Stratocaster manual

The manual also has specifications for neck, middle and bridge pickups that includes the polarity and DC Resistance for each pickup. It has fret size measurements for both width and height. It also has the measurements for the types of Hex key wrenches needed to adjust the saddle adjustment screws and the truss rod nut. So in case you lost your wrench, you can find the right size in this manual.

The Service Manual has a complete parts breakdown with a parts location diagram for each part used in the building of the Fender American Ultra Stratocaster. For instance, if you lose a tremolo tension spring you can look up the part number in this manual. If you need a new volume or tone knob or even a potentiometer you can get the right Fender Part Number for that specific part from this manual.

Overall this is a very handy manual to have and you can download it right here on Deluxe Guitar. We will retain this manual on Deluxe Guitar for archival purposes. All content property of Fender Corporation. Remember to never force the truss rod! If you encounter excessive resistance during this adjustment your truss rod is maxed out. This adjustment will greatly increase the playability of your guitar. String height, or action, is highly customizable on the Fender Stratocaster.

I am very aggressive with my lower strings when I play rhythm so I like my low strings set at a higher action to get rid of unwanted buzzing. I also like to play very lightly and quickly when I solo so I like my higher strings as low as possible for increased speed.

You can see the recommended Fender adjustment for string height in the table below. I would suggest using that as a starting point and then listen to the strings as you play the guitar unplugged. If you hear the strings buzzing and vibrating a lot, then simply raise the action on that string. To check the string height first make sure your guitar is properly tuned.

Then use your ruler to measure from the top of the fret to the bottom of the string at the 17th fret. Then, use the allen screws in the bridge saddles to adjust the height of the string.

Make sure you adjust each side of the bridge saddle evenly so that it stays level with the bridge or tremolo plate. Then re-tune the guitar and listen to it while you play. Make any tweaks after you play it for a few minutes and listen for rattles or buzzing. I like to adjust each string a little lower as I move from bass side to treble side so they get a little closer to the fret on each string. Fender string height specs are in the table below:.

If you have your pickups too close to the strings the magnetic pull will cause the strings to vibrate in an elliptical pattern instead of a circular pattern which results in problems with the guitars tone and loss of harmonics.

You want your pickups close enough to have good output but not so close as to affect the vibration of the strings. To perform the measurement simply take your ruler and measure the distance from the top of the pole piece to the bottom of the string on the first high E and sixth Low E strings of the guitar.

After you make this adjustment you will see that the pickup will be angled closer to the 1st string and farther away from the 6th. I like to move the pickups quite far away from the strings and listen to how the string sounds through an amplifier with0ut any influence from the magnetic pull of the pickups.

Then I like to raise the pickups until they are very close to the strings and listen to how the magnetic pull causes tonal changes and loss of sustain. Then I back the pickups off until I can hear that they are no longer influencing the vibration of the string. Lace Sensor pickups have little to no magnetic pull on the string. 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.