Strat Help

[skoora]

So I just got my first Strat and then realized i have no idea how to set up a Strat. The bridge is raised a decent amount. Do I tune it to pitch and adjust the claws first to get the bridge down? Then retune and re-adjust until it's balanced? It's an American Special and have the vintage synchronized bridge.

 

[paulyc]

Do you want the bridge dive only or floating ?

 

[sytharnia1560]

Do you want the bridge dive only or floating ?

this

If I ever want my strat bridge floating I do it the Jeff Beck way https://blog.andertons.co.uk/wp-content ... trat-1.jpg

 

[paulyc]

All of my actual strats are dive only, because I have floating Floyd Rose guitars, but if I didnt have the Floyds I'd have it set to pull up a half step.

 

[skoora]

I want to go for floating

 

[paulyc]

So tune to pitch with whatever gauge string you normally use and adjust the claw screws until you can pull it as far up as you want, just know you're going to go back and forth a few times on the claw setting and the tuning to get it perfect, and if you break a string when playing after it's all done the guitar will be hopelessly out of tune.

 

[skoora]

Do I need to mess with 6 screws that attach to the body. Some set up vids I've seen show them getting loosened, using the arm to make the trem level then tightening the outside pair of screws, then messing with springs etc.

 

[paulyc]

I've always lossened the middle 4 screws and make the outer 2 snug to the base. The springs only get messed with as far as the claw being looser or tighter to give you the pull up you want.

 

[cardinal]

Do I need to mess with 6 screws that attach to the body. Some set up vids I've seen show them getting loosened, using the arm to make the trem level then tightening the outside pair of screws, then messing with springs etc.

With the strings and springs off, back off all the screws. Then for each screw, tighten it to the point where the trem starts to tilt, then back off the screw just until the trem is back resting on the body. Then back out the middle four screws maybe 1/2 more.

I usually like to pull the G string about a step sharp, but it's kinda personal preference. It's just a bit of tweaking the spring tension to figure out where you need the trem to be.