TROUBLESHOOTING AND SETUP GUIDE
To purchase strings and accessories, please visit your local Fender Musical Instrument Dealer. To find an Authorized Fender Dealer in your area, use the Dealer Finder on our website at www.fender.com.

P/N 991-6025-200

2003 FMIC

STARCASTER PACK

TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
3. Have you checked the tuner battery to make sure it still carries a charge? 4. Is the power clip attached properly to the battery?
No sound from the instrument or amplifier. Try using a different cable or replace the battery. If the 1. Is the instrument cable plugged into both the guitar and amplifier properly? 2. Is the amplifier power cord properly plugged into an electrical outlet? The strings seem either too high off of the fingerboard, 3. Is there power at the electrical outlet? 4. Is the amplifier turned on? 5. Is the volume control of the instrument turned up? 6. Are the control knobs of the amplifier turned up? If you are not comfortable performing any of these adjustments to your instrument, take it to an Authorized Try using a different cable. If the instrument and amplifier are set up correctly with a good cable and there is still no sound, return the complete product to your Starcaster Dealer. NOTE: Setups and adjustments are considered to be routine maintenance, and as such, are not covered under warranty. No input to the Tuner. Broken String. 1. Is the guitar cable plugged into both the guitar and tuner properly? 2. Is the volume control of the instrument turned up? Visit your local Fender Musical Instrument Dealer to purchase replacement strings and accessories. If you need detailed information or assistance with restringing your guitar, visit the Setup page of our Mr. Gearhead product support website at www.mrgearhead.com. FMIC Service Center for a setup. or too close to it. For either condition, review the Setup Guide section of this booklet for information on adjusting the neck of your instrument. Perform either a truss rod adjustment or saddle height adjustment if necessary. instrument and tuner are connected correctly with a good cable and a fresh battery, and there is still no input to the tuner, return the complete product to your Starcaster Dealer.

SETUP GUIDE

Truss-Rod Adjustment
String tension exerts a tremendous bending force on the neck of the instrument. The adjustable steel truss rod in the neck employs a counter-force to the pull of the strings. If these two opposing forces are not in harmony with each other, the result will be a poorly playing instrument. Note: A truss rod that is too loose will result in a concave neck bow and high action (Figure A). A truss rod that is too tight will result in a convex neck bow and buzzing strings (Figure B).
The following specifications are for guitars using the standard gauges of Fender strings that the instrument is equipped with from the factory. Adjustments in these specifications will need to be made if you plan to change string gauges. Modifications of the specifications can also be made (within limited parameters) to adjust for your individual playing style or application, (i.e. how hard you pick, strum or fret the guitar).
If you are not comfortable performing these adjustments to your instrument, take it to an Authorized FMIC Service Center for a setup. Note: Setups and adjustments are not covered under warranty. Setup and Adjustment Made Easy Weather, specifically temperature and humidity, may have a dramatic impact on the way your instrument plays. All instrument woods expand and contract with seasonal fluctuations in temperature and humidity, and naturally, string height and playing action are affected. Depending on the climate where you live, your instrument may need routine adjustments a few times a year. Starcaster instruments have several points of adjustment which are there to control the effects of these environmental changes, and more importantly, these features allow you to tailor the action of the instrument to your own personal playing style. Note: The following factory specifications are minimum specs, and are meant only to guide you. They should not to be taken as hard and fast rules. If you want your action higher, set it higher!

Figure A.

Concave Bow (Exaggerated View)

Figure B.

Convex Hump (Exaggerated View)

Figure C.

