Home › Forums › Discuss Your Gear › having an interesting problem with my stratocaster
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September 27, 2019 at 12:24 am #144917
I have an American Special Stratocaster ( with texas pickups & a humbucker = HSS )
a short time ago I started noticing that my B & E strings didn’t have the volume of the rest of my strings.
so I unplugged my effects and plugged right into the amp I got the same results but some what more noticeable.
at this point I thought is might be the amp so I unplugged my strat and got out my less paul and it worked fine through the amp.
I have never heard of this problem before? I am thinking that something in the wiring might be the problem?
DOES ANY ONE HAVE ANY IDEAS OF THAT THIS MIGHT BE??Thank You
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September 27, 2019 at 2:44 am #144918
https://www.fender.com/articles/tech-talk/whats-a-pickup-pole-and-why-is-it-so-important
Appears pole adjustment can affect individual string volume. Have you been adjusting string height.
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September 27, 2019 at 2:50 am #144919
No
I had this guitar set up by a fender authorized service tech.
I haven’t changed a thing, -
September 27, 2019 at 2:59 am #144923
Is that on all pickups or just 1?
Could it be a treble roll off giving a perceived volume drop?
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September 27, 2019 at 3:14 am #144924
no I don’t think so? I set every thing on 5 -bass, treb, mid, the last few weeks I have been trying a some effects that i bought.
but in discovering this problem the first thing I tried was to disconnect the effects and run right into my amp
problem was still there, then i unplugged the strat and got my les paul- plugged that in and it sounded fine.
so I am thinking it may be something in the strat But- I am no guitar tech
My motto ; “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” -
September 27, 2019 at 5:03 am #144932
The second forum link above talks about the stagered pole pieces.
However I read some stuff on alnico magnets being easily degauzzed some say resting the guitar up against the amps speaker magnets being the cause but that would affect all the pickups I think ?
I would try adjusting the pole height on the treble side as suggested in the fender forum, take note of screw position so you can put it back to where you started if it does not help.
Sometimes non paying members do not see links.
Vorocnan -
September 27, 2019 at 5:52 am #144936
Hi appears the staggering poles on Texas specials are a problem from another fender forum
Welcome.
The pots (and capacitor for that matter) are irrelevant in this situation.
Believe it or not, the problem you have is ‘normal’ and rampant. The Texas Specials have a staggered magnet height which dates back to a mid 20th Century design. This design was for a wound G string where the lightest string gauge set started with a .012 for the high E. Unfortunately, nothing can be done to correct this with the Texas Specials. You can only minimize the problem by lowering the bass side of the pickups where the strings will balance better with the exception of the G string which will then become too loud.
There’s nothing wrong with your English.
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Re: Fender Texas Specials Problem
Thu Mar 17, 2011 11:32 am
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When i strum a chord it´s not very perceptible but when i solo on the two strings and attack them harder is noticeable that it looses punch.I start to think that maybe have to do with the low string gauge (09s).
What string gauge you use with texas special?
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Re: Fender Texas Specials Problem
Thu Mar 17, 2011 12:03 pm
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Changing to a 10-46 set should provide a small but perceptible change in the guitar’s volume.Arjay
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Re: Fender Texas Specials Problem
Thu Mar 17, 2011 1:04 pm
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csantos wrote:
When i strum a chord it´s not very perceptible but when i solo on the two strings and attack them harder is noticeable that it looses punch.I start to think that maybe have to do with the low string gauge (09s).
What string gauge you use with texas special?
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September 27, 2019 at 8:27 am #144940
I’ve had that same perceived problem with the exact same Strat model I bought new in Sept. 2014.
I concluded that what you are hearing is just a property of those pick-ups.
If you turn up the volume knob all the way up on your guitar (wakes up the house), the problem is less perceived by me. Or, with just the neck pick-up enabled, the problem is somewhat mitigated. Finally, if the push the humbucker knob down (really loud) the problem goes away for me.
That is one of the reasons I bought the Jeff Beck Strat. This problem seems to go away for me with the Jeff Beck Strat.However, you still have a great Strat, I believe. I think Richie D has the exact same model Strat, and he said he loves it, in a recent video. You might try asking him what he thinks.
