10 Tricks To Get the BEST Out of Your STRATOCASTER!
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- čas přidán 19. 06. 2024
- Here are 10 of my favorite tips to get the most out of your Strat!
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Showing some love for the Strat this week!
If if missed any tips (like choosing a different string gauge ect) let me know down below! 👇
Enjoy :)
Black background and black t-shirts mix a bit too well IMO, what happened to the nice bright space?
Thanks for a really interesting vid. My only thought was the Freeway could also be a good option for playing high gain by using the bridge and middle in series? I think it should be humbucking as long as the middle is RWRP. Those freeway switches are awesome, I have the HSH version and it's great.
Hi Darrell, a similar video but for the tele would be awesome. Maybe there's already one and I missed it?
Also, a review of the Ibanez AR 520 HFM VLS would be really really nice! 😀
Someone who agrees?
Hi Darrell, a Trick that I use over the years is to put graphit into the nuts of the saddle and the Bridge where the Strings comes out of the Body. Therefore I'm using the Carbonmine of a Pencil. Easy, cheap and very effectiv.
By the way another good Vid from you. Stay tuned, save and shine on.
Salutations sur Quebec, Alex ☺☺🎸🎸
Do a video on the "D" harmonic that comes from the end of the "G" string if you don't have a string tree on it. Same happens with tele's.
Tip 11: Buy a pack of Fender whammy bar springs and pop one in before you screw the tremolo bar in. The resistance is just perfect for keeping the bar where you want it. Without one, the bar just swings wildly all over the place. Great vid as usual Darrell. Thanks.
Yes, that's a good piece of advice, too! 😀👍 Many new Strats come with that little spring already in place, hence the round sticker covering the hole 🙂
Excellent tip. I absolutely must have one installed.
YES
@@mightyV444 Not Fender Player strats. But I bought the springs separately and they fit perfectly
Unfortunately some Mexican strats have a hole where the spring falls all the way through… best upgrade in that case.
I always appreciate time stamps:
#1 0:29 Pick up height
#2 1:29 Float Trem
#3 3:07 Use position 2/4
#4 3:55 Bridge tone mod (if nec.)
#5 5:00 Raise string height
#6 5:55 Install 10-way switch
#7 7:26 Change to HSS, use Noise Gate Pedal, and/or use position 2/4 for high gain
#8 9:11 Use Volume control to clean up tone / Tone bleed circuit mod (if nec.)
#9 11:03 Add locking tuners
#10 12:55 Tremolo Spring options
Another great video!
And I always appreciate people who take the trouble of typing it out for us.
thanks. another suggestion - changing to a quality nut on a cheaper strat? poor saddle or nut causes a plonk sound in string and puts it out of tune. use nut sauce, no pun intended.
@@anmolsingh9025 Just get a better guitar.
@@beefnacos6258 what is the point of this video? If one has a guitar that is not so called -a better guitar than apply these mods?
@@anmolsingh9025 that's more of a general tip, not only for the strat i guess
I own 3 Strats and found the best mod is to make the middle tone nob a master tone control for all pickups and replace the second tone nob with a "no load" blender pot between the bridge and neck pickups. It allows you to mix the neck and bridge pickups. Very cool! It's really a passive balance control. Allows you to add a little 'neck' to your bridge setting or a little 'bridge' to the neck position. Turn it all the way down and the pickups are 50/50.
Graptech nut on a Strat? Most definitely. Will keep that guitar in tune. I’ve had one on a Mex Strat for a couple years . Huge upgrade.
Yes 100 percent
I use locking tuners and I flos the nut . Keep it clean . My strat stayes in tune . Even after a string change . At times a new string hits the spot , but other times , there is nothing like a string thats broken in .
How did you determine if you needed a bottom radius or flat bottom nut? I've built out an old much-beloved '87 Squire Bullet One 3S and want to do the nut, but don't know what kind to order
@@AnthonyBayerl I took it to a luthier. As far as ordering from Graphtech you can email them and ask. I think they have one that fits all import Strats. At the time I did some research on the net or with Graphtech. Unsure now. It’s been a few years. Hope you get it sorted out
I use locking tuners and an LSR Roller Nut…Roller Nut is AMAZING!!🎸🎸
ALSO, DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE TREM ARM SPRING!
