Fender Stratocaster Faq
Adjusting the locking tremolo
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How do I adjust the locking tremolo on my Stratocaster guitar?
INTONATION AND ADJUSTMENT FOR STRATOCASTER® GUITARS
There are two types of locking tremolos found on Fender® guitars. The Floyd Rose® tremolo
uses a fine-tuning system at the bridge in combination with a locking nut. The American Deluxe
locking tremolo is used in combination with an LSR roller nut and locking tuning keys. Though
both are locking tremolos, they are strung, intonated and adjusted slightly differently.
Determine if your bridge is free-floating or flush-mounted to the body. If it's free-floating, we
recommend that you place a block or stop-piece under the bridge to prevent it from collapsing
when removing strings. The block must have soft foam or cloth on the underside to prevent
damage to the finish. A tremolo block device can easily be purchased at your local music store
or made at home.
INTONATION (ROUGHING IT OUT)
With a locking tremolo system, it's desirable to preset your guitar's basic intonation before
installing the strings. With a tape measure, measure from the inside of the nut to the center of
the 12th fret (the fret wire itself; not the fingerboard). Double that measurement to find the
scale length of your guitar.
On a Floyd Rose® locking tremolo, loosen the hex nut on top of the saddle. On an American
Deluxe locking tremolo, the hex lock-down screw is found beneath the bridge plate. Adjust the
first-string bridge saddle to the scale length, measuring from the inside of the nut to the center
of the bridge saddle. Re-tighten the lock-down screw. Now adjust the distance of the second-
string saddle back from the first-string saddle, using the gauge of the second string as a
measurement. For example, if the second-string gauge is .011", you'd move the second-string
saddle back .011" from the first-string saddle. Move the third-string saddle back from the
second-string saddle, using the gauge of the third string as a measurement. The fourth-string
saddle should be set parallel with the second-string saddle. Proceed with the fifth and sixth
strings in the same manner used for the second and third strings.
Note: Remember to re-tighten each lock-down screw as you make your adjustments.
STRING INSTALLATION
To properly install strings on both types of bridges, the hex screw located on the end of each
individual saddle must be loosened. Cut the ball-end of the string off directly above the tie-off
windings, insert the string as close to the center as possible and tighten the hex screw, locking
the string in place. Caution: Do not over-tighten the hex screw.
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Summary of Contents for Fender Stratocaster
- Page 1 How do I adjust the locking tremolo on my Stratocaster guitar? INTONATION AND ADJUSTMENT FOR STRATOCASTER® GUITARS There are two types of locking tremolos found on Fender® guitars. The Floyd Rose® tremolo uses a fine-tuning system at the bridge in combination with a locking nut. The American Deluxe locking tremolo is used in combination with an LSR roller nut and locking tuning keys.
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Page 2: Tools Needed
How do I set up my Stratocaster® guitar properly? STRATOCASTER® ADJUSTMENT AND CARE The following setup procedures and specifications are for your Stratocaster as equipped with the strings that come on the instrument as standard equipment from the factory. If you plan to change string gauges, you may need to adjust the specs somewhat to compensate for the changes in string sizes. - Page 3 No matter what gauge of strings you use, for the best tuning stability we recommend using Fender Bullet® strings. The patented bullet-end is specifically designed for all styles of tremolo use, from extreme dives to smooth vibrato passages. The design allows the string to travel freely in the bridge block channel during tremolo use and return afterwards to its original position, seated snugly in the bridge block.
- Page 4 Allowing the bridge to float freely (no tension on the tremolo arm) using the claw screws in the tremolo cavity, adjust the bridge to your desired angle—Fender spec is a 1/8" (3.2 mm) gap at rear of bridge. You'll need to retune periodically to get the right balance between the strings and the springs.
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Page 5: Truss Rod
There are two different styles of truss rod found on Fender instruments—"standard" and "bi- flex" truss rods. Most Fender guitars and basses are equipped with a standard truss rod (of which there are in turn two types: one that adjusts at the neck heel and one that adjusts at the headstock; both... - Page 6 Fender also uses a unique bi-flex truss rod system on some instruments. Unlike standard truss rods, which can only correct a neck that is too concave (under-bowed), the bi-flex truss rod can compensate concave or convex (over-bowed) curvature by generating a correcting force in either direction as needed.
- Page 7 Note: If you feel that this adjustment needs to be made and you're not comfortable doing it yourself, take your guitar to your local Fender Authorized Dealer. PICKUPS...
- Page 8 Set too high, pickups can cause myriad inexplicable phenomena. Depress all the strings at the last fret. Using a 6" (150 mm) ruler, measure the distance from the bottom of the first and sixth strings to the top of the pole piece. A good rule of thumb is that the distance should be greatest at the sixth-string neck pickup position, and closest at the first-string bridge pickup position.
- Page 9 Where can I take my instrument and/or amplifier to be repaired? Not all Fender® Authorized Service Centers are equipped to handle every type of service issue. Customers are advised to call first and verify that the service center can address your specific repair needs.
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