The Perfect Stratocaster Trem / Vibrato Setup [Floating, Flat Or Blocked?]
Рет қаралды 264,326
Күн бұрынSix-saddle and two-post Fender Stratocaster vibratos - here are three ways to get them working as you want
Welcome to the show! Something a bit different this week as Dan and I ease into a little bit of summer vacation time. A different headspace, if you will.
Now then, I know this has been done to death online but we still get asked for it a lot: just how do you get your traditional Fender Stratocaster vibrato to work (or not work) and stay in tune?
Thusly, this is a personal take on how to approach it, gleaned from years of learning from professional players and techs. It’s highly unlikely there’s any new information here, but I’m taking it slow and doing it in real time so you can see exactly what happens with every adjustment of spring, screw and post.
These methods work for me, I hope they help you and your guitar!
The sounds today are various combinations of the Dan Drive Secret Machine, Kingsley Juggler Mk3, Free The Tone Future Factory Delay, Chase Bliss Audio CXM1973 Reverb and my Two-Rock Classic Reverb Signature head and 212 cab.
I mention Trev Wilkinson a lot - find the company’s wares here: wilkinsondirect.com/
Enjoy the show…
Interesting bits and go-to sections
0:00 Intro & welcome
1:07 The three setups today
1:49 Pros & cons of the three setups
6:10 The two types of vibrato bridge explained
7:55 How it works and component parts
9:50 Differences between six-screw & two-post
11:42 Should the two-post vibrato touch the guitar?
13:06 Set up to float
19:45 The main problem of the six-saddle bridge
21:52 Front height of the two-point bridge?
23:46 String up & stretch
25:53 How many springs?
27:13 Back height of the bridge?
28:10 How to get it to balance
37:50 Action & intonation?
38:55 Mechanical sympathy
40:07 A note on the two-point
40:45 Set up to down-bend only
46:34 Set up for no movement
47:35 Block it off?
49:05 Hear the springs?
50:35 Arm length & fit?
53:00 Final thoughts - the right way?
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@paultaylor2968 10 ай бұрын
Not one normally to comment .However the professional quality of your videos is astounding . The lighting , soft focus behind, the close ups, animation, stills, and content is on a par with any TV show. The audio is the best I hear on KZfaq ...But most of all I find your instruction, commentary and gems of information a treasure trove. Thank you Mick you are very talented and your humble attitude very endearing .
@ThatPedalShow 10 ай бұрын
Thank you Paul. Very kind of you to say!
@soundlyadam 10 ай бұрын
I second this! Excellent!
@Astral_Wave 10 ай бұрын
@@ThatPedalShowgonna be a sad day when you two no longer can do this... Hopefully all past episodes will be saved forever
@ArielTamasi 10 ай бұрын
Totally agree. Even if I already knew every bit of information in it, I would still watch the whole video just for the visual joy and appreciation of its quality in general
@50Something 10 ай бұрын
I watch some episodes twice, especially Mick's build and assembly videos. And anything Stratocaster and fuzz related of course😎
@emaneercsadeeni 9 ай бұрын
To avoid the back-and-forth process of balancing the spring tension I like the method taught in the StewMac book. Start with the springs loose which means loosening the claw a few turns. They suggest cutting a block of wood that keeps the trem stationary while the strings are brought to pitch and then you tighten the springs until the block releases and then it is balanced. This is a very quick and accurate method. Highly recommend getting the StewMac book on electric guitar set ups. It has changed everything for me.
@socialmeaslesinpartnership1252 7 ай бұрын
That's exactly right. Saves hours of faff.
@lebojay 2 ай бұрын
Thank you!
@UToobSteak 2 ай бұрын
Thats how I do with the Floyd rose on my Ibanez
@stevenpipes1555 10 ай бұрын
FULL FLOATING! The cons about string bending can be easily overcome by holding the bar still as you bend. Its a technique that takes a bit of getting used to, but once you get it, this technique can be used in other ways that can be extremely dynamic and interesting.
@bartvschuylenburg 10 ай бұрын
When you block the trem and remove the springs you also remove the connection from the strings to the ground wire. You might want to clamp a wire between the sustain block and the woodblock to reconnect it to the ground wire to prevent your weird noise. (Especially when your neighbor is a radio amateur)
@frufru0071 9 ай бұрын
Great point, I live next to one of those "HAM Radio" operators and the 3 story ‘tower’-aptly named-he uses for his worldwide shows?
@toddleach1108 7 ай бұрын
Or just leave 1 spring connected...
@user-mj7ph1hl6e Ай бұрын
This is a really important point, far more important than body cavity shielding with either conductive paint or copper foil. Serious geeks can look into shock stopping resistors and the like... Have fun.
@grahammartinelli848 10 ай бұрын
Tuning tip - when you’re tuning a floating vibrato, it’s easier if you alternate from the outside in rather than tuning sequentially from low to high (or heavy gauge string to lighter gauge strings). So instead of tuning low e, then moving to the a string - go from the low e to the high e string, then the a string, then the b string, etc. I believe it’s something to do with balancing the impact of the heavier string gauges with getting the lighter gauge strings closer to their end point earlier. I think I read about this back in Dimebag Darrell’s column in Guitar World back in my Floyd Rose high school metal phase, but it’s a really handy trick and it works!