Most people don’t realize there is a small stiff spring inside the hole where the tremolo bar screws in. It’s not fixed in there so if you turn your guitar upside down it’ll fall out and this is why most people don’t have one in their guitar. And it’s mostly because they didn’t know anything about it and didn’t know that they already lost it. Sometimes it gets lost in the music store too. But the purpose for this spring is to keep the tremolo arm in place. It stops it from swinging all around while you’re playing. I really hope more people read this because I didn’t know this for about the first 10 years of owning a Stratocaster and now I have a bag full of these things just in case since I own several Stratocasters now.
Oh my goodness. I’ve been playing for almost 50 years and thought there was something wrong with my strat. I’ll have to go and grab some springs.
I think the biggest reason most people don't know there is a spring because Fender only puts then in the USA models...not the Squires, MIMs, etc. Also, none of the other manufacturers really do it. Everyone that owns a Strat of any type should buy a bag or two of those relatively cheap springs...I consider them necessary and a great frustration reliever.
@@kristopherkrahl1597 can you buy the little springs at any music shop?
@@christianhansen3041 Guitar center should have them, Amazon has them in a 12 pack for like $6. They are called Fender Tremelo Arm Springs. Also, any new guitar with a screw/wind in tremolo arm that has a little sticker over the tremolo arm hole is there because it's holding a spring in there. They just provide tension so the arm doesn't have to be screwed all the way in to stay where you put it.
@@kristopherkrahl1597 THANK YOU!!!!
Holy. How have I never seen a 10 way switch that fits like that. That’s epic. I might need one.
I didn't know that existed either. I'm gonna try to find a CZcams video demonstration
Thanks for adding to my work! I'm half way through recording my album and now, after your awesome advice and making my 50th Anniversary Issue Stratocaster sound 1000% better, I have to go back and re-record all the Stratocaster parts so they'll sound so much better. Keep it up!
Im glad you put this video out. Ive had a strat for 10 years and never really played it because the frets were so worn down that it was unplayable. It is in the process of getting refretted and now Im even more excited to use it when I get it back. Thanks!
I have watched a zillion guitar videos and I have never seen a ten-way switch before. Thanks, Darrell, for showing me something different--I will def look into it!
Pure gold. Best tutorial ever I’ve seen in CZcams on the Fender Stratocaster. Including re position 2 and 4 are effectively the Fender’s humbucker.
Great tips, Darrel! Thank you! Although I don’t own a Fender Strat at the moment, I adjusted the pickup height on my Silver Sky and it made a massive difference. Feels like a totally different guitar.
Great tips!! My main Strat is springed down and blocked. I roll off a bit of neck volume and we have a nice big body sound. She has other tricks to offer as well. Two other Strats are always open for trying something new and we discover new improvements.
Fantastic video! I've been playing strats for 40 years or more, obviously I love them, and I learned a few new things. But I found the best way to get the most out of a strat... is to have two or three set up differently! I have a 1996 MIMN that I modded a lot, including a Floyd Rose full dive bomb trem and Seymour Duncan Vintage Series pups, locking nut, etc. It's been my workhorse since then. I also have a newer MIM HSS strat that I left alone because I love the beautiful tones it gives me. Bottom line...find what works for you and leave it alone, then get another one!
As a 33 year Strat player I swear my post would've been identical had I not read read yours first with 2 of my 5 with the HSS configuration...one with EMG pickups and the other an American Pro II. My SRV Strat has .12s with the highest action of the 5 but really can dig in w/ no fear. All 5 Strats.. 5 different pickup configurations and setups really has been given each a unique a unique personality.
Personally, an HSS and SSS strat are all ya need imo. I have a Jackson Soloist and an Ibanez S for the metal dive bar thing, and they do it better too. Plus, if I need humbuckers only, I got a Guild Bluesbird. Strats have a spot more than people like to think, and that's how I keep mine.
