New Stratocaster strings sounding dull or dead

nonesuch

I’ve got a new Mexican Fender Standard Stratocaster which seems to be set-up well and playing nicely. I definitely enjoyed playing it at a rehearsal last weekend. However the new set of strings I put on last week are already sounding quite dull or dead, most noticeably the bottom E.

Before the last string change I put some Planet Waves LubriKit Friction Remover on the nut. My initial thought was that it may have had something to do with that, but it sounds dampened fretted up the neck as well as the open string. In comparison my Telecaster with the same kind of D’Addario EXL110s sounds really bright, when those strings have been on for much longer.

This is the first time I’ve changed the strings since buying it, so I’m not totally sure if it was like that before the string change.

Now that I think about it, I remember thinking a couple of the strings sounded a little bit dull when I put them on, although I’ve never really had a bad set of strings to be honest.

Anyway, I’m definitely going to put a new set on, but before I do so, should I check anything else, like the nut or saddles maybe?

ICBM

Where did you get the strings from? There are fake D'Addarios around.

nonesuch

I think they were from a local guitar shop. I did check them online out of interest, and the D'addario checker said they were genuine. I might have had them for a year or so (but unopened).

MattFGBI

nonesuch said:

I might have had them for a year or so (but unopened).

I think that could be the issue. They will still age over time. 

stephen.wood125

Have you tried that old trick of loosening the neck screws 1/4 turn with the strings on to ensure it's seated as far back in the neck pocket as it can be? I've found that can help a little- You can tell if it wasn't because you'll hear a noise and the guitar will be out of tune.

nonesuch

OK I'll go and get some new strings tomorrow and put them on, and fingers crossed everything will be fine.

I realise it's the obvious answer  - 'put some new strings on then', it's just that I've never had to replace strings after one week. I just want to make sure there's nothing else I should check before putting them on.

I'm far too frugal to keep buying strings every week!

nonesuch

stephen.wood125 said:

Have you tried that old trick of loosening the neck screws 1/4 turn with the strings on to ensure it's seated as far back in the neck pocket as it can be? I've found that can help a little- You can tell if it wasn't because you'll hear a noise and the guitar will be out of tune.

No I didn't know about that. I'm not sure I feel too confident about trying it. Do you mean loosen the screws to see if the neck moves a bit, then tighten them back up?

RMJ

Upgrade the Trem block

stephen.wood125

nonesuch said:

stephen.wood125 said:

Have you tried that old trick of loosening the neck screws 1/4 turn with the strings on to ensure it's seated as far back in the neck pocket as it can be? I've found that can help a little- You can tell if it wasn't because you'll hear a noise and the guitar will be out of tune.

No I didn't know about that. I'm not sure I feel too confident about trying it. Do you mean loosen the screws to see if the neck moves a bit, then tighten them back up?

Hi, yes that's exactly it, just a tiny amount- 1/8th-1/4 of a turn won't let the neck come loose or snap but can just let the tension of the strings pull the neck more firmly into the socket. Definitely worth a go.

nonesuch

RMJ said:

Upgrade the Trem block

Does that just give you increased sustain? How much difference could it make?

skunkwerx

Change strings first, see what gives. 

If it solves it then just wipe em down after each play and it could improve longevity. 

HAL9000

nonesuch said:

RMJ said:

Upgrade the Trem block

Does that just give you increased sustain? How much difference could it make?

Replaced the trem block on my MIM Strat with a stainless steel item. It definitely made the guitar sound a little brighter and more 'zingy' but to be honest it's quite subtle. 

Alvin

D'Addario use hermetically sealed bags so SHOULD last forever unused .  It's why i buy them in bulk , i have had some packs for three (poss more) years and they have always been perfect .  

  I stopped using Ernie Balls and have also tried other brands and often found slight corrosion on them even when fresh so DAddario's are a winner every time in that respect .

   You can always get a badly wound or tied string regardless of the brand.

Henrytwang

It might be an idea to check that your pickups are properly adjusted, pickups set too close to the strings can cause problems.

nonesuch

Got some new D'Addario strings on this afternoon and it sounds a lot better (not suprisingly). We'll see how it sounds in a couple of days. It's just been odd, having a new guitar that I'm not used to, and the fact that I've used D'Addario strings for years and never had them sounding so dull after a few days.

And as they are sealed in a plastic bag, shouldn't they last a long, long time? It's not as if they have a sell by date.

Thanks for the other suggestions, I did check the pickup height, and I'm kind of intrigued by the 'trick' of loosening the neck slightly to pull it in tighter. I may try this at some point... If I'm feeling brave.

Funkfingers

nonesuch said:

It's not as if they have a sell by date.

Steel is constantly trying to revert to iron. The air and any condensation inside the sealed bag will be enough for the oxidation reaction to occur. Rust never sleeps. 

skunkwerx

I forgot you said its a new guitar... 

Is the board maple or pau ferro? 

Either way really i’ve always found new guitars are actually pretty filthy. 

Most guitars I’ve owned leave my fingers grippier and blacker than usual, even by just a little. I guess the boards/frets are dirty from the factory or whoevers had their hands on it since. 

Some manufactures also dye their boards, which residue usually comes off on your fingers, then into your strings as you play. 

That would crud the strings up and make em dull. 

nonesuch

skunkwerx said:

I forgot you said its a new guitar... 

Is the board maple or pau ferro? 

Either way really i’ve always found new guitars are actually pretty filthy.

Yeah it's new, I've only had it a couple of weeks, so it was the first string change. It's a maple fretboard, and it seemed to be pretty clean. I think is is now anyway.

nonesuch

Funkfingers said:

Steel is constantly trying to revert to iron. The air and any condensation inside the sealed bag will be enough for the oxidation reaction to occur. Rust never sleeps. 

Well yes, Neil Young was correct, BUT...

D'Addario's packaging says 'VCI Corrosion Protection - Our Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor keeps your strings factory fresh'.

Doesn't say how VCI works, but it sounds like a good idea!

crunchman

Funkfingers said:

nonesuch said:

It's not as if they have a sell by date.

Steel is constantly trying to revert to iron. The air and any condensation inside the sealed bag will be enough for the oxidation reaction to occur. Rust never sleeps. 

Steel isn't trying to revert to iron.  Rust is iron oxide not iron.

Rusting needs water to be present.  It's a pretty safe bet that everything in the pack will be dry when it is sealed.

Nitrogen is used in the packing of food to make it last longer.  It wouldn't surprise me if that's what D'Addario's "Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor" is.

ICBM

crunchman said:

Rusting needs water to be present.  It's a pretty safe bet that everything in the pack will be dry when it is sealed.

And oxygen. If there's no oxygen, no rust can occur.

I would guess it will be nitrogen or possibly some other inert gas like carbon dioxide. I've used D'Addario strings which have been unopened for years (odd packets of unusual gauges mostly) and never found any with corrosion or sounding odd.