@leewalton6882 Ай бұрын
For Floyd rose- Put a block of something under the rearward end to hold the bridge at your preferred angle without the strings. Tighten the claw a bit. Change strings. Stretch, tune & lock down. Remove the block and let the strings go sharp. Loosen the claw till it’s back in tune and that’s where you had it before you started. May sound complicated it’s quick and simple and always works. I don’t use anything like a Floyd anymore but I did for years and this procedure cured me of many headaches. I could do it in 5-10 minutes.
@TheOdditee 10 ай бұрын
There may be a ton of these videos online, but very few of this quality and patient detail of explanation. The graphical representations were a huge plus. Kudos for once again making high quality content.
@ThatPedalShow 10 ай бұрын
Thank you kindly!
@ParaBellum2024 10 ай бұрын
I agree, and would add: the information in this video is accurate. I've seen videos where the presenter lacks an understanding of balancing strings and springs, and makes incorrect statements. Mick clearly understands the physics, and puts it across well.
@mauriciomarroquin9246 7 күн бұрын
Excellent content. Im just getting started trying to learn the mechanics of a strat. This has been huge help
@sstorholm 10 ай бұрын
A couple points about the blocking off part. I experimented many years ago with different woods, and the harder the wood, the better the sustain was. So I found that an oak block was the best, didn’t have anything harder around the shop. Also, if you remove the springs, you also might sever the ground lead to the strings, as it’s soldered to the claw, so if you pull the springs and the claw, you need to connect the ground lead directly to the bridge.
@GoranPantic 10 ай бұрын
The method which I've used when setting up a floating bridge (and that also helped with Floyd Rose): 1. Block the bridge going backwards with something at a height at which I prefer it set. 2. Tune the guitar (with strings already stretched) 3. Remove the thing that's been blocking the bridge and then adjust the screws in the claw (tighten or loosen them up) so that the guitar goes back in tune. This method significantly reduces the time needed for the string tension to match the tension of the springs.
@roughcollielover1784 7 ай бұрын
You have the correct method to set the tremolo to equalize ore perfectly match the pull of the strings. Using the vibrato arm after this setup the strings should always return to correct tuning.
@bryanh3057 10 ай бұрын
One tip for multi-string bends with a floating team. It is actually possible to do them in-tune. If you rest the back of your picking hand on the bridge, you can apply some counter-pressure to keep the bridge from getting pulled along with the bend. One easy drill is to pick a note and while picking that note over and over, bend an adjacent string (no need to pick the ‘bent’ note during this drill) and listen to the note while applying pressure to the bridge. Varying the hand pressure by on the bridge, you can listen for how much pressure is needed to keep the note in-tune. You’ll soon develop a natural feel for how to counter the notes being pulled out of tune during an adjacent bend. 👍
@Mike_D_5150 9 ай бұрын
Should've been obvious to me to use this technique. Thanks for the tip.
@Mike_D_5150 9 ай бұрын
Should've been obvious to me to use this technique. Thanks for the tip.
2 ай бұрын
that's the tip I need to read, thanks!
@millstap 10 ай бұрын
Mick, great video. I too have played Strats for over 35 years. My 1964 used to stay in perfect tune no matter how hard I dive bombed it. Then one day it started going out of tune and I was totally bewildered. I then went on the "how does this darn thing work" quest. Long story short, most of the sticking is at the top of the saddles. The tremolo was definitely originally designed by Leo to float 1/8" off of the body like Fender recommends. This puts the saddle tops at more of a perpendicular angle to the string/saddle contact and the body. Highwood Vintage Contour saddles completely solved all of my tuning issues because the groove is a perfect place to store some Teflon grease. When you deck your tremolo, the tuning stability decreases (when dive bombing) mainly because the break angle of the string increases on the top of the saddles and that last little movement of the saddle when the plate finally contacts the body, increases the friction on top of the saddle and the string sticks and pulls the string ever so slightly sharp when the saddle tilts backward (away from the nut). Wear grooves on the top of the vintage saddles definitely exacerbates this friction. It happens more on the plain strings because the winding on the bass strings tends to prevent the string from sticking. The groove and the grease completely eliminates that friction. Also, the groove in the Highwood has slightly more contact area where the string contacts the saddle top and reduces the sharpness of the contact area that you get on a vintage saddle. Some don't care for changing the tone by using the Highwoods but they do increase sustain slightly and I personally don't notice any tonal change, albeit ever so slight.
@ThatPedalShow 10 ай бұрын
Ooooh, super interesting, thank you!
