Setting up a Strat for slide and regular blues

[robn]

Hi,

I'm after some advice (again!).

I have an American standard strat, which is presently fitted with Rotosound Reds 11-48. I'd like to go a bit heavier for slide but still want to be able to play blues in standard tuning. The floating bridge has three springs on it at present - I don't use the wammy so wouldn't mind locking down the bridge. I reckon I may need more springs.

I fancy a set of Newtone 13-52s as I'll play mostly in standard tuning but occasionally go up to open a or open e.

Has anyone tried this set-up with an American standard strat - or am I asking too much?

What sort of relief should I set on the neck? What sort of action height should I set at the 12th fret so I can still thump out rhythm, and lead licks in standard but have enough room for slide (tuning up rather than down)?

Any thoughts gladly accepted!!!

Yours

Robn

[gadjojazz]

If it helps you can block the bridge. I do this by cutting a piece of wood that snuggly fits behind the trem block and the body. If you fit the plastic back cover plate back on it won't fall out. It can be slipped out if you want to reverse the job and go back to a balanced trem and lighter strings. I use 13s (not for slide but for a good jazz sound - Strats with heavy strings sound great) and set the action around 2mm at the 12th fret with just a shade of relief to stop buzzing when I play hard. You may also have to re-notch your nut as they only cut them for 10-46. This bit is not easily reversed.

[fitchmeister]

If you lock down the bridge - won't the bridge then be further back than the 'float point' that the original set up allowed? You'd have to adjust the intonation also?

Roj

[robn]

Great advice! I'm hoping to learn to play some jazz using my strat, there are some workshops starting this autumn near where I live - but primarily I want to transfer the blues songs I play on my reso to that warm Chicago/ Muddy Waters sound that I know is in my strat somewhere!

Thanks

Robn

[Mairena Red]

Hi Robn,

Jazz on a Strat, eh? Now there's an idea for a whole new thread

Seriously though, if you're looking for that warm Chicago/Muddy Waters sound why not take a leaf out of Muddy's book and try a Tele? Fender do a nice MW signature model (check out www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0138500309) though if your budget won't stretch to that you can always buy a Squier Standard Tele in candy apple red with a rosewood fingerboard and buy a couple of amp control knobs off the Fender website for that authentic look. The fixed bridge means you won't have to mess about with bits of wood to block it and the through-the-body string arrangement means that a set of heavier string won't rip the bridge off the body (something I live in fear of with my Danelectro U2 ).

That way you can keep your Strat for all that jazz.....

All the best,

Joe (aka Mairena Red)

[robn]

Thanks for the advice Joe,

It may be that I want my Strat to do too much and a second guitar set up solely for slide is what I need. That MW Tele looks beautiful

But space (and budget) are factors so I recon I'll put extra springs on the the bridge system and put on a set of pure nickel 12-52s with a wound 3rd and see how that goes for a jazz/slide mix.

Robn