Larry
P.S. I use 9 gauge strings also. -
September 27, 2019 at 3:35 pm #144947
It’s really easy to replace the pickups on a Strat. It took me about 30 minutes. And you can buy new Fender pickups online for incredibly cheap. I would just try another type of pickup. Mine, I think, are vintage noiseless, and sound great. Now there is a new noiseless pickup called Gen4, and next time I’ll try those.
Sunjamr Steve
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September 27, 2019 at 6:27 pm #144953
What string gauge you use with texas special?
Earnie Ball 9-42 -
September 27, 2019 at 6:33 pm #144954
my guitar tech is trying to tell me that this is caused by my strings being too old ( 6 mo)
I’m thinking not so much……….every one thank you for all your help and links!!!
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September 27, 2019 at 11:34 pm #144970
Strings too old? That sounds like rubbish. I use 009s on my strat, and I leave them on for about a year. And I play it for maybe an hour every day. No problem. And every string sounds just about exactly the same volume.
Sunjamr Steve
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September 28, 2019 at 3:47 am #144977
YouTube link to heating the pole pieces to adjust however there is risk of breaking the pickup.
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September 28, 2019 at 5:10 pm #145038
yet another set of variables on the strat model
5 neck configurations
and 5 fret sizes ( as i recall)
and who knows how many types of pick ups. -
September 28, 2019 at 6:44 pm #145041
I’m also confronted with a most recent problem with similar issues.. last few weeks all of a sudden the third (middle position) on the 5 way switch drops off very low compared to the other four switch positions.
I already checked the switch with an ohm meter for continuity so thinking now it could be the dang lance pickups ,, if I find the one bad, I was told I’d have to replace all three.. not going to worry about until the guitarman helps me .. i have enough guitar for now but have to get my strat working 100% too.
will keep it posted here too after I find out the issue.
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September 28, 2019 at 6:49 pm #145042
It’s really easy to replace the pickups on a Strat. It took me about 30 minutes. And you can buy new Fender pickups online for incredibly cheap. I would just try another type of pickup. Mine, I think, are vintage noiseless, and sound great. Now there is a new noiseless pickup called Gen4, and next time I’ll try those.
I’m going to use whatever my guitarguy recommends for my American strat but only if the issue is a bad pick up..I’ll share here once I know what issue I’m dealing with.
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September 28, 2019 at 8:31 pm #145047
JADM, LISTEN TO MY lACE PICKUP MIDDLE SWITCH MIDDLE PICK UP went BAD i’m guessing?
I’ll eventually find out once my guitar man and me start the process of elimination.
skip to about 3:30 into my tonight’s practice on 328
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September 29, 2019 at 2:42 am #145059
Hi Sunburst link to guitar tech working on something similar first he tries resetting the solder to pickup coil wire which does not work then proceeds to replace the coil wire but some of the comments say try removing a few hundred coils and resolder
Good luck with it. -
September 29, 2019 at 3:34 am #145062
yes it seems like something is not right there
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September 29, 2019 at 6:42 pm #145105
yes it seems like something is not right there
My guitar man and I took off the pick guard this morning,, checked everything with the ohm meter..screwed it back together plays fine now ..i think it was apinched wire but have no idea all i know is the strat is fine.. thanks much..yes i was glad it wasn’t my LACE pickups.. switch works fine now!
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October 8, 2019 at 5:40 pm #146788
So.
I went to my guitar tech a few days ago, he went right to the issue that the stringss might be too old ( this is a fender service tech) I rejected the string theory, so he played the guitar and though he did find the problem
he was down playing it.
I also asked him about the D&G poles being so high (when picking or strumming I catch the tip of the pick on these poles ) I have owned strats before and played dozens that belong to other people and I had never encountered this problem. my tech told me that most players ditch the middle pickup because it gets in their way. (?? I’m not buying this solution)
so my guitar is still under warranty, he took it in and will go over it.and I think in the mean time I will look for another guitar tech
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October 8, 2019 at 6:19 pm #146795
jadm, I read your post and agree ,I wouldn’t buy that about strings too old etc…. mine was likely a pinched wire but now it so far seems to be fine .. only advice I can offer here cause I didn’t here the issue is to youtube it,,perhaps find a solution to your partcular issue.
okay, i hope mine doesn’t blank out next time i pick it up//oh one last thing be sure jacks are good too! can’t overlook equipment failure either just be sure amp jack etc. too good luck!