@millstap 10 ай бұрын
@@ThatPedalShow Mick, take a look at your patent application schematic (Fig. 4) and you will see what I mean. Notice that the saddles are perfectly perpendicular to the guitar body. This is by design and not just for good looks. You can see the full float which actually looks a little more than 1/8." It was designed for a nice, gentle 1956 warble. Leo didn't realize what his invention was capable of until Jimi Hendrix came along and broke all of its design barriers. I think Leo even commented something like "it was never designed to do that." Also notice that the string block is just about centered in the block route (Fig. 2) which restricts the amount of up and down movement possible when it is floating as designed. There are three places in the patent that mention "limited pivotal movement." That also kept the strings from sliding too much on the top of the saddles and kept them rolling gently over the crowns of the saddles. He must have had a heart attack when he saw Jimi jumping up and down on the whammy bar, lol. Nowadays, after Hendrix broke all the rules, we have excess string sliding, more friction, more string breakage, more string sticking, and more out-of-tune notes. I'm not sponsored by Highwood but they certainly made a saddle that addresses the friction problem and they weren't even designed to do that. It was a serendipitous side effect. They were originally designed to keep the height adjustment screws from sticking up excessively above the saddles and cutting your hands.
@GregorHoul 10 ай бұрын
Pending a decently balanced floating setup and a stable neck, it’s IMO the down-bend only setup that’s least tuning-stable: When the strings loosen during a down-bend, the strings slide towards the tuners’ posts, over the nut, and when they re-tighten, towards the end of the down-bend, the nut friction will impair their sliding back over the nut. With a floating system, a pull on the bar resets the strings back in place, an option that’s not available in down-bend only mode--you’ll have to bend each string one by one with your left hand in order to pull them back into place.
@gregcsefko 10 ай бұрын
When I was younger, I always decked my trem. As I got older, I found that a well set up guitar with a floating trem is really fun.
@diegomendivil7101 10 ай бұрын
I love a floating trem on a strat, very stable and musically expressive.
@derekcostello1016 9 ай бұрын
Strat Vibrato - Is akin to balancing an egg on a spoon while standing on a ball.
@deusherbert-noel2424 6 ай бұрын
The other options are more stable.
@ottolofstrom3896 2 ай бұрын
I've tried everything on my 2-point tremolo on my Jet guitar, but it doesn't stay in tune when using the bar. Any tips?
@jerrylev59 12 күн бұрын
@@ottolofstrom3896 Locking tuners.
@andsoistopped 10 ай бұрын
Strat video. Hurrah.
@TheBaldMiddleAgedMetalHead 10 ай бұрын
I've played Strat's for 32 years, worked for various amp manufacturers and worked a stint in a shop as a guitar tech, still managed to learn two things from this video. Thanks :)
@TheBaldMiddleAgedMetalHead 10 ай бұрын
I've always set my Strats for down-bend only and will continue to do so, but I have mine set basically as a fail safe for a string break so the spring tension is just holding it flat against the body and there's minimal elasticity/effort for down-bends but if I break a string it's going nowhere.
@RelicOnMaui 9 ай бұрын
Yep. Decades of guitar work here too, but though it has always been there, I rarely thought about how string BENDS effect ALL strings' pitch in a floating setup. Just as it effects them all when a string breaks
@samcornish3757 3 ай бұрын
It feels rude that we can watch this gloriously informative hour of exceptionally produced video for free. Thankyou.
@AlbusBand 10 ай бұрын
I’ve never been a serious strat player, but I found this utterly fascinating. Thank you again for the time, effort and knowledge you’ve shared. Like always, TPS does not let us down 🙌
@papaneville 10 ай бұрын
Really quality video! Expertly written and taught. Well done!
@thomasmoon3136 10 ай бұрын
A note on intonation and action when using a fully floating setup: Firstly, regardless of how you set your bridge-plate, the design of the strat bridge means that the pivot point is where the screws meet the back of the plate, and any adjustment in saddle height is not a perfectly up and down motion, it is a radius. This means that when you are adjusting your saddle height be mindful that you are also making an adjustment to your intonation (a small one but still). Ok on the topic of fully floating bridges... Since your bridge-plate is not parallel to the strings, any change in intonation will change your action; As the saddle moves further forward or back on the bridge-plate, it is also going up and down that "ramp". Just be mindful if you are setting up a fully floating bridge, that you will need to go back and forth, balancing your intonation screws and height adjustment screws until both are set correct, as changing one changes the other :)
@normbarrows 7 ай бұрын
That's why setting the bridge plate parallel to the strings is the recommended method for setting up full floating bridges. When the plate is parallel to the strings, changes in saddle height do not affect intonation and vica versa.
@amcrorysd 10 ай бұрын
I have (and love) a 6-screw vintage bridge Mexican Strat... replacement vibrato bridges are difficult to find that drop in (because of the MIM screw spacing). New flat saddles from GraphTech are much more comfortable than stamped steel with exposed pokey allen screws, and a Tusq XL nut (and string trees) are also fantastic for nearly eliminating friction. Great video!!
@eranmontiel 10 ай бұрын
A couple things you can do for string on string are: if the unbent string is being fretted, you can bend those strings slightly to bring them up to pitch, or if the strings are open you can use your picking hand to put pressure on the bridge so it doesn't come up with the bend. Neither are perfect but both help.
