A Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster came in for a setup after a previous owner's home attempt left it out of spec.
What Came In
A Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster in a purple metallic finish with a maple neck. The previous owner had attempted a setup himself and gotten the guitar out of whack. The new owner brought it in to get it back to spec.
What We Found
Saddles, intonation, tremolo springs, and truss rod were all incorrectly adjusted. The nut was also high on the bass strings from the factory, which the previous owner hadn't addressed.
What We Did
Adjusted the saddles, intonation, tremolo springs, and truss rod back to spec. Filed the nut to even out the string heights. About an hour on the bench.
Result
Plays the way a Custom Shop Strat should. New owner walked out happy.
Worth Knowing
This is one of the most common things that comes across the bench in Glens Falls. Owners watch a setup video, give it a try, and bring the guitar in playing worse than when they started. The individual adjustments aren't the hard part. The trouble is they all interact, and the nut almost always gets skipped because it needs files most owners don't own.
This one is also a Custom Shop Stratocaster, the top tier of Fender's production. Custom Shop bodies are routed for their exact pickup configuration rather than the one-size-fits-all routes used in the production line, the necks get more hand attention at the edges and frets, and the finishes are typically nitro lacquer rather than poly. The kind of guitar that rewards a careful setup and gets noticeably worse from a sloppy one.
Bring It In
Tried a setup yourself and the guitar feels off? Bring it in. Standard setup is $79 and we'll get it back in your hands as soon as possible.
Related
- What a Guitar Setup Includes and Why It Matters
- When to Take Your Guitar to a Tech vs. Fix It Yourself
- What Is Fret Buzz and How Do I Fix It
- How to Tell If a Vintage Fender's Pickups Are Original
Paul's Guitar Hideout is located at The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls, NY. Use the Cooper Street entrance and take the stairs up. If you need assistance, give us a call and we'll come down.
The Shirt Factory
71 Lawrence St., Suite 201B, 2nd Floor
Glens Falls, NY 12801
Wednesday to Sunday, 12 to 5pm
(518) 217-8695 · info@paulsguitarhideout.com