goodsgtr Posted May 21, 2002 Share Posted May 21, 2002 This is kind of embarassing for 25 year player to admit but, if I did it I'm hoping that maybe somebody else out there is dumb enough to do it also. A few years ago I put out some cash and had a pro set my Strat up just the way I wanted it, PU's, intonation, string height, trem bridge... Well the other day I decided I wanted heavier strings and put a set of med. bullets on it. You can see this coming can't you? What I ended up with was a very nice slide guitar setup, strings about half an inch high. I had an hour to get to a gig and had to cut the mediums off, restring it and head out the door. Anyway maybe this'll save someone else some time. Can't believe I didn't think of it. Think I'll block it, or buy another Strat, anyone have some spare change? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitefang Posted May 21, 2002 Share Posted May 21, 2002 I'm not a tech, so I wouldn't know why the change would make a difference. That big of one, anyway. But it is NOT the dumbest guitar trick I'VE seen. THAT one was in '68, when a guy I knew showed me how to get a good fuzz effect. He then proceeded to punch holes in his amp's cones with a screwdriver!! "Nice fuzz tone, man", he said in a Tommy Chong-like voice, "...and I saved me forty bucks!" The scariest part was, he said it PROUDLY!! And no, I can't recall if it was slotted or philips. Whitefang I started out with NOTHING...and I still have most of it left! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodsgtr Posted May 21, 2002 Author Share Posted May 21, 2002 Thanks, I don't feel quit as foolish. The reason it changed the string height is that the increased tension on the trem bridge, from the heavier strings, pulled it up. When I had it set up I was using pretty light strings. Live and learn. How many holes do you punch in the speaker to get kind of a Jimi Hendrix tone? Wonder what a claw hammer would do? Black Sabath? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rog951 Posted May 21, 2002 Share Posted May 21, 2002 Yeah, string gauge makes a HUGE difference in the setup of a strat with a trem. I have one set up with .009s and one with .010s...on the lighter setup, I only use 2 trem springs and the claw is screwed down to about 1/2" from the route wall. On the heavier setup I use three springs and the claw is screwed down almost all the way (you can get a piece of notepaper in there barely). Both guitars have a similar action height at the 12th fret even though the trem setup is so drastically different. I was amazed at what a difference the strings made. Also, to REALLY do it right, some shaping of the nut slots should take place when you use anything larger than the factory's .009" strings. I didn't do this to mine yet cuz I'm not completely sold on the 0.010s...everybody told me how much better my tone would be but the main difference I notice is that my fingers hurt more None more black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fantasticsound Posted May 21, 2002 Share Posted May 21, 2002 Let's not forget that even with a solid bridge, the increased tension will bend the neck further. A neck adjustment (plus an intonation adjustment because intonation is a function of string mass and rigidity!) is in order when you change string gauges. It was over 10 years before I figured out which adjustment screw reset the angle of my Kahler while retaining the correct tension for 10's.. Not asking a tech that longthat has to be some kind of stupidity record! It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman Soundclick fntstcsnd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gus1234 Posted May 22, 2002 Share Posted May 22, 2002 Originally posted by whitefang: I'm not a tech, so I wouldn't know why the change would make a difference. That big of one, anyway. But it is NOT the dumbest guitar trick I'VE seen. THAT one was in '68, when a guy I knew showed me how to get a good fuzz effect. He then proceeded to punch holes in his amp's cones with a screwdriver!! "Nice fuzz tone, man", he said in a Tommy Chong-like voice, "...and I saved me forty bucks!" The scariest part was, he said it PROUDLY!! And no, I can't recall if it was slotted or philips. Whitefanghehehe just like Dave Davies - Kinks . Veeeerrrrryyyyy good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitefang Posted May 22, 2002 Share Posted May 22, 2002 I remember now! The guy's name was Tim Kokacz! He did this bonehead stunt in early '68, when Jimi/Clapton type effects were hard to buy around here(probably studio effects, or special made, in Jimi's case), and the fuzz effect it gave him was more on the order of Davey Allen and the Arrows. Or am I dating myself? Whitefang I started out with NOTHING...and I still have most of it left! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max Posted May 23, 2002 Share Posted May 23, 2002 rocket 88? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outrider Posted May 23, 2002 Share Posted May 23, 2002 I used to know a guy who said that back in the 50's & 60's they would slit their speaker cones with razor blades so that the edges would fuzz together for the distorted sound. Same idea, more finesse... One of these days I'm gonna change my evil ways... one of these days... http://www.emotipad.com/emoticons/Band.gifhttp://www.weidenbach.net/images/storage/headbang.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriel E. Posted May 23, 2002 Share Posted May 23, 2002 Holes punched in speaker cones is how Link Wray got the tone for "Rumble". Was that in '56? "You never can vouch for your own consciousness." - Norman Mailer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baronedo Posted May 24, 2002 Share Posted May 24, 2002 Heavier guage string put more tension on the neck, frequently requiring a truss rod/neck adjustment and a trem adjustment (i.e tightening the trem springs to pull stronger against the increased string tension). Different string sizes usually intonate differently which also requires a string length/saddle adjustment to correct. The change can be dramatic. I recently changed the standard 10 guage (i.e. 10 thru 46 guage) on a Strat for 10 guage strings which heavier lower strings (10 through 52 guage) and it required a complete setup adjustment. I've even heard cases of switching to a different brand of the same exact guage set can require set up adjustments as the tension varies between brands. The bottomline is to find a size and brand you like, set your guitar up, and then stick with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitefang Posted May 24, 2002 Share Posted May 24, 2002 Originally posted by max: rocket 88?Nope! Davey Allen and the Arrows did the theme song from "Hell's Angels on Wheels", the Peter Fonda/Nancy Sinatra 'cycle flick from '67! I think the tune had the same title, but memory of that fact is as fuzzy as the guitar effect! Whitefang I started out with NOTHING...and I still have most of it left! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve LeBlanc Posted May 24, 2002 Share Posted May 24, 2002 Nope, stupidest had to be 1978 in Memphis, TN. A guitarist came running from side stage with his guitar to center stage with only a 10 foot curly chord. Two rows of Marshalls came crashing down...great way to start a show eh? http://www.youtube.com/notesleb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitefang Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 Originally posted by Steve LeBlanc: Nope, stupidest had to be 1978 in Memphis, TN. A guitarist came running from side stage with his guitar to center stage with only a 10 foot curly chord. Two rows of Marshalls came crashing down...great way to start a show eh? Sounds more like a WHO finish! Whitefang I started out with NOTHING...and I still have most of it left! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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