Improving Resonance in a Stratocaster

[Eric Dahlberg]

Re: Improving Resonance in a Stratocaster

I've got a '69 Strat I purchased new. It's great for reference, not to mention playing. I've only had the neck off twice, but I noticed the perfectly flat surfaces where the neck and body contact each other. I think that's important.
Also, I don't think taking the neck off very often is a good thing.

I think you're probably right on all counts, though the neck inserts that ganzosrevenge brought up should solve all possible neck joint problems, even a loose pocket with lots of space on the sides. According to Onyx Forge, a bolt-on neck with the inserts is every bit as solid as a glued neck or neck-through.

Guitar Fetish's site makes a point about the ball ends of the strings needing to sit deeper into the block, closer to the springs, in order to gain the most benefit of the block's mass. This makes a lot of sense to me, not only in regards to the mass of the block but also because the strings are then tied closer to the springs and thus, ultimately, the body. Personally, I'm going for a Jeff Beck trem style so I need my bridge to be floating - not to mention that I've been playing floating trems for over 20 years and am more comfortable adjusting to them than not - and would really like to hear more of these kinds of tips that benefit a floating trem. For example, it seems to me that something could be done with the claw to make it more solid.

btw, has anyone here ever tried a brass block or even an all brass trem? According to the physics charts I've looked up, brass is considerably more dense than steel.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Improving Resonance in a Stratocaster

which ones have the most tension (and hopefully the most sustain of those, as a result?)

Jaosn

Oldschool springs (so most likely those marketed as "vintage strength") will be the softest.

Springs designed for modern locking trems (Read: "Original Floyd Rose") are about 35% stiffer than the old springs and about 25% stiffer than the springs most manufacturers currently equip vintage style trems with.

I´m not going to say there won´t be a difference in sustain as it´s not wholly out of the question, but I doubt that the effect would be huge as most of the sustain increase is coming from the high pressure and large contact surface of the plate lying on the body.

 

[ganzosrevenge]

Re: Improving Resonance in a Stratocaster

softest vs. stiffest meaning (ie: if i put 12s on my strat, which spring is most likely to be strong enough to keep the bridge firmly on the body)

 

[yammy yummy]

Re: Improving Resonance in a Stratocaster

A good thing is a graph tech supercharger kit. including 2 black tusq nut xl. 6 String saver saddles(teflon based). black tusq string tree. Look at the graph tech site for complete specification. the kit is around 40$ plus instalation fee, if you do not do it yourself. I installed it on a yamaha pacifica 112 with amazing result in increase sustain and tone. another way is to put higher output pickups (rail type) thats what i did on the yamaha.

Good luck with your project.

 

[Joelski]

Re: Improving Resonance in a Stratocaster

Grumpy, how you like those saddles? Was I right?

 

[doesitmatter]

Re: Improving Resonance in a Stratocaster

I added locking tuners to mine and the increased mass helped the sustain.

I'm thinking about sanding the trem cavity too. Opinions?