to life.

[blinddrew]

Weird how things like that can make such a difference. It's almost as if we're not dealing with a computer-controlled, precision instrument and just hitting a bit of tensioned wire clamped to a lump of wood...

[Martin Walker]

Most pleased to hear that your fraction of a millimeter worked wonders Music Wolf

[DC-Choppah]

Sounds like the action was too low before and the frets were choking the strings off?

I have an American strat and the best sound to my ear comes from when I set the action up high enough so that I can hit it hard, give the strings room to move and use heavier, higher tension all nickel strings: https://www.ernieball.com/guitar-string ... ngs#P02250

The higher tension strings seems to wake up the vibration of the wood guitar body more and the higher action keeps the strings from getting pinched off.

The all nickel strings have a more classic tone - less ringiness and rattliness - more smooth crunch and purity.

[Darren Lynch]

mmmm I used to pursue lower-than-low action just for the sake of it. recently taken to raising the action on my stalwarts - all Strat and Tele pattern guitars. Some guitars were just made to push back a little!

[Sam Spoons]

Playing a lot of acoustic guitar means I like a bit of resistance on my electrics, (next restring I'll put 11s on the LP) so I no longer look for the lowest possible action. I do like slim necks though and had the vintage Strat rep's neck thinned a little last year. It's usually the backup but next gig is a soul band feel so I dug it out and used it in rehearsal, pos 2 in between sound (neck/mid) is lovely and gets close enough to a Tele sound for those Steve Cropper licks

[Wonks]

It may just be that small bit of extra distance from the pickups has reduced the magnet pull and let the strings move more freely as well.

[Martin Walker]

It may just be that small bit of extra distance from the pickups has reduced the magnet pull and let the strings move more freely as well.

Yep, that could have a been a real drag Wonks


Martin