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Hey All-
I've got an American Standard Strat which I recently set the trem arm
on. What I did was put 5 springs on it and unscrewed the claw that
holds the springs to the body a bit, so I could pull up on the trem(I
had it set previously so I could only push down on it)So right now I
can pull up on the trem and it bends the note exactly 1/2 step.
What my problem is, is that everytime my palm touches the bridge it
moves which is bad because it gives everything I play a tremelo
sound. Now is this common? Being that I'm used to tightned up
against the body it feels awfully different.
Or should I just adjust my playing to this?
Bill
www.the-knobs.com
Hi,
Perhaps your trem arm is set a bit too loose now. I remember I had the
same problem with an Ibanez I used to play.
I tightened the claw a bit more, which did it. It is normal that you
have to bend the strat arm with a bit more power then let's say a Bigsby
or Jaguar/Jazmaster floating tremolo. It will be difficult adjusting the
way you play, since you need to mute the strings, so you need to put
your hand there, however it's not necessary to use force while doing
that (IMHO)
It will be a trail and error fase I guess.
Jerry S.
-----Original Message-----
From: epiphonecasino2001 [mailto:]
Sent: woensdag 27 augustus 2003 22:10
To:
Subject: [SurfGuitar101] American Standard Strat Trem
Hey All-
I've got an American Standard Strat which I recently set the trem arm
on. What I did was put 5 springs on it and unscrewed the claw that
holds the springs to the body a bit, so I could pull up on the trem(I
had it set previously so I could only push down on it)So right now I
can pull up on the trem and it bends the note exactly 1/2 step.
What my problem is, is that everytime my palm touches the bridge it
moves which is bad because it gives everything I play a tremelo
sound. Now is this common? Being that I'm used to tightned up
against the body it feels awfully different.
Or should I just adjust my playing to this?
Bill
www.the-knobs.com
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hi bill,
that's a risky thing there you're trying. the strat trem is not really built
to be floating, it seems to me that's a pretty shaky balace between string
tension and spring tension. the trem probably also moves when you're bending
(if you are at all), screwing up double string one-bend/one-no- bend Hendrix
kind of things.
there are 'floating tremolo's' for strats - our co quitarist has a squire
with one. the bridge is elavated from the body horizontally. however, it's
still string tension against s[ring tension and does not really seem to
work.
there's also a device for inside the spring cavity that has a big spring
counterbalancing the 'normal'trem springs. that way the bridge is elevated a
little, but kept in position by spring-against-springg balance. thus, the
(change in) string tension should have less effect. haven't used it though,
don't know whether it works.
good luck in getting what you're after
>From: "epiphonecasino2001" <>
>Reply-To:
>To:
>Subject: [SurfGuitar101] American Standard Strat Trem
>Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 20:09:49 -0000
>
>Hey All-
>
>I've got an American Standard Strat which I recently set the trem arm
>on. What I did was put 5 springs on it and unscrewed the claw that
>holds the springs to the body a bit, so I could pull up on the trem(I
>had it set previously so I could only push down on it)So right now I
>can pull up on the trem and it bends the note exactly 1/2 step.
>
>What my problem is, is that everytime my palm touches the bridge it
>moves which is bad because it gives everything I play a tremelo
>sound. Now is this common? Being that I'm used to tightned up
>against the body it feels awfully different.
>Or should I just adjust my playing to this?
>
>
>Bill
>
>www.the-knobs.com
>
_________________________________________________________________
Hotmail en Messenger on the move
Bill, I don't think this is common. It should be fairly stable. Perhaps you
need to tighten the claw again. Go to your library or buy Dan Erlewine's
"Guitar Player Repair Guide". He explains a techinque for dealing with the
strat trem during restringing that involves a little wooden block you wedge
in the trem cavity. Once I started doing this my restringing sessions went
much faster and I got much better results from my Strat.
Good luck,
BN
>
> I've got an American Standard Strat which I recently set the trem arm
> on. What I did was put 5 springs on it and unscrewed the claw that
> holds the springs to the body a bit, so I could pull up on the trem(I
> had it set previously so I could only push down on it)So right now I
> can pull up on the trem and it bends the note exactly 1/2 step.
>
> What my problem is, is that everytime my palm touches the bridge it
> moves which is bad because it gives everything I play a tremelo
> sound. Now is this common? Being that I'm used to tightned up
> against the body it feels awfully different.
> Or should I just adjust my playing to this?
>
>
> Bill
I usually just leave the strat trem on my Cyclone II
and continue to tune over and over again after
stringing until it stabilizes. I take it this is not
the smartest route then. What exactly do you do
Brian?
Richard
__________________________________
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If you have a floating trem, here is the fastest way I have found for a complete
string change. Instead of taking all the strings off, take them off one at a
time, and replace the discarded string with a new one. After you put the new
string on, bend the crap out of it-- not just by doing a normal string bend, but
stick your thumb under it and press down with your other fingers. Do this the
entire length of the string. Tune it to pitch, then bend it again, and tune it
again. Then move on to the next string. By doing this, your trem will never
leave its balance point.
One other tip- have as few windings as possible around the tuning peg. I use a
method that leaves almost no winding at all on the peg, but it is kind of
difficult to describe, much easier to show.
Ferenc wrote:
> I usually just leave the strat trem on my Cyclone II
> and continue to tune over and over again after
> stringing until it stabilizes. I take it this is not
> the smartest route then. What exactly do you do
> Brian?
>
> Richard
>
> __________________________________
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> .
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>
Hi,
I was always under the impression that more windings around the tuning
peg where the way to go, so you could tune the string more precisely. I
use a minimum of three windings per string. Why would less windings be
better?
Jerry S.
-----Original Message-----
From: Ferenc Dobronyi [mailto:]
Sent: zondag 31 augustus 2003 22:23
To:
Subject: Re: [SurfGuitar101] American Standard Strat Trem
If you have a floating trem, here is the fastest way I have found for a
complete
string change. Instead of taking all the strings off, take them off one
at a
time, and replace the discarded string with a new one. After you put