@shaunthomson9917 10 ай бұрын
What a brilliant video Mick, exactly what I needed, and the way you approach it, methodically and we'll explained is perfect well done and thanks!
@zootallures1 10 ай бұрын
Bravo, Mick....Bravo! Thank you so much for putting the time and effort into bringing this to us. Your content is second to none!!
@willjohnson2511 10 ай бұрын
Brilliant. A subject that has been done to death but never this clearly or well presented. Thanks Mick.
@larsenpeople 10 ай бұрын
Great content, the pedagogy and attention to detail are perfectly calibrated. Also that copper Strat is gorgeous :)
@the_old_desperado 5 ай бұрын
Replaced my springs with raw vintage, made a massive difference in stability and tone.
@scottw9732 10 ай бұрын
Awesome, Mick, thank you. I love these shows and the sharing of experience. Love from NC.
@StevenHadfield 10 ай бұрын
Now adopted by plumbers for sealing joints, PTFE "Perfect Trem For Everyone" tape was developed in Leo's laboratory as a solution to whammy bar thread issues.
@Les537 10 ай бұрын
I tried do that, but it never seems to last long. These days I use a spring in there.
@normbarrows 7 ай бұрын
PTFE was discovered in 1938 by a DuPont chemist. It was used in 1942 to make corrosion resistant components for the atomic bomb. Leo's big claim to fame was bringing Ford assembly line type manufacturing to the guitar building business.
@kcole4001 10 ай бұрын
It's a journey for all of us to find exactly what we prefer, and this video covers all the elements needed to fine tune one's bridge setup. For me a slight bit of float (4 springs in back) and the slanted claw bar as used by Mr. Beck does the job. Your tip about the tension of the bridge screws from a video quite a while ago really was a big step toward a perfect setup, the claw bar angle is another. Experimenting with being fully decked vs amounts of float got me where I am very happy with the tone and feel. Everything about TPS is why the internet exists, I can't thank you all enough for the info, entertainment, and feeling of community. Huge thumbs up for all you do 👍 Enjoy the vacation time!
@ericjenks9596 10 ай бұрын
Had this on in the background as I polished the frets and popped a new set of strings on my strat. Thanks for giving me things to double check in the process!
@djbradshaw3390 7 ай бұрын
by far the best explanation and critique of the Term/Vibrato setup ..... even better than fender could do ...thank you guys ....keep up the phenomenal work you do
@berryster 10 ай бұрын
Mick does such a great job of capturing that yin-yang challenge of Strat setup. After a lot of years struggling with setting up guitars, I find I actually enjoy messing with that "tipping point" of a Strat trem and bridge. Even reminds me a little of messing with auto engine carburetors back in the day. Fun video.
@eichaan 10 ай бұрын
Wonderful, Mick! I've had my Strat for 33 years, and this is the most helpful information I've seen in one place. Thank you!
@seangerolimatos1269 10 ай бұрын
Thank you Mick! This info may be available other places, but you provide it in an easily digestible format with context and the little details that make all the difference. I was already planning to do a setup on my Strat, so this was perfect timing too. Thanks again!
@WhatsUpWhitey 10 ай бұрын
Great video. As a Strat owner, always appreciate the info!
@ranchoricardo 10 ай бұрын
Hey, Chums! Very comprehensive as usual! Possibly the best video I've ever seen about setting up the Strat vibrato. One tip when changing strings with a floating trem -- I typically place a pad of post-it notes under the bridge plate when changing the strings (of course the string package works well too). The benefit of using a pad of post-it notes is that I can remove pages of post-it notes to allow for a perfect fit under the bridge plate. Thanks for the great video!!
@ThatPedalShow 10 ай бұрын
Great tip, thanks!
@nathancourtney2006 7 ай бұрын
So glad you took the time to share your experience. Setting string height would be awesome. Thanks so much. Nathan
@idontgrillonwed 10 ай бұрын
The level of playing and quality of these videos has become insane. It’s great to see you improving!
@hoodratsgarage77 3 ай бұрын
Left handed 1977 CBS Era Strat owner here! This video is awesomely detailed and I want to thank you for all this information. The screw height section is a point that I know I messed up years ago (screwed them in all the way thinging they were loose) and have never used my trem since...you are awesome!
@michaelfowler3187 10 ай бұрын
Only just started the video but I have to say the Frudua method from FruduaTv channel was all I ever needed to get my american strat to stay in tune. Not only does it stay in tune or reset easily with the trem bar, but you can adjust the claw a bit to get the Carl V intervals. Or you can lock it down and enjoy a serviceable guitar just with less personality. On my american I like it "free floating" except it can only be tightened by a tiny bit, I can divebomb down in pitch but I can raise pitch just enough to keep interesting wobbles that strats are known for
@hafstrat 10 ай бұрын
I can’t overstate how comprehensive and totally useful this video is. I’ve been playing strats since 1976. Finally settled on flat to body down bend only: I am not Beck and I play more easily and better with plate flat to body. I know I can’t flutter but I don’t need to. Many a sleepless night agonising. I have 3 strats now. All have trems flat to body. Each with different trem arm tension though. 😁👍🏼
@dmac-333 10 ай бұрын
Dan was right. This is next level. A truly excellent vlog Mick, congrats and thanks.