Measuring relief with feeler gauge
To check the adjustment of the truss rod, first tune your instrument to pitch. Next, attach a capo at the 1st fret. For electric guitars and basses, depress the E string at the last fret. For acoustic guitars depress the E string at the 14th fret. With the feeler gauge, check the gap between the bottom of the string and the top of the 8th fret (Figure C).
(See the relief specification chart on the next page for the proper gap.)
Note: Its a good idea to loosen the strings prior to making any truss rod adjustment. If you dont have feeler gauges, dont give up. You can approximate the gap, which is about the thickness of a regular business card and a piece of paper put together.
If you meet excessive resistance, if your neck needs constant adjustment, or youre not comfortable adjusting it yourself, take your instrument to an Authorized FMIC Service Center. String Height Adjustment (Action) for Electric Guitars First, check your tuning. Then, using your ruler, measure the distance between the bottom of each string and the top of the 17th fret. Using the 1.5mm hex wrench, adjust the bridge saddles to height (Figure E), according to the recommendations of the chart below, then re-tune. Dont be afraid to experiment with the height a little bit, until it feels right. If you play with a light touch, you can get away with lower action. If you play hard, youll need a little higher action to avoid fret buzz and rattles.
Starcaster Instrument Electric Guitars

Fingerboard Radius 9.5

Relief at 8th Fret.010 to.012
To adjust the truss rod, use the hex wrench supplied with your instrument (Figure D). If neck is too concave (Figure A), turn the truss rod nut clock-wise. If neck is too convex (Figure B), turn the truss rod nut counter clock-wise. Check your tuning, then re-check the gap with the feeler gauge. Note: Adjust in small increments of only 1/4 turn at a time, and allow time for the wood to settle before adjusting again.
String Height Bass Side 4/64
String Height Treble Side 4/64

Figure D.

(Electric Guitar truss rod adjustment)

Figure E.

(Electric Guitar saddle height adjustment)

WARRANTY

5-YEAR LIMITED TRANSFERABLE AMPLIFIER WARRANTY Fender Musical Instruments Corporation warrants that the amplifier contained in the Starcaster Pack you have purchased shall be free of any defects in parts and workmanship if used under normal operating conditions for a period of five (5) years from the date of purchase or initial lease, with the exception of footswitches, covers, speakers, rechargeable batteries, cabinets, handles and cabinet hardware are warranted for a period of one (1) year from date of purchase or initial lease. Light bulbs, vacuum tubes, meters, cables and all other included accessory products are warranted for a period of ninety (90) days from date of purchase or initial lease. This warranty shall run to the original purchaser or lessee when purchased or leased from an Authorized Starcaster Dealer and any transferee of a retail purchaser. IMPORTANT: PLEASE RETAIN YOUR SALES RECEIPT OR LEASE, AS IT IS YOUR PROOF OF PURCHASE COVERING YOUR LIMITED WARRANTY. TO TRANSFER THE WARRANTY TO A SUBSEQUENT PURCHASER, YOU MUST ENDORSE THE SALE OF THE PRODUCT TO THE SUBSEQUENT PURCHASER ON THE FRONT OF THE SALES RECEIPT. TO TRANSFER THE WARRANTY OF A PREVIOUSLY LEASED PRODUCT TO A SUBSEQUENT PURCHASER, A COPY OF THE INITIAL LEASE MUST BE ATTACHED TO THE SALES RECIEPT. THIS LIMITED WARRANTY IS VOID WITHOUT SUCH ENDORSED SALES RECEIPT OR ATTACHED LEASE. Defective products that qualify for coverage under this warranty will be repaired or replaced with a like or comparable model, (at FMICs discretion), without charge, by the Dealer. To receive warranty service, return the complete product to the Authorized Starcaster Dealer from whom it was purchased, with your sales receipt as proof of purchase, during the applicable warranty period. TRANSPORTATION COSTS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS LIMITED WARRANTY. Any repair or service performed by any person or entity other than an Authorized FMIC Electronics Service Center is not covered by this limited warranty. This limited warranty becomes void if the serial number on any product is defaced or removed, or the product has been damaged by alteration, misuse, accident, or neglect; or the product has been repaired or serviced by persons not authorized by FMIC. THE FOREGOING CONSTITUTES THE ONLY WARRANTY MADE BY FENDER WITH RESPECT TO THE PRODUCTS AND IS MADE EXPRESSLY IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. Any implied warranties, including without limitation, any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose, imposed under state law are limited to the duration of this limited warranty. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitations may not be applicable to you. FMIC ASSUMES NO LIABILITY FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE RESULTING FROM FAILURE OF THIS PRODUCT NOR ANY LOSS OF INCOME, SATISFACTION, OR DAMAGES ARISING FROM THE LOSS OF USE OF SAME DUE TO DEFECTS OR AVAILABILITY OF SAME DURING SERVICE. This warranty applies only to Starcaster Packs purchased within the U.S.A. and Canada. Warranties outside these countries are as defined by the authorized Starcaster Distributor for your country or region, and may vary from the above in terms and/or length. EFFECTIVE DATE: JANUARY 1, 2003

