Biggest complaints about consistent Fender Stratocaster features pt. 2, a multipurpose post.

[LtDave32]

well, call it veering off into a tone discusion that has little to do with the pros and cons of Strats.

I can see his point, and I'd kinda like to get back to the Strat thing...

 

[anthe]

well, call it veering off into a tone discusion that has little to do with the pros and cons of Strats.

I can see his point, and I'd kinda like to get back to the Strat thing...

I would love that too honestly

 

[Big Dik]

I play a Les Paul Custom and Strat. I love playing both. Both are stock, no mods. To me, they offer a different approach, and I like that.

 

[matthew bear]

I’m just getting back into Strats after about ten years away, so this thread grabbed my attention.

For stock strats, the number 1 thing I dislike is the bridge pickup being unattached to a tone knob. My current Mexican strat actually remedy’s this from the factory, but why did it take this long? I also find the volume knob issue to be a thing, though I’ve been getting used to it.

The 7.5 radius is stupid, 9.5 is just fine.

I think strat trems are actually fairly good, considering the shitty stuff Gibson made at the time (vibrola with the bent metal is hot garbage, IMO)… they can be set up well and stay in tune with some diligence.

But, I just installed a Vega term, and it’s really, really damn good! Probably will be a staple on any strat like guitar moving forward.

The neck heel doesn’t bother me, though I’m not up there all that often.

That’s really about it, I’m enjoying Strats a lot as of late, LPs are gathering dust

 

[NotScott]

As for me, the volume knob and middle pickup can get in the way sometimes but, it's all part of the charm that is a Strat.

All of those Strat details that you love or hate are what makes a Strat the unique instrument that it is. Those "bugs" or "features" affect the way you play a Strat and that has a significant effect on how they sound.

 

[CB91710]

I’m just getting back into Strats after about ten years away, so this thread grabbed my attention.

For stock strats, the number 1 thing I dislike is the bridge pickup being unattached to a tone knob. My current Mexican strat actually remedy’s this from the factory, but why did it take this long? I also find the volume knob issue to be a thing, though I’ve been getting used to it.

The tone arrangement has gone back and forth, and is still not consistent among all models.
The original design lacked the tone on the bridge. The bridge was intended only to be used for solos, and at the time of development, the tone was not desired.... the solo needed to cut through the mix using the old tweed amps with no PA.

Over 10 years ago, some models were changed to put the tone controls on the neck and bridge... my American Special is like this, and I do really like it (I rarely use the middle pickup alone).
Other models have the bridge and middle tied to the lower tone control, and still other models have the neck and middle tied to the top tone control.

Granted, it took over 30 years for this to start happening... but the actions of the old owner (CBS) created the situation that gave us FMIC.
It didn't help that Leo (and of course, CBS accountants) did not play guitar.

 

[msalama]

A separate volume pot for each PU and throwing away the switch is what I'd do if I was a Strat player. Seriously.

 

[the_lawyer]

Looks shit…

 

[Maggot_Brain]

That’s always been my understanding.
The pickup is for sensing the magnetic field and not for channeling vibrations.

What kills a pickup faster than anything?
Any damage to that fragile wire in the windings.

It’s the lacquer or wax and rubber isolation or foam suspension that prevents constant vibration from causing a fatigue failure in the windings.

Exactly. Its not a piezo pickup. Vibrations in the wood don't matter. They're not what's inducing voltage into that coil. The string does that by moving through the magnetic field. That voltage induced into the coil is the sound you hear.

 

[Maggot_Brain]

The truss rod adjustment on the headstock is an improvement access wise however I do like the look of a clean headstock. Though I've never owned one I liked the idea of the side adjustment on the heel (Warmoth style).

The contour heel is nice. Staggered post tuners and no string tree is nice.

What I do like about the pickguard is the ease of modifying with pickup swaps.

My opinion when it comes to body wood is that there are very few circumstances where the wood choice can actually be heard in electric guitars. Unplugged, yes. Ultra clean amp at low volume, yes. Isolated track, maybe. Once you're playing amplified with other instruments and effects (overdrive, etc.) then all you need is stable wood. IMO at that point you just hear what your pickups sound like through your amp/effects. Certainly overall guitar construction affects the tone. But if you take two guitars where the only difference is body wood and then mix those guitars in a band setting it'll be nearly impossible to tell which is which. I have a set of P-Rails that have been in two PRS styled guitars, two SGs and two Les Pauls. They sound slightly different through the amp in the differently constructed guitars but the same through both similarly constructed guitars even though there were finish, hardware and wood differences.

I prefer stable wood that's nice to look at.

I have no science to put behind my opinion, I only have my putting together several dozen Partscasters and modifying 99% of over 300 guitars I've owned. I've had the opportunity to put the same loaded pickguard assembly though multiple bodies, or swapping just the body or just the neck.

I play unplugged a lot and so I prefer a very resonant guitar. For me the lighter Alder bodies have been the most resonant. However, I've noticed neck mass contributes greatly to this as well. I have two 62 styled Strat necks that both greatly increase the resonance of whatever body they're on while swapping the bodies and or sustain blocks have comparatively minimal effect.

A good example for a Tonewood test is these two guitars.

Construction wise they are pretty much opposites but both have Gibson 57 Classics.
View attachment 653856View attachment 653857

No, they don't sound exactly the same but there certainly isn't a night and day difference. In a band setting they accomplish the same job.

