I've got a few question about changing the action on a strat with the standard bridge

Tons of questions:

I have a highway 1 strat with the factory bridge/trem (not sure what those are called). I had changed the action a while back using the claws but then it was too low and started to buzz so I put it back about where it was.

Anyway, I changed strings recently because the old ones were really getting dead and as dirty as a cheap bar in Tijuana. I already threw the old ones away, but I could have sworn they were the same ones that I put back back on: Ernie Ball Regular Slinkys. They might have been the second set of the factory strings I had, but I'm pretty sure I already went through those a year ago. Can dead strings have that much of an effect on the action when you tune the guitar? I was thinking maybe they needed more tention on them than new ones to keep them in tune, thus pulling the bridge up.

Now the action is too high for my tastes. I was wondering if you can effectively adjust the action with the screws that come in underneath the saddles? Not the ones that come in from behind it, but the ones that push up under the saddles where I will have to take the back off to get to them. Is that ever a method for changing the action or should you just adjust it with the claw?

Finally, I was wondering if the bridge is meant to be flush with the wood when in the "correct" position? Mine right now is sitting off the wood just a bit. I don't know if the tremolos on Fenders are just meant to dive bomb or are you supposed to be able to raise them up too?

Thank you if you don't mind reading my schizophrenic ramblings. :rolleyes:

yeah, if your bridge is lifting out more then before, your new strings are probably a thicker gauge then your old ones.. so what you want to do is open up the back cavity plate, and see the two screws, screw them in tighter, then retune, see where your bridge is at.. and repeat.. the idea is to get your bridge to be flat over top of the body, floating over it a bit. you don't want the bridge like this: / or like this: \ you want it like this -

so, let's say here's your guitar: __________----____ that's what you want it to look like. ok?

also, you don't want to adjust action using the saddles, those little screws in the back of the bridge (your bridge in particular is called a tremolo, btw) because those adjust intonation, which is a whole different ball-game.

and yes, the tremolo on fenders are meant to dive bomb, and be pulled up too. give it a try, see what sounds you can make!