ByteArts Strummer -- Any Modifications?

[Eric4372]

I have the ByteArts Strummer installed in a RB2 Strat. However, contrary to the immaculate reception that everyone else gave it, I'm having problems with this thing. It's rather loose and doesn't have that "pop" you get while downstrumming with any other guitar. Also, I will habitually lightly tap the strum bar only to whiff notes because I didn't hit the button. It's driving me nuts.

So I'm throwing this out there--what can I do to make this baby more responsive or feel better? The hardware's good I presume, but I hear stuff about foam blocks and rubber bands...I can't find anything, so please help me out and I will give you props if you can. Thanks guys.

[keneke]

You could try to find a stiffer spring to replace the stock one. That should give you a little more pop when strumming. You could also add elastics to the strummer to make it a little stiffer.

If you're finding you have to push too far to get a strum to happen, you could shim it by gluing pieces of paper to the bar that contacts the switch. Add one layer at a time until you get it to where it feels right for you.

[Eric4372]

You could try to find a stiffer spring to replace the stock one. That should give you a little more pop when strumming. You could also add elastics to the strummer to make it a little stiffer.

If you're finding you have to push too far to get a strum to happen, you could shim it by gluing pieces of paper to the bar that contacts the switch. Add one layer at a time until you get it to where it feels right for you.

Actually, that's one of thing I did--went out and bought a stiffer, new spring. The old one was bent in one direction...however, one of the holes was egg-shaped so it would inevitably slide in one direction regardless. Can't 100% fix that but my dad tried to seal a bit of the hole off so it's as close to flat as possible.

I also tried adding some new foam blocks in certain places...it didn't work too well. Didn't feel like messing with that so I tried the rubber band route instead...

However, I just stumbled upon a pretty good solution...I was messing around with the rubber bands and I think I found two pegs that are of equal distances from the strum bar where you can attach the rubber bands and give the strum bar some stiffness. One of them goes through the thick white chords running down the guitar, so you have to run it through, no problem.

However, my 3 1/2 inch rubber bands are a bit too short--I'm going to try to get some longer ones of equal length and see what comes up. So far, it sounds pretty good and may eliminate the problem with the pop. I may take pictures too in case anyone's curious.

Again, thanks for the reply, you've given me confidence that I can fix the problem.

[keneke]

Good stuff, I would be interested in seeing how you get it set up.

Tks.

[Eric4372]

I think any chances of comeback for this guitar have ended in failure.

First, I had the slots picked out for the rubber bands. Turns out I needed some rubber bands longer than 3 1/2 inches, preferably around 4 to 4 1/2 inches. After sifting through a large bag of those dirty rubber bands, I couldn't find anything that was the right size. I found some 3 1/2 rubber bands that were skinnier and therefore had less tension, but that didn't help much.

I tried different slots and whatnot to hang the rubber bands on. Tried different pieces of the plastic strum bar too. Nothing really helped. The rubber bands did help the plastic to return to center somewhat, but basically all setups inhibited the piece of plastic from hitting the button that triggered the strum. Basically, it would barely solve one problem and completely worsen another. I took the rubber bands out and now the strum bar is stuck in the flat, no-feeling downstrum position again that I so desperately tried to avoid. Great.

I give up with the ByteArts Strummer. I could probably go through a hundred different modifications and unscrew everything until the thing is grinded into dust. It doesn't change the fact I feel much better with a regular unmodded RB2 Strat. Too late to return it due to unsatisfaction. Should've got the MadAxxe strummer, which I assume comes with a new piece of plastic strum bar too.

Don't get me wrong, if you don't mind paying $20 to make your strum bar functional again without care of how it feels, get the ByteArts strummer. However, if you are irritated over the slightest change in feeling, then just buy a new RB2 guitar. This is how I personally feel about it at this point.