Fender Stratocaster Setup Micro-Tilt Neck Adjustment & Fret Rocker to Fix Fret Buzz

Here's a setup on a Fender Made in Japan Strat from the 80s. During the setup I turn the truss rod and end up using the Micro-Tilt neck adjustment to fix some fret buzz. Also use a fret rocker and fret setter to pound down a high fret. If you want to skip to those sections, you can use the time stamps below. Hope you get something out of it.
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REFERENCE POINTS:
0:00 ---- Intro
1:00 ---- Check neck relief
1:29 ---- Adjust truss rod
2:17 ---- Check tremolo springs
2:55 ---- Check action & string buzz
3:27 ---- Adjust Micro-Tilt
7:10 ---- Set string action
8:12 ---- Fix high fret w/ fret setter
10:28 ---- Use nut file to set string height at nut
11:13 ---- Set intonation
12:09 ----- Check electronics / pickup height
13:15 ---- Setup summary
13:45 ----- Pictures of guitar
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[@oleran4569]

Nice job! I like that you demonstrated your techniques and genuine expertise in an easy to follow way...and without irrelevant "high energy coolness".

[@stillkickinmusic]

Thanks so much for the kind words. Come back anytime! Wade

[@carloscardona8100]

Well done!

[@vayabroder729]

Beautiful color on that.

[@captainbob406]

Excellent work. Where are you located? I have a brand new Fender AMerican Pro II Jazzmaster in need of a set up. They just do not come from the factory set up very well anymore. lol

[@stillkickinmusic]

Hey thanks for the kind words! I'm a guitar seller by trade, so all these setups I do on CZcams are ones I do for my business on guitars I'm going to sell. I'm a one-man operation, unfortunately I don't have the time to also do outside setups. thanks and good luck with that american Jazz!

[@captainbob406]

@@stillkickinmusic No problem. I'm sure there is a Luthier near me somewhere. I just really liked how you were meticulous with the check sheet and truly went through the guitar. I have worked with another Luthier and did not have that experience. I will bookmark your website and keep an eye on what you have for sale. Maybe we can do business sometime in the future. Thanks for the video!

[@jonnramos1247]

nice tutorial can you give an ideal pick-up for stratocaster.

[@stillkickinmusic]

Thanks! honestly I don't know if I'm qualified. I know that I've always had good luck with Seymour Duncan pickups. Also, really depends on the sound you're after. If you want a Strat with extra power, then a DiMarzio or Duncan "rails" type pickup is like a humbucker stuffed into a single-coil size. But if you just want a better sounding "Straty" pickup, going with Duncan or Lindy Fralin, you're gonna end up better than the stock ones, but it's a very personal decision. I suggest reading some online reviews and then deciding your budget cause they can get expensive too. cheers

[@jonnramos1247]

@@stillkickinmusic sir im asking for an ideal pick-up height settings for my hss ceramic strat.

[@stillkickinmusic]

Hi, for single-coil pickups I measure about 3mm from pickup to bass strings and about 2mm from pickups to high strings. Measure while fretting the high E and low E strings at the last fret. You don't want your pickups so high they are touching the strings. Also, if it is a humbucker, like the "H" in your HSS, you usually need a little more space (4-5mm) between pickup and strings. After you think the height is correct, then play each pickup individually, and make sure the volume is close to the same between them. You may need to re-adjust if one pickup has more power, and you may have to live with more power from the humbucker as they are usually gonna be louder than the single coils. hope that helps. I'll try to make a video on this!

[@5150flstc]

That is not how Fender recommends the neck tilt

[@stillkickinmusic]

@@5150flstcgive more info please so we know what you are referring to

[@thegrandpencil4374]

You seem like the type of guy that isn't satisfied without a thorough evaluation... which is why I'm kind of surprised you didn't check for any dead spots. Perhaps off camera?

[@stillkickinmusic]

Hi, of course I always play every fret and listen for buzz or sustain problems. sorry if it didn't make it into this video. But good catch on your part. cheers