@Steviewunderbar 10 ай бұрын
Went along step by step while listening to great advice . This content is why KZfaq is the greatest resource on the internet . Thank you
@zaktuminello2462 10 ай бұрын
I like mine floating. As long as you set it up right and make sure there are no sharp edges the only way it goes out is if you break the string, but you can mitigate that with fresh strings. Mine sustains great, sounds clearer to me, and stays in tune wonderfully. If you have trouble rub chapstick in the nut. Don’t be afraid to try floating, once you get used to it you’re good to go
@joeltunnah 8 ай бұрын
Floating also sounds the best, IMO.
@stiffrichard2816 8 ай бұрын
Here's how I float my Strats and I never go out of tune... Take the trem off/apart and clean it, no dirt, dust or wax underneath or anywhere, the body surface as well. Run a bead of Break-Free rifle lubricant along the plate fulcrum pivot point. Place it into the cavity, put the six screws partly back in and add a wee bit of the lube right under the screw heads. Tighten them down leaving a tiny bit of daylight between the plate and screw head and set all six screws equally. Hook the springs back on, set the claw fairly tight, string it/tune it up to pitch. Once the set-up is stable, put the whammy bar in and re-adjust the springs so that when you pull the trem up flush to the body, your G string will pull up to a perfect A. That may sound like a lot but it's really not, it's just enough clearance to do wide vibrato without the plate banging againt the body, it's perfectly balanced and it's a cool Page-like trick to pull up to an A when you're feeling whammy-wild. I also add a smidgen of blue thread locker to the saddle height screws so they don't sink over time or go wonky. Of course there's more, like how the neck tenon is pitched in the pocket as you don't want the bridge saddles set too low/high, and of course the nut, string trees and wraps around the tuning posts is another bucket of tweaks. If you want to set it flush like Hendrix, Clapton, SRV, early Gilmour, ect... you have to back-pitch the neck in the pocket, be it with a shim or neck-tilt adjustment so that the saddles aren't jacked up too high. I've even had to sand out the neck pocket on most of my bolt-on fixed-bridge guitars to get the action right, but that's risky to do if you're not a luthier, and I'm not. Oh yeah, 4 or 5 springs will feel/sound more surfy and springy, and 3 or 3 in a V shape came about in the 80's with the light-gauge string shredding and dive bombs and such. Good news is once you set everything right, it should be good for years with minimal tweaks. :D
@andersestes Ай бұрын
Thanks! 1. You say you set all 6 screws with a minimal gap? 2. My 50s type vibrato is hard as fuck to operate, even with just 2 springs. Any ides why? I have 9-42 strings on.
@brogerweaver902 Ай бұрын
one of the best educational / tech videos I have seen, very well done and easy to follow and understand...Thanks
@JohnLloydDavis 10 ай бұрын
This is great. A thorough and informative video about the subject that demystifies the whole process. Thank you :)
@robertlewis8024 10 ай бұрын
An oft ignored way to address the angle of the high strings over the nut is adjusting the height of the string tree(s) with spacers. I see a lot of "strats" where the tree(s) are screwed flush to the headstock, pulling the sharpest angle.
@StaffyLeeMusic 10 ай бұрын
Just on the decked vibrato versus a hardtail, there is still a bit of that spring sound that you can't get with a hardtail. I've been playing my Strats with a decked vibrato for years, but still love that vibe that the springs in the back give. And regardless of how decked the vibrato is, it's never completely fastened to the body like a hardtail, so it always has a tiny bit of movement and give in it. I personally prefer the vibrato decked because I'm often changing to different alternate and open tunings on my Strats, and I can bend or capo anywhere or anyhow with no concerns. But I'd never go for a hardtail. There's still a vibe with a decked vibrato and springs banging around in the body. Plus, if I just deck the bridge then I still get to pick the Strat I want without being limited to hardtails. Great video though Mick, I enjoyed that!
@rarch1968 10 ай бұрын
Thanks so much for another beautifully filmed and considered solo video Mick. Your attention to detail is second to none, and everything you say on the topic of Strat vibrato units resonates with anyone who's wrestled with the beast! I've played Stratocasters and Strat-style guitars since the mid 80s and for me the perfect setup is to have the vibrato set to float. I feel this is in the spirit of the design and sound of this model...to be able to use the bar to waver a note both above and below the neutral pitch. Of course as Mick points out, this leads to intonation issues when playing oblique bends where two or more stings are played and one is bent but the others not. Over the years I've gotten around this to some degree by applying a slight pressure on the bridge with the edge of my picking hand to mitigate it's rise from the bend. Or even slightly bending the "unbent" string with the fourth finger if it's a fretted note. Neither of these is foolproof or perfect but with practice, can work in the heat of battle!
@moose5206 10 ай бұрын
These videos are a treasure. Thank you, Mick.
