Conference napalm::guitar

    Hmmm mY strat got better sustain when I bolted the trem down....(way
    back before I got a floyd...)
          
    I'd check the strings
    
    dbii

    Graham-
    
    	The rollers on the Kahler weren't changed during the work, were
    they?  That's the only thing I can think of.  What kind of rollers
    are on there?  Brass or otherwise?   
    
    That's interesting.  I locked my Kahler down as well, doesn't budge
    one bit, and I never noticed any sound change.  
    
    The electrics weren't fussed with, the Kahler is put back together
    *solid*?  
    
    Very perplexing indeed...
    
    craig
    

    Graham,
    
    You mention that you've had the action lowered. How low is that? If
    you've had it put waaaaaaay down, it would affect the sustain -
    particularly if you've got high-output pickups.
    
    Just a thought
    
    Nick

    Ok,More info -
    
    The trem' had a couple of fine tuners replaced (dye casting cracked)
    
    The rollers are brass and have not been touched.
    
    Strings were replaced when the guitar was 'rebuilt'. Although I
    am using 10-46 rather than 10-38 gauge.
    
    The PU's are stock.
    
    The action is low but not LOW and the trem' has not been bolted
    RIGHT down as this would leave the string 'bending' round the rollers
    rather than coming off the rollers in a horizontal fasion.
                        _____           _____  
    side elevation.   / o      not     <o      if you get my drift.
                    
    Any use ?
    
    Graham ...

    Looking for a Dr ?
    
    Where do you live ??
    
    Shrewsbury too far ???
    
    Check Macduffs [(508) 752-2704] on Rte 9, (right next to Spags)
    
    This guy is a fantastic luthier.  I've never been to one better
    in 20 years of playing guitar, and needing work done to them over
    the years.

    re: .4
    
    Hmm.  You say that your Kahler isn't way back so the strings 'bend'
    over the rollers.  my Kahler is locked all the way back.  Is this
    not good?  
    
    My nifty diagram:
                      String     roller
    		     ------------o---
                                     \   <-- not as drastic an angle,
    				      \	     of course.
                      
    should the swing-arm be on the same angle?
                  
    /craig
    

    
    Another thing to check...
    
    If your action was lowered a lot, maybe your pickups are too close
    to the string when you are playing the higher frets. Even if the
    PU's don't touch the string, the magnetic field may be strong enough
    to actually deaden the strings.
    
    I had this problem once (string sounded dead, esp the low E, on
    the higher frets) and lowering the PU's fixed it. You will have
    to experiment to find the optimal PU height.
    
    If you can't lower your PU's any more, you will have to:
    1. increase the angle where the neck meets the body (shim it or
       use the allen key)
    2. increase your bridge and roller height
    
    This will increae the distance between the PU' and strings, while
    maintaining the low action.
    Note that if you have to start adjusting the neck angle, you will
    be in for a lot of adjusting and tweaking. You may be better off
    letting an expert do it.

    re: .7
    
    I remember reading that Strats are rather notorious for this (pickups
    being too close to strings and the magnetic field dampening them).
    
    Greg

    Re. .5/.6
    
    		I'm afraid you suggestions for a Dr. are little out
    		of the way for me, I live in Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex
    		England not far from Chelmsford !!!
    
    		If you are a reader of musicians_uk you'll have read
    		my previous saga of finding a suitable luthier to carry
    		out some work on my trem' which when replaced caused
    		my current problem.
                                                             
    		As for the angle of the trem unit. It was suggested
    		to me that if the trem' was fixed down the unit would
    		be angled beyond it's 'usual' fulcrum (sp). Therefore,
    		the strings 'leave' the trem' at an angle which is not
    		parallel to the body or neck ??!!
    
    		If anybody understands this 'parrot' explanation can
    		they explain the ramifications to me ??!!
                                                         
    
    Graham ...

    As a slight aside, but looking to the same conclusion.
    
    I'm looking to possibly replace the PU's in my Strat' (this one MUST
    have been discussed before, where ?) As I understand it the Jap' model
    which I own does not use the same PU's as other models (Squire/U.S.)
    
    I don't want to change anything other than make the guitar louder
    so I can overdrive a little easier and get more sustain. 
    Tone etc. is jus' fine perhaps a little weak.
    
    Am I doing the right thing by replacing the PU's ?
                                          
    Graham ...

    Thanxs peep's for the info,
    
    My PU's were angled incorrectly bottom E and A poles too close to the
    strings on all 3 PU's !!! 
    
    So now I can sing a little better than before !
    
    Graham ...