To bend or not bend

[KRKBAB]

Issue:
When bending a B string (let's say from D to E- from the 15th to 17th fret), it's seems common and even accepted to have to bring the trem bar up or down to bring the B string back in tune.

Question:
Has anyone who uses a Strat with a regular vintage trem system do this and have the B string go right back in tune again?

*I don't mean using the bar to bend the note, but your fretting finger.

I've had this issue with any Strat (w/vintage trem) I've played. Including ones set up professionally with new nut and all.

 

[LReese]

Re: To bend or not bend

Not to the degree you mention - sometimes I'll make a quick jerk up on the Vibrato bar to correct tuning issues but not often. Its been documented there is some slippage over the bridge contact points. Keep those points lubed as well as you can.

I remember some guys trying out locking saddles a while back. The looked odd, and I seem to remember those guys going back to stock saddles.

 

[KRKBAB]

Re: To bend or not bend

Not to the degree you mention - sometimes I'll make a quick jerk up on the Vibrato bar to correct tuning issues but not often. Its been documented there is some slippage over the bridge contact points. Keep those points lubed as well as you can.

I remember some guys trying out locking saddles a while back. The looked odd, and I seem to remember those guys going back to stock saddles.

As much as I've been avoiding it, I may be a candidate for a locking nut.

 

[Zombiwoof]

Re: To bend or not bend

I've learned a few tricks to keeping a traditional Strat trem guitar in tune, after playing Strats since I was a young guy:

Make sure the nut is properly cut and polished so the strings don't bind in the slots.
Periodically lube the nut slots and any points where the strings contact the saddles and the mounting screws contact the plate.

Don't put a lot of string winds on the tuners, cut each string to a length that makes all the strings come off of the nut at approximately the same angle. My low E only has a couple of winds around the tuner, and it comes off the top of the winds, as you progress from low E to high E it has progressively more winds to keep the string angle off the nut the same for all strings.

Stretch your strings well when you install them.

The trem should float about 1/8" or so off the face of the guitar, this is the way it was designed to work.

Doing these things, my Strats stay in tune well, even when doing Hendrix-y deep dives or doing heavy string bends. I think if your string is going out of tune when you bend a string, you either haven't stretched the strings enough, or the nut is not cut correctly (or lubed once in a while).

Al

 

[Otto Basse]

Re: To bend or not bend

I think it would be enough for you to resolve your issue. Try it and set your Strat according to your desire and have fun.

I've learned a few tricks to keeping a traditional Strat trem guitar in tune, after playing Strats since I was a young guy:

Make sure the nut is properly cut and polished so the strings don't bind in the slots.
Periodically lube the nut slots and any points where the strings contact the saddles and the mounting screws contact the plate.

Don't put a lot of string winds on the tuners, cut each string to a length that makes all the strings come off of the nut at approximately the same angle. My low E only has a couple of winds around the tuner, and it comes off the top of the winds like in the website http://www.cigarsmokes.com, as you progress from low E to high E it has progressively more winds to keep the string angle off the nut the same for all strings.

Stretch your strings well when you install them.

The trem should float about 1/8" or so off the face of the guitar, this is the way it was designed to work.

Doing these things, my Strats stay in tune well, even when doing Hendrix-y deep dives or doing heavy string bends. I think if your string is going out of tune when you bend a string, you either haven't stretched the strings enough, or the nut is not cut correctly (or lubed once in a while).

Al

 

[blueman335]

Re: To bend or not bend

If any guitar is regularly going out of tune with full step bends, there's a problem somewhere. Recovering intonation from bending shouldn't become part of your style.

 

[rts99]

Re: To bend or not bend

There are some trem "enhancements" on the market that attempt to address the tuning problems resulting from the tremolo. The simplest is the wood block trick to disable the trem. That may not be what you're looking for though. Look at the Mag-Lok Anti-Deflection Device from SuperVee. It may be to your liking. There are other mfgs making similar devices. I have a feeling this may be worth your time.

Good Luck

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: To bend or not bend

After modest use, a properly set up vintage-style six screw fulcrum vibrato bridge should return to pitch. If it fails to do so, there is a long list of minor problems that could be the cause. Zombiwoof has listed most of them.

Others can include;
1) free play of the tuner post within its ferrule. (Kluson replica 'heads.)
2) poorly cut nut slots
3) poorly adjusted bridge saddles (Top edge should be parallel to the baseplate. Otherwise, the string can creep sideways across the saddle.)
4) poorly adjusted bridge pivot screws.

These matters are all covered in good DIY guitar maintenance books such as those written by Dan Erlewine.