A Japanese Fender Stratocaster with a blue-green burst flame top came in for a setup with the intonation off, the saddles out and the electronics scratchy, which Dave put down to the guitar drying out and not being played. Saddles and intonation set, electronics cleaned, pickups adjusted. Forty-five minutes.
- Instrument
- Fender Stratocaster, made in Japan, blue-green burst flame top, maple neck
- Tech
- Dave Eastwood
- Customer complaint
- Setup
- Diagnosis
- Intonation off; electronics scratchy; saddle height off; probably from drying out and not being played
- Work performed
- Saddle heights and intonation adjusted; electronics cleaned; pickups adjusted
- Parts
- None
- Bench time
- 45 minutes
- Outcome
- Intonated, no issues with the electronics
What Came In
A Japanese Fender Stratocaster with a blue-green burst over a flame top and a maple neck, in for a setup.
What We Found
The intonation was off and the saddle heights were out. The electronics were scratchy. Dave's reading was that the guitar had dried out and sat unplayed.
What We Did
Adjusted the saddle heights and the intonation. Cleaned the electronics and adjusted the pickups. About 45 minutes on the bench.
Result
Intonated, with no issues left in the electronics.
Why does a guitar that sat unplayed come back scratchy and out of tune up the neck?
Two things happen at once. The wood dries and moves, so the neck and the saddle heights no longer match the setup it left with. And pots and switches that are not turned collect dust and oxidize, so the first few turns crackle. Both are routine on the bench, and both come back if the guitar goes back into the closet.
Related
- The Repair Vault
- Guitar Setups at Paul's Guitar Hideout
- How to Store a Guitar Long-Term
- How Humidity Affects Your Guitar, and What to Do About It
- Fender 50th Anniversary Stratocaster: Cleaning and Setup After Years Unplayed
Bring It In
Guitar that has been in the case since last winter? A cleaning and a setup bring it back. Setups at the Hideout.
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 stairs are difficult or you're bringing in something you don't want to carry up, call or text us and we'll arrange access.
The Shirt Factory
71 Lawrence St., Suite 201B, 2nd Floor
Glens Falls, NY 12801
Wednesday–Sunday, 12–5 PM
(518) 217-8695 · info@paulsguitarhideout.com