@omdwillieturnip8840 10 ай бұрын
Some cheap string trees aren't bent/don't have a curve in them and it's really worth looking out for. On a good guitar (like your lovely original strat there) you can see the non-bent string tree is fitted at an angle to reduce friction. On some cheaper guitars (I found this recently on a road worn neck I got off ebay) sometimes you will find a non-curved string tree fitted at a flat angle designed for bent string trees. This makes tuning stability HORRENDOUS as the strings constantly bind on the string tree. Swapping to a bent/curved pure vintage string tree made a WORLD of difference. From a completely unusable trem to the best of any of my strats. Also... WD-40 isn't a lubricant! It cleans but it doesn't lubricate! Stick to the pencil graphite! 😄 Love the vids!
@everTriumph 9 ай бұрын
For a fully floating trem a 3mm pad (wood, nylon or similar) as a temporary spacer between the body and trem plate will enable the strings to be brought to pitch more quickly as the string being tuned will affect the ones already fitted much less. Removing the spacer will cause the 'flying height' and tension in the strings to change as the springs are allowed to do their balance thing. But all the strings will be more in the ball park. Useful for changing single strings.
@Ottonic6 5 ай бұрын
What I do with my vintage (6 screw) tremolo is watch the bridge as I slowly tighten the outside screws to when I see the back of the bridge start to raise, I stop and then turn the screws back a smidge.. I then tighten the 4 inner screws to where they are slightly looser than the 2 outer ones... Best tutorial I've seen so far on this topic. Thank you.
@mattbrillhart2922 10 ай бұрын
One of if not THE BEST overall description/explanation!
@Mr.Steve-O 9 ай бұрын
Flat block is my preferred method on my MIJ Strat, I also put in some narrow plastic tubing inside the springs to stop the vibration/buzzing. This work on the floating setup as well
@owl-pan 10 ай бұрын
Just to mention, because it wasn't mentioned: If you block the vibrato with a piece of wood and take out the springs permanently, the strings are not grounded anymore, so you'd have to attach the grounding wire to the vibrato-block.
@RelicOnMaui 9 ай бұрын
That is an important point! Especially since Strats don't use noise-cancelling (dual coil /humbucking) pickups!
@Healcraft 9 ай бұрын
i usually just put 4-5 springs and dont block it, does blocking really do anything if its already tight?
@owl-pan 9 ай бұрын
@@Healcraft you got my comment wrong: if you want to block the vibrato and take out all springs, then the strings won't be electrical connected to ground anymore, so you'd have to re-wire the grounding cable to have your strings electrically connected to ground...
@Healcraft 9 ай бұрын
no i got it right but I was just asking something else @@owl-pan
@owl-pan 9 ай бұрын
of course you can tight the vibrato until nearly no action, but blocking it with wood also has a better soundconnection to the body and also no issues when changing strings. PS: I personally use my vibrato, if I did not want to, I'd block it and remove all springs @@Healcraft
@kenster865 5 ай бұрын
Nice treatment of the Strat Trem/Vibrato. As primarily a blues cat, I always have set my bridge plate locked flat against the body. Arguably it makes for a fuller sound. That's my experience over doing this for 40+ years. Those that say it doesn't sound "right" are wrong IMHO, just not being used to the fuller depth of tone gained. Tuning issues are greatly reduced and my Strats (I have four) all have no issues with going out of tune easily. Peace, Love & Bobby Sherman! 😁
@periloustemple8290 10 ай бұрын
Oh, Mick. I needed this so much and have been struggling. Thank you so much!
@michaelluong6484 10 ай бұрын
For those (like me) that most prefer the floating bridge, but want more tuning stability, try a trem-setter!
@jakeah1175 10 ай бұрын
Is that better than a ‘tremel-no’? Curious
@robertkidd6270 10 ай бұрын
I don't know but it works...I think Vai uses the trem setter too... I've only fitted one once to a customer guitar and it works.
@stratjed 10 ай бұрын
Thank you, Mick. This is amazing on so many levels.
@daveannis2280 2 ай бұрын
Holy moly! I've been tearing my hair out trying to sort out a strat with a flaky trem. Turns out the scratchplate was jammed against the bridge - THANK YOU!!!!
@hijkellamellap6655 10 ай бұрын
I also love fully floating for the extra sustain - hear me out ! As the bridge plate pushes into the screws a bit more I always find that the body may resonate less, but I get more net sustain out of the guitar
@ThatPedalShow 10 ай бұрын
Yah I can see that for sure.
