Hard Tail Strats?

[Artie]

Another lazy Sunday afternoon, perusing Fender Strats, and I notice that in all of the different models and variations there only seem to be two Hard Tail Strats:

The American Hard Tail, and the Robert Cray:

(There's an HH hard tail, but thats just a pickup change.)

So are non-trem users like me in that small of a minority? Just seems like they'ld have at least a couple more.

Artie

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Hard Tail Strats?

To me the Hard Tails always sound better.... But i do like strats with Trems... It seems to be more Fender to have a Trem on a strat....

WhoFan

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Hard Tail Strats?

PS Oddly i have had a bad craving for an American Standard in Black with a Maple board...

 

[Artie]

Re: Hard Tail Strats?

I kinda have my eye on that Robert Cray . . . in Sunburst.

 

[Kac]

Re: Hard Tail Strats?

I kinda have my eye on that Robert Cray . . . in Sunburst.

that would be very kool.

I think the reason fender doesn't make more hardtail strats is because it's not "vintage" they've been doing it with a trem since the begining, so it's more like they're "staying true" by having the trems.

Rock On :headbang:

 

[gripweed]

Re: Hard Tail Strats?

that would be very kool.

I think the reason fender doesn't make more hardtail strats is because it's not "vintage" they've been doing it with a trem since the begining, so it's more like they're "staying true" by having the trems.

Rock On :headbang:

If I'm not mistaken you could buy the original Strats with the trem or hardtail.

The hardtail Strats are suppossed to *sound different* than the trem Strats. Apparently the absence of wood and those springs add something to the Strattyness of the sound.

 

[Artie]

Re: Hard Tail Strats?

The hardtail Strats are suppossed to *sound different* than the trem Strats. Apparently the absence of wood and those springs add something to the Strattyness of the sound.

That does make sense. When I added the two extra springs, and tightened down the claw of mine, it definitely added a little richness to the tone. Not much, but a little.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Hard Tail Strats?

BOO!!! Hardtail Strats are just sexy Tele's...I think that they are just goofey, the only reason I started playing Strats is so I could use the bar...that said I do relize that mosr people (at least on here) do not use the bar...

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Hard Tail Strats?

BOO!!! Hardtail Strats are just sexy Tele's...I think that they are just goofey, the only reason I started playing Strats is so I could use the bar...that said I do relize that mosr people (at least on here) do not use the bar...

Couldn't have said it better myself!

I thought I wanted a hardtail Strat at one time until I figured, I've got a Tele.....I use 5 springs & tighten it all the way down like Clapton does. I think the less wood & springs add to the overall Stratiness of it,

I think I have a trem arm around here somewhere...............

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Hard Tail Strats?

Couldn't have said it better myself!

I thought I wanted a hardtail Strat at one time until I figured, I've got a Tele.....I use 5 springs & tighten it all the way down like Clapton does. I think the less wood & springs add to the overall Stratiness of it,

I think I have a trem arm around here somewhere...............

Thats right!

A blocked trem Strat still sounds more like a Strat to my ears, with a hardtail you get nothing special that you couldn't get in a 3 pickup Tele...and Tele lead coils are kick ass!

If you use the trem I would say get a Strat, if you still want a Strat sound but never use the bar, get a typical Strat and block that bitch!

If you gonna go the hardtail road, just get a Tele with a middle pickup...

 

[Artie]

Re: Hard Tail Strats?

Thats right!

A blocked trem Strat still sounds more like a Strat to my ears, with a hardtail you get nothing special that you couldn't get in a 3 pickup Tele...and Tele lead coils are kick ass!

If you use the trem I would say get a Strat, if you still want a Strat sound but never use the bar, get a typical Strat and block that bitch!

If you gonna go the hardtail road, just get a Tele with a middle pickup...

Thats an interesting point. I already have a 3-pup Tele. I'll have to be sure to play one for awhile in the store before I make a final decision. Fortunately, we have 3 or 4 Fender dealers in town.

 

[briand]

Re: Hard Tail Strats?

That does make sense. When I added the two extra springs, and tightened down the claw of mine, it definitely added a little richness to the tone. Not much, but a little.

That is the samething I did to my strat.

 

[ankalar]

Re: Hard Tail Strats?

But Telecasters are ugly as sin.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Hard Tail Strats?

Blashphemy! Teles are beautiful. (However, colors that look great on strats just don't do it for me on teles... I tele needs to be black, burst or blonde)

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Hard Tail Strats?

I never use the trems on my Strats, and I intend to convert the Number One to hard tail by replacing the body & bridge. I actually really love the way Teles resonate, so I have a feeling I will like it. I will keep my 3 single Strat tremoloized for the "authentic" sound.

I'm not very hung up on vintage spec myself, I just like what sounds good.

 

[C-Martin]

Re: Hard Tail Strats?

BOO!!! Hardtail Strats are just sexy Tele's...I think that they are just goofey, the only reason I started playing Strats is so I could use the bar...that said I do relize that mosr people (at least on here) do not use the bar...

i WISH i could use my bar... actualy i do.. but i prefer not to cuz after i do that i gotta spend like 15 min to retune it cuz it goes completly crap after i use it.. if i dont use it however it stays perfectly in tune or if i use it "slitghy" pushing down on it with my palm to do like a "vibrato thing... other than that ive been trying to figure out how to make this damn thing to work properly forever.. to me its either broke or i just suck, it kinda pisses me off cuz i kidna payed "too much" for it (Custom shop player strat, dont ask how much ) and id expect everything to work perfectly.. and everything does and sounds great exept for the damn bar... i wanna know the damn secret that makes this thing work! Ive seen it, heared it and played with ones that worked so i know its possible

 

[Ez74]

Re: Hard Tail Strats?

i'm a big fan of the hardtail also. I have both a cray strat and a USA hardtail strat. I wish fender made a highway 1 hardtail strat

 

[Antihero]

Re: Hard Tail Strats?

I never use the trems on my Strats, and I intend to convert the Number One to hard tail by replacing the body & bridge. I actually really love the way Teles resonate, so I have a feeling I will like it. I will keep my 3 single Strat tremoloized for the "authentic" sound.

I'm not very hung up on vintage spec myself, I just like what sounds good.

www.customshopparts.com also has a drop in conversion to hardtail that you can use on trem routed strats.

I think its called the Drop Top.....

 

[Slash2987]

Re: Hard Tail Strats?

PS Oddly i have had a bad craving for an American Standard in Black with a Maple board...

Doesn't everyone man? That is the alltime classic guitar. Whether it's Clapton, Dave Murray, or the guy playing at the bar it's just a timeless looking guitar. I mainly use the trem for feedback which is why I like having it there. It offers more possibilities than a hard tailed instrument.

 

[Artie]

Re: Hard Tail Strats?

i'm a big fan of the hardtail also. I have both a cray strat and a USA hardtail strat. I wish fender made a highway 1 hardtail strat

Cool. How would you compare the two?

Artie