Yep, I started small and in total turned each of the 6 screws 3 full turns. Yes there's a change in tone (for the better) in my opinion and more sustain. Thanks again Darrell 🎸🤠👍
I’m so glad you mentioned a Noise Gate. I’ve used a Noise Gate for years with my Strat.
Thank you for the info about the pick-up height! 😀🙏 I've been following a luthier/guitar fixer's channel (also Canadian) for a while now who swears by adjusting them fairly close to the strings, often commenting with, "If you've been wondering why your guitar ain't sounding good, then your pick-ups most likely are too low", and so I adjusted my Strat's accordingly - and now have the middle pick-up in the way of my pick 🙄 I'll just put them lower again now - I didn't really notice much sound improvement after raising them anyway!
Regarding Tip #7 (playing high gain tones) I totally agree on the noise gate, I use a small Joyo one called Gate of Khan which is dirt cheap, one knob you only need to tweak until you find the sweet spot (removing hum without losing sustain and drying out the flavor of the tone) and you're good to go for some heavy tunes
Thank you. I lowered the p’ups on my American Standard and wow what a wonderful difference. I have rediscovered this guitar. Thank you again for what you do for us.
Were the pickup heights closer to factory spec before or after lowering them?
@@user-of9ut1hd9q They were close to the factory specs.3.6 mm bass side, 2.5 treble. Almost double those numbers now. Way sweeter. I play through a Hot Rod Deville but keep the volume low. I never play out.
Great and informative video. I've been playing Strats for decades and never knew about lowering the pickups. What a game-changer!!! Thank you!
A few years ago, I was really into getting a strat. I did A LOT of research. I ended up with a Mexican “Deluxe”. For $825 it came with locking tuners, noiseless pickups, a push push button to activate the bridge pu in positions 5,4, and 3, and a contoured heel joint. I paid to have the edges slightly rolled. I totally love that guitar.
Wow, that sounds like an amazing axe, man.
Nice! 🙌
I paid to get the edges rolled on a recent used strat, but next time I'm doing it myself, and getting nut files too, Stewmac has everything we need. ALL guitar players should do their own setup, including fret and nut work, which is really very simple if you watch videos and take it slow. I'm mechanically challenged, but I'd rather do my own guitars and get it exactly right, rather than pay some guy who does that stuff all day to do it, and sometimes not do it the way I wanted, so I have to take it back (after waiting for weeks in the first place!). Setups including intonation and pickup height we all need to do, or work closely with a tech if you can afford to. But I'm getting back into doing my own nuts, saddles, and frets. I also bought a Lindy Fralin boat neck (Allparts), which he sands into a soft V, and sprays with nitro, I think he does a little fret work, but I'll finish the frets myself, and do the nut. I've always wanted to shave down a boat neck to a perfect soft V that fits my hand perfectly, and Stewmac has the scrapers and other tools needed to do necks too - dig it.........!
Jimmy Vaughan plays a Mexican Strat
@@pharmerdavid1432 I agree. Most of the skills for doing setup work are pretty easy. It helps me play better as I continue to perfect the setup!
Great video - thanks for the tips. I have been a Strat player for years and these tips will help tremendously!!!
Just lowered my pickups and WOW what a difference! Thank you!
I prefer position 2 personally. I also did the bridge tone mod and it really transformed my Strat!
As always Darrell awesome information, thanks so much for all the great video's !
I've got an American Special. In order to get the tremolo to return to pitch I put in roller bridges, TUSQ nut and string guides, and I use nut sauce on the string bearing points. It's really pretty much ok now. Great video, I picked up some great info and the 10 way switch is intriguing.
Love the vid and the tips. I am a dedicated Strat person for the past 50 years and yeah, the pickup height and magnet strength I have had issues with over the years. Talking now about my 1960 pre-CBS Strat...
Let the trem float, use 3 springs and as you say, thrash it to break it in and get that graphite on the nut slots.
Have to say Tip 5 is er, a bit unusual. I say that because I don't know anyone who wants a higher action - ever!