1-YEAR LIMITED INSTRUMENT AND ACCESSORIES WARRANTY Fender Musical Instruments Corporation warrants that the instrument and accessories included in the Starcaster Pack you have purchased shall be free of defects in parts and workmanship, if used under normal operating conditions, for a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase. This warranty applies only to the original retail purchaser when this Starcaster Pack is purchased from an Authorized Starcaster Dealer and is subject to the limitations set forth herein. IMPORTANT: PLEASE RETAIN YOUR ORIGINAL SALES RECEIPT, AS IT IS YOUR PROOF OF PURCHASE VALIDATING THIS LIMITED WARRANTY. Should a defect in parts or workmanship occur in the instrument or an accessory component of the Starcaster Pack, return the complete product to the Authorized Starcaster Dealer from whom it was purchased with your sales receipt as proof of purchase, during the applicable warranty period. Defective products that qualify for coverage under this warranty will be repaired or replaced with a like or comparable model (at FMICs discretion), without charge, by your Starcaster Dealer. All transportation, insurance and freight charges associated with receiving warranty service on Starcaster Pack products are the responsibility of the purchaser, as is any service initiated for the purpose of customizing setups or adjustments beyond factory specifications. Limitations and exclusions The following items are not covered by this warranty: 1. 2. 3. Fret wear, saddle wear, nut wear, strings and batteries. Setups, adjustments or routine maintenance of any kind. Damage to finishes or cracks, splitting, or warpage of wood due to changes in temperature or humidity, exposure to or contact with sun, fire, moisture, body salts and acids, guitar straps, guitar stands/hangers made from vinyl, plastic, rubber or other synthetic materials, any other chemicals or non-FMIC-approved polishes. Damage, corrosion or rusting of any hardware components caused by humidity, salty air, or exposure to the moisture, body salts and acids of perspiration. Damage to any Starcaster Pack component resulting from customization or modification. Normal wear and tear on any part of the instrument, gig bag or Starcaster Pack accessory including jacks, controls, switches, plated surfaces, tuning machines, pickguards, handles, clasps, zippers, etc. All other damage and deterioration due to normal usage, wear and tear, aging, accidents, neglect, abuse, or Acts of Nature. Any instrument, whose serial number is missing, altered or tampered with in any fashion. Components of a Starcaster Pack purchased from anyone other than an Authorized Starcaster Dealer. Instruments that have been serviced by unauthorized persons (any person other than an FMIC Certified Technician at an Authorized FMIC Service Center).

