Curiosity question for the Strat players.

rockndawg

Joined: Aug 06, 2018
Posts: 52
1 Contributor Pin

Posted on Feb 11 2025 08:16 PM

I usually play Strats, and my number one Strat is set up where the trem bar is real lose and just flops around and hangs down in general. Anyway I noticed these stupid little black springs that go under the arm on Reverb.com, so I picked some up.
Well now I can adjust it so the bar stays put where ever I leave it. This seem cool being the bar is right there, and its nice not having to search around for it to swing it up to use it.....but now it seems like its in the way half the time!
I was curious how most of you have your Strats set up? I'm probably going back to the loosy goosy way.
Weird thing is my Jaguar bar is pretty tight and I don't seem to have any problem with it.

Top

Samurai

Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2260
Kiev, Ukraine
Ukraine

Posted on Feb 11 2025 11:23 PM

All of my strats have pop in trem arms that stay in place
Before I used this little spring on my AVRI strats
I am just used to have tremolo arm in place and hate it loose but probably that’s just a matter of habit

—

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

Top

edwardsand

Joined: Jun 29, 2018
Posts: 780

Posted on Feb 12 2025 08:01 AM

The thing with the strat arm is that it comes out really near to the bridge, and so even if you angle it away, the base part of it is still close to the bridge - and if you play with your hand near the bridge, like for palm muting or strumming to get more treble sounds, the trem arm is still nearby. With a Jaguar, the arm and tremolo are mounted much farther back from the bridge, and so you don't have the same issue with positioning it so it's just out of the way.

Top

revmike

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3816
North Atlantic
Canada

Posted on Feb 12 2025 08:02 AM

I use the little black springs on my strat and have got used to where the trem sits over time. I like having the trem in an easy grab position.

Rev

—

Canadian Surf

http://www.urbansurfkings.com/

Top

wipedoutnyc

Joined: Feb 10, 2021
Posts: 233
New York
United States

Posted on Feb 12 2025 10:38 AM

I use the little springs and have it set in place. I agree it can sometimes feel in the way compared to my Jaguar.

Top

Joelman

Joined: Sep 07, 2006
Posts: 1497
Redlands, CA
United States

Posted on Feb 12 2025 09:24 PM

I’m a ‘little spring’ guy too.
You just get used to the bar being where you left it over time.

Top

rockndawg

Joined: Aug 06, 2018
Posts: 52
1 Contributor Pin

Posted on Feb 15 2025 05:20 PM

Thanks for the responses, I guess I will give the little black spring a little more time. Actually I never play my Jag, getting it out to compare I forgot how much fun it was to play...so I'm playing that at the moment!

Last edited: Feb 15, 2025 17:20:33

Top

chiba

Joined: Sep 02, 2022
Posts: 522
Central VA
United States

Posted on Feb 18 2025 09:27 AM

I want the bar to stay where I put it, so a pop-in or tiny spring is standard for me.

Over the years I just got used to playing the guitar that way.

—

--
Project: MAYHEM by Hypersonic Secret now available!

Top

AgentClaret

Joined: Jan 30, 2024
Posts: 135
United States

Posted on Feb 18 2025 05:23 PM

I stripped the hell out of my Strat bridge. The bar won't even stay in unless I gob it up with plumbers tape. One of these days I'm going to replace it with the pop-in AmPro II Strat bridge.

But yeah, I'd prefer it stays where I left it, I can't conceive of how so many Strat players are comfortable reaching so far down for a floppy Strat trem.....

Last edited: Feb 18, 2025 17:23:49

Top

rockndawg Joined: Aug 06, 2018 Posts: 52	Posted on Feb 11 2025 08:16 PM I usually play Strats, and my number one Strat is set up where the trem bar is real lose and just flops around and hangs down in general. Anyway I noticed these stupid little black springs that go under the arm on Reverb.com, so I picked some up. Well now I can adjust it so the bar stays put where ever I leave it. This seem cool being the bar is right there, and its nice not having to search around for it to swing it up to use it.....but now it seems like its in the way half the time! I was curious how most of you have your Strats set up? I'm probably going back to the loosy goosy way. Weird thing is my Jaguar bar is pretty tight and I don't seem to have any problem with it. Top
Samurai Joined: Mar 14, 2006 Posts: 2260 Kiev, Ukraine	Posted on Feb 11 2025 11:23 PM All of my strats have pop in trem arms that stay in place Before I used this little spring on my AVRI strats I am just used to have tremolo arm in place and hate it loose but probably that’s just a matter of habit — Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki Lost Diver https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin Top
edwardsand Joined: Jun 29, 2018 Posts: 780	Posted on Feb 12 2025 08:01 AM The thing with the strat arm is that it comes out really near to the bridge, and so even if you angle it away, the base part of it is still close to the bridge - and if you play with your hand near the bridge, like for palm muting or strumming to get more treble sounds, the trem arm is still nearby. With a Jaguar, the arm and tremolo are mounted much farther back from the bridge, and so you don't have the same issue with positioning it so it's just out of the way. Top
revmike Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3816 North Atlantic	Posted on Feb 12 2025 08:02 AM I use the little black springs on my strat and have got used to where the trem sits over time. I like having the trem in an easy grab position. Rev — Canadian Surf http://www.urbansurfkings.com/ Top
wipedoutnyc Joined: Feb 10, 2021 Posts: 233 New York	Posted on Feb 12 2025 10:38 AM I use the little springs and have it set in place. I agree it can sometimes feel in the way compared to my Jaguar. Top
Joelman Joined: Sep 07, 2006 Posts: 1497 Redlands, CA	Posted on Feb 12 2025 09:24 PM I’m a ‘little spring’ guy too. You just get used to the bar being where you left it over time. Top
rockndawg Joined: Aug 06, 2018 Posts: 52	Posted on Feb 15 2025 05:20 PM Thanks for the responses, I guess I will give the little black spring a little more time. Actually I never play my Jag, getting it out to compare I forgot how much fun it was to play...so I'm playing that at the moment! Last edited: Feb 15, 2025 17:20:33 Top
chiba Joined: Sep 02, 2022 Posts: 522 Central VA	Posted on Feb 18 2025 09:27 AM I want the bar to stay where I put it, so a pop-in or tiny spring is standard for me. Over the years I just got used to playing the guitar that way. — -- Project: MAYHEM by Hypersonic Secret now available! Top
AgentClaret Joined: Jan 30, 2024 Posts: 135	Posted on Feb 18 2025 05:23 PM I stripped the hell out of my Strat bridge. The bar won't even stay in unless I gob it up with plumbers tape. One of these days I'm going to replace it with the pop-in AmPro II Strat bridge. But yeah, I'd prefer it stays where I left it, I can't conceive of how so many Strat players are comfortable reaching so far down for a floppy Strat trem..... Last edited: Feb 18, 2025 17:23:49 Top

SurfGuitar101 Forums » Surf Musician »

Curiosity question for the Strat players.