@Philter-Coffee 9 ай бұрын
I think Darrell Braun has a video on exactly this, but his tests showed that the most sustain was blocked, followed by decked. I studied applied science and physics so I think I can explain why to my understanding. So when we talk sustain, we are actually talking about energy conservation, it's how long the string will continue to vibrate. When it vibrates, it is getting fractionally longer and shorter with each individual vibration (that's the frequency, Hz). Going between two fixed points means it will vibrate the longest, as it's not imparting any of this elastic energy moving those points closer together. A floating trem is held by spring tension balancing with the strings, it's the opposite of 2 fixed points. because the string is pulling against a spring rather than a fixed position, the energy in the string imparts some of this energy as a slightly stretch to the trem spring, and given back from the elastic energy stored in the trem spring when the string fractionally lengthens. BUT the trem doesn't give the elastic energy it absorbed back to the one played string, it imparts energy evenly to all the strings. That means (for atleast a single string played on its own) you get less sustain as a floating trem shares the energy it absorbed evenly between all the strings, as well as absorbing some itself (hence you get buzzing or ringing trem springs). Best way to visualise it I can think of is 6 ropes tied between a thick and a thin flexible tree. If you pull on one rope, the thin tree bends, the rest of the ropes slacken off and are under less/no tension. When you let go any elastic energy stored in the bent tree is released onto all the ropes and not just the rope you pulled on.
@RelicOnMaui 9 ай бұрын
kenetic/vibrational TRANSFERENCE? @@Philter-Coffee
@Philter-Coffee 9 ай бұрын
@@RelicOnMaui if you are talking about one spring being played and the others receiving energy from it then yup, but the correct term is energy transfer as it doesn't just go directly into momentum (kinetic and vibration are both examples of momentum). I might be misreading your comment so happy to chat if I have the wrong end of the stick?
@RelicOnMaui 9 ай бұрын
I don't have a degree in physics, even if I sounded like a wanna be. I was actually thinking of an explanation of an old science toy (Newton's Cradle - it's on Wikipedia) - hanging steel balls - you swung one on one end and the other end moved, but the middle 3 remained stationary. if you swung two, only the outside two on the other side moved. Up to Four Fascinating. It's still in my parent's home (a museum) over 55 years later! @@Philter-Coffee
@rronzoo 9 ай бұрын
There is a big con to a floating vibrato that you failed to mention. This con may be specific to me and how I play but I would suspect it's likely quite common and that is that I tend to rest my hand on the bridge. The result is that even the slightest bit of downward pressure on the bridge will noticeably impact the tuning. As I said, this playing "style" may be particular to me but I suspect it's a much more common position.
@jeffro. 8 ай бұрын
Yes, same with me. I tend to rest my hand on the bridge, and while I have a Floyd Rose system, it has three same effect. BTW, I thought I wanted a FR, but I hate it! I'm seriously considering taking the "clamp" part off of the nut, and replacing the nut with a GraphTek one. I really hate it, it makes it a pain to change anything, and it's totally unnecessary. A properly setup and maintained Strat-type trem (vibrato) is fine.
@normbarrows 7 ай бұрын
The trick is to rest you hand closer to the pivot point. If yuu're on a Strat type trem, you may want to change saddle screws if they stick up high and are sharp. In the long run, you'll want to refine your technique, so you don't put excessive pressure on the bridge.
@normbarrows 7 ай бұрын
@@jeffro. You can carry a Floyd Rose equipped guitar around by just the whammy bar and it won't go out of tune. It's a double locking system. The string is clamped at the bridge and nut and can't slip. The locknut is the clamp at the nut end. It's necessary for that level of tuning stability. Double locking systems are the only type of trem that can't go out of tune. Floyd Rose is the most common design for guitars with headstock mounted tuners. The Steinberger "R" trem design is a common aftermarket trem for headless guitars. I actually put locknuts on the vast majority of my guitars builds. With a locknut, all tuning stability issues on the headstock end of the guitar go away.
@iDannyism 10 ай бұрын
Excellent video. This is a new must-watch for someone interested in digging into their Stratocaster.
@martinh8937 8 ай бұрын
Following your lead here, and my mexican made strat has never sounded better, not to mention how well it now keeps its tuning. That fully floating setup is marvelous.
@SeanJWestcott 10 ай бұрын
Thanks for a fantastic and informative blog … these are some of your best work Mick, and I love them !
@ThatPedalShow 10 ай бұрын
Thanhs so much Sean 🙏
@coldacre 9 ай бұрын
I solved the floating Strat vibrato issues: I bought a Jazzmaster.
@kevinmackfurniture Ай бұрын
Luckily... The Jazzmaster and its trem has its own quirky bits and bobs to fuss with and best practice debates... 🤘🏻😝
@TheTwangKings 8 ай бұрын
The most thorough and intelligent video on Strat setup, by far.
@timrussellguitar1516 8 ай бұрын
Great instructional video Mick.Ive been a Luthier for quite a while now. Self taught,and you’ve pretty much nailed it
@geoffwalton118 8 ай бұрын
Thanks for making this one Mick. I found your explanation of the vintage six screw floating setup particularly helpful. Cheers!
@davedavem 10 ай бұрын
The best way to use a Strat trem is to give it to JAM Pedals and ask them to put a piezo on it and make it into a pedal! Then you can have the trem without needing the guitar! 😁
@domingolantigua881 10 ай бұрын
If you block the trem and remove the springs and the claw, the string ground will be ineffective. Full floating for me ala Carl Verheyen
@xman5b 2 ай бұрын
In addition to the compression spring, I often wrap my tremolo arms with a bit of teflon tape to minimize the wear on the threads in the block and sloppiness with the vibrato arm.
