vintage Strat trem or American standard trem?

rspst14

rspst14

Tone Cat
Here's a question for you Strat guys...which do you prefer, the vintage style six screw trem, or the American standard two post tremolo? How do they compare in terms of feel, tone, and tuning stability? If you don't plan on floating the trem, is one a better choice than the other? Thanks.

Ryan
 
Re: vintage Strat trem or American standard trem?

If I was to float the trem I would definetly go with the American 2 point tremelo bridge. BUT, I don't ever float my bridge, so I definetly prefer the vintage 6 strew type bridge. I feel that for being flat on the body being screwed in like that might possibly help with sustain, making it better than the 2 point.
Rock On :13:
 
Re: vintage Strat trem or American standard trem?

either way, IMO the 6 hole sounds better and I have almost NO tuning problems out of mine...and some nights it gets pretty crazy! I don't even have locking keys or a fancy nut and it works great, and like I said, IMO they do sounds much better!
 
Re: vintage Strat trem or American standard trem?

dont get american....they tried to make a new design with the saddle slots instead of the rounded saddle ends of the vintage ones. The saddle slots are very sharp in some cases and allow lots of string breakage to occur-there's more edges and places where a string can get snagged.

The vintage design is much better IMO. It keeps pretty good stability with a 4 spring float if you're willing to muscle the arm a bit when dive-bombing. I'm a '5 springer down to the body guy'.
 
Re: vintage Strat trem or American standard trem?

Thanks guys, it seems like the general consensus is that the 6 screw is the preferred Strat trem. Hopefully Lew and Curly will chime in on this. I don't like floating trems, I prefer setting them up for downward use only. I've never tried a vintage trem, only an American standard two point trem. They have a nice feel, but I'm thinking about another Strat project, and I'm thinking about trying a vintage trem. How does the vintage compare to the American Standard in terms of feel?

Ryan
 
Re: vintage Strat trem or American standard trem?

rspst14 said:
Thanks guys, it seems like the general consensus is that the 6 screw is the preferred Strat trem. Hopefully Lew and Curly will chime in on this. I don't like floating trems, I prefer setting them up for downward use only. I've never tried a vintage trem, only an American standard two point trem. They have a nice feel, but I'm thinking about another Strat project, and I'm thinking about trying a vintage trem. How does the vintage compare to the American Standard in terms of feel?

Ryan
Click to expand...


I'll save you some time...Lew likes the vintage 6 hole, Curly likes the Wilkinson and or the G&L trem...
 
Re: vintage Strat trem or American standard trem?

yeah, doesnt lew dig the fender reissue trems? He did a whole analysis on them, and even weighed them vs. the originals. He likes the new ones better.
 
Re: vintage Strat trem or American standard trem?

Most guys who know true strat tone will opt for the vintage style, but my issue is that I don't like vintage necks because of the hidden truss rod, and really don't like small frets and 7.25 radius. Most guitars with vintage trems also have those, with a few exceptions. I just anchor down the Am Std bridges, and use Graphtechs on the plain strings only. On my G&L, I've decided to give the floating trem a chance, only because I feel that Leo finally perfected the Fender bridge on the G&L's.
 
Re: vintage Strat trem or American standard trem?

Gearjoneser said:
Most guys who know true strat tone will opt for the vintage style, but my issue is that I don't like vintage necks because of the hidden truss rod, and really don't like small frets and 7.25 radius. Most guitars with vintage trems also have those, with a few exceptions. I just anchor down the Am Std bridges, and use Graphtechs on the plain strings only. On my G&L, I've decided to give the floating trem a chance, only because I feel that Leo finally perfected the Fender bridge on the G&L's.
Click to expand...

I should point out that this would be used with a Warmoth neck, so it would have the 10-16" compound radius.

Ryan
 
Re: vintage Strat trem or American standard trem?

too flat for my tastes, im all out vintage when it comes to strat neck radius.
 
Re: vintage Strat trem or American standard trem?

I do have a couple Warmoth strats with the Wilkinson, and I do like those, but I also did another one that was kind of "modern vintage", similar to a Clapton model - 22 frets with a vintage bridge and tuners. I do believe that the vintage set up is a more immediate, more present tone.

I used the Gotoh bridge on that guitar, but after Lew's post, I'll probably switch it out for the Fender one eventually.
I don't always use the trem, but I like the option, because that's one of the cool things about a strat. I have a pretty light hand on the trem, and that helps avoid tuning problems.
 
Re: vintage Strat trem or American standard trem?

even though i locak all my strat trems down with 5 springs or 3 and the claw down far, i still like the vintage trems better for some reason...although i think a vintage trem with some graphtech saddles is the best of both worlds!!

-Mike
 
Re: vintage Strat trem or American standard trem?

I hate the vintage trem- the screws cut up my palm. You only need 2 scres to pivot on anyway.
I like the Wilkenson design the best- cool brushed chrome, locking saddles, and beefier bar...and it stays in tune a lot better with 3 springs.
 
Re: vintage Strat trem or American standard trem?

I prefer the vintage style for tonal reasons, w/5 springs and the claw as tight as it goes ;)
 
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