Strat: G string problem

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

 

Or more.

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

Fender specs are a ballpark starting point.

 

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

 

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.

 

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!

 

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.

 

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.....

 

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.

 

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.

 

I'm channeling this guy:

 

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