Speaking of Strat Whammy Bars...here's some Mark Knopfler

[Lewguitar]

I've been doing a lot with my Strats lately. Having fun with the angled brass claw from Killer Guitar Components, changing vibratos with pot metal blocks to those with steel blocks, changing Fender '62 Reissue vibratos with steel blocks to Callaham vibratos with tighter tolerances and no wiggle in the vibrato arm, etc.

Came upon this video with Mark Knopfler demonstrating a '54 Strat and I found it interesting that when he uses the vibrato I can hear that rattle caused by the sloppy fit of a standard vibrato arm in a standard Fender vibrato. Happens at the 2:40 minute mark.



He gets a great tone out of that guitar but the arm rattle is what drove me to using Callaham vibratos on the last couple of Strats that I've worked on.

I'm sold on the Callhams. Also loving that Killer Guitar Components Angled Brass Claw. It really works for me - and it looks good.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Speaking of Strat Whammy Bars...here's some Mark Knopfler

Too funny!

I've watched that clip a few times myself and never noticed the whammy tick!!!

That's one thing that Bill Callaham really improved on and to me it's worth the price just to eliminate that one issue!

Bill's vibrato system is really built just the way Fender built them in the 50's but the 2 or 3 things he did change make a HUGE difference in the operation of the unit to me.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Speaking of Strat Whammy Bars...here's some Mark Knopfler

Right on. That whammy bar rattle has been a real pet peeve of mine. I've tried 5 or 6 different bridges and maybe 6 different arms and have come close to getting rid of the rattle but not quite. I haven't tried the Callaham unit just because of the cost, but I'm irritated enough at this point to go ahead and bite the bullet and give it a go.

Problem I have to overcome is that the Strat I need to put it on cost me (at a yard sale) less than half of what the Callaham goes for. Ouch. I know, it's mainly a mental problem I need to get over.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Speaking of Strat Whammy Bars...here's some Mark Knopfler

Something else I've discovered in the past couple of days is that Fender Japan Strats of the 80's use a vibrato block that is about 1/8" less wide than the USA block.

And the rout in the guitar for the vibrato block is about 1/8" less wide in my Japanese Fenders compared to my USA Fenders.

That means that when you replace the pot metal vibrato in an 80's MIJ Strat with a vintage size vibrato that the block might be so tight that it rubs.

Gotoh makes a direct replacement though, that's the right size and it even has a steel block.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Speaking of Strat Whammy Bars...here's some Mark Knopfler

The worst travesty in the world of trem routes is the standard Warmoth Strat route, which has overhang not only in the back where it belongs, but also to the front, removing material between the block and the 6 screws.

I think Warmoth since then introduced "total vintage" thing fixes that. But wth?

 

[J E C]

Re: Speaking of Strat Whammy Bars...here's some Mark Knopfler

Well heck Doc, since you got that Strat for such a good deal you can afford to get rid of that annoying wiggle and rattle right! Just do it man!

 

[jmh151]

Re: Speaking of Strat Whammy Bars...here's some Mark Knopfler

Well heck Doc, since you got that Strat for such a good deal you can afford to get rid of that annoying wiggle and rattle right! Just do it man!

I've been having the same problem with my Floyd Rose arms

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Speaking of Strat Whammy Bars...here's some Mark Knopfler

I still can't believe that I've been a strat player for 23 years, and never knew about tremolo arm springs till about 5 years ago. I dealt with wobble till I finally just ditched trems altogether.

I always wondered why new Fender strats had a round sticker over the the trem hole. It's to hold in the spring that's included! Duh!

Now, I actually have a tremolo set up on one of my strats. I just have to deal with not losing a spring. Good luck finding it once it hits the floor.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/fender-tremolo-arm-tension-springs-12

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Speaking of Strat Whammy Bars...here's some Mark Knopfler

I still can't believe that I've been a strat player for 23 years, and never knew about tremolo arm springs till about 5 years ago. I dealt with wobble till I finally just ditched trems altogether.

I always wondered why new Fender strats had a round sticker over the the trem hole. It's to hold in the spring that's included! Duh!

Now, I actually have a tremolo set up on one of my strats. I just have to deal with not losing a spring. Good luck finding it once it hits the floor.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/fender-tremolo-arm-tension-springs-12

No kidding.

Some guys have said to smear Vaseline all over the spring and stays stuck in the bottom of the hole.

You can buy those springs by the bag from StewMac and others.

There's still some arm wobble though - even with the spring.

Better though - with the spring.

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Speaking of Strat Whammy Bars...here's some Mark Knopfler

Love Mark's playing. I rarely play my Strat (always been a Gibson guy). I used to love the whammy bar, but now I keep mine with the claw almost to the wall, so it stays in tune.