MIM Fender Tremolo Bridge Advice

[Kais]

I'm thinking about buying this bridge for my mim strat:
SB-5212-010
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHROME-NARROW-TREMOLO-KIT-FOR-IMPORT-FENDER-STRAT-SB-5212-010-/230988427186
http://www.allparts.com/SB-5212-010-Economy-Tremolo-Chrome_p_3285.html

Both links are the same product ^

Now my issue is I love to use the whammy bar a lot, and I don't want to use cheaper parts and have tuning issues.
Can anyone suggest a better tremolo system from allparts.com? I use that site because I receive a discount.
Thanks in advance.

 

[brunogio]

Re: MIM Fender Tremolo Bridge Advice

There is a Wilkinson that I had in my MIM strat that I wish I had now for my Blacktop. I forget the model number but it stayed in tune very well. Callaham also makes one for the MIM but I haven't used one so I don't konw how well it stays in tune.

 

[Kais]

Re: MIM Fender Tremolo Bridge Advice

There is a Wilkinson that I had in my MIM strat that I wish I had now for my Blacktop. I forget the model number but it stayed in tune very well. Callaham also makes one for the MIM but I haven't used one so I don't konw how well it stays in tune.

any chance it was this one?
http://www.allparts.com/SB-5316-010-Wilkinson-Licensed-by-Gotoh-Vintage-Tremolo-Chrome_p_3303.html

Do you recall how much it cost?

 

[brunogio]

Re: MIM Fender Tremolo Bridge Advice

It did look a lot like that one but one of the screw holes was oblong so it would fit the difference between US and MIM models. I bought it off someone here for less than $100 but I can't remember how much actually.

 

[DreX]

Re: MIM Fender Tremolo Bridge Advice

You won't see any real difference in terms of tuning with cheap bridges versus expensive ones because the issue is one of design, not so much quality. You'd have to get a Floyd do do dive bombs. You can get roller nuts and things like that to remedy hang ups at the nut, and that would make a difference. Stock trems are good for light vibrato, I don't think there's a need to change them out.

I once had a cheap strat with a bridge made of softer metal or chrome plating and it had formed cuts and dents in the saddles that the strings would hang up on. That's something to watch out for, but saddles are cheap and easy to replace. Perhaps consider graphite saddles and nuts.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: MIM Fender Tremolo Bridge Advice

To me, it looks like either one will be the same as, or even a downgrade from, the stock unit.

Also, you have to have a pretty huge discount from All-Parts to make it worth buying anything from them. They must be the most overpriced parts retailer out there.

I don't remember the exact brand, but there was one that looked promising to me as a reasonably-priced alternative to the stock MIM vibrato. Maybe a Gotoh or a Wilkinson.

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: MIM Fender Tremolo Bridge Advice

A gotoh or wilkinson trem.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: MIM Fender Tremolo Bridge Advice

I'm thinking about buying this bridge for my mim strat....
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Does your current tremolo use a small block rather than a full size vintage style block?

If that's the case, then the new cheapy tremolo you're considering might improve the tone of your guitar a little since they do seem to have full size blocks.

But for that price, I doubt that they have steel blocks like vintage Strats have. I would guess that the cheapy would have a zinc pot metal block.

Zinc pot metal trems can sound just fine - but they don't sound quite as "good" as vintage style tremolos with steel blocks.

Personally, if I were going to make the change, I'd spend a little more on a tremolo with a full size steel block. Maybe you could find one used on Ebay.

 

[Kais]

Re: MIM Fender Tremolo Bridge Advice

I play some shoegaze so the use of tremolo is very prominent in my playing.

I forgot to mention, I bought the strat as a body, so it didn't come with anything. So if I could match the quality of the stock one for $30 I'd be happy. Good to hear there isn't much difference in quality or whatever, I just don't want this setup to be like my old cheap ibanez that went out of tune when using the whammy, tho it might have been setup wrong.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: MIM Fender Tremolo Bridge Advice

I play some shoegaze so the use of tremolo is very prominent in my playing.

Good to hear there isn't much difference in quality or whatever, I just don't want this setup to be like my old cheap ibanez that went out of tune when using the whammy, tho it might have been setup wrong.

