Members XH913X Posted February 10, 2006 Members Share Posted February 10, 2006 any suggestions on how i can get more life into my strat? it just sounds lifeless and dull. it really lacks sustain and its just weak sounding. I put in some GFS reverse staggered anlico pups in it and thats the only mod I've done. Its just not real fun to play because its so weak and lifeless. any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarkid∞ Posted February 10, 2006 Members Share Posted February 10, 2006 maybe a new guitar...if you have the extra dough.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitaristbum Posted February 10, 2006 Members Share Posted February 10, 2006 learn to play.... or get a new amp.... my MIM strat sounds great... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members XH913X Posted February 10, 2006 Author Members Share Posted February 10, 2006 hmm thanks, im doubting its my playing...im getting like 2 seconds of sustain on the upper frets and was wondering if it could be how the guitar is set up? im the 3rd owner so i really dont know what the previous owners have done with it...any help? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bgmacaw Posted February 10, 2006 Members Share Posted February 10, 2006 Tell us about your amp and effects setup. After all, if you're playing trhough a cheap practice amp that could be the source of the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members XH913X Posted February 10, 2006 Author Members Share Posted February 10, 2006 im playing through a traynor ycv-50, w/ a VS Jekyll & hyde for overdrive. im also getting some fret buzzing on the 12 fret on the low e string. ive never really had to mess much w/ my les paul's set up so this is all new to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Trader Posted February 10, 2006 Members Share Posted February 10, 2006 How old are the strings ? ? ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members XH913X Posted February 10, 2006 Author Members Share Posted February 10, 2006 well i switched them out when i bought it off the guy which was about 2-3 months ago Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Wyatt Posted February 10, 2006 Members Share Posted February 10, 2006 Well, a lot of us like to think that 3 months isn't a long time for strings, but it is. You might try new ones. Make sure your pickups aren't too high, their magents can overpower the string vibration and kill sustain. THese days a lot of people crank them really high to get a lot of output, but there is a sweetspot that shouldn't be passed for optimum tonal range and performance. Of course, it could just be the wood. -Y. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Trader Posted February 10, 2006 Members Share Posted February 10, 2006 Originally posted by XH913X well i switched them out when i bought it off the guy which was about 2-3 months ago Ouch ! ! ! ! ! New strings, immediately ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Uze Soap Posted February 10, 2006 Members Share Posted February 10, 2006 Haha. Change the strings, buddy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members XH913X Posted February 10, 2006 Author Members Share Posted February 10, 2006 dang ive had the same strings on my les paul for like 6 months now. didnt know it was such a big deal. doesnt affect the les paul much, but ill switch em out on both. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members seaofstrings Posted February 10, 2006 Members Share Posted February 10, 2006 Originally posted by XH913X dang ive had the same strings on my les paul for like 6 months now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members markas214 Posted February 10, 2006 Members Share Posted February 10, 2006 Originally posted by Trader How old are the strings ? ? ? My first thought. Change the strings! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cougarbruin Posted February 10, 2006 Members Share Posted February 10, 2006 Originally posted by XH913X well i switched them out when i bought it off the guy which was about 2-3 months ago Pretty sure it won't be so dull after you change them. Throw some BLUE STEELS on there. fun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members docjeff Posted February 10, 2006 Members Share Posted February 10, 2006 Originally posted by XH913X any suggestions on how i can get more life into my strat? it just sounds lifeless and dull. I know how you feel. I have an MIA strat that is like you described. It's probably not the strings, but it wouldn't hurt to change them. I was able to improve my wife's MIM Classic Series strat by installing an OEM made in U.S. Fender Vintage tremolo. The Mexican Standard units are not great for sustain. The Mexican Classic Series tremolos are a bit upgraded, but even so they are not great units. You can see the differences here: http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/gbridge_genuinefenderstrattrem.htm Also, I think that guitars with tremolos need heavier strings (I use .011's). And it never hurts to use a bone nut and upgrade all of the electronics (including the pickups). I put Abby Ybarra-wound 69's on my dead sounding American Series. That, along with the heavier strings yielded a noticeable improvement. I took one of the trem springs out (it now has two), and that seems to have helped. When I had three springs, they were too "relaxed" and I think they were absorbing energy. So it soundes better after the upgrades--still it lacks the really high end shimmer of my $2000 Custom Shop NOS 56 Strat, but it's now in the acceptable range. I change my strings every 6 months on all but my two main gigging guitars. But it's really super dry in Colorado, and I don't sweat when I play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GAS Man Posted February 10, 2006 Members Share Posted February 10, 2006 Originally posted by -Bong- Pretty sure it won't be so dull after you change them. Throw some BLUE STEELS on there. fun One thing I've learned within the past year or so is that "pure nickel wound strings" can sound pretty dull compared to nickel plated or as Bong has suggested, pure stainless steel. Now I don't know what your last string installation was. 3 months isn't that long, but it is if that guitar is getting all or a lot of your play during that time. So try strings with different string compostion and as others have mentioned, make sure your pups aren't adjusted up too high. I fixed my middle of the road MIJ strat by putting Fender Texas Special Pickups in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blues_rocker Posted February 10, 2006 Members Share Posted February 10, 2006 try a compression pedal maybe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members holden_caufield9 Posted February 10, 2006 Members Share Posted February 10, 2006 Originally posted by blues_rocker try a compression pedal maybe blasphemy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members xMadiMx Posted February 10, 2006 Members Share Posted February 10, 2006 Get yourself some LaBellas on there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BigWood Posted February 10, 2006 Members Share Posted February 10, 2006 Callaham trem block and CS pu's will make a world of difference... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fishfartz Posted February 10, 2006 Members Share Posted February 10, 2006 you mentioned buzzing, maybe the neck needs adjusting or possibly the action. these things when not set correctly (for a given guitar) can make it sound very dull and lifeless. even if all your parts are stock (other than the pups you installed) im willing to bet with a good setup (and fresh strings) the guitar could sound as classic and powerful as it should Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ColonPowell Posted February 10, 2006 Members Share Posted February 10, 2006 Sometimes you get a poopy piece of wood. Go play a bunch of them and see if there's a difference. When they make 50,000 guitars a year, you're gonna get some dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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