Top End Strat

How can I get more high end out of my Strat? The tone of the b and e strings sound weak and reserved. They don't soar as much as I'd like them to.

Right now I've got .009 guage strings on it. Would changing these with .010 guage strings give those bottom strings more oomph and less twang? Also, what are the advantages of thicker strings?

Thanks

Originally Posted by: Caliko... Right now I've got .009 guage strings on it. Would changing these with .010 guage strings give those bottom strings more oomph and less twang? Also, what are the advantages of thicker strings? ...

[font=trebuchet ms]Toss those spider-webs and get your Strat set up up with some strings! Pickups produce signal from the interaction of the strings with the field set up by the magnets. More string mass = more signal. SRV played .013" strings in order to get major tone. .010" is the lightest guage I'll use. .011" or .012" is better for tone, but harder to play.

Tone takes effort - how toneful do ya wanna be?[/font]

Great! Glad that I don't have to change out the pickups or anything. I'm not much for the shredding so I'll take the heaviest strings I can get without seriously compromising my ability to pull of some fast runs here and there. Will .010 guage strings be a noticable difference in tone from my .009 guage strings or should I go heavier?

[font=trebuchet ms]Change just one thing at a time, and take it in steps.

Strings are cheap, and moving just one size up can probably be tried without paying for a complete setup. If you have had your Strat set up by a good tech, check with them about whether the nut will need to be re-slotted. Even if the answer is "yes", that will still be cheaper than new pickups.

Going from .009" to .010" will make a noticeable difference. Chords will ring more, single notes will have more authority, and bends may become somewhat painful for a while. Hang in. It's worth it.

In a few months, you can decide whether to move up to .011", or stay with the .010". I only went from D'Addario EXL110 to EXL115W in order to get a wound G string for better balance across the strings on one particular guitar. I run EJ21's on another guitar that I only use for rhythm.

Different pickups add more variables to the mix, but they're much more expensive, and not nearly as easy to change back, if you don't like them. That doesn't mean you shouldn't consider them, but I would suggest sorting out your string preferences first.[/font]

Man.. I'd go the opposite way. There's no way my fingers could take using 10's or 11's. I'd be trying to adjust the pickups or replacing them... using EQ etc.. and working on getting a good sound from the amp and effects.
If you're fingers can take it and you don't mind the fact that bends and vibrato are going to be hard to do, then go with the strings. It's the cheapest route and worth a shot. All I can say tho is, ouch. jeez... using 11's would be like playing lead on an acoustic.

Originally Posted by: schmange... All I can say tho is, ouch. jeez... using 11's would be like playing lead on an acoustic.

[font=trebuchet ms]hmm... Check out a fella name of Nuno.[/font]

I vaguely remember his name from a song we used to do and the tapping lead at the end that used to kill me... not to mention doing the harmonies and playing it at the same time. Can't remember the song name though.

I used 9's once... then moved to 12's... wow... don't do that! I was still a beginner, so I really didn't know what I was doing when I got 12's... but they do sound better! I then moved to 10's... although, I have an 11 for my high e on my ibanez right now cause my local shop was out of single GHS .010 strings, so I got an 11 instead, since I had only broken my high e, the other 5 were still pretty new.

I'd say give the 10's a try, if you don't like it, then you're out like $7... though, I'd give schmange's advice a try first and try messing with the EQ and the tone and volume knobs and pickup selection on your guitar first. cause that won't cost you a nickle! (well... ok... maybe you'll spend a nickle in the ammount of electricity it'll take to power the amp... but other then that you won't spend anything! :cool: )

I'm changing to .010s. I tried messing with the EQ but it didn't help. I have a somewhat cheap Behringer Combo, so that could be why. Maybe a new amp will come next, but right now I've got to pay off my strat first ($200 to go :)).

Anyway, the higher guage is appealing to me. I don't think it will be a problem since sometimes I play my acoustic like a play my electric and I can bend a full step.

Give about four turns of the screws on the reble side of your pickups to bring the treble poles closer to the strings..... this will give you more volume and might even clean things up a bit...

One word of caution, if you move the strings too close you can encounter the stratorising effect where the field form the magnets interferes with the way the string vibrates which can kill sustain and make everything sound damp and dull.

I can't play with anything lighter than 10's because I break them too easy. Plus I have a heavey touch, a hard hittin' pick hand, and use heavey picks. I'm thinking about setting my guitar up for 11's pretty soon though.

Originally Posted by: Dr_simonOne word of caution, if you move the strings too close you can encounter the stratorising effect where the field form the magnets interferes with the way the string vibrates which can kill sustain and make everything sound damp and dull.

The lack of volume in the e and b strings is no doubt from the distance between the magnetic field of the pickup and the string... This will move the string into the "sweet spot" of the magnetic field allowing the string to vibrate in and out of the field... propelling the vibration thus increasing sustain. You do this by moving the PICKUP up and down... not the strings themselves... by raising the treble side of the pickup you will not change the playablity of the guitar (action, intonation, etc...) you will simply increase the volume and clarity of the b and e strings... you may notice a slight change in the volume of the g string as well... but its for the better... in a good strat setup the bass side of the pickup should always be farther away from the strings than the treble side.... so just adjust the height of the treble side of your pickups until you get the desired volume... and don't worry about killing sustain... if anything it will increase it... UNLESS of course you lack common sense and put the pickup really close to the string... then it will kill it. haha. good luck.

Alright...so I got my baby back. It's got Ernie Ball 10's on it now. I raised the pickups to the recommended height stated in the little fender owner's manual (they were quite low). It sounds much hotter now and I'm very happy with it.

This maybe a bit unrelated, but I talked to the guitar tech and he said he didn't need to adjust the truss rod. He told me if the action begins to creep up that I should take it in to get it adjusted. How do I know how much relief is too much. Also he adjusted the bridge so that it nearly sits on the body. Shouldn't it be pressed against the body to keep it from leaning up when I bend the strings?
I just want everything to be set up properly so I can play it and not worry.

Originally Posted by: CalikoAlright...so I got my baby back. It's got Ernie Ball 10's on it now. I raised the pickups to the recommended height stated in the little fender owner's manual (they were quite low). It sounds much hotter now and I'm very happy with it. ....[/QUOTE]
[font=trebuchet ms]Glad to hear it! [/font] :)

Originally Posted by: Caliko... This maybe a bit unrelated, but I talked to the guitar tech and he said he didn't need to adjust the truss rod. He told me if the action begins to creep up that I should take it in to get it adjusted. How do I know how much relief is too much. ....

[font=trebuchet ms]The relief it has now should be good. If the action creeps higher, that will indicate that the increased string tension is bowing the neck, and the truss rod will need to be tightened to counter-act this.[/font]

[QUOTE=Caliko].... Also he adjusted the bridge so that it nearly sits on the body. Shouldn't it be pressed against the body to keep it from leaning up when I bend the strings? ...

[font=trebuchet ms]I gather your Strat has a trem? If you want it set up so that it can only increase the pitch, you should have told the tech before he did the setup. Normally, it is adjusted so that it is balanced between the string tension and the springs. This allows it to both raise and lower the pitch. It will also lower the pitch on the rest of the strings in response to the increased tension on a bent string.[/font]

I think I will leave the trem. The little bit of space between the bridge and body leaves room for some trem vibrato, so I guess it worked out for the best.

Now it's time to play it :D . I love that single coil sound. Wayyy better than my Yamaha RGX which is more built for metal, although I must say that I am beginning to see the advantages of a floyd rose trem and locking nuts, as my strat doesnt have those. Anyway, thanks for the help everyone.