Any more recommendations for my partscaster?

[ledvedder]

I've now installed a graphtech nut, roller string trees, and put vintage steel saddles on it. I'm not sure if I'm liking the string trees. It now has a very (pingy?) sound to it. It almost sounds like it's coming from the saddles/bridge, when I just play it unplugged. Can you guys share some recommendations?

I'm also not crazy about how lightly colored the neck is.

 

[GOHOINC]

I like the sperzel staggered tuners, no need to string trees... I also prefer white TUSQ nuts.

 

[ledvedder]

Do you think I'd hear much difference going to modern steel saddles, or a brass block?

 

[moltenmetalburn]

stell saddles sound ping. brass makes a big difference as well. instead of experimenting decide the design goal first.

 

[cardinal]

Saddles do make a difference. The bent steel ones seem to have the most ping/zing. Folks hate on them, but the cheap zinc saddles can really warm up a Strat IME.

Staggered locking tuners are great on a Strat.

 

[ledvedder]

My design goal is basically to take a cheap strat (SX) and slowly upgrade it, to find what works best for me. And to hopefully learn a lot throughout the process. It does have staggered locking tuners. I've also put a mighty mite neck, graphtech nut, Dimarzio Norton, and a GFS steel tremolo on it. I know now that I hate the vintage saddles.

 

[thenine]

the trees are backwards. Should point the other way

 

[ledvedder]

the trees are backwards. Should point the other way

I looked that up, and most people said it doesn't matter which way they face. Although, I am contemplating moving them closer to the nut, because they are higher than standard trees, so they don't create much of an angle with the strings.

 

[thenine]

sorry for that post. I just checked mine and I have um going both ways! Duh. Whatever works. looking good so far. There are lots of bridge upgrades depending on how much $ you want to put in. Its like building a Chevy!

 

[ledvedder]

Well, I ordered a Wilkinson 5-1 last night. This one, http://www.guitarsupplies.nl/index.php? ... 76&lang=EN.

I played the guitar for a few hours last night, and I'm thinking some of what I'm hearing might be the Dimarzio Norton that I'm not liking in this guitar. It just doesn't seem to get that "ch-chunk" sound, like in the beginning of "You Really Got Me". And harmonics, which usually come easily with my style of playing (VH style) are difficult to achieve. I get them great with my Wolfgang. I'm wondering if a different pickup would work better in this guitar?

 

[snowdog]

The idea of staggered height machine heads is no string trees necessary. Why did you put them on ?

 

[ledvedder]

The idea of staggered height machine heads is no string trees necessary. Why did you put them on ?

I just thought it was the norm on strats.

 

[dirtyfunkg]

I put Hipshot staggered tuners on mine and it's doing great with staying in tune even with using the whammy bar. Graph-Tech at all other contact points though (Ghost saddles and a TUSQ XL bridge) and a Gotoh 510T 6 point trem bridge that I got from a fellow RT member.