The last thing the pickguard does is make pickup swaps easy. It's tons easier on a Les Paul or SG without a pickguard to deal with. I'd much rather remove a single pickup than 9 screws, every pickup, every pot, and the switch, too. Pickguards aren't for making pickup swaps easier. And they don't make them easier. They were to make initial assembly easier and simpler. That's it.

 

[anthe]

I’m just getting back into Strats after about ten years away, so this thread grabbed my attention.

For stock strats, the number 1 thing I dislike is the bridge pickup being unattached to a tone knob. My current Mexican strat actually remedy’s this from the factory, but why did it take this long? I also find the volume knob issue to be a thing, though I’ve been getting used to it.

The 7.5 radius is stupid, 9.5 is just fine.

I think strat trems are actually fairly good, considering the shitty stuff Gibson made at the time (vibrola with the bent metal is hot garbage, IMO)… they can be set up well and stay in tune with some diligence.

But, I just installed a Vega term, and it’s really, really damn good! Probably will be a staple on any strat like guitar moving forward.

The neck heel doesn’t bother me, though I’m not up there all that often.

That’s really about it, I’m enjoying Strats a lot as of late, LPs are gathering dust

My original design that I'm planning remedy's the bridge pickup- not to shamelessly plug but you can look here: https://www.mylespaul.com/threads/details-on-my-build.474040/#post-10373397

I also heavily prefer 9.5s over 7.5s, crazy flat radiuses are a no go and crazy round radiuses are as well.

If you could, could you let me know what the benefit of a Vega trem, having never used one?

 

[matthew bear]

If you could, could you let me know what the benefit of a Vega trem, having never used one?

Well, on my Mexican strat it had the threaded arm for the bridge. It had a lot of play in it, making it very awkward to wobble the notes musically.

The Vega trem has the push in arm, that’s adjustable in stiffness, and will stay out where you place it.

But the features that you may be interested in is the assembly will allow you to pull up, like a Floyd rose, without any body modification. The bridge will clear the stock routing to go up or down.

Frankly, I’m shocked how well it’s working! I can get downright violent with it and it’s holding tune quite well, even without locking tuners!
This video demonstrates fairly well.

They have six point and 2 point versions, and I’m mightily impressed with it.

Not a cheap product, however! But extremely well made
Hope that’s helpful!

 

[Bobby Mahogany]

Well, on my Mexican strat it had the threaded arm for the bridge. It had a lot of play in it, making it very awkward to wobble the notes musically.

The Vega trem has the push in arm, that’s adjustable in stiffness, and will stay out where you place it.

But the features that you may be interested in is the assembly will allow you to pull up, like a Floyd rose, without any body modification. The bridge will clear the stock routing to go up or down.

Frankly, I’m shocked how well it’s working! I can get downright violent with it and it’s holding tune quite well, even without locking tuners!
This video demonstrates fairly well.

They have six point and 2 point versions, and I’m mightily impressed with it.

Not a cheap product, however! But extremely well made
Hope that’s helpful!

Nice.
But can it accommodate the Flipstick?

 

[matthew bear]

Nice.
But can it accommodate the Flipstick?

Not as well as your mom

 

[Bobby Mahogany]

 

[Juan Tumani]

The last thing the pickguard does is make pickup swaps easy. It's tons easier on a Les Paul or SG without a pickguard to deal with. I'd much rather remove a single pickup than 9 screws, every pickup, every pot, and the switch, too. Pickguards aren't for making pickup swaps easier. And they don't make them easier. They were to make initial assembly easier and simpler. That's it.

Buy a new pickguard to go with your new Strat pickups. Do all the hard work away from the guitar and minimal work right at the guitar. If/when you want to switch pickups back (for resale maybe) 11 screws, de-solder 3 leads swap and reverse. Sell leftover pickups as a complete loaded guard.

A quality set of Strat pickups, plus pickguard, plus pots and switch will run approx the same price as a pair of quality humbuckers with no extra rings, no extra pots or switch.

 

[cybermgk]

Lets add in that batwing SG's also share the same sheet type mounting too. If wood doesn't play a part in either a Les Paul or an SG why do they sound a bit different??

Mind you, I agree with your general thesis on this. The strat pg is firmly attached to the body, and frankly any vibrations in the wood will travel/transmit much easier through the plastic. Heck the trem system soaks up vibrations.

But, an SG also has it's pickups positioned differently on the scale length than an LP. That makes a huge difference in tone. The bridge pup is closer to the bridge on an LP, and the Neck further from the bridge than the SG.

 

[cybermgk]

on the OP.

Neck heel contour yes.

Wood mounted Pups? If so, lose the PG completely. But I prefer it, s it's MUCH easier to shield, easy to create a farraday cage with a shielded PG and cavities.

I would like to see more Mahogany bodied Strats. More nice grained woods, and transparent finishes.

 

[CB91710]

on the OP.

Neck heel contour yes.

Wood mounted Pups? If so, lose the PG completely. But I prefer it, s it's MUCH easier to shield, easy to create a farraday cage with a shielded PG and cavities.

I would like to see more Mahogany bodied Strats. More nice grained woods, and transparent finishes.

G&L did that

 

[Bobby Mahogany]

G&L did that

View attachment 659406

Philosophical question:

Mahogany body and pickups "in the wood"?
Is that really a Strat?



Strat shaped, yes.
A Strat?