Fender Models

Fender offered the first mass-produced solid-body Spanish-style electric guitar, the Telecaster (originally named the Broadcaster and Esquire, the sigle pickup version), the first mass-produced electric bass, the Precision Bass, and the popular Stratocaster (Strat) guitar. While Fender was not the first to manufacture electric guitars, as other companies and luthiers had produced electric guitars since the late 1920s, none was as commercially successful as Fenders. Futhermore, while nearly all other electric guitar then were either hollow-body guitars or more spezialiced instruments such as Rickenbackerss solid-body Hawaiian guitars, Fender had created versatile solid-body electric guitars. These guitars were and still are popular for musicians in a variety of genres. Fender Telecaster The Fender Telecaster is typically a dual-pickup, solid-body electric guitar made by Fender. Its simple yet effective design and revolutionary sound broke ground and set trends in electric guitar manufactoring and popular music. Introduced for national distribution as the Broadcaster in the automne of 1949, it was the first guitar of its kind to be produced on a substantial scale. The Esquire models with the single- and dual-pickups started around March 1950. The Telecaster has been in continuous production in one form or the other since its first incarnation, making it the worlds oldest solid-body electric guitar.
Fender Telecaster Plus 1990
From the 1950s all Fender necks incorporated a truss rod. Fender did not use the traditional glues-in neck, but rather a bolt-on. This not only made production easier, but allowed the neck to be quickly removed and serviced, or replaced entirely. In addition, the classic Telecaster neck was fashioned from a single piece of maple without a seperate fingerboard, and the frets were pressed directly into the maple surface a highly unorthodox approach in its day (guitars traditionally featured rosewood or ebony fingerboards glued onto mahogany necks).
The elctronics were easily accessed for repair or replacement through a removable control plate, a great advantage over typical construction, in which the electronics could only be accessed through the soundholes in the case of hollow-body instruments, or later by taking off the pickguard after removing the strings (as in Fenders own later design, the Stratocaster). The hardware includes two single coil pickups controlled by a three-way selector switch, and one each of volume and tone controls. The bridge has three adjustable saddles, with strings doubled up on each.
Fender Telecaster Vintage Guitar
Typical modern Telecasters (such as the American Series version) incorporate several details diffrent from the classic form. They typically feature 22 frets (rather than 21) and truss rod adjustment is made at the headstock end, rather than the body end. The 3-saddle bridge of the original has been replaced with a 6-saddle version, allowing independent length and height adjustment for each string. The long saddle bridge screws allows a wide range of saddle bridge positions for intonation tuning. The first knob adjusts the master volume, the second is a master tone control affecting all the pickups. Other features included a Freeflyte hardtail bridge and die-cast tuning machines with pearloid buttons Other Fender guitars Other Fender instruments include the Mustang, Jazzmaster, Jaguar, Starcaster, Duo-sonic and Bronco guitars, basses such as the JazzBass, the Telecaster Bass reissue of the original 1950s Precision Bass. In early 1965, Leo Fender sold his companies to the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). During the CBS era, the company did introduce some new guitars. The Fender Starcaster was particularly unusual because of its semihollow body design and completely diffrent headstock. The Starcaster also
incorporated a new Humbucking pickup designed by Seth Lover. This pickup also gave rise to 3 new incarnations of the classic Telecaster. In 1983 the Fender Stratocaster received a short-lived redesign without a second tone control and a bare-bones output jack as well as redesigned singlecoil pickups, active electronics and three puch-puch buttons for pickup selection. Squier guitar models
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 1960s Stratocaster
In late 1981, Greco (Japan) relinquished its Stratocaster division to Fender Japan. By 1982 the company had started producing Stratocaster guitars in Japan. Fender Japan produced the less expensive Squier Stratocasters for the European and American markets. In the earliest years, 1982-1984, these guitars were made with a serial number beginning with JV. These guitars are referred to today as Fender JV Stratocasters. The top model non-Squier JV guitars, the ST-85 and ST-115, had Fender hardware, pickups, and a nitrocellulose lacquer finish. All of Fenders guitars in the 1985 catalog were made in Japan. Some estimate that as much as 80% of Fenders gutar sales between 1984 and 1986 were Japanese models. Japanese guitar models are now only available in Japan, with the exeption of some signature models. Fender 1985-1998 When the Fender company was bought from CBS by Bill Schultz in 1985, manufacturing resumed its former high quality and Fender was able to regain market share and brand reputation. This sparked a rise in mainstream popularity for vintage (and vintage-style) instruments. Dan Smith, with the help of John Page, proceeded to work on a reissue of the most popular guitars of Leo Fenders era. They decided to manufacture two Vintage reissue Stratocaster models. A maple-neck 1957 and a rosewood-neck along with the maple-neck 1952 Telecaster. This project was very important and critical to