Also, a humbucker on a Strat is like putting a trapdoor on a canoe. You do that it isn't a Strat any more. Use a Les Paul for that!
Position 4 is a wonderful tonal chamber of delights. What did we do when it was only a 3-way toggle?
The mod for the bridge pickup I like - not that I ever move ANY of the 3 pots - they are all glued to 10!
Which brings me to Tip 8 and the Vol control. See, back it off and the Strat dies - all the sustain goes. Tone goes muddy and weedy! I've had to slip a piccy undermine as it is so slack (worn) it will self-back off and suddenly I've lost the bite - not now it won't! OK, not one for subtly and tones am I lol!
I enjoyed that vid. I could talk Strats all day because they are the best guitar (for me) ever made. Only thing I still don't get is why you'd want a 6 minute hike to the fretboard with string height. Why make it harder to play? Want bigger bends then get lighter gauge strings or scoop and scallop if you must or put Aintree Race Course Fence frets on it! 😊
All good points! 👍
Hey Darrell, really good tips on Strats. Always like watching your videos, sort of gets me fired up to make some good tweaks on my Strats.
Good stuff. I immediately lowered my pickups as a result of watching this. I had never actually paid attention to if I have a treble bleed circuit because I always run the guitar wide open and use a volume pedal. BUT, now that you made me aware of it I went to check, and damn if it doesn't get real thin when you roll back the volume. And here all these years I thought that only humbuckers got dark when you roll off the volume. That's why we played single coils. For all those clean sounds. But now that I hear that my strat is going artificially thin when I roll back the volume, it is driving me insane, so the soldering iron comes out tomorrow! THANK YOU! Now for that fancy 10x switch. That is super cool, except I had an S1 switching Strat and I had to trade it in BECAUSE there were so many sound choices that I was always screwing with it when I should have been playing. So while I salute the coolness of that aftermarket 10x switch, I know that my OCD-self needs to stay away from it. Oh, also, that was super good advice on making a person use a floating tremolo for several weeks to really get the guitar to settle in. After I do a major readjustment to a guitar that includes a truss rod adjustment, or if the neck angle has been changed, or the rear spring tension has been messed with to get the float right for the strings your using, YES, it takes time for everything to stop moving about. I will tweak, tweak, tweak for at least a week before deciding to leave it alone. Then I like to put it away for at least a week and come back to it. Play it. See how it feels. I can't tell you how many times I think that I still don't have it right, then come back a week later and DAMN, what was I thinking? This thing plays great! Sometimes you have to sneak up on stuff to really see it. Thanks again!
Great video. I just bought a Squier Vibe Strat. I can’t wait to take advantage of some of these.
Had my strat for years but these were some great ideas. Thanks for the info. Such a good video.
Thank you I really needed this info as Ive been trying to dial this strat in for years
My MIM strat tends to get overlooked in preference to my other (more sexy?) guitars, but every now and again I pull it out of its case and I'm reminded of just how great and comfortable it feels to play
If there is one thing I have learned about Fender over the last 40 years .... it's100% marketing, including gaslighting and brainwashing regarding the grossly overpriced guitars.
You can buy a Squier or Squier Mini (I have two) ... and with a few very minor changes ... sound just as good as a $2500 Strat. I have done the A/B tests with various friends, and the consensus is exactly what I said. Bottom line ... why pay more.
Lube the nut slots with tiny amounts of graphite and vaseline, and replace the string trees with roller trees. My Strat's floating vibrato bridge never goes out of tune without locking tuners.
Also a push pull volume knob to turn on the bridge pickup is a must to add versatility to your five way switch. I feel a ten way can be too confusing.
I absolutely love my Strat, thank you for this video!!
Hey Darrell, a good topic, and I'm always looking for ways to improve the performance and sound of my Strats.
Although I would point out that not all Strats throughout its history, have had floating bridges, one example is the 1983 Elite Stratocaster. That bridge was decked.
Another is the 1980 "STRAT" and that was because the inertia block was so thick it didn't have much travel to begin with.