@gabrielcarvalho5483 10 ай бұрын
Excellent! Educational, helpful and well made! Mine is fully floating and I’m adapted to this, but it’s good to know how other setups works. I can’t thank you enough for this, Mick! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
@adiohead 10 ай бұрын
I blocked off my strat and kept the springs in.
@annunacky4463 9 ай бұрын
I did that, and after a decade or more took it to a luthier to set up as original float trem. Stayed in tune for a week or so, then it went wonky?
@soulassasin10 10 ай бұрын
Excellent video mate. Helped me sort out my strat bridge (vintage 6 screw trem). I've been fighting with it for years and even contemplated having it modded to be a hardtail. Your video couldn't have come at a better time 😂 Thanks a million Mick you are my hero ❤🤘🎸
@philipalderson7015 8 ай бұрын
Just bought my first Strat having been a gibson man forever, thanks for this superb video the best on youtube by a country mile, you have really helped me in my set up and i can't thank you enough and i look forward to watching more content
@adrianzapata4723 3 ай бұрын
Absolutely brilliant production and volume of information in this video. Thanks much!
@JoseLuis-rx3up 9 ай бұрын
Awesome programme, Mick! The most comprehensive video on trems I've seen so far. Congrats! Just to mention, tuning stability is a must when playing, so I can't get bothered with vibratos,so if I have a guitar with one, I always end up much happier when I block it...
@chrisleeblues 4 ай бұрын
Great vid !! Really enjoyed it ,I have the same 35 years of loving and battling with trems ,they have a mind of their own ! X
@musimath 10 ай бұрын
I have a tremsetter installed on my Stratocaster for over 15 years now and it solved all my tuning problems! Great video! Thanks
@Adventuresingearland Ай бұрын
Just spent a Sunday morning resetting for down only and a spot of action adjustment. Wouldn’t have been nearly as confident to undertake this task were it not for this episode. Nor, I shouldn’t wonder, would the results have been so very pleasing. Thank you, Mr Taylor. Cha……ppo!👏🏻
@ivandee4011 5 ай бұрын
My thanks to you for making the most comprehensive and informative video on the Fender vibrato bridge, IMHO. Really the best!
@ThatPedalShow 5 ай бұрын
Thank you Ivan!
@Damianjkerr0 10 ай бұрын
Awesome timing on this video. It’s time to change the string on my MIJ traditional 60s strat. I’ve been wanting to set the trem up and this is just the guide I needed. Thanks TPS.
@jonathanhandsmusic 9 ай бұрын
Great video. You really explained the whole process in detail. I decked the vibrato on my Strat 25 years ago and never looked back.
@philippegouzou9559 10 ай бұрын
This is the best video I've seen on this topic! Thank you very much Mike for these detailed and understandable informations.
@peterholyman489 10 ай бұрын
You solved my Strat/Tremolo tuning issues i've had for a couple of years. Thank you Mick for a clear explanation of the mechanics of the Strat tremolo. Excellent.
@ThatPedalShow 10 ай бұрын
Nice one Peter! Glad it was helpful - happy wobbles!
@user-hy5gw7pq3u 10 ай бұрын
Masterclass from Mick....simply brilliant and extremely helpful...thankyou
@danielcolehour6454 8 ай бұрын
This is some of the best content I've seen in a while. ❤
@Casinofire1 10 ай бұрын
Man Mic, what a great vid. Lots of great info. I tackled my strat vibrato’s a year or so ago and this vid nails it in spades
@phengchuanchua7464 2 ай бұрын
one of most details explanation. thank you
@petermapstone9684 10 ай бұрын
In regards to the spring harmonics, I just use a strip of soft foam across the springs and screw back on the back cover plate. Problem solved. Many Thanks for the episode!
@matteopirola3467 10 ай бұрын
Very accurate and enlightening. Lots of strats for different use is the way 🎉
@markwoods3642 7 ай бұрын
Fantastic video. Coming from playing a Les Paul my entire life, to now playing a Strat, this video is a wealth of information. Thanks!
@RobertPampin Ай бұрын
Outstanding and truly an awesome breakdown of a seemingly impossible fix! Thx
@davedavem 10 ай бұрын
Superbly done, Mick!
@jasonkesser 7 ай бұрын
My man, we all already know you’re awesome. But when I saw the length of this video, i wasn’t sure it’d all be relevant. This is a completely comprehensive video, no fat on it - totally streamlined, top freaking shelf. Incredibly well done. Thanks for doing this for the community…I’m new to strats but been playing for 30 years, so this all was essential. Thank you my friend, cheers.
@ThatPedalShow 7 ай бұрын
Thank you Jason!
@davidsummerville351 10 ай бұрын
This is invaluable information. Thanks so much ,this will stay in my library.
@darrenc8776 10 ай бұрын
Just expecting a normal Friday today. Joy in my heart that I can spend 48 hours away from the grind. But not really expecting anything stellar to happen the booooommmm Mick Drops a strat video come on! Theres not much I dont know about a vintage Strat bridge but I dont care I could listen to Mick talk Strat for hours. And play aswel obviously.
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