Don't know shoegaze but vintage style Fender tremolos are meant for subtle use. That's why Jimi Hendrix was always out of tune live.

Don't expect a Fender tremolo to stay in tune like a Floyd Rose, because it won't.

 

[DreX]

Re: MIM Fender Tremolo Bridge Advice

Shoegaze would call for light vibrato, no more the a step down.

 

[Kais]

Re: MIM Fender Tremolo Bridge Advice

Shoegaze would call for light vibrato, no more the a step down.

What do you mean? Definitely not a Floyd rose. You think the piece in the op will be sufficient?

Don't know shoegaze but vintage style Fender tremolos are meant for subtle use. That's why Jimi Hendrix was always out of tune live.

Don't expect a Fender tremolo to stay in tune like a Floyd Rose, because it won't.

Well I won't be dive bombing per se, but I'll be bending chords in and out of focus. A Floyd wouldn't work for my purposes.

 

[Kais]

Re: MIM Fender Tremolo Bridge Advice

To me, it looks like either one will be the same as, or even a downgrade from, the stock unit.

Also, you have to have a pretty huge discount from All-Parts to make it worth buying anything from them. They must be the most overpriced parts retailer out there.

I don't remember the exact brand, but there was one that looked promising to me as a reasonably-priced alternative to the stock MIM vibrato. Maybe a Gotoh or a Wilkinson.

It's the standard dealer discount, my friend is a tech and they signed up for it.

Honestly most of the ones they have are $100+. Those 2 I linked are the cheapest on there. I'm thinking the first one will be sufficient. Just can't find any reviews on it or anything.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: MIM Fender Tremolo Bridge Advice

If you're going to keep it subtle, try this method of setting up your vibrato. There are other ways but this method works well for me and it's the way I do it.

The key is to use a tuner to adjust your springs so you can pull up an open G to stop right on an A#, pull up an open B to stop right on a C#, and pull up an open high E to stop right on a F.

If you set your trem so that when you pull up on an open G and get a note higher than an A# that's not following the directions to do this set up "right".

 

[Kais]

Re: MIM Fender Tremolo Bridge Advice

If you're going to keep it subtle, try this method of setting up your vibrato. There are other ways but this method works well for me and it's the way I do it.

The key is to use a tuner to adjust your springs so you can pull up an open G to stop right on an A#, pull up an open B to stop right on a C#, and pull up an open high E to stop right on a F.

If you set your trem so that when you pull up on an open G and get a note higher than an A# that's not following the directions to do this set up "right".

Thank you for that sir, really appreciate it. I will make sure this is setup correctly when I am that point in the project.

 

[Jermo3178]

Re: MIM Fender Tremolo Bridge Advice

Think this is what brunogio was talking about. Havent used one, but have heard good things... http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar_tremolos/Wilkinson_Gotoh_VSVG_Vintage_Tremolo.html

 

[Kais]

Re: MIM Fender Tremolo Bridge Advice

Think this is what brunogio was talking about. Havent used one, but have heard good things... http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar_tremolos/Wilkinson_Gotoh_VSVG_Vintage_Tremolo.html

Whoa haha, that's more than what I paid for the body. Might as well go with hipshot or something in that price range.

So far majority in this thread has convinced me to go with the cheaper one in the op.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: MIM Fender Tremolo Bridge Advice

Thank you for that sir, really appreciate it. I will make sure this is setup correctly when I am that point in the project.

You're welcome. It's not the only way to do it. But it's the way that works well for me. And it sounds good too.

 

[Kais]

Re: MIM Fender Tremolo Bridge Advice

You're welcome. It's not the only way to do it. But it's the way that works well for me. And it sounds good too.

That's exactly how I want my bridge to be setup, floating not flat. In that sense, I can bring the chords/notes in and out of focus. I have another strat I will have to convert to floating as well.

 

[Kais]

Re: MIM Fender Tremolo Bridge Advice

so just to reiterate, the economy brand of allparts should perform (in all aspects) somewhat equal to a gotoh or wilkinson brand trem?