Tip #1: I've been doing that for decades now and it does produce a better tone
Tip #2: Locking tuners would help this a lot, but then so does a small bottle of Selmer liquid cork grease. A tiny dab in each nut slot helps free the strings up, (provided the slots are cut correctly to allow the strings to pass through.
Tip #3: Been doing that one for years too. I would also recommend position 2 as well for many of the 80's clean choused sounds.
Tip #4: All my traditional Strats have been wired to have the 2nd tone knob on the bridge pickup, and the 1st tone knob always goes to my neck pickup. It really helps put some more meat into the bridge pickup.
Tip #5: A good neck alignment will give you the same results with lower action. The real trick is finding a good guitar tech who knows how to do it right.
Tip #6: I need to get about a dozen of those switches. Thanks for that tip!
Tip #7: I've used noise gates since the 80's and they help a lot, but there's also the option of stacked humbuckers so you don't have to modify the guitar to accept it.
Tip #8: I'm with you on the volume knob, much of my inspiration for using the volume knob on a Strat came from Rory Gallagher, he was a master at it.
Tip #9: Agreed. Also, the original slotted post tuners on Strats can be set up to function almost as well as locking tuners. I've been doing that for a few decades as well, and it works very well. It's a little tricky to do, and find the right string length, but so worth the effort.
Tip #10: I've been experimenting with different spring tensions, but like the bridge blocks, Fender uses the cheapest junk metal for these components. There are good replacements out there on the market that will make a Strat sustain, and sound much better. You just have to know what sound you are going for.
Darrell, have you tried Tremsetters?
The best tone you can get is having a cigarette burn by the nut.
Learned so much about my strat! Thank you!
There was some really valuable stuff there. I lowered my pickups and it made a world of difference.I have a tele and i'm going to try that on it as well. Also I did not know about the ten way switch. I will look for some demos on CZcams. Thank you
Man, I'm glad I watched this to the end. Great tips all the way through, but with the last one, you really gave me an "oh, duh!" moment! I've played an epi SG for years, but recently got my first strat. The trem system has had me unexpectedly baffled! I knew I wanted it floating, but it wasn't set up that way when I got it. I thought I tried everything, but somehow, adjusting the claw never occurred to me. Well, duh, of course it affects the tension! Thanks Darrell!
I'm just about to get my first usa fender strat ( 1990, maple fretboard), managed to negotiate to trade my prs se +some money.. can't wait...might use this video to get as much out of it as possible 😁
You nailed it. 💯 A+++++++ Ralphie
The only things I'd add are
11. Lubricate nut
12. Highwood saddles
Now you have an even dozen
13. Tune to pitch (or approximately), SLIGHTLY loosen neck screws (1/4-1/2 turn) to seat neck in pocket. You might hear a click/pop when you loosen the 4th screw as it seats. Snug screws (the ones towards headstock first). Just snug enough to seat the neck agaist the wood is all you want. Too tight will crush finish and wood on a light spanky strat body. The 2 screws toward the pickups are barely doing anything. The 2 screws towards the headstock do all the work.
My fave mod that I did on my Strat was wiring in a transformer for line-mic xlr connector so that I could connect my guitar to a mic in console. Then I can feed my guitar to a mic input channel as well as feeding through effects boxes and have both recorded into my workstation.
Thanks for a really good article and presentation. I am about done with a thoughtful reconditioning (neck and fretboard refinishing, fret levelling) with similar mods on my '89 MIJ Strat complete with shielding, locking Fenders, GraphTec nut and saddles and before reassembly I'll research that bridge/tone control wired connection you suggested. I dropped all three singles (Custom Shop Texas Hots with Mojo Dijon cap) on faith. Subscribed, very pleased to find your clear guidance to consider when I plug this project in on completion.
