Fender American Special Stratocaster HSS Owners Manual - Page 22

Changing Strings, Setting Intona

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1. CHANGING STRINGS There is no better, faster or easier way to reinvigorate the sound of your guitar than simply changing the strings. It's easy to tell when strings are old, worn or dirty-they sound dull and lifeless, and they feel rough when you run your fingers along them. Changing strings isn't difficult, but there are several ways to do it depending on what Fender® guitar model you have. Strings attach at the bridge and to the headstock at the tuning machines. Fender guitar models use a variety of bridges and tuning machines, and different instruments call for different string replacement instructions. Please note the way strings are installed on your guitar before changing the strings. 22 2. SETTING INTONA Whatever bridge type on your guitar, the main thing is to make sure there's sufficient string break angle (at least 30˚) over the bridge saddles. Bridge adjustments such as string height and tremolo float are mostly up to personal preference. Intonation, however, is a very precise series of measurements. Fear not, though-you can easily preset your guitar's basic intonation. With a tape measure, find the exact scale length of your guitar by measuring from the inside edge of the nut to the center of the 12th fret (the fret wire itself, not the fingerboard space). Double that measurement to determine the scale length of your guitar. Adjust the first-string bridge saddle to this scale length, measuring from the inside of the nut to the center of the bridge saddle. Now

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1. CHANGING STRINGS
2. SETTING INTONA
There is no better, faster or easier way to
reinvigorate the sound of your guitar than simply
changing the strings. It’s easy to tell when strings
are old, worn or dirty—they sound dull and
lifeless, and they feel rough when you run your
fingers along them. Changing strings isn’t difficult,
but there are several ways to do it depending on
what Fender
®
guitar model you have.
Strings attach at the bridge and to the
headstock at the tuning machines. Fender
guitar models use a variety of bridges and
tuning machines, and different instruments call
for different string replacement instructions.
Please note the way strings are installed on
your guitar before changing the strings.
Whatever bridge type on your guitar, the
main thing is to make sure there’s sufficient
string break angle (at least 30˚) over the
bridge saddles. Bridge adjustments such
as string height and tremolo float are
mostly up to personal preference.
Intonation, however, is a very precise series
of measurements. Fear not, though—you can
easily preset your guitar’s basic intonation.
With a tape measure, find the exact scale
length of your guitar by measuring from
the inside edge of the nut to the center of
the 12th fret (the fret wire itself, not the
fingerboard space). Double that measurement
to determine the scale length of your guitar.
Adjust the first-string bridge saddle to this
scale length, measuring from the inside of the
nut to the center of the bridge saddle. Now
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