Fender Big Apple Stratocaster Questions

[ErikH]

Re: Fender Big Apple Stratocaster Questions

Thanks Erik! I usually tighten up the springs around the back until the base of the bridge is pulled tight to the body. Then I adjust the screws in front of the saddles until the base is flat against the body. In a vintage style Strat vibrato over tightening those screws actually causes the bridge base to lift up in back and tilt forward again because the front edge of the bottem of the base is beveled...so they have to be adjusted just right. But I'll check out your method when I set up this new guitar. Thanks! Lew

Yup, my Frankenstrat has a 6-screw trem and I have it tightned down too. That one sits flush on both sides just fine. On the American Standard, and yours too if I'm not mistaken, it has a the 2-point trem. You can still get the springs tightened in back first, just double check the level like I mentioned and adjust either side as necessary.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Fender Big Apple Stratocaster Questions

Yup, my Frankenstrat has a 6-screw trem and I have it tightned down too. That one sits flush on both sides just fine. On the American Standard, and yours too if I'm not mistaken, it has a the 2-point trem. You can still get the springs tightened in back first, just double check the level like I mentioned and adjust either side as necessary.

Yep...it's the two point system. I put up some photos of it a few posts back. It's a right purty geetar...don't cha think? I'm really looking forward to getting it but I'll be out of town all next week so when it comes, I'll not be here. Oh well....something to look forward to upon my return. Heading over to Utah to do some camping, hiking and exploring...the usual stuff: searching for Indian Ruins and old rock art and the like! (laugh!) Lew

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Fender Big Apple Stratocaster Questions

Yep...it's the two point system. I put up some photos of it a few posts back. It's a right purty geetar...don't cha think? I'm really looking forward to getting it but I'll be out of town all next week so when it comes, I'll not be here. Oh well....something to look forward to upon my return. Heading over to Utah to do some camping, hiking and exploring...the usual stuff: searching for Indian Ruins and old rock art and the like! (laugh!) Lew

It's beautiful.

Hey, quick question on the two point / six point thing. Is two point inferior, or would you change to six point? I'm just wondering because I'm not sure if such a thing is worth it, etc.

Also, I'm wondering with the tone wizard and such, if "vintage tremolo" means only six point (i.e. if it does not include two point) and why. I'm thinking because the six screws might be in "magnetic range" to the bridge pickup, and if this influences brightness, etc. If I was using the Tone Wizard, should I say "vintage tremolo" if I have a two point system?

I ask this because I may get a Carvin Bolt Kit soon, and theirs is two point if I'm not mistaken. Thanks, Lew!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Fender Big Apple Stratocaster Questions

It's beautiful.

Hey, quick question on the two point / six point thing. Is two point inferior, or would you change to six point? I'm just wondering because I'm not sure if such a thing is worth it, etc.

Also, I'm wondering with the tone wizard and such, if "vintage tremolo" means only six point (i.e. if it does not include two point) and why. I'm thinking because the six screws might be in "magnetic range" to the bridge pickup, and if this influences brightness, etc. If I was using the Tone Wizard, should I say "vintage tremolo" if I have a two point system?

I ask this because I may get a Carvin Bolt Kit soon, and theirs is two point if I'm not mistaken. Thanks, Lew!

I don't have much experience with the two point system but I do know that it stays in tune better. It's the system Jeff Beck uses and he's a master of the whammy bar. The 6 point vintage system uses six screws and they are not special screws designed with a bearing surface or anything. They're just screws. Don't know which sounds better. I'm assuming the actual tremolo block is the same size and weight...and if it is, both styles should sound very similar. But that's in theory...not actual real world comparing. Lew

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Fender Big Apple Stratocaster Questions

I don't have much experience with the two point system but I do know that it stays in tune better. It's the system Jeff Beck uses and he's a master of the whammy bar. The 6 point vintage system uses six screws and they are not special screws designed with a bearing surface or anything. They're just screws. Don't know which sounds better. I'm assuming the actual tremolo block is the same size and weight...and if it is, both styles should sound very similar. But that's in theory...not actual real world comparing. Lew

Thanks. And in your opinion does the six point or two point make the guitar brighter? And if the six point does, should I be using the Tone Wizard with "standard" nistead of "vintage tremolo" for inquiring about guitars with the two point system? Thanks!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Fender Big Apple Stratocaster Questions

Thanks. And in your opinion does the six point or two point make the guitar brighter? And if the six point does, should I be using the Tone Wizard with "standard" nistead of "vintage tremolo" for inquiring about guitars with the two point system? Thanks!

