• Registered: 2010-02-08
  • Posts: 63

Topic: tremelo or no

i have a 75 strat, no tremelo, obviously fender have made strats with and without a trem which is better or are they just different?

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: tremelo or no

I believe that to be a style taste difference.  If you have a hard tail strat its going to have better tone then one that has a big hole cut out for a floating bridge.  Some people like the tone you get with a floating bridge.  Others have a floating bridge but keep the bridge flat on the body so the floating part of it doens't work.  Eric Clapton likes floating bridges but doesn't use them instead he put a half in block of wood behind his tremelo block for the maximum amount of sustain it can get after have a big hole cut into it.  So its really a taste thing.  You might have better tone with that hard tail in my opinion.

AD3THREE's Website

  • Registered: 2010-02-08
  • Posts: 63

Re: tremelo or no

and you can still get the trem effect by flexing the body a bit right?

  • Registered: 2009-02-10
  • Posts: 470

Re: tremelo or no

Definately just a matter of taste.
Glad to see this forum remember that different people like different things, les paul forum can get a little single minded  sad

You can get a slight tremolo sound by shaking the guitar. Works great with open chords, just shake the neck...they ring out a little longer that way too, 'tis a nice effect.

  • Registered: 2010-02-08
  • Posts: 63

Re: tremelo or no

cool, always been curious about should i have a trem or not, and what diff it makes smile

  • From: N. Little Rock, AR.
  • Registered: 2007-03-02
  • Posts: 463

Re: tremelo or no

Personally, I much prefer a Trem (6 Screw) Bridge screwed down flat to the face of the guitar's body. And I use 4 Springs.

    I find that the hardtail Strats seem to be stiff feeling, and sound thinner/harder. I like the "Air" around the Notes that the Trem Bridge gives.

    I have friends who prefer Hardtails, though. And they sound good when they play them. But I prefer the Trem Bridge.

Early 80's 1957 U.S. Vintage Reissue Stratocaster (Surf Green)-Warmouth Soloist  Pearly Gates Neck, Pearly Gates Bridge- Larrivee D-03 (Mahogany/ Spruce)
Carmen Ghia Head- Marshall 112 Cab W/G12H 30  or  Custom 4 X 6v6 Head  or  Budda Twinmaster Plus Head-Traynor 212 Cab w/Eminence Texas Heats. 
Mo'D-Eternity-Blues Pro- Timmy-BYOC Chorus/Vibrato- TC SCF- Korg DT 10 Pedal Tuner
  • From: East Midlands, UK
  • Registered: 2008-06-30
  • Posts: 164

Re: tremelo or no

i wish my strat was a hardtail, then it might stay in tune better. it's has one of those 2 point modern style trems with the vintage saddles. you can't getting to go flush to the body and really crank the springs down. plus it catches on the string tree at the top, which does help matters.

thinking of getting a 6 screw bridge and fitting instead or the 2 point. should be a case of take the 2 point out, fill the holes then re drill for the 5 screw.

Fender 60's Strat>Fulltone OCD V4>>TC Electronics Polytune>Orange Dual Terror>Torres 2x10 Cab(with a vintage 30 and a greenback)
  • Registered: 2009-02-10
  • Posts: 470

Re: tremelo or no

Halesie wrote:

i wish my strat was a hardtail, then it might stay in tune better. it's has one of those 2 point modern style trems with the vintage saddles. you can't getting to go flush to the body and really crank the springs down. plus it catches on the string tree at the top, which does help matters.

thinking of getting a 6 screw bridge and fitting instead or the 2 point. should be a case of take the 2 point out, fill the holes then re drill for the 5 screw.

Try getting Graph Tech saddles.
Stewmac sell them. I have them on a strat and they stopped all tuning problems! It takes away a bit of brightness (which isn't always a bad thin, especially on a strat) though.

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: tremelo or no

I prefer the "hardtail" (no trem)

and if my strat has a trem, I'll make sure it has a large block of steel or brass and 5 springs pretty much so tight you cannot use the whammy. I've seen people jam wood in there too.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • Registered: 2010-03-20
  • Posts: 536

Re: tremelo or no

Better tone from a hard tail? Hmmmm...define 'better'!

One of the characteristics of a strat is its natural shimmer- and that comes from the little bit of natural reverb from the trem springs. Remove them and there's no shimmer.

I believe the best way of setting a strat up is with a bit of float. It's a trade off though and it needs setting up properly, even down to the correct/balanced string gauge.

"Who wants an orange whip? Orange whip? Orange whip? Three orange whips...."

JB LP Goldtop No. 290- Aged...rather like me.
  • Registered: 2010-02-08
  • Posts: 63

Re: tremelo or no

jakey wrote:

Better tone from a hard tail? Hmmmm...define 'better'!

One of the characteristics of a strat is its natural shimmer- and that comes from the little bit of natural reverb from the trem springs. Remove them and there's no shimmer.

I believe the best way of setting a strat up is with a bit of float. It's a trade off though and it needs setting up properly, even down to the correct/balanced string gauge.


do they sound much different? can you get more sounds on a strat with a trem? or can you still do it all with a hard tail? i'm happy enough just wondering if i'm missing out?

  • Registered: 2010-03-20
  • Posts: 536

Re: tremelo or no

I think so. A trem strat sounds far more...errr... stratty?!!???

If you hard tail it then you'll lose that lightness and springy sound. That's one of the reasons EC keeps the springs but blocks the trem off

"Who wants an orange whip? Orange whip? Orange whip? Three orange whips...."

JB LP Goldtop No. 290- Aged...rather like me.