Great thank you, will try the 10 way switch as I did not know it existed, thanks again
Don't know what we'd do without you. Maybe cause I'm Canadian love your direction but I'm certain it's because you have an innate talent for teaching with a clear concise manner. Thanks as always Darrell and keep it comin'! 👌💯🎸
Great tips. I would recommend a "permanently on" (via a push/pull tone pot replacement) for the bridge pickup. That way you can achieve Tele style bridge+neck (in position 5) or all 3 pickups at once (in position 4)
the 10-way Freeway switch mod is simply great! best trip to the luthier I have made! Also did the 6-way on one of my Telecasters. Fantastic!
Great vidio, and I just ordered the 10 way switch for my Strat
What a great vid! Thank you so much! I'm gonna try em all!
Well Darrell I couldnt sleep and came across this video and watched it for the second time. I think I'm going to finally loosen up that trem. I have had that spring claw screwed way in with five springs for a long time. I think you are right. Floating trem is how it was ment to be so I'm going to give it a solid week or two. I already have the lockers and lower pickups. thanks as always Darrell. Gods Blessing to you up in the northland
Really Good ideas especially the Freeway switches. Thank you for the video.
There were some really good and different tips here! The tone mod is something that I did to my Shijie STE, but i haven't really messed around a lot with breaking in the floating bridge. I'll definitely try that! Also, I thought that the string action was a bit high, but I might actually raise them back just a bit.
Amazing video. Thank you. Might play around with my old strat.
Thanks, DB. This is one of your most informative videos, IMHO.
Thank you so much. I just lowered my pickups on my player series and wow 🎉
WHAT A VOICE!
Great video full of useful advice and recommendations. 10 way switch looks great. Thanks for sharing 🎸🤠👍
Great and just very useful tipps - presented on a fresh, very skillful and absolute professional level. Thank you ever so much! blessings from Germany 👍👍👍
Couldn’t agree more about #4. Soldered that little jumper a while back to my MIM Strat, which already has hot ceramic pickups and WOW….✌🏻🎶🎸
Great tips Darrell. I would also say for the noise of a single coil say also you could swap out the single coil pickups for stacked humblers. this way you don't have to cut the guitar.
Darrel, you are my "very best favorite" content creator, your channel is really great...top notch, you deserve at least 4 o 5 million susbcribers...... please keep going!!.....every time I watch some of your videos, my passion about guitars keep growing.... best regards from Bolivia....
Love this vid. Thanks for all of the tips
Great tips! Most of them I had to learn the hard way. Wish CZcams and this guy was around 45 years ago
Another great video from Darrell. I miss two things though : a closeup picture of the mod for bridge PUP to work with tone control. If you haven't opened up a guitar before, it can seem a bit scary when in reality it is very easy to do. And: the Faraday cage, the excellent hum-reducer wich is also very easy to do.Just cover the inside cavities with copper tape (and connect it to ground). I have several single coil guitars, and it really works. No need for a noise gate imho :-)
Thanks man, that was indeed very helpfull, thumbs up!
Hello Darrell, nice and informative video as always !!
I'd like to see a video in the future, where you analyze the different positions of the 10-way switch, especially the one that uses the three coils simultaneously.
Great content, Kudos
I second that! Not heard of the 10-way switch before!
Keep it in position 4.
Excellent video, thank you!
Some of these I have never heard before. As always, great advice, Darrell.
Nice tips. Bought the freeway switch after seing it in your video. My favourite position is the bridge and neck pickup in parallell. Would love to have an out of phase option on it.
When you talked about treble bleeds I started thinking. I've come to the same conclusion. Prefer the volume without it.
My tips would be:
I set my amp sound with the tone controls on 6. That gives me an opportunity to add treble when needed, which most often is used in position 4, where I crank the tone to 10.
About the tone control for the treble pickup, I wire the first tone control for the neck and middle pickups, so I have the second tone control only for the treble pickup. I put that on 5-6 and almost never touch it.
Great advices, Darrell :) Thanks!
Great hints ... thanks a lot for sharing!
I would like to add: the dummy coil mod ... works great on the Blug Strats ...
Great tips Darrell! I love my strat that I built. It's because of you I installed the Obsidianwire blender switch wiring and locking tuners! That being said I think a great way to warm up and mellow out a strat is flatwound strings. Keep up the good work!
