Trem/Bridge Springs Strat

theshadowofseattle · Post by **theshadowofseattle** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 9:59 am

Mike wrote:It won't be set up properly. 5 springs will apply too much tension and the trem will be hardtailed as opposed to floating.

I thought floating only mattered with the two-point bridges?

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 10:04 am

You can make a six screw bridge float exactly the same way as you can a two point. It's the same principles, like.

You can make a six screw bridge into a two point bridge by removing four screws.

theshadowofseattle · Post by **theshadowofseattle** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 10:06 am

Goddamn, strat bridges are stupid.

Post by **Mike** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 10:07 am

theshadowofseattle wrote:Goddamn, strat bridges are stupid.

No argument here.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 10:07 am

They're simple and clever, and customisable to a stupid degree.

Progrockabuse · Post by **Progrockabuse** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 11:11 am

i've just done some work to my trem unit on my strat.
it has that custom shop vintage two point bridge thing. i've put five springs in it. mainly to deactivate the trem to a certain degree. i don't really use my trem arm, though i like to rock the bridge with my hand for some shimmer on chords.
i've noticed it's really easy to change your action on a two point floating bridge, you just raise or lower the two points and compensate with the springs/screws in the back to make it float level again.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 2:34 pm

Funny things trems. I dunno if springs are made to an exact science but one guitar will be different to the next even though they are the same, i was talking to bacchus about springs (what a sad life i lead) and they are massively important to a tremolos performance. Some Floyd Rose systems feel really 'spongey' yet always return to pitch, some are stiff and constantly go out of tune and its all down to the springs, number of them, formation, length, how old, how much use they have had..

euan · Post by **euan** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 2:38 pm

BacchusPaul wrote:They're simple and clever, and customisable to a stupid degree.

Gotta agree.

euan · Post by **euan** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 2:40 pm

I need to experiment one of these days with different springs and their effects on the sound of a Strat, after all I'm a firm believer in them making a difference to a Strat.

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 1:34 am

BacchusPaul wrote:It works well for me. That's how I've mine set up and it will not go out of tune. Having said that, I'm not saying that it won't work with all the screws there.

I've heard of a couple of people say they do this. It's fairly common.

couldn't you just loosen the middle 4 screws so they are basically ineffective but still there for aesthetic purposes?

Progrockabuse wrote:it has that custom shop vintage two point bridge thing.

2 point isn't vintage, it's modern.

My 2 Cents: get a new solid steel trem block from GFS! this makes a huge difference in sustain!

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 1:46 am

mage wrote:
BacchusPaul wrote:It works well for me. That's how I've mine set up and it will not go out of tune. Having said that, I'm not saying that it won't work with all the screws there.

I've heard of a couple of people say they do this. It's fairly common.
couldn't you just loosen the middle 4 screws so they are basically ineffective but still there for aesthetic purposes?

No. Loosening these screws will stop them fro exerting a force that pushes the trem into the body, but they will still be in exactly the same position if you look at the face of the guitar and consider it in the two dimensions that can be seen thus. When loosened, the screws will still have an effect on how the bridge applies its pressure in the direction from the heel to the headstock. Someone should be able to mock up a decent diagram showing this with arrows and such, but I haven't time, so words will have to do (although I suspect my explanation isn't as useful as it should be). Perhaps I'll do one in the morning.

punch · Post by **punch** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 5:00 am

Yeah strat bridges are great with lots of room for easy adjustment in feel/performance. I have the six screw type with the screws set tighter then they typicaly would be and the trem set stiff but floating. The pitch doesn't waiver when I rest my hand on the bridge and I can use the trem without feeling out of control wonky. And If you don't use use the wang bar it's so easy just to lock it down. I think people pick on strats just because it's been the insrument of choice for a sizable army of boring talentless assholes. But thats not the guitars fault. They sound great (at least the good ones) and the design is pretty genius when you consider how different it was.

Progrockabuse · Post by **Progrockabuse** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 10:17 am

mage wrote:
Progrockabuse wrote:it has that custom shop vintage two point bridge thing.
2 point isn't vintage, it's modern.

i know that

, the custom shop calls it a vintage two point bridge because it has vintage saddles on it. hardly vintage really. i'm planing to fit a normal six screw on it, it's possible to do it.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 10:43 am

That's an unusual thing to do Rob - it's a great trem, that one that's on there.

Progrockabuse · Post by **Progrockabuse** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 11:10 am

i just wanted something to do. modding relieves and causes anger. i hate fender right now, stupid 25% means i can't afford my jazzmaster that i was picking up today.

benwalker · Post by **benwalker** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 11:36 am

it's all fucked anyway. i have a '91 US Std (2-Point block saddle type) that has a slightly bowed neck and it needs 5 springs to feel right... then my warmoth (6 screw, block saddles) has 2 springs, a tremsetter and the mounting screws lifted quite a way up for something vaguely useable - both planks are set up with 10's...

simple design but it's bad for anyone who looks at screws and goes "hmmm... what if I turn that a few times?"...

JamesSmann · Post by **JamesSmann** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 4:49 pm

so i think aug actually did fuck something up on my strat. i did the three spring "arrow" scheme for the springs, and it made the bridge nice and floaty. so i put the trem arm in, played a quick barred Eminor chord (my fave cord to bendy/shimmer stylie) and the fucking trem arm goes right into the volume knob closest to my bridge/the high e. WHAT THE FUCK?! is that a common problem? or did aug fuck up the drilling of the volume and tone knob holes in my pickguard? it's like an inch or two too close, causing the trem arm to run right into the knob...GRR.

i kind of fixed it by keeping the arm in a spot between the two tone knobs, but it still feels funky to me.

WHAT THE FUCK AUG.

Post by **dots** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 6:54 pm

St. Jimmy wrote:so i think aug actually did fuck something up on my strat. i did the three spring "arrow" scheme for the springs, and it made the bridge nice and floaty. so i put the trem arm in, played a quick barred Eminor chord (my fave cord to bendy/shimmer stylie) and the fucking trem arm goes right into the volume knob closest to my bridge/the high e. WHAT THE FUCK?! is that a common problem? or did aug fuck up the drilling of the volume and tone knob holes in my pickguard? it's like an inch or two too close, causing the trem arm to run right into the knob...GRR.

i kind of fixed it by keeping the arm in a spot between the two tone knobs, but it still feels funky to me.

WHAT THE FUCK AUG.

easier to compare the layout to other guitars that way.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:36 pm

Common problem. My Cort is the same. You are about to pull off a sensational dive bomb in front of a 30,000 crowd then you hit the volume knob and look a cunt. We've all done it.

JamesSmann · Post by **JamesSmann** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 9:30 pm

Fran wrote:Common problem. My Cort is the same. You are about to pull off a sensational dive bomb in front of a 30,000 crowd then you hit the volume knob and look a cunt. We've all done it.

LOL! so seriously, is that just a design flaw with strats in general then? where do position your trem arm on your strats fran? like i said, i don't do dive-bombs. i just like to flutter the sustained chords in certain songs so that sound all vibratto-y sorta...