String Trees

Benjy_26

25's Nemesis
Hello all. As part of the rehabilitation process of my Washburn, I need to replace the string tree. The guitar comes with a floating VS100 and I installed some inexpensive locking tuners.

Originally, the guitar came with a roller string tree on the e and b string. Should I replace the old, broken roller tree with another, or is Tusq a better option? Thanks in advance.
 
Re: String Trees

I've used GFS roller trees with success in the past. If you happen to not like them, you're only out ~$6 before shipping.
 
Re: String Trees

How whammy-crazy do you get?

I use the stock tuners, nut, trees (both), and 2-point bridge on my '87 Strat. It's set to float with a decent amount of pull. Every time I change the strings, I lube the nut and trees with graphite from a mechanical pencil. It'll tolerate a lot of abuse, well into Floyd territory before it goes out. Usually any issues can be fixed by pulling back on the bar quickly.


It took a lot of dorking around and setup trial and error to get it like that. For instance, I only put about 1.5 or less wraps around the posts, and floating is a necessity for it to stay in tune.


Sorry... that was a really long winded way of saying (IMHO) the setup makes far more difference than the other stuff.
 
Re: String Trees

Not to derail the thread, but does anyone make a string tree that covers three strings instead of just two? My G on my #1 Strat rattles more than it should on the open string, and I don't want any more break angle on the D string.
 
Re: String Trees

Ordered a 4 pack of roller trees off of Musicliliy on Amazon for 10 bucks. I'll let y'all know how they work out.
 
Re: String Trees

How whammy-crazy do you get?

I use the stock tuners, nut, trees (both), and 2-point bridge on my '87 Strat. It's set to float with a decent amount of pull. Every time I change the strings, I lube the nut and trees with graphite from a mechanical pencil. It'll tolerate a lot of abuse, well into Floyd territory before it goes out. Usually any issues can be fixed by pulling back on the bar quickly.


It took a lot of dorking around and setup trial and error to get it like that. For instance, I only put about 1.5 or less wraps around the posts, and floating is a necessity for it to stay in tune.


Sorry... that was a really long winded way of saying (IMHO) the setup makes far more difference than the other stuff.
I set up my strats in a similar fashion and can dump the 6 point trem with klusons and butterfly string trees without going out of tune, but the Mercury in question had broken tuners (replaced at this point) and a broken string tree. I need to put something on the headstock.
 
Re: String Trees

I like the graphite Tusq/Graph-Tech trees. I have them on my G&Ls; I think you can still get them from Stew-Mac.

Bill
 
Re: String Trees

Not to derail the thread, but does anyone make a string tree that covers three strings instead of just two? My G on my #1 Strat rattles more than it should on the open string, and I don't want any more break angle on the D string.

Hairband past the nut?
 
Re: String Trees

Being a child of the 60's I'm still fond of the old school method
of using bridge saddles for string trees.

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Last edited:
Re: String Trees

How whammy-crazy do you get?

I use the stock tuners, nut, trees (both), and 2-point bridge on my '87 Strat. It's set to float with a decent amount of pull. Every time I change the strings, I lube the nut and trees with graphite from a mechanical pencil. It'll tolerate a lot of abuse, well into Floyd territory before it goes out. Usually any issues can be fixed by pulling back on the bar quickly.


It took a lot of dorking around and setup trial and error to get it like that. For instance, I only put about 1.5 or less wraps around the posts, and floating is a necessity for it to stay in tune.


Sorry... that was a really long winded way of saying (IMHO) the setup makes far more difference than the other stuff.

I agree.
 
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