Fender 2 point bridge flush with body or raised ?

[millsart]

No doubt this is a bit more of a subjective opinion call rather than an absolute but I'd be intrested to see what people think.

The 2 point fender tremelo bridges have the ability to be raised a few mm and allow you to raise as well as lower the pitch. Sort of a floyd rose "lite" if you want to call it that.

This is in contrast to the more classic 6 screw bridge where its flash with the body most are used to. The 2 point is nice because they "typically" feature nicer steel saddles and more height adjustment.


That all said, its certainly possible to set up the 2 pont so its flush with the guitar body. This should increase sustain as you've got more contact with the wood. You give up the ability to raise the pitch, though personlly for me, I never use the bar as is so its a no issue for me.

What are your opinions

 

[Kelsey]

Re: Fender 2 point bridge flush with body or raised ?

I don't like the feel and break angle of the strings with the modern 2-pt bridge set flat. My tech installed a bolt into the headstock side of the trem block on both my American Deluxe V-neck and my American Series Strat that allows the bridge to sit fixed at the proper height/angle from the body. It allows only downward movement, but there are no problems with bends or tuning stability. However, I still favor a vintage 6 screw bridge set flat.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Fender 2 point bridge flush with body or raised ?

You can set both style trems to float, but I set them flush on all my strats.

 

[danglybanger]

Re: Fender 2 point bridge flush with body or raised ?

...on a 6 screw trem it isn't really "floating", but you can set it up for upbend...

Personally I think that there are a lot of screwy ideas on sustain, and on instruments I've set up I've percieved no difference in sustain between floating and flush mounted 2 point strat trems.

I'll do floating any day, but I think I'm one of the only people who would consider doing upbends on a vintage trem of any sort.

So in the end, my answer is Mustang trem, set up for floating

 

[baritone]

Re: Fender 2 point bridge flush with body or raised ?

My guitar has the 6 screws, and I keep the bar in a drawer in my mightstand. I set the bridge so it is about 1 mm off the body. I don't notice any compromise in sustain when I do this. I mainly do it this way because I like the spongier feel, and every once in a while, I just grab the bridge for a vibrato effect.

 

[jmh151]

Re: Fender 2 point bridge flush with body or raised ?

I don't like the feel and break angle of the strings with the modern 2-pt bridge set flat. My tech installed a bolt into the headstock side of the trem block on both my American Deluxe V-neck and my American Series Strat that allows the bridge to sit fixed at the proper height/angle from the body. It allows only downward movement, but there are no problems with bends or tuning stability. However, I still favor a vintage 6 screw bridge set flat.

Can you post a pic sometime? I have the same problem with my Malmsteen strat. It has better feel and action when the vintage trem is on a floating angle, but I hate the floating aspect to it

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Fender 2 point bridge flush with body or raised ?

I set the back edge (furthest from the neck) of the trem to be about 1/8" from the guitar's face. This (with a well cut nut and properly installed strings) gives me the ability to dump the trem and pull up about a 1/4 step without any tuning issues; even when using Klusons.

 

[Richard]

Re: Fender 2 point bridge flush with body or raised ?

Flat... i have better sustain and tone when i do this on my strat.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Fender 2 point bridge flush with body or raised ?

my 1988 American Standard has the bridge flush with the body... i really do not use the trem on that guitar too much... but these days i'm enjoying floating trems on my strats... no idea why but the floating trem sound and feel i'm digging

 

[tc]

Re: Fender 2 point bridge flush with body or raised ?

Can you post a pic sometime? I have the same problem with my Malmsteen strat. It has better feel and action when the vintage trem is on a floating angle, but I hate the floating aspect to it

block it at a floating angle. it works

i actually prefer the vibrato arm's feel when it floats, because much like a floyd, it is very touch sensitive and it gets the little nuances. When flush with the body the thing requires more initial force to get it moving. Not that big of a difference really. But considered the minimal range and the d-tuning aspect, to me a floating non-locking vibrato unit has all the disadvantages of a Floyd, without the stability and range it provides. It sounds the same too (which completely kills the "Floyd=bad tone" BS to me.). There's a couple of things I don't like:

Locking trem set flush with the body...
Vintage trem floating...

we are talking about fender and that kinda stuff right?? Because the one i like the least is the vintage six screw...I'm actually quite fond of the two point, flush...and Wilkinson/Gotoh's dont count (Best saddles I've played in my life!) !!! they're way too good man!!