My guitar needs help

[coldspot]

I posted a thread a while ago

 

http://www.coldplaying.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51093

 

about my electric guitar which had developed a strange rattle. Nobody seems to know what's wrong with it so i'm back here again because the rattle keeps getting worse. It's so bad now that I'm sure it's going to fall to bits :o

 

If anyone has any idea what it may be (it's rattling in the bridge) please let me know :) before I get :( and :cry:.

[princesanji]

restring your guitar and set it up properly.

those many screws are to make your guitar sound good and playable, not just decoration, you know? ;)

what guitar is it actually? (would us help to help you)

the setup is damn important for your playing, didn't you know?

[Darlene_Ihnfsa]

guitars need to change strings (change them all), once in a while, depend how often you use them. (like once each 6 month or a year - that at least with classic/acoustic guitars).

could be the pickups? :thinking: i know those have to be checked often too, so dust don't cause problems and so.

btw have you got an amplifier?

[princesanji]

what the?! pickups don't need to be checked often at all... and they would not cause string buzzing in any way! (except if your action is so low that the strings would be on top of the PU covers - if present -)

the strings are normally changed every week or 2 weeks (though you can play them about a month sometimes), depends on how much you play and if they still have the right sound. they often loose their brilliance quite fast...

i wonder how you could possibly leave strings on a guitar for over 6 months! (actually, they do tend to break faster than that!) cannot sound good anymore...

[coldspot]

i wonder how you could possibly leave strings on a guitar for over 6 months!

 

Well I used to play a guitar that hadn't had a string change for 22 years :lol:

 

My guitar is a strat copy but antique-styled so I'm not sure I wanna go ahead and mess with it in case something breaks cause I wouldn't be able to get replacement parts.

 

Yes I've got an amp now and changing the strings doesn't fix it. Could I tighten the screws on the bridge?

[PianoRocker]

remove your bridge from the guitar, check for roughness and use a file to make it smooth.. BUT only a little bit and not too much!!!

Also remove the pickups and other hardware and clean everything to make it as new(not necessary but good for your guitar).

Also clean up the nut and file where needed.

Clean up the tuners and the headstok+neck.

 

Put everything back in it's place and before you string it re-check everything.

Now string it with new strings, use Ernieball strings, they are doing a very good job! My Ernieballs are on the guitar for about 2 months and sounds as new... :)

 

Now the harder parts begins.. setup the guitar.

 

Tune your guitar in standard tuning with a tuner(!) and with playing fret 12.

When that's done play the harmonic on fret 12 on high E and after that the normal note on fret 12. The tuning must be the same.

If the normal note sounds flatter than the harmonic move the saddle on the bridge forwards to the neck. If it is sharp move it the other way.

Keep doing this with all of the strings.

 

Now it's time to adjust the tuss rod to straighten the neck.

I don't know exactly what guitar you have, but I see you have a strat copy, so you can better look here for that: http://www.fender.com/support/stratocaster_setup_guide.php

 

These are the most important things.

But if you have to play harder or softer, setup the action of the guitar, check the link above.

 

One tip: Bring the guitar to a local store, let them setup it and follow the proces.

[Darlene_Ihnfsa]

what the?! pickups don't need to be checked often at all... and they would not cause string buzzing in any way! (except if your action is so low that the strings would be on top of the PU covers - if present -)

the strings are normally changed every week or 2 weeks (though you can play them about a month sometimes), depends on how much you play and if they still have the right sound. they often loose their brilliance quite fast...

i wonder how you could possibly leave strings on a guitar for over 6 months! (actually, they do tend to break faster than that!) cannot sound good anymore...

my bad, i read somewhere that those need to be 'checked' someway too :confused:

may it was most luthier oriented site where i read that. :thinking:

 

sorry.

[cele]

my guitar is similar as yours :shame:

[princesanji]

ok,

1:

you don't want to mess it? DON'T put a hand on your stuff, never file anything, just stop! you're not a pro, so leave it to someone who's got the skills

2:

if you want to set up intonation and the truss rod adjustment, work on the truss rod FIRST! if you have your intonation correct and then change your trussrod setting, you screw it up!

3:

generally, bring your axe to a local store, they'll do that professionally and relatively cheap. intonation + action: US$25-30 is a fair price!

some say you should let your guitar be set up as the seasons change ( = 4 times a year), often, twice a year is also good (once in summer & winter), and sometimes, once a year is ok too.

--if your strings don't buzz (yours do, sorry), then there's no real reason to let it be set up. then it's just personal taste.

[PianoRocker]

ok,

1:

you don't want to mess it? DON'T put a hand on your stuff, never file anything, just stop! you're not a pro, so leave it to someone who's got the skills

2:

if you want to set up intonation and the truss rod adjustment, work on the truss rod FIRST! if you have your intonation correct and then change your trussrod setting, you screw it up!

3:

generally, bring your axe to a local store, they'll do that professionally and relatively cheap. intonation + action: US$25-30 is a fair price!

some say you should let your guitar be set up as the seasons change ( = 4 times a year), often, twice a year is also good (once in summer & winter), and sometimes, once a year is ok too.

--if your strings don't buzz (yours do, sorry), then there's no real reason to let it be set up. then it's just personal taste.

@1 If you only file the splinters if they are there, and not more.

But ofcourse not more than that. Some guitars have splinters on them especialy cheap copy guitars but also expensive guitars tho.

@2 Indeed sorry that I made a mistake in there :)

 

And yes, best is to let it be done in a store or guitar builder.

But it's very easy to learn it, I always do it perfectly by my guitars. the only problem is, it can take longer.

[princesanji]

the only problem is, it can take longer.

 

well THAT is a fairly cheap price to pay for a perfect playability ;)

[coldspot]

Okay guys, thank a million for all the advice :)

I'm gonna take it to this guitar wiz who'll pull it apart and check it because I'll just stuff it up :D

 

Thank you!