• From: Kansas
  • Registered: 2007-10-12
  • Posts: 375

Topic: Strat setup

I have a Eric Johnson signature Strat, and I was wondering if Joe (or anyone else for that matter) had any tips on setting it up.  I have it at a point that is pretty comfortable to play, but I have a feeling it can be much better.  I use heavier strings (11-58 rollerwounds) and a fairly high action, but I don't know....there just seems like there could be something else done to improve the overall playing ability of the instrument.  I mean, it is good the way it is, but not neccessarily perfect.  I know all of this stuff is subjective to taste, but.....just looking for suggestions.

Any tips anyone has found on setting up Strats?

Well, the night I was born
Lord I swear the moon turned a fire red
  • From: Was NY now FL/GA line
  • Registered: 2007-12-16
  • Posts: 2,857

Re: Strat setup

I usually set the action low. High is good but for me high is good when playing slide. Check the height of the pickups. I set the bridge the highest and graduate them lower towards the neck. Is your intonation is set up properly? It should be checked every time you change your strings. Otherwise you should be good to go. I know the EJ strats have 12" radius necks, if the neck doesn't feel right you can change it out. Thats whats nice about strats. They're modular. If you don't like it or you break it, it can be replaced. If you do replace the neck, give me a holler. I'm in the market for one for my project guitar.

Hope this helps??

  • gsj
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  • From: North Essex, England
  • Registered: 2006-09-21
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Re: Strat setup

Simple tip #1....if you don't know how to set up a guitar then find yourself a good local tech. If you ask him really nicely (and give him a few £'s or $'s extra) he may let you watch and ask questions while he works on your guitar....BUT!!!!....remember that to him 'time is money' and he can work on a guitar much quicker without the customer peering over his shoulder so don't be offended if he says No.

Simple tip #2....go on-line and you'll find way too many forums about setting up guitars. some good, some awful.

Simple tip #3....after you've tried it for yourself and had the misfortune to totally screw up your pride and joy be prepared to pay your local tech even more money to put right your mistakes smile

You'll get the hang of it eventually....perhaps smile

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  • From: Was NY now FL/GA line
  • Registered: 2007-12-16
  • Posts: 2,857

Re: Strat setup

gsj you are absolutely correct! If you don't know how to do a proper set-up, do yourself a BIG favor and see a qualified luthier ot tech. I assumed that everybody works on their own equipment as I do and that is not always true.

  • Registered: 2007-11-25
  • Posts: 143

Re: Strat setup

I go to a local tech in Baltimore and he is great!  He charges $50 hr.  But you can sit there and watch him go over your guitar with a fine toothed comb.  He first asks what style you play and watches you play for a minute to get a grasp on how to set up the guitar to my liking.  When I come out of there my guitar feels like butter.  My guitars take a beating and a good tech is like a chiropractor.

6 Reply by gsj (edited by gsj 2007-12-29 18:37:47)

  • gsj
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  • From: North Essex, England
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Re: Strat setup

Absolutely guys. I can tweek my guitars and get them playing well but I've been around for years (feels like centuries somedays wink ) For a novice and/or for more important stuff you can't beat a good luthier/tech. I reckon it's like driving a car...I can make it go from A to Z, I check the oil and water etc etc but I don't get under the hood, I pay someone else to do that.

never give up, never slow down
never grow old, never ever die young
  • From: Kansas
  • Registered: 2007-10-12
  • Posts: 375

Re: Strat setup

It isn't as though I don't know how to set up the guitar properly so much as I was curious as to what other people had done to increase the playability of a Strat for themselves.  I've adjusted plenty of guitars in my time.  I'm just trying out new things and was curious about other perspectives on the issue to perhaps gain some insight into different feels and ways for approaching the guitar.  You know, that kind of thing.

