Strat tremolo?

[CaughtINAMosh]

I want to get a Fender Strat, but the problem is that I use the whammy bar a lot and think that the strat will go out of tune alot. Ritchie Blackmore used it alot and didn't go out of tune. I was wondering if adding locking tuners would help with my crazy whammy bar playing? or should I get another guitar?

 

[BoomBoomChild]

Re: Strat tremolo?

I want to get a Fender Strat, but the problem is that I use the whammy bar a lot and think that the strat will go out of tune alot. Ritchie Blackmore used it alot and didn't go out of tune. I was wondering if adding locking tuners would help with my crazy whammy bar playing? or should I get another guitar?

Replace the stock tremolo with the Hipshot Model 42200 tremolo bridge and put some Schaller locking tuners on, in addition to a graphite nut, and I’d also highly suggest that you file the saddle slots on the tremolo bridge so the strings have a nice and smooth surface to glide over, thus helping to keep guitar in tune and prevent string breakage at the bridge (where pretty much 99% of string breakage occurs).

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Strat tremolo?

Yes locking tuners help alot. When used in conjunction with a graphtec nut, a vintage trem stays in tune pretty good. You really should also go to a graphtec nut and dump the string trees as well, unless your stock nut is really great.

The problem of vintage style trems going out of tune, really boils down to the string getting hung up at contact points; such as the nut slots, the string trees, and the saddle grooves. The string moves at these points and when the bridge goes back, they can get caught and have greater tension. Such contact points can be lubed.

A locking tuner keeps the overall string length and tension exact, as long the string doesn't hang up some where else, because it eliminates winding around the tuning peg, plus there's zero backlash.

Get the strat and refine it so it stays in tune.

 

[CaughtINAMosh]

Re: Strat tremolo?

Thanks that helped. Right now I use a non-recessed original floyd rose with three springs in the back. Another problem I have with the strat bridge is that its too easy to pull down. Any suggestions on how to make it a little tougher? maybe equal tension to the floyd if possible. (I really want a strat there is just these minor problems)

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Strat tremolo?

Add springs. BTW, I have a MIJ 62 RI with the stock trem and saddles, kluson style tuners, and a bone nut and it stays in tune after dumping it repetedly and has a half step of up pull.

You can make a vintage trem stay in tune, you just have to know how to do it.

 

[greendy123]

Re: Strat tremolo?

Well you could get the graphtech stringsavers, the graphite nut and string trees would help too.

 

[xerxes]

Re: Strat tremolo?

f u are gonna change a million things , the guitar isnt for u. just get a different one

 

[pinto79]

Re: Strat tremolo?

Thanks that helped. Right now I use a non-recessed original floyd rose with three springs in the back. Another problem I have with the strat bridge is that its too easy to pull down. Any suggestions on how to make it a little tougher? maybe equal tension to the floyd if possible. (I really want a strat there is just these minor problems)

Find a Strat with a Floyd. best of both worlds.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Strat tremolo?

Find a Strat with a Floyd. best of both worlds.

Plus 1 on that..... too many people are saying you can do the same trem bar tricks on a nonlocking trem.... if you are into lots of diving and Steve Vai or Van Halen style bar abuse a Floyd is the only trem for staying in tune with that much abuse.....

 

[GHWelles]

Re: Strat tremolo?

Get a music man Petrucci, or any Music Man. They have locking tuners and the Petrucci has a custom bridge that acts kind of like a floyd with vintage tone (non locking) and stays in tune very well. Out of the box ready and no need to modify.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Strat tremolo?

Wilkinson's are great. And they are a drop in replacement for the american two-point trem. I prefer the wilkinson to a floyd.

 

[toneseeker]

Re: Strat tremolo?

Add springs. BTW, I have a MIJ 62 RI with the stock trem and saddles, kluson style tuners, and a bone nut and it stays in tune after dumping it repetedly and has a half step of up pull.

You can make a vintage trem stay in tune, you just have to know how to do it.

So how do you do it?

 

[CaughtINAMosh]

Re: Strat tremolo?

f u are gonna change a million things , the guitar isnt for u. just get a different one

I don't think adding some springs and putting on locking tuners is "a million things."

 

[callous_frigid_chill]

Re: Strat tremolo?

Doesn't fender have hardtail strats?

 

[callous_frigid_chill]

Re: Strat tremolo?

Oh whoops, nevermind that. I misread the original post.

 

[octavedoctor]

Re: Strat tremolo?

I want to get a Fender Strat, but the problem is that I use the whammy bar a lot and think that the strat will go out of tune alot. Ritchie Blackmore used it alot and didn't go out of tune. I was wondering if adding locking tuners would help with my crazy whammy bar playing? or should I get another guitar?

Save your money. Don't buy locking tuners they are just more gimmicks to go fubar on you.

A Strat will stay in tune if it is set up properly and maintained correctly.

1) Have your guitar competently set up by someone who knows what he (or she) is doing.

2) learn to string your guitar properly. Most tuning problems are down to pilot error, not equipment failure. I know no-one here wants to believe that...
Make sure you have a string hitch at the tuner that is nice and neat and stable without too many or too few wraps and no crossed coils
Right

Wrong

3) If you have sealed gear tuners make sure the threaded ferrules are gripping the headstock tightly and that the spring washers between the button and tuner stems are fully compressed. If you don't have sealed gear tuners get some!

4) Don't be tempted to fit a tremsetter, they make matters worse and complicate the set up.

5) It is a fallacy that your trem will be more stable if you put more springs on it. it's actually the opposite. The tremelo springs operate at a higher efficiency when they are under some pre-load. Hooke's law (stress is proportional to strain) breaks down for small extensions and light loadings. Use the least number of springs for the gauge of strings you are using.

6) Keep everything lubricated. Use dry soap or candle wax in the nut slots to lubricate them and make sure they are properly cut so that the strings don't bind. Use baby oil on the pivot posts.

7) Make sure the neck joint is secure.

8) Don't listen to anyone else, this is my area of specialisation...

 

[CaughtINAMosh]

Re: Strat tremolo?

I was going to add springs to add tension so it wouldn't pull down as easy.