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I've got (but am about to sell) the Blacktop Stratocaster. I'm pleased to report that it's really good, but you'd think that Fender would have gotten the hand of making a Strat by now, even one with two HB's... though the string tree on mine was screwed right down too.
I'm only selling it as I'm incapable of playing it without cracking my knuckles off the volume pot- back to LP types I go.
The Telecoustic/Stratacoustics were generally pretty poor too - often very badly set up (especially the nut) and with really nasty-sounding electrics.
I can't really think of very many total dog models they've made though.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
I totally get this bodyshape now- it's really comfortable & I've even been using the trem on occasion! The issue is entirely user error- I get into a song and then start flailing away... right into the volume pot.
Every. Damn. Time.
The best way to explain the situation:
It's a testament to Fender build quality that there's NO damage to the guitar whatsoever!
No, you can't sit and watch it spin round, but even after the strings are suitably stretched, any bends over a half step put enough tension on the peg that you're about a quarter step flat when it releases.
While it's the tension that's the problem, the solution isn't lower tension (obviously) it's machineheads fit for purpose.
https://www.patreon.com/leviclay | https://www.youtube.com/c/leviclay
You can make 1960s Hofner machineheads - and other similarly primitive vintage ones - work perfectly well if you string and tune them properly, so I'd be astonished if that wasn't true with any heads Fender use in the 21st century.
I may be wrong, but I've never come across anything like that...
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
I also wonder what the increase in tension actually is, based on the lengthened scale in conjunction with the lower pitch compared to a Mex Tele with say, 13s on it. Normally those machine heads are perfectly sufficient for hefty 'normal' strings - even at open E with 13s, that's why I questioned it.
:-)
https://www.patreon.com/leviclay | https://www.youtube.com/c/leviclay
It's not uncommon for us to find it hard to explain how something FEELS because I understand that we all describe sensory input differently.
https://www.patreon.com/leviclay | https://www.youtube.com/c/leviclay
This is true. When I worked in a big music shop, one of the most common jobs I got asked to do was "fit a new set of machineheads because the guitar won't stay in tune". In at least 9 out of 10 cases there was nothing wrong with the machineheads - it was the nut or the way they were strung or tuned that was the problem. I would always explain this and demonstrate by setting the guitar up properly, rather than fitting replacement heads, hence saving the customer some cash… over the years I've probably talked myself out of the value of a pretty nice guitar or two by doing that. A lot of repairers would just fit the new heads - which is why you see so many nice old guitars drilled out for Schallers or Grovers - but the guitar still wouldn't stay in tune.
Exactly, the tension on baritone strings is no greater than standard ones - that's the whole point of using a longer scale, and they're tuned down anyway.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
https://www.patreon.com/leviclay | https://www.youtube.com/c/leviclay
Some vintage basses - eg Hofners - do have very small posts, and this is a problem with them if you don't use very flexible strings.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
I dare say the Fender Katana and indeed the Squier version will have their fan clubs and haters