Benjy_26
25's Nemesis
Re: What should I know about tremolos?
Both of the issues are solved with growing familiarity.
Both of the issues are solved with growing familiarity.
What should I know about tremolos?
- Thread starter GuitarStv
- Start date
Benjy_26
25's Nemesis
Re: What should I know about tremolos?
I have never in my life seen this or heard of this happening. I'm not calling you a liar, but I'd love to see pics.
I have never in my life seen this or heard of this happening. I'm not calling you a liar, but I'd love to see pics.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: What should I know about tremolos?
From what I've read by informed sources, any kind of vibrato bar is going to reduce sustain somewhat. This seems logical as you've added objects that absorb vibrations & create counter-vibrations, especially springs. Kind of the opposite of neck-thru/string-thru guitars, which offer a more direct platform and eliminate some of the 'middlemen.'
Hollowbodies are known for rapid note decay, due to counter-vibrations from the guitar top & tailpiece cancelling out string vibrations. A vibrato bar may do something similar, in a little different way. Floating vibrato systems are probably the worst offenders, as there's a lot of string energy directed to a few small pieces of metal suspended in air, instead of into a large block of wood.
Also read that vibrato bars reduce some tone quality & low end. Again, you've added objects in the path that reduce how much string vibration reaches the body and the PU's, so the tonal qualities the wood has to offer aren't put into play as much.
If you want a whammy bar, it's not a free lunch. Pile on enough distortion & effects & you may not notice much difference. When you play cleaner, you'll probably be able to tell. Depends on what our priorities are.
From what I've read by informed sources, any kind of vibrato bar is going to reduce sustain somewhat. This seems logical as you've added objects that absorb vibrations & create counter-vibrations, especially springs. Kind of the opposite of neck-thru/string-thru guitars, which offer a more direct platform and eliminate some of the 'middlemen.'
Hollowbodies are known for rapid note decay, due to counter-vibrations from the guitar top & tailpiece cancelling out string vibrations. A vibrato bar may do something similar, in a little different way. Floating vibrato systems are probably the worst offenders, as there's a lot of string energy directed to a few small pieces of metal suspended in air, instead of into a large block of wood.
Also read that vibrato bars reduce some tone quality & low end. Again, you've added objects in the path that reduce how much string vibration reaches the body and the PU's, so the tonal qualities the wood has to offer aren't put into play as much.
If you want a whammy bar, it's not a free lunch. Pile on enough distortion & effects & you may not notice much difference. When you play cleaner, you'll probably be able to tell. Depends on what our priorities are.
lex666
New member
Re: What should I know about tremolos?
I will not dispute what Blueman said, but I still get very good sustain from my trem equipped guitars.
While any comparison in tone would be futile, I've never wished I had more sustain, nor have I noticed any lack thereof.
I play those trem equipped guitars both distorted and clean. I've never felt like anything was lacking becuz of the trem.
I will not dispute what Blueman said, but I still get very good sustain from my trem equipped guitars.
While any comparison in tone would be futile, I've never wished I had more sustain, nor have I noticed any lack thereof.
I play those trem equipped guitars both distorted and clean. I've never felt like anything was lacking becuz of the trem.
Diocletian
BrandNewGlossologist
Re: What should I know about tremolos?
I don't get the "they are a pain to set up and tune" comments.
No they're not.
They tune just like any other system once you have it setup properly. If you use the same gauge strings each time you change, the tuning is just as easy as a hardtail.
Setting them up is a pain, but come on, it takes about 15 minutes at most and you're good unless you want to change tunings or string gauge.
I have 6 guitars with trems, 4 Floyd style and 2 vintage style, and I don't have a problem with any of them. They're fine. All people need to do is learn how to use the things correctly.
I don't get the "they are a pain to set up and tune" comments.
No they're not.
They tune just like any other system once you have it setup properly. If you use the same gauge strings each time you change, the tuning is just as easy as a hardtail.
Setting them up is a pain, but come on, it takes about 15 minutes at most and you're good unless you want to change tunings or string gauge.
I have 6 guitars with trems, 4 Floyd style and 2 vintage style, and I don't have a problem with any of them. They're fine. All people need to do is learn how to use the things correctly.
Diocletian
BrandNewGlossologist
Re: What should I know about tremolos?
Oh, sustain on a decent trem guitar, like a neckthrough Jackson for example, is awesome. Another myth I don't understand.
And changing strings on a Floyd equipped guitar? What's so hard about it? It's EASIER on a Floyd! Do them one at a time, put the ball end into the tuner, cut to length, tighten it up in the bridge and tune it up. What's so hard about that?!
Oh, sustain on a decent trem guitar, like a neckthrough Jackson for example, is awesome. Another myth I don't understand.
And changing strings on a Floyd equipped guitar? What's so hard about it? It's EASIER on a Floyd! Do them one at a time, put the ball end into the tuner, cut to length, tighten it up in the bridge and tune it up. What's so hard about that?!
