String gauge

[Ralph]

What gauge strings are on a Hamer Chaparal with the sustianic?

[cmatthes]

Any gauge you want, but they shipped from Hamer with .009s.

[Ralph]

If I used .010's would I have to adjust anything?

[Bennyboy-UK]

Depends what the last set were that were on it. And how it was set up. It's probably a 20 odd year old guitar so could have had All sorts of different gauges on it.

Have you had it long?

If, for the sake of arguement it had 9s on it and you are changing to 10s, then usual stuff applies. You might need a tiny truss rod tweak, you'll certainly need to adjust the floyd rose bridge, as that'll probably be all over the shop if you change gauges. Intonation will need a look

From an electronics point of view, that's probably the least of concerns. Maybe adjust the pickup heights a fraction but probably not.

Any help?

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

Videos on Floyd Upgrades website showing how to set-up a Floyd properly. As Ben said, if changing which gauge you are using, the trem springs will need re-setting & the intonation may be out. Tis only a 15/20 minute job setting up a Floyd (from scratch) once you know how...

[Ralph]

I just bought it. I put 9's on it. Haven't had a chance to play it yet. I'll find out how it sounds today.

[JohnnyB]

...if changing which gauge you are using, the trem springs will need re-setting & the intonation may be out. Tis only a 15/20 minute job setting up a Floyd (from scratch) once you know how...

... or 2 hours if you don't.

[Bennyboy-UK]

Plus hypodermic string injury!

[carfish7]

There are 2 adjustments for the Sustainiac inside the control cavity in a semi- related fashion..........

http://www.sustainiac.com/ga-1-2.htm

[Ralph]

I have some fret buzz on the low E string. Will tweaking the truss rod fix this? This guitar has been sitting in it's case for a few years.

[RichRS6]

If you have got the action and intonation sorted out after changing string gauges from 9's to 10's I would let it rest for a couple of days at least before fiddling around with the truss rod too much especially if you aren't too sure about what you're doing.

I did all my learning how to fook up guitars on cheap things that I wasn't too worried about.

Have a look on line, u tube will have some vids but if you are unsure in any way it would be better to take it to someone who knows what they're doing rather than go at it hammer and tongs and screw something up which could end up costing a whole lot of money to fix later..

I don't know where you are based but a basic setup should only cost $50.00 ish and the Luthier will be able to advise on any other issues it may have, it will be money well spent.

[JohnnyB]

I don't know where you are based but a basic setup should only cost $50.00 ish and the Luthier will be able to advise on any other issues it may have, it will be money well spent.

I bought a Centaura HB for my stepson 11 years ago, and the setup (which included either a saddle or string clamp replacement on the Floyd) cost $70. It was significantly more than for a setup with a tunamatic or garden variety Strat vibrato. Of course YMMV, but this was with a tech I'd gone to for a few years because he was so accessible and reasonable.

It was a great setup though, and your bigger point that it's money well spent, which it was. For the amateur, before you get to where you can set up a Floyd in 15-20 minutes, you have to put in about a half a day experimenting with the adjustments of all those little parts and their interdependencies. Also, a 2-way vibrato is a more delicate balancing act than a 6-screw Strat vibrato. And that's true of the G&L Dual Fulcrum bridge as well. Knife-edge vibratos rely on a delicate balance between string and spring tension.

[RichRS6]

So $50 was pretty close then (even if it was 11 years out) ? Not a bad guess.

As said money well spent and if you live in Nashville you can go see Murkat which I'm sure would make it worth every cent.

After many years i feel pretty confident about most aspects of string action, intonation (which is of course for pussies anyway) trem set up etc etc but I still get a bit of a cold sweat on when it comes to truss rod adjustments.

[Ralph]

Thanks for all the input. I'm about a five hour drive from Nashville. If Murkat lived in Knoxville I would be all over it.

[Bobby Marshall]

Thanks for all the input. I'm about a five hour drive from Nashville. If Murkat lived in Knoxville I would be all over it.

Murkat is worth the shipping both ways. He gets all my work and I live near Chicago. I have had 5 guitars sent to him this year. Another going soon.

Also, if you have close friends/relatives that go to Nashville semifrequently, they could drop off and pickup?

[RichRS6]

True enough, I live in the U.K. and sent one over for him to work his magic on.

[murkat]

Thanks for all the input. I'm about a five hour drive from Nashville. If Murkat lived in Knoxville I would be all over it.

come on down

I'll be in knoxville for some musky fishing this spring...

[Ralph]

I'm gonna have a local dude check it out for now. But in the spring I will shoot you a PM.