This is where a radius gauge can be very handy. You simply set the low E and high E string heights then match the radius of the strings to the gauge using the outer strings as guides. Otherwise, simply measure each string at the 12th fret and set their height accordingly.
Play slowly in each position and each note on every fret. Make sure that the notes are clear with no buzzing. If you do encounter buzzing, raise that saddle until you no longer hear the buzz. Excessive string buzz indicates high or low frets which need to be handled carefully. The next area to work on is the middle of the neck. I consider this from the 3rd fret up to the 12th fret.
Bend the same strings that you did in the previous step, but do it at the 7th fret. The idea is to get that bend to have the same tension and feel all over the neck. This is one way to look at a guitar setup. The goal is to create equal tension across the neck no matter how high the strings are off the fretboard.
Bend the strings again, feeling for the equal tension across the neck. Adjust the truss rod as necessary. Play single line licks, bends, slides, scales, etc ensuring that the guitar plays smoothly, the strings are at a comfortable height off the fretboard, and bending feels similar, tension-wise across the neck.
While high string action strings higher off the fretboard may make bends feel super slinky, other aspects like slides and single note lines will suffer because of the string height. The final area of the neck to set playability is the first frets.
This area is not directly affected by the saddle heights or truss rod, but by the depth of the nut slots. In the same way that we raise and lower the bridge saddles to control the string height and tension on the upper neck, we raise and lower the nut slots to do the same at the lower neck. With the nut, you want the slots to be even across all strings avoiding one string being higher or lower than all the others.
The main thing to look for in regards to nut height is intonation issues. If the nut slot is too high, this causes the string to be higher off the fretboard, requiring more force to fret the note correctly. With excessive force, the notes will be bent sharp. Before making any adjustments to the nut height for intonation reasons, go on to the next step to set the intonation at the bridge.
After making adjustments for playability in the upper, middle, and lower areas of the fretboard, take your time to play across the entire neck. Check every fret for buzz, play scales and lines that traverse the entire fretboard, and finally bend strings in the manner which you normally would and make sure string tension feels even in all positions. Slight adjustments may need to be made to the truss rod or saddle heights, but remember that any small change will have effects on other areas of the fretboard.
Any adjustments made at this point should be very slight, just some fine tuning to get any last kinks out. The best way to set the intonation is to get it in tune with your clip on tuner, then fine tune it using your ear. The ear is much more accurate than most tuners and not only is this great ear training, but will provide dead on intonation. As mentioned at the beginning of this guide, a fresh set of strings is essential for a proper setup, especially when it comes to intonation.
One of the main reasons for intonation being off is an old set of strings. Intonation can also be thrown off by nut slots that are too high. This forces the player to press down further on the string in order to make contact with the fret which in turn pulls the notes sharp.
In order to check if the nut slots are too high, this follow these steps. The final step in our setup is to adjust the pickup heights. The final step is to plug your Strat in and play it! Spend some time moving around the neck, playing licks, playing chords, etc. Make sure everything feels good and if not get it back on the bench for some minor adjustments. I hope this guide was helpful. Fender Stratocaster Guitar Forum. Messages: Will be fitting a new trem block and bridge into a new body strat build project this week.
New neck and nut also will be fitted so basically Wondering if there is a "starting" setup point for the bridge and saddles before I get into the detail of properly setting heights and intonations. Thoughts and tips please. Also - I am really wondering what to do with tremelo setting during my set up. My other guitar is "locked down" because I dont use the trem bar.
Craig Howard , Jun 3, Messages: 5, Messages: 3, Jack FFR , Jun 3, I have taken that particular tip on board. It makes sense. It takes patience because when you adjust for intonation it throws off the saddle height. When you correct the height adjustment it throws off intonation Get it as close as you can as soon as you can so that you can make smaller and smaller adjustments. An academic question but maybe a starting point If a number of Strats with same fretboard length and same strings were measured from nut to saddle Isnt intonation determined by the length of the string ie at saddle and nut?
I would also suggest pulling them away from the strings a little bit and listen to the difference in sound. You may like them a little farther away from the strings. Intonation affects how well your guitar plays in tune along the entire length of the fretboard. Have you ever noticed that after you tune your guitar it still sounds off when you play chords or notes and the higher you go on the neck the worse it sounds?
In theory, the distance from the inside of the nut of the guitar to the middle of the 12th fretwire should measure the same distance as the middle of 12th fretwire to the bridge saddle. But, if you do this adjustment by measuring with a ruler it will still sound off. So, we have to adjust the intonation with a good tuner or you can simply use your ear if you have a good ear. Before you adjust intonation make sure all your other adjustments are done.
That means truss rod, string height action , pickup height and tremolo height all have to completed before you do intonation. To adjust the intonation tune your strings to standard tuning. Then starting at the 6th string play the open string and the play the note an octave higher at the 12th fret. The pitch should be the same. Your ear, or tuner will tell you if the octave note is sharp or flat.
If the note is sharp use a Phillips screwdriver and move the bridge saddle farther away from the nut or toward the back of the bridge plate. If the note is flat, move the bridge saddle closer to the nut or the front of the bridge plate. Adjust the bridge saddle to compensate for flatness or sharpness until the note at the 12th fret is in tune with the open string note. Do the same for all six strings and your guitar will be properly intonated.
Once you have completed all the above adjustments your Stratocaster should play very comfortably and stay in tune very well.
Whenever you change strings I would check all the adjustments and adjust any that are out. Leave any questions or comments in the comment section below. Your email address will not be published. This setup guide is based on the American Stratocaster series. Click here to search for an American Deluxe or Ultra Stratocaster Before you start adjusting: Be sure that you take a measurement of all settings before you adjust anything.
Tools you will need: Set of automotive feeler guages. Big Bends Nut Sauce guitar lubrication. The back of this tremolo is a little high. If it sounds bad that high, then lower it. Share this: Twitter Facebook Reddit Pinterest. Like this: Like Loading Thank you. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published.
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