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Post by gbowman on Jul 25, 2018 10:40:17 GMT -7
Just curious how folks have their Strat type bridges set. I like to have just a bit of flutter available so initially had the bridge floating. However, tuning and tension were issues so have opted for (just barely) decked. I can still add a little flutter to a chord, albeit with a bit more pressure on the bar. What's everyone doin..?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2018 11:12:25 GMT -7
I've never been able to set up a Stratocaster tremolo so "Hick Licks #1 &2" could be played in tune and the bridge was floating. Even with 5 springs in there.
The test is to play one of those hick licks as in holding the high E and bending the B up a whole step only don't play the B, just bend it. I've never been able to get the E to stay in tune as I bent the B.
So most of the time I've got 5 springs in there and they are tightened down.
Now the Bigsby is a different story.
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Post by greenblues58 on Jul 25, 2018 11:17:52 GMT -7
I have 3 strats and all are set to just float with 5 springs all raw vintage. To stop the tuning issues when bending as they are only just floating slight palm pressure on the bridge controls it. 2 of them have Wudtone bridge plates with a wacker plate underneath. I did have some occasional high E ,B and G tuning issues but for about the last year have been stringing as per John Frusciante tech and have zero tuning issues now.
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Post by dcarver on Jul 25, 2018 11:54:35 GMT -7
I have an Xotic XSC-1 with Gotoh vintage bridge, Raw Vintage springs, and Gotoh height adjustable locking vintage tuners, so no string tree. The bridge is floating, about 1/8" off the body. I keep the nut sauced with Big Bends. The guitar stays in tune remarkably well.
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Post by gbowman on Jul 25, 2018 12:27:40 GMT -7
I keep the nut sauced with Big Bends. The guitar stays in tune remarkably well. I put a little graphite powder in the slots when i change strings. Works well but have to be careful of making a mess...
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Post by GuitarZ on Jul 25, 2018 12:29:51 GMT -7
The Les Paul was my main guitar for my first 25 years. When I picked up my strat, I learned I have about zero talent using a whammy bar. Thus, I never use it.
I’ve left it floating figuring it’s part of the strat sound. Plus , I don’t have tuning problems.
I’ve often wondered if locking it provides more sustain. Does it?
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Post by Christopher on Jul 25, 2018 13:50:59 GMT -7
The Strat I've played the past 30 years has a floating tremolo with the original trem-setter that acts like a shock absorber and returns it to pitch if I wank on the bar. I haven't had tuning issues with the guitar at all even with bends but if a string breaks it can wreck havoc on the tuning, despite the advertised support the aforementioned gadget is supposed to provide. I don't do beck pull ups or Vai dive bombs so maybe that's why it stays in tune?
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Post by daddyelmis (Greg) on Jul 25, 2018 14:17:42 GMT -7
Floating on my ‘81 with a Callaham bridge and 3 springs. Never a problem with tuning unless I break a string, but I don’t dive bomb either.
Decked on my ‘14 MIM with stock bridge. I don’t even have the trem bar screwed in on this one. I’m debating putting a Callaham on it, otherwise I may hardtail it.
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Post by Russell B on Jul 25, 2018 15:43:35 GMT -7
All pulled down to the body here. All of mine are vintage styled, so they naturally pull snug to the body. I’ve never been very good at using a tremolo, even back in the ‘80’s when they were really popular. I found other ways to mimic it.
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Post by sharkboy on Jul 25, 2018 20:03:21 GMT -7
Carl Verheyen has a youtube on how he does it. I’ve tried this on three strats and it (mostly) works. I think I might have kept my first strat if I had seen how to do it when I had it.
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Post by Rockerfeller on Jul 26, 2018 9:10:52 GMT -7
I solved that tuning problem years ago by switching to Tele's
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Post by Jefferson on Jul 26, 2018 13:02:20 GMT -7
I've never been able to set up a Stratocaster tremolo so "Hick Licks #1 &2" could be played in tune and the bridge was floating. Even with 5 springs in there. The test is to play one of those hick licks as in holding the high E and bending the B up a whole step only don't play the B, just bend it. I've never been able to get the E to stay in tune as I bent the B. So most of the time I've got 5 springs in there and they are tightened down. Now the Bigsby is a different story. Isn’t the hip shot trem setter designed to fix this problem? I use the blade runner supervee trem along with locking tuners and an appropriately cut nut and I never have tuning problems. Also, my trem floats and I use 3 raw vintage springs...
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Post by pcns on Jul 27, 2018 17:30:31 GMT -7
I used to only have guitars with wammy bars on them, I never or rarely used them but I had to have them. I always set them to float.
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Post by T-R☼CK ♫ on Jul 27, 2018 17:46:14 GMT -7
I've never been able to set up a Stratocaster tremolo so "Hick Licks #1 &2" could be played in tune and the bridge was floating. Even with 5 springs in there. The test is to play one of those hick licks as in holding the high E and bending the B up a whole step only don't play the B, just bend it. I've never been able to get the E to stay in tune as I bent the B. So most of the time I've got 5 springs in there and they are tightened down. Now the Bigsby is a different story. Yep...
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Post by zpilot on Jul 28, 2018 0:40:09 GMT -7
I've never been able to set up a Stratocaster tremolo so "Hick Licks #1 &2" could be played in tune and the bridge was floating. Even with 5 springs in there. The test is to play one of those hick licks as in holding the high E and bending the B up a whole step only don't play the B, just bend it. I've never been able to get the E to stay in tune as I bent the B. So most of the time I've got 5 springs in there and they are tightened down. Now the Bigsby is a different story. Nope. You can't do with it with a floating Strat. That's why I have both a Strat and a Tele. I gave up a long time on the idea that one guitar can do everything.
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Post by mickey on Jul 28, 2018 2:25:06 GMT -7
I have three Strats, all set up with three springs, 10 gauge strings, and with the trem floating so I can get a whole tone up on the B string. I just use a pencil to get a bit of graphite in the nut slots. I tend to be a fairly subtle trem user, so generally I don't have real tuning problems apart from the fact that they're Strats!
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Post by zpilot on Jul 28, 2018 10:30:08 GMT -7
Strats can be set up pretty easily to stay in tune with trem use. I've used #2 pencil lead, powdered mica, and now silicon grease. Both on the nut and the string tree. But I have faux steel licks that will not work on a strat, and that is when not using the trem at all. It's just physics. I use 4 springs. With 5 springs the unbent string won't go quite as flat but it still does go flat. I can get by on quick passages but on sustained lick in ballads, and when playing with a piano and such, the flat notes are apparent. I used to use a strat in a 3-piece band and that wasn't so bad. There is nothing in that case to reference pitch to except for bass guitar.
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Post by Rhythmark on Jul 28, 2018 13:34:22 GMT -7
I keep mine floating. Use locking tuners. Rarely have to tune up with use. I use only 2 springs, for a light touch.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2018 6:45:17 GMT -7
I've never been able to set up a Stratocaster tremolo so "Hick Licks #1 &2" could be played in tune and the bridge was floating. Even with 5 springs in there. The test is to play one of those hick licks as in holding the high E and bending the B up a whole step only don't play the B, just bend it. I've never been able to get the E to stay in tune as I bent the B. So most of the time I've got 5 springs in there and they are tightened down. Now the Bigsby is a different story. I play Hick Licks Vol. 1 & 2 on a tele. Can't really pull that move off on a floating bridge. Still I always float a strat-style bridge. It just feels right. And, I like to mess with the bar.
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