Top 10 Strat Mods

[markb]

Courtesy of Premier Guitar.

Link

[Robert****]

Let your guitar breathe?

Some of the tips seem kinda nerdy?

[markb]

I find some of them a bit iffy too.

[Tibernius]

Some of the tips seem kinda nerdy?

And some completely contradictory:

Uninstall the neck and check the cavity; it should be absolutely free of any paint, dirt and other things. Over the years I've found a lot of funny things there -- credit cards, paper, cardboard, etc.

If you feel that the neck does not fit the cavity because the cavity is too wide or too low, get your guitar to an experienced luthier who will "shim" it.

[duhvoodooman***]

Quite a bit of good info there (and some stuff that I'm skeptical about, too), but there is very little mentioned that I would consider to be legitimate Strat "mods"! Keeping your screws tightened is a mod??? C'mon--we're talking basic guitar set-up and ongoing maintenance with something like that.

To me, a "mod" would be something like installing a different trem block or a push/pull pot to put your bridge pickup in series with either of the other two. Pretty weak effort by Mr. Wacker, IMO....

[Robert****]

Well, a mod I do to vintage bridges is to loosen all screws but the outer ones. So the 4 screws in the middle I unscrew halfway, and then I loosen the outer ones just enough so that they function as a pivot. That way I can set the bridge to float and it stays in tune.

[Spudman***]

One good one that was left out is to re-seat the neck heel more firmly against the body.

To do this loosen the strings a little bit (not totally slack but with some tension so that clear notes will sound - maybe 1 step down) then loosen the 4 screws that mount the neck about 1 turn at most. Then re-tighten. The string tension will pull the neck heel tight against the body and thus improving vibration transfer.

[just strum]

One of the simple ones that is quickly reversible - what is the reason for the sound change?

2. A Stratocaster typically has a rear-routed tremolo cavity that is covered with a plastic cover and some screws. Take the cover away. It's amazing how the overall sound of a guitar can change by simply taking away this cover. I know it sounds like voodoo, but it's true -- give it a try and hear the difference yourself.

[thearabianmage]

One of the simple ones that is quickly reversible - what is the reason for the sound change?

2. A Stratocaster typically has a rear-routed tremolo cavity that is covered with a plastic cover and some screws. Take the cover away. It's amazing how the overall sound of a guitar can change by simply taking away this cover. I know it sounds like voodoo, but it's true -- give it a try and hear the difference yourself.

It's the same sort of physics as close-back/half-back/open-back amps. It's just the way the sound reverberates in the cavity and, in my opinion, is more subjective than anything else. . .

[just strum]

It's the same sort of physics as close-back/half-back/open-back amps. It's just the way the sound reverberates in the cavity and, in my opinion, is more subjective than anything else. . .

So depending on your taste or preference, it's only good or bad based on the individual. Well, simple to do, I'll give it a try to see if these battered ears can hear a difference.

I'll have to give Spud's suggestion a try too.

[marnold***]

There was a follow-up letter that said that the back cover made a difference acoustically, but not when plugged-in. YMMV. I leave mine off just for convenience's sake, but I always have this fear that the claw will give way and disembowel me. It's be a pretty funny way to go!

[just strum]

... It's be a pretty funny way to go!

Sort of rock star-ish

[markb]

There was a follow-up letter that said that the back cover made a difference acoustically, but not when plugged-in. YMMV. I leave mine off just for convenience's sake, but I always have this fear that the claw will give way and disembowel me. It's be a pretty funny way to go!

Very Spinal Tap

If you take off the spring cover the springs get damped by contact with your body. I prefer the natural chorus effect of leaving the cover on myself but I'll admit it's very subtle.

[thearabianmage]

Very Spinal Tap

If you take off the spring cover the springs get damped by contact with your body.

When I took my BC Rich to a luthier to have it fixed, he said that leaving the back cover off exposes the springs etc. to excess moisture which can lead them to rust. Since then, I've always just kept mine on. . .

[Robert****]

In order to get great tone, I gently brush off all dust from guitar with a swiffer duster.

[thearabianmage]

In order to get great tone, I gently brush off all dust from guitar with a swiffer duster.

I feed my guitar pizza and whiskey, does the job every time, although every now and again, the whammy bar goes a bit wobbly. . .

[Robert****]

I order to get great jazz tone from my axe, I wrap it in soft blankets and I read a good book to it. Mellows it right down.

[sunvalleylaw]

In order to get great tone, I gently brush off all dust from guitar with a swiffer duster.

Hmm, that's old skool. I use compressed air!

[thearabianmage]

Whenever I want to play metal, I slap my guitar around a little bit, call it names, and tell it that it's worthless. . . But I have to watch it, because it could start whining and get all country on me if I do it too much. . .