Strat: G string problem

[Oldboy]

I don't even understand this statement / question.....

Where are the pickups 'not that low'??

Another guitar? Whose? Maybe they had very high string height which allowed for higher pickups.....

Eldon Shamblin

"Shamblin is noted for being one of the earliest adopters of the Fender Stratocaster electric guitar. A demonstration model painted gold and dated 6/4/54 was given to him by Leo Fender."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eldon_Shamblin

 

[ray1954]

So true bit I use extra light and 0.5 pick when lowering the pick up the sound loses a lot, I tried and that's it. Fender in its specifications speaks of 2 mm from the pole to the string

 

[El Gobernador]

yeah you could stand to lower each of those about 1/16".

Or more.

Dial out stratitis on the neck pickup, match volume on middle and bridge.

Fender specs are a ballpark starting point.

 

[chas3rd]

I got my thong entangled in my G string during a solo once.

 

[marksound]

If it's touching you're way too high.
I mean the pickup BTW.

 

[ray1954]

I got my thong entangled in my G string during a solo once.

 

[ray1954]

Another photo

 

[RadioFM74]

neck and bridge do I leave the same?

Buongiorno Ray,

you have to optimize the sound of the pickup you use the most – start from low, pickup cover flush with the pickguard, clean sound, no effects at all, go up in small increments until raising it does not improve sound. Then fine-tune the balance of the high E and low E (you'll find you have to slant). Once you've done that, you have to adjust also the other ones so the volumes match as @Guitarmageddon and @fezz parka pointed out. Unless you do that, you'll have big volume jumps from one pickup to the next. Some players use that to their advantage and have, say, the bridge PU as their "lead" PU set a little higher. @Guitarmageddon 's suggestion to have the middle and bridge a little higher, you'll find, is to equalize the fact that strings travel more above the neck pickup, so to equalize volumes.

Eldon Shamblin: most of what you hear on historical Texas Playboys records is him playing a Gibson Super 400. In more modern records it's a good-sounding strat but there is no way to tell how high or low his pickups are set. The variables are simply too many.

In general, strat pickups need to be set pretty low – but of course it depends on the exact pickup model and on your ears.

 

[ray1954]

Hi RadioFM74, thanks for your kind reply, I use the bridge pick up a lot, I honestly hadn't noticed this big difference in volume between the pick ups until now and when I switch from one to the other they are quite good, however I want to try your advice and make this kind of adjustment to improve the sound. I've seen some YouTube videos and photos of Eldon Shamblin with the Strat and it seemed to me that I his pick ups didn't have a big visual difference with my pick ups

 

[RadioFM74]

Hi RadioFM74, thanks for your kind reply, I use the bridge pick up a lot, I honestly hadn't noticed this big difference in volume between the pick ups until now and when I switch from one to the other they are quite good, however I want to try your advice and make this kind of adjustment to improve the sound. I've seen some YouTube videos and photos of Eldon Shamblin with the Strat and it seemed to me that I his pick ups didn't have a big visual difference with my pick ups

Yes but there's a lot you or I don't know about Eldon's set-up. You only see the amount of "bobbin" emerging from the pickguard (by and large) but you cannot know how far from the strings it is as you don't really know the action.

Trust me: setting the pickup height is something you may have to do only once in the lifetime of your strat, but it's worth taking the time and patience for it. Start from your favorite pickup, set it where it sounds best to your ears, and do the rest accordingly. It may taken even a good hour: it's time well spent! And if you find that you like 'em high up, then you'll know it's not based on a photo but on what your ears tell you!

 

[ray1954]

You are alright ,i do

 

[ray1954]

You are alright ,i do

Yes but there's a lot you or I don't know about Eldon's set-up. You only see the amount of "bobbin" emerging from the pickguard (by and large) but you cannot know how far from the strings it is as you don't really know the action.

Trust me: setting the pickup height is something you may have to do only once in the lifetime of your strat, but it's worth taking the time and patience for it. Start from your favorite pickup, set it where it sounds best to your ears, and do the rest accordingly. It may taken even a good hour: it's time well spent! And if you find that you like 'em high up, then you'll know it's not based on a photo but on what your ears tell you!

I found this photo of Shamblin' s Stratocaster here seems be a good view of his pick ups The First photo is Shamblin's Strat the other two are the mine Strat

 

[heltershelton]

I found this photo of Shamblin' s Stratocaster here seems be a good view of his pick ups The First photo is Shamblin's Strat the other two are the mine Strat

you should never adjust your pickups based on a picture of someone elses. there are too many variables involved.

 

[El Gobernador]

you should never adjust your pickups based on a picture of someone elses. there are too many variables involved.

Bombaditty. Eyes first to get close. Then...Ears.

 

[Guitarmageddon]

Person comes here looking for help as to why they're having trouble intonating their guitar. We explain that the pickups need to be low, and that it's probably a big part of why they have issues since the pickups are very high. Then, we get told we're wrong, and the guy wants to be like Eldon Shamblin based on photos of pickup heights.....carry on.....

 

[El Gobernador]

Example. On my old 65 I ran the pickups a bit higher than I do on my 83 JV Squier. The DCR and mag type is the close to the same, but the magnets on the 65 are not as strong.

Modern pickups have a wicked amount of charge on them. I personally think they overcharge them to be "louder".

All it does is make it harder to set it up, because of the string pull.

 

[heltershelton]

Person comes here looking for help as to why they're having trouble intonating their guitar. We explain that the pickups need to be low, and that it's probably a big part of why they have issues since the pickups are very high. Then, we get told we're wrong, and the guy wants to be like Eldon Shamblin based on photos of pickup heights.....carry on.....

well, i learned a new word out of the deal, so theres that.
BOMBADITTY....never heard that one before.....gonna go look it up.


edit: I guess its a fezzism, because theres no definition.

 

[El Gobernador]

I guess its a fezzism, because theres no definition.

I'm channeling this guy:

 

[ray1954]

Bombaditty. Eyes first to get close. Then...Ears.

 

[heltershelton]

I added this photo to show that there is no difference between the setting of my pick ups and that of the other Strat. The photos I posted at the first stage were judged too high the pick ups and I did the same, always by eye I showed the difference with another Strat. However, there was no need for you to write in large letters, I have a good view.

he didnt write in large letters (internet yelling).
he quoted what i said and made what he wanted to stress bigger and boldfaced.