G
Grandturk
Guest
Re: What should I know about tremolos?
Except for the ball end at the tuner.... +1
Despite what anyone else says, if a string really "stretches" its gone beyond its point of elasticity and has been deformed. With a double locking system the wraps at the ball end and at the tuner are negated and the string will not "stretch."
Changing strings on a floyd - put them on, tune to pitch and lock it up. Done.
Except for the ball end at the tuner.... +1
Despite what anyone else says, if a string really "stretches" its gone beyond its point of elasticity and has been deformed. With a double locking system the wraps at the ball end and at the tuner are negated and the string will not "stretch."
Changing strings on a floyd - put them on, tune to pitch and lock it up. Done.
Petrovsk Mizinski
New member
Re: What should I know about tremolos?
I have a locking trem on one of my guitars and I use it pretty much only just for subtle motions (pushing it down) that I can't really achieve via string bends.
Not everyone that uses one goes wacko with them
I have a locking trem on one of my guitars and I use it pretty much only just for subtle motions (pushing it down) that I can't really achieve via string bends.
Not everyone that uses one goes wacko with them
JohnnyGuitar
New member
Re: What should I know about tremolos?
I use a vintage 6 point trem. I can do a lot with it but it's not for Satriani or Vai.
I guess you need a Floyd Rose... and for those guys you also need a guitar with a cut in the body that would allow you to also pull the pitch up.
I use a vintage 6 point trem. I can do a lot with it but it's not for Satriani or Vai.
I guess you need a Floyd Rose... and for those guys you also need a guitar with a cut in the body that would allow you to also pull the pitch up.
Re: What should I know about tremolos?
Don't mess around, getting a licensed floyd, or a jackson or an ibanez floyd, just get a straight up Floyd Rose Original, and you'll be set.
For the style you described, you will need the locking nut. Any other system will either A: Not be able to go as far as you want, or B: go out of tune right after you use it.
If you have a FRO, and it goes out of tune, there is something wrong with the guitar.
There are MANY ways to make using a Floyd as comfortable as possible.
http://www.axcessories.com/products.asp?cat=103 this will help greatly.
It is a simple mechanism that will push against the block of the Floyd when restringing, or even set it for dive only use. Makes changing strings that much easier, I must say.
If you don't like that, Try the Tremol-no, you may like that more.
If you hate intonating a floyd, you can get "The Key"
http://www.axcessories.com/products.asp?cat=97
Don't mess around, getting a licensed floyd, or a jackson or an ibanez floyd, just get a straight up Floyd Rose Original, and you'll be set.
For the style you described, you will need the locking nut. Any other system will either A: Not be able to go as far as you want, or B: go out of tune right after you use it.
If you have a FRO, and it goes out of tune, there is something wrong with the guitar.
There are MANY ways to make using a Floyd as comfortable as possible.
http://www.axcessories.com/products.asp?cat=103 this will help greatly.
It is a simple mechanism that will push against the block of the Floyd when restringing, or even set it for dive only use. Makes changing strings that much easier, I must say.
If you don't like that, Try the Tremol-no, you may like that more.
If you hate intonating a floyd, you can get "The Key"
http://www.axcessories.com/products.asp?cat=97
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: What should I know about tremolos?
Floyd Rose and other 2-point floating systems are not "suspended in air". You get metal-on-metal contact of the same density as a tuneomatic, as the pivot posts are equal in thickness and the string tension pulling the trem forward in opposition to the pull of the springs creates a continuous metal vibratory/resonance path (from locked nut to spring claw mounting screws).
There's also a huge myth about removing so much wood to mount a Floyd. That myth is busted because the total weight of all the trem's components is greater than the total weight of the wood which is removed. Mass = sustain, ergo, 16 ounces of metal out-sustains 10 ounces (at most) of wood.
All that aside, if you're looking to use one for shred-stick stuff, you're going to be using higher gain settings than your typical blues-based rock for the solos (where you'll be doing the shredding), to the point that a 2x4 with EMGs and a Floyd will yield the same results as an Ibanez JEM or other similar shred-stick.
Floyd Rose and other 2-point floating systems are not "suspended in air". You get metal-on-metal contact of the same density as a tuneomatic, as the pivot posts are equal in thickness and the string tension pulling the trem forward in opposition to the pull of the springs creates a continuous metal vibratory/resonance path (from locked nut to spring claw mounting screws).
There's also a huge myth about removing so much wood to mount a Floyd. That myth is busted because the total weight of all the trem's components is greater than the total weight of the wood which is removed. Mass = sustain, ergo, 16 ounces of metal out-sustains 10 ounces (at most) of wood.
All that aside, if you're looking to use one for shred-stick stuff, you're going to be using higher gain settings than your typical blues-based rock for the solos (where you'll be doing the shredding), to the point that a 2x4 with EMGs and a Floyd will yield the same results as an Ibanez JEM or other similar shred-stick.