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October 10, 2019 at 3:54 am #146904
I use super slinky 9/42, always have and never had a problem. I am considering Sunjamr’s idea of getting
the fender noiseless ( they make a hot version) but I would like to try to “fix what I have now” before throwing money at the problem. -
October 10, 2019 at 7:24 am #146910
I use super slinky 9/42, always have and never had a problem. I am considering Sunjamr’s idea of getting
the fender noiseless ( they make a hot version) but I would like to try to “fix what I have now” before throwing money at the problem.noiseless is probably the way to go anyway.. especially home room playing with small bedroom amps
I think if not the pickups you might have some bad continuity issue
I know how to use my ohm meter to check switches now cause i had a similiar issue.. it turn out to be dust dirt or something minon .. the issue I SHARED HERE! I GUESS IT FIXED ITSELF ! LOL Thinking it had to be dust making a short of somekind.. anyway gl
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October 10, 2019 at 12:45 pm #146933
Reads to me that the pickup height on the treble side could be too low, but surely your tech guy would have spotted that??
..Billy..
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October 11, 2019 at 4:19 am #146989
I will see when it comes back,
thank you every one!!great forum!
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October 11, 2019 at 10:17 pm #147036
question
how does fender noiseless pickups compare to to the aftermarket pickups ( Dimarzio, seymour duncan and alike)
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October 14, 2019 at 6:54 am #147129
Jeff beck strat, what is the Special “C” Shape neck?
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October 31, 2019 at 4:47 am #148073
so .
i got word back from the tech, he says that my pickup is too low to get correct tone on the B&E strings
but the pick up is ok. the problem is that raising it will cause interference with my pick.
now I don’t go wild ( in a SRV kind of way) i rest the base of my hand on the bridge for palm muting
and plant my pinky finger on the pick guard when picking individual strings. I choke up on the pick to
minimize the amount of pick travel between notes.
but the middle pickup I am told is with in specs so fender won’t do any thing about it ( not very happy with fender)
So.. what to do now the tech wants to sell me a combination of Seymour Duncan pick ups
little 59 neck
cool rail mid
JB jr bridge
I don’t have a lot of experience with after market pickups ( any one have an opinion on this combination? -
October 31, 2019 at 5:10 am #148074
I’m not sure I understand, the pickup height is too low to pick up the string vibrations so the cure to that is not raise the pickup height but to sell you and install different pickups?..why can’t you just raise the pickup height and use less of the pick to strike the strings?.
..Billy..
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October 31, 2019 at 6:06 am #148076
Billy
now I don’t go wild ( in a SRV kind of way) i rest the base of my hand on the bridge for palm muting
and plant my pinky finger on the pick guard when picking individual strings.
I choke up on the pick to minimize the amount of pick travel between notes.but with my palm on the bridge my pick travels right over the middle pickup ( big hands)
if i raise the pickup the d&g poles are so close to the strings that the tip of the pick catches on the top of the pole -
October 31, 2019 at 7:52 pm #148126
Billy
now I don’t go wild ( in a SRV kind of way) i rest the base of my hand on the bridge for palm muting
and plant my pinky finger on the pick guard when picking individual strings.
I choke up on the pick to minimize the amount of pick travel between notes.but with my palm on the bridge my pick travels right over the middle pickup ( big hands)
if i raise the pickup the d&g poles are so close to the strings that the tip of the pick catches on the top of the poleI would sell it and buy something new or better used.. by now if what you tried and all just saying
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November 5, 2019 at 3:26 am #149787
I would sell it and buy something new or better used.. by now if what you tried and all just saying
I contacted fender service and explained the problem. the service rep told me this was an old design that
did have a more pronounced pole configuration. ( and basically told me it is what it is) it’s within spec for this design so they will not do anything about it.
( NOT HAPPY WITH FENDER AFTER-SALES SERVICE!)
I am trying to figure out how to salvage this without loosing hundreds in the process, or having a guitar that costs as as much as getting one from the custom shop -
February 29, 2020 at 7:11 pm #162054
my wife solved the problem , Christmas present, strat into the shop
frets re-crowned to med jumbo
pickups changed to seymore duncan
internals got up gradedit sounds and plays wonderful now
moral of the story don’t buy Texas special pickups!!
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