the companys survival. These first years (1982-1984) of reissues are now high-priced collectors items and considered as some of the finest to ever leave Fenders Fullerton plant, which closed its doors in late 1984. In 1985, Fenders US production of the Vintage reissues resumed into a new factory at Corona, located about 20 miles away from Fullerton. These three guitars form an important part of the American Vintage Series line since July 10th, 1998. Current models As of 2007, Fender offers a wide line of Stratocasters alongside vintage reissues, as well as maintaining a Custom Shop service that builds guitars to order. Those who wish period-accurate replicas can request Stratocasters with original cloth-coated wiring, pickup and electronics designs, wood routing patterns, and even artificial aging and oxidizing of components using the Custom Shop relic process. The American Deluxe Series Stratocasters came with a varity of high-end options such as a Fender DH-1 humbucker in the bridge position and an American 2-point locking vibrato bridge (Fender/Floyd Rose assembly) with LSR Roller Nut, locking tuners on certain models and Samarium Cobalt Noiseless pickups with S-1 switching. Guitars produced before 2004 featured Vintage Noiseless pickups and 4-bolt neck fixing. The contoured neck heel feature on these Stratocasters was added in 2002. The American Deluxe Stratocaster HSS (also known as American Deluxe Fat Strat) utilizes a Fender DH-1 humbucker in the bridge position and two Hot SCN pickups for a proper balance with the humbucking pickup. American Series Stratocasters come with alder or ash bodies, rolled fingerboard edges, three custom modern staggered single-coils and the DeltaTone system (which includes a high output bridge pickup and a reversewound single-coil in the middle position). Hardtail versions were discontinued in 2007. New for the 2003 was the American Strat HSS which features a Diamondback humbucker (bridge), two Tex-Mex signle-coils (neck/middle) and S-1 switching. An HH model with dual Sidewinder/Black Cobra humbuckers was offered until 2007. As of 2008, all American Standard Stratocasters come with a redesigned bridge with vintage-style bent steel saddles and the S-1 switching has been dropped. In Popluar Culture The Fender Stratocaster (Strat) has been featured in many movies, roller coasters, tv shows and much more. It has been featured in Rock N Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith in Disney World and Japanese synthesizer giant is an American Series virtual modeling guitar with a Roland VG pickup and two extra knobs for Tuning Function Control (5 Rotary Positions) and Mode Control (5 Rotary Modes), offering 37 diffrent Stratocaster, Telecaster, humbucking, 12-string and acoustic sounds, plus five alternate tunings, all at the simple flip

of a switch or twist a knob. The VG Stratocaster was introduced in 2007 and promoted by Fender guitar clinicians Jeff Kollman and Greg Koch. Cusom Classic Strats are Custom Shop versions of the Amersican Series models, sporting C or V-shape maple necks with rosewood or maple fingerboard and three Modern Classic single-coils with a Hot Classic bridge pick-up featuring a custom steel inductance plate. Custom Classic guitars made before 2003 were equipped with a set of Fender Texas Special single-coils. Standard, Deluxe and Classic Series Stratocasters are generally made in Mexico, although some models are manufactured in Japan and Korea. Fender Stratocasters are built in the United States, Mexico and Korea. Plants American Standard, American Vintage, American Deluxe, American Special, Artist, Custom Classic, Custom Artist, Hot-Rodded American Vintage and Highway One series Stratocasters are made in Fenders stateof-art factory in Corona, California, United States of America and are commonly called Made In America (MIA) Stratocasters. There are also a Fender Museum there open to the public. Most other Stratocaster series models are made in a Fender factory in Ensenada, Mexico and are often labelled as Made In Mexico (MIM). Guitar necks are still manufactured in the Corona factory and sent to the Ensenada factory to be mounted onto guitars. Fender Japan Stratocasters and Squiers were exported in the 1980s and 1990s but are now mostly for sale to the Japanese domestic market. It is also the most common sold guitar. Fender also produces Stratocasters under the Squier brand in China, Indonesia and India at lower cost than Fender-branded models. While Squier Stratocasters are predominantly inexpensive versions of Fender Stratocasters, some models are also unique to the Squier brand, such as the OBEY Graphic series or Hello Kitty series. Fender Today Fender manufactures its highest quality guitars at its Corona factory in California and manufactures its mid to high quality guitars at its Ensenada factory in Baja California, Mexico. Channing Ward is the lead designer of the 2009 Stratocaster. Fender also contracts Asian guitar makers to manufacture Fender guitars and to also manufacture the lower priced Squier guitars. The older American built Fender guitars are generally the most favoured, but pre1990 Fender Japan guitars are now highly regarded as well. This article is released under the Wikipedia GNU Free Documentation Licence