I bet that helps
I love flatwound strings, especially with a wound G. Really nice, mellow tone. Tuning stability is dead on (no evil G). I'm mainly a rhythm player, though; wound G strings are a little more challenging to bend, I've found.
Yes. I've got flatwounds on my Tele Thinline, tone on the neck p/u is delicious and creamy.
Mellow out a Strat? Defeats the point of the single coils. You want mellow, buy a Les Paul.
SIT makes a set of semi flat strings in 9's great strings
Great info, thanks so much.
I have a Mexican HSS that I put a Seymour jb trembucker in the bridge. I'm going to try lowering the neck and middle pickups.
I agree, the 4th position alone makes getting a strat worth it. I'm amazed shielding the cavity wasnt in this vid tho. It's a must mod!
Great tips!
Thanks a million.
Great tips! Thanks Darrell.
I love my 10 way tone switch from Freeway, great mod while keeping it looking original!
I just installed one in my primary Strat (a Squier Mini - yep) and it's a "whole nuther world" :-)
This was highly informative. Thanks so much.
Awesome video mate, thank you
You are awesome darrell!😁
I started learning guitar because of you and man I'm having a blast.
What awards?
What did I win?
Very informative, good job Darrell
With my strat the right strings were a big help, not saying to stick with the same string brands but finding good sting is a blessing.
Thanks for this, I'm sure it will help a lot of us!
I just took your advise and lowered my pickups on my sss strat and turned up the gain and guess what ? It sounds better ! I could tell the difference right off . Plus I like many love position 4 . Thanks for the advice , worked like a charm !
Excellent tips!
Great info DB. Thanks.
Amazing timing, just got a player strat over the weekend
Congratulations!
Thanks for the great tips !!
The 10 way switch is amazing. The American Deluxe series from the 2000's has this as a feature with a push pot.
The tone control was also on the bridge but had a detent at 10, allowing you to bypass it if desired.
Locking tuners also came on this model along with Fender's Noiseless single coils.
Thanks! Great info. I’m already doing some of it but kool to hear I’m on the right track! 😀 I subbed. 👍
I used to play my Chrome Blue Strat in a heavy metal band, and I used position 2. However, I was always fighting it, until for some reason, I bought a Boss noise gate. Night and day! I could ramp the gain up and not have to worry about loud hums when not playing. Yes to low P/U and high strings, yes locking tuners, but also strap locks.
Or you could just turn your volume knob down when not playing, like players with P90s.
Great suggestions. I had never heard of that 10 way switch before. That’s very intriguing. I’m thinking that switch, with hot noiseless pickups could be a killer combo. Thank you.
Man, what a killer video!!!
Congrats!!!
Genius video! Thank you so much!!!
Thanx for the tips Darrel. Esp th 10 way switch, which i had heard of, but forgot about... i'll get me one just to give it a go.
Great tips; I never heard of the 'Ten-way Switch, amazing! My 1987 MIK Strat is not new and neither is my playing.
Just recently I actually regained clarity and output by raising my pups.
Not too close, around 4 mm-4.2mm. They might be getting weak with age?
There is no 'warble' and it sounds much better. Don't rely just on theory, use your ears too.
Thanks fore this video. I love all my guitars including my strat so this really helped. First thing I will try is lowering the pickups see what that does...
I have a player strat. I installed the freeway switch after watching that first video you put out on it! I love it! Specially the bridge+ neck setting! I also blocked the trem and refinished the body. I play it every single day!
Yeah, I definitely find that switch very intriguing myself! 😃 Not sure if I'd be too keen on all the soldering, though! 😆 But I did hook up the bridge pick-up to the Tone pot on a couple of Strats in the past, and it's a brilliant modification, too! 😀👍
I bought a Player HSS almost a year ago, and just love the way it came from the factory, so I don't want to do any mods .However, I do agree that the number 4 position is my favorite. To me, it's the iconic Strat sound.
Thanks, DB! Good information!
Great video!!! Would recommend graphtech saddles for the bridge also which help 99% reduce string breakage (works on any guitar)
Yes!