Mustang Guys

Re: Mustang Guys

IMO, they do not.

The Stratocaster fulcrum vibrato is a piece of minimalist engineering. The Mustang system is a cheapened version of the "Floating Tremolo" vibrato system of the Jazzmaster and Jaguar.

The feel is different. On the Mustang, the tailpieces shifts but the strings remain at the same height above the pickups and fingerboard. On a Stratocaster, depressing the arm raises the baseplate, shifting the strings away from the pickups and, hence, reducing the output signal strength. (In this respect, the Strat vibrato really does introduce an element of tremolo as a by-product.)

If you keep using both systems, you will adapt to both. If you play the Strat more than the Mustang, the latter will start to feel strange.
 
Re: Mustang Guys

They both work fine when used as intended: to replace a mild left hand vibrato. If you expect to precisely bend notes up to pitch and have them come back in tune, forget it. They both suck. What you will notice is more pitch bending ability with the Strat vibrato, and a tighter feel.

Honestly, unless you are a big-time vibrato arm user, the biggest difference you'll notice between the Mustang and the Strat in practice will be the significant difference in scale length, not the vibrato.
 
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Re: Mustang Guys

the Strat tremoloes that i have played feel stiff and jerky. i like the smoothness of the Mustang trem. the only thing that i have found compares to it is the Kahler used on Carvins in the 80's.

me personally i don't like for my Mustang bridge to float so i lock it down by taping around the posts.
 
Re: Mustang Guys

Now, you're talking. Mustang + Kahler flatmount = Belew!!!
 
Re: Mustang Guys

a Noise Miester from way back !!!!

Reeves Gabrels can only look on in wonder. i kid. Reeves is pretty good himself.
 
Re: Mustang Guys

Getting back on topic, there is a bunch of well-documented tweaks that can (and should) be performed on a Stratocaster six-screw fulcrum vibrato to get the best out of it.
 
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