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I think we're actually agreeing, Red.
As you say, you want your strat(s) to be versatile. I'm guessing this means that
you may still want to play a Hendrix or Yngwie number in between your Pipelines
and Penetrations. I certainly agree that a standard strat trem ain't the best
for that kinda versatility. And no doubt about it, Hendrix woulda had it easier
with a Floyd Rose (but I actually like the imperfections and the beautiful way
he worked around 'em).
The three strats that I've been playing really are one trick ponys and that's
the way I want 'em. They're intended for surf and surf only. Yep, for that
standard trem to work best does require special strings, heavy mo-fos. If I'm
gonna play a different style, I use a different guitar.
-Marty
----- Original Message -----
From: red_thundr
To:
Sent: Monday, January 31, 2005 7:26 PM
Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Re: Mighty Mite Trem (Wilkinson)
We can simply agree to disagree.
Hendrix was notorious for being out of tune (I can hardly stomach his
live performances merely on that fact.) Jeff Beck and others need
massive adjustments and tweeks to make their stock Fender units
livable. Van Halen simply gave up on the stock Fender unit and found
something better, and in doing so rewrote the book on what you could
do with a tremolo.
My Stratocaster is not a one-trick-pony, and I demand that it have
flexibility, versatility, and reliability. The Wilkinson tremolo
plays a big part in that equation, and if I can spread the good word
on something I found, I'm gonna do it. You won't be able to convince
me that the stock Fender tremolos are anything more than cantankerous
hunks of junk that are better left unused. My time is better spent
making good music than nursemaiding a device that has been vastly
surpassed by far more elegant and usable solutions.
Consider yourself extremely fortunate to have a workable stock Fender
trem; for it's only due to luck and not by design. My case is the
opposite: I have a great trem that's usable by design, not by luck.
The stock Fender trem will never shed its quirky reputation for
needing special setups, special strings, and a wing and a prayer when
you really need to count on it.
--- In , "ipongrac" <ipongrac@g...>
wrote:
>
> --- In , "red_thundr"
<red_thundr@y...>
> wrote:
> >
> > I'd only have to add that you need to try a Wilkinson first.
>
> I will, if I get a chance.
>
> > The
> > general consensus is that the "vintage" Strat trem needs special
> > supporting setup mods and inordinate care applied in order for it
to
> > be somewhat stable and usable; it doesn't just "work" out of the
> box.
> > Tuning problems are a well-documented and universally accepted
> > idiosyncrasy of the stock Fender unit. All that friction on the 6
> > pivot screws doesn't bode well for tuning stability, and the
> > side-to-side shifting of the spring-loaded saddles doesn't give
the
> > strings a consistent zero return point.
>
> Cause people use thin strings and don't set it up right. Oh, and
> they dive-bomb with it and pretend they're EVH or Brad Gillis,
which
> is not what it was designed to do. Again, I said that it works
really
> well for SURF MUSIC, meaning adding true vibrato, whether gentle or
> heavy-handed, rather than making airplane and Ferrari noises with.
> Incidentally, Hendrix, Van Halen, and Jeff Beck did much if not all
> of their whammy abuse on vintage style units... I even read an
> interview with EVH where he said he prefers the tone of the vintage
> Strat unit, but obviously a Floyd Rose stays in tune better for
what
> he does.
>
> > If the vintage Fender trem was half as good as you say,
>
> I'm telling you what my experience with it is - why would I
> exaggerate?
>
> > Floyd Rose would have been out of business > 25 years ago.
>
> Well, Kahler is. And how many new guitars do you see with real
Floyd
> Rose units? Maybe Jackson and ESP, but not many more. I don't
think
> that Fender has one standard model with a real Floyd Rose on it
> anymore (they have a Mexican or Korean model with a Floyd Rose
copy),
> while the vintage unit is still found on the great majority of
their
> (and many other manufacturers') guitars. Floyd Rose trems are a
pain
> in the ass. They're hard to adjust for intonation, changing
strings
> is a pain in the ass, and locking and unlocking the nut and having
> the right wrench is just really inconvenient.
>
> > Most elements of the original Strat design are timeless;
> > unfortunately, the trem isn't one of them.
>
> I couldn't disagree more. I believe it's one of Leo Fender's major
> claims to fame.
>
> > I've played a gazillion Strats, from Mexis all the way to Custom
> Shop
> > beauties, and 95% of them with the stock trem have gone out of
tune
> > with mild use. And frankly, I've yet to pick up a Strat right
off
> the
> > dealer's wall that didn't have a major problem with the tuning
after
> > testing the trem.
>
> Cause most of them leave the factory with 9-gauge strings and poor
> setups.
>
> > Bang for the buck, I believe the Wilkinson upgrade mod wins hands
> > down. It's an inexpensive drop-in mod that a competent luthier
can
> > setup with ease. It's not finicky, it's rugged, nice-looking, and
> > actually benefits the sustain. My recommendation is for people to
> > simply try it.
>
> No problem. All Strat players should go ahead and try it. If I
> lived close any kind of a guitar store (the nearest - crappy - one
is
> 45 miles away, a good one is some 70 miles away, and I rarely get
to
> go there), I would. But my opinion is that the vintage Strat
tremolo
> rules.
>
> Ivan
.
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