How do you string a stratocaster?

Hello there,

If your Strat buzzes on the frets with the strings open, the problem is most likely at the nut. You may have put on a smaller size set of strings. The slots in your nut may have been cut for a thicker set of strings. The thinner ones will sit too low in the slots. Place a thin shim under the nut. Hopefully, who ever put the nut on did not use any glue. If he did, becareful removing the neck. I have worked on necks that had pretty big chunks of rosewood out due to a nut being glued in.

If that does not remove the fret buzz all the way down the neck, you will need to do a quick set up. Just do the neck relief and the action adjustments. But betore you do the set up, take a straight edge and check for a high fret. One may have popped up. Lay a straight edge across 3 frets (and only 3 frets) at a time. If the straight edge rocks, the middle fret is high. I do not recommend doing fret work at home. Take it to the shop and have the frets leveled. However, if there are no high frets, then do the quick set up.

Later,

Hello again,

I just thought of sumething. This is the first time you have put strings on a guitar. Did you get the strings trhough the saddles correctly. If not, the strings will sit too low and buzz. The string goes through the holes in the bridge block and come out on the front through the opening in the middle of each saddle. Then the string runs across the front of the saddle in between the two height adjustment screws. If you are not on the saddles, you will get buzz all over the neck.

Adjust the saddle heights.