solspirit
Ultimate Post Liker
Why not?
Do I really need string trees?
- Thread starter Rex_Rocker
- Start date
Why not?
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
I think attack is the biggest factor. If you are playing Jazz on a Strat the playing style is less aggressive and your strumming is going to be light. I do not see this type of player having many problems with strings jumping out of the nut. When the Strat was invented Leo could not foresee the abuse modern guitar players would put the instrument through. The guitar was not designed for the chord bashing and tremolo abuse we give it. So for me, staggered tuners, a string tree, and an LSR nut seem to do the trick and I have not seen a string pop out since upgrading my headstock. But not everyone will encounter the issues I have with this style of guitar.
Tuners, regular or locking, don't have an impact on whether you need string trees or not. And staggered height tuners are a sales ploy...they only change the breakover angle by 1 degree at most. Ideally you would want 12-16 degrees.
It's the head angle, how the nut is cut, 3x3 or 6 in-line, and playing style. Essentially, all Fender type heads can be improved with trees for the "B" and "E" strings (at least).
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
It's not that I don't like them. It's that the neck doesn't come from the factory with one installed, so I'd have to install it myself.
I'm a Fender n00b, honestly. Back when I started, I hated Strats, LOL. But I've kinda started to appreciate them.
So yeah... as you can see, I don't know much about them. Figured I'd ask.
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JMP/HBE
Well-known member
Oh its not a big deal. Easy peezee.
marcello252
Well-known member
and it could create an intonation problem with temperature changing
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
I've never tested this with guitars, but when you have a low angle of string passing through a shallow slot, every little bit counts. The difference between 14 and 17 degrees is minimal. The difference between 0 and 3 degrees is a lot. The main point of staggered tuners to me is so the string makes a shallower break on the string tree and thus reduces binding. But to me, the most important decision between staggered and straight tuners is which one makes you more excited to play the instrument.
ErikH
Well-known member
I have two Strats I slapped together. One has straight tuners and a string tree for the E and B string. The other has staggered tuners with no string trees. Both play relatively the same and feel relatively the same to me. I've had no problems not having one with staggered tuners. Would it be ideal to have one? Sure. But I haven't felt the need to add one to that guitar.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Alright... I do need a string tree, LOL.
I do get a weird overtone on the open first string.
I do get a weird overtone on the open first string.
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Oh yeah, that's another reason for them. Long lengths of string past the nut have sympathetic vibrations
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
This is the only post you should pay attention to in this thread.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Well, I installed it, and it wasn't too hard. Just screw the screw in with a powerful screwdriver, LOL. It is one of the vintage ones that's just a piece of a bent metal sheet, though. I'd definitely want something more functional in the future.