Well, the night I was born
Lord I swear the moon turned a fire red

8 Reply by gsj (edited by gsj 2007-12-29 20:04:59)

  • gsj
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  • From: North Essex, England
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Re: Strat setup

Sorry, didn't pick up on that. I tend to live with a slightly higher action than a 'text book' set up and then raise the top two strings just a fraction more. I like to be able to grab the string when I'm bending a note rather than have it slip under my fingers. I also recomend that you step up a gauge from your usual strings....it doesn't take long to get used to the heavier feel of the strings and you gain so much in extra tone. Slightly higher action + heavy strings = more TONE! smile I also recommend fitting a treble bleed cap where applicable so that when you roll off the volume to clean up the amp you don't lose any treble from the guitar. Hope it helps smile

never give up, never slow down
never grow old, never ever die young
  • From: Harrison, Arkansas
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 3,155

Re: Strat setup

Low action with 10s. Love the setup, plays like a dream. Didn't do it though. Had one of the guitar store guys do it. Sadly, they're going out of business at the end of the year. They really knew what they were doing. Changed my neck and pickups and in quick time too.

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  • From: Kansas
  • Registered: 2007-10-12
  • Posts: 375

Re: Strat setup

gsj wrote:

Sorry, didn't pick up on that. I tend to live with a slightly higher action than a 'text book' set up and then raise the top two strings just a fraction more. I like to be able to grab the string when I'm bending a note rather than have it slip under my fingers. I also recomend that you step up a gauge from your usual strings....it doesn't take long to get used to the heavier feel of the strings and you gain so much in extra tone. Slightly higher action + heavy strings = more TONE! smile I also recommend fitting a treble bleed cap where applicable so that when you roll off the volume to clean up the amp you don't lose any treble from the guitar. Hope it helps smile

Yeah I used to play with 12's but I have found these GHS rollerwounds that I really like a lot and they run from .11-.58.  I also tend to use a higher action (about 7/64" at the bass E, about 5/64" on the treble E at the 12th fret) and am thinking of increasing it a bit more.

The one thing I do believe I need to do is have it refretted with jumbo frets, because I tend to fret it out while bending with these smaller frets.  This will probably mean I will also have to replace the nut as well.

Oh, and thank you for your suggestions.

Deezer wrote:

Low action with 10s. Love the setup, plays like a dream. Didn't do it though. Had one of the guitar store guys do it. Sadly, they're going out of business at the end of the year. They really knew what they were doing. Changed my neck and pickups and in quick time too.

I have yet to find anyone that I feel comfortable with around where I live doing any major work on my guitar, unfortunately.  Well, at least no one that can do the stuff that I can't/don't feel comfortable doing (like refretting).

Well, the night I was born
Lord I swear the moon turned a fire red
  • Kyle
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  • Registered: 2006-04-21
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Re: Strat setup

Its been a long time since I've taken my guitar to the local store and had it come back with fewer problems than when I brought it in.

12 Reply by gsj

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  • From: North Essex, England
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Re: Strat setup

That's a shame. We have a couple of really well respected guys over here and I guess that as distance isn't so much of a problem we can generally get guitars sorted out by top techs. Bill Puplett is the main man, a lot of the big UK names use him along with Robbie Gladwell (known as Dr Robert in Guitarist Magazine) and my old friend Julian Mullen. It's like finding a good mechanic....never let 'em go wink

never give up, never slow down
never grow old, never ever die young
  • From: Kansas
  • Registered: 2007-10-12
  • Posts: 375

Re: Strat setup

gsj wrote:

That's a shame. We have a couple of really well respected guys over here and I guess that as distance isn't so much of a problem we can generally get guitars sorted out by top techs. Bill Puplett is the main man, a lot of the big UK names use him along with Robbie Gladwell (known as Dr Robert in Guitarist Magazine) and my old friend Julian Mullen. It's like finding a good mechanic....never let 'em go wink

Yeah, since I am a backwoods country boy, I often have to resort to DIY tactics when it comes to these kind of things.  The closest large city to where I live is about a 40 minute drive and isn't really all that large compared to most cities (pop. around 300,000). 

Being a "hillbilly" isn't all bad though...we sure can make a good moonshine....:)

Well, the night I was born
Lord I swear the moon turned a fire red
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Strat setup

coughing up some cash to have a tech set up your git-fiddle is well worth it - no matter how far the drive. It should be done at least once a year.  Changing temperatures and humidity can really change the neck on a guitar and needs yearly adjustment. Let the tech know what kind of music you play and how you think you'd like it to be setup and they should be able to do it for you.

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