Strat advice
Author
Discussion

franki68

Original Poster:

11,627 posts

250 months

Monday 10th June 2019
quotequote all
Just bought a MIM strat,strings are garbage and I think 9s,will I get away with just a change or will it need an adjustment ?
(Sounds daft but my main guitar doesn’t require any adjustment when changing gauge and all my other guitars have always had 10s on)

davidd

6,713 posts

313 months

Monday 10th June 2019
quotequote all
9 to 10 on a strat should be fine but always worth a setup anyway .

dojo

741 posts

164 months

Monday 10th June 2019
quotequote all
Should be fine - But watch some youtube videos and learn how to do basic setup yourself

Its amazing what you can do with a 2x capos, 2x Allen keys and set of feeler gauges!

V8FGO

1,670 posts

234 months

Monday 10th June 2019
quotequote all
I really like this guy, he has a few setup vids.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1dEZxBykRto&t=29...

Walter Sobchak

5,739 posts

253 months

Tuesday 11th June 2019
quotequote all
9s have always felt funny on a Strat to me, I’d just restring and see how it feels, might need setting up still though and I’ve never tried to tinker with and set mine up so can’t offer any further advice there.

singlecoil

35,825 posts

275 months

Tuesday 11th June 2019
quotequote all
Bear in mind that it also depends on the scale length. If you are accustomed to 10s on a Gibson then that's about the same as 9s on a Fender due to the extra 3/4" scale length requiring more tension to achieve any particular note from the string.

Also, if changing to 10s from 9s you will need to adjust the intonation and the saddles will need to be moved back (moved further from the nut). Best to do that while the strings are off the guitar, as it's easier to move them forward once the strings are on than back.