I don't know. I haven't compared them. Now that I'll own both, I will compare them. I will say that I have found that the heavier the inertia block or tremolo block the deeper and more authoritive the bass tones. I did a long thread years ago that's in the vault called: the Ultimate Stratocaster Tone where I weighed various tremolo blocks and compared their tones. IMO, the best sounding vibrato or tremolo was the Fender Reissue of the '62 Fender vibrato. It sounded identical to the vibrato in my real '63 Strat...and weighed the same too! Lew

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Fender Big Apple Stratocaster Questions

I don't know. I haven't compared them. Now that I'll own both, I will compare them. I will say that I have found that the heavier the inertia block or tremolo block the deeper and more authoritive the bass tones. I did a long thread years ago that's in the vault called: the Ultimate Stratocaster Tone where I weighed various tremolo blocks and compared their tones. IMO, the best sounding vibrato or tremolo was the Fender Reissue of the '62 Fender vibrato. It sounded identical to the vibrato in my real '63 Strat...and weighed the same too! Lew

Ok, I'll wait with bated breath lol

That's another question: the Callaham block is supposedly similar, so I'll be contacting them to see if they make a two point version of the entire tremolo assembly. You don't happen to know, do you? Thanks!

EDIT: Nevermind, I called, they make the trem block only, $65.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Fender Big Apple Stratocaster Questions

TR, the way I look at it is like this... if you absolutely cannot play the guitar without a 6-screw trem and just have to have it because it holds your tonal universe together, then get it. If not, the 2-point will do the job just fine. It's not inferior, just different. I prefer the 2-point myself. When I built my Frankenstrat, I wanted to stick with vintage style hardware just because of the look, and it was cheaper to get.

Can't give you a solid answer about the Tone Wizard. I'd use the vintage trem selection for anything that is not a Floyd or Kahler type.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Fender Big Apple Stratocaster Questions

Yep...it's the two point system. I put up some photos of it a few posts back. It's a right purty geetar...don't cha think? I'm really looking forward to getting it but I'll be out of town all next week so when it comes, I'll not be here. Oh well....something to look forward to upon my return. Heading over to Utah to do some camping, hiking and exploring...the usual stuff: searching for Indian Ruins and old rock art and the like! (laugh!) Lew

How'd I miss those pics? LOL. WOW, that is sweet. I'm not a tort guard person so I'd be changing that but that's a beauty. Make the guard 3-ply black/white/black with those knobs and pickups and call it a hot-rodded SRV....LOL.

You could've had the guy ship it to me. I'd take care of it for you and even give it a setup. LOL.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Fender Big Apple Stratocaster Questions

You could've had the guy ship it to me. LOL.

Gee....can't imagine why I didn't think of that. :scratchch

 

[ErikH]

Re: Fender Big Apple Stratocaster Questions

Gee....can't imagine why I didn't think of that. :scratchch

 

[theodie]

Re: Fender Big Apple Stratocaster Questions

Nice!!!!!!!!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Fender Big Apple Stratocaster Questions

Nice!!!!!!!!

Many thanks!

 

[kjrocks]

Re: Fender Big Apple Stratocaster Questions

Sweet, I have always wanted to check one those out.

 

[tc]

Re: Fender Big Apple Stratocaster Questions

looks really nice...how does the neck split position sound?

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Fender Big Apple Stratocaster Questions

A really good guitar player in a well known CT hard rock/groove band used to use one exclusively. It sounded great, you'd never guess it was a Fender.

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: Fender Big Apple Stratocaster Questions

I belive one of the colis on the 59 is wound "funny" so that all 5 of the positions on the 5 way switch are hum bucking, however Im not sure about that...

Actually, the coils are standard, but the magnet on the neck pickup is reverse polarity.

Nice score, Lew. Those are great guitars.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Fender Big Apple Stratocaster Questions

Actually, the coils are standard, but the magnet on the neck pickup is reverse polarity.

Nice score, Lew. Those are great guitars.

I stand corrected...very cool!

 

[tc]

Re: Fender Big Apple Stratocaster Questions

so the '59 is like the one on the Showmaster series....actually I think the pickup config is exactly the same...

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Fender Big Apple Stratocaster Questions

so the '59 is like the one on the Showmaster series....actually I think the pickup config is exactly the same...

I would think that they're the same, the same '59RP/PG+ thing, since they also used that same combo on the special Telecasters they made too. However, I'm having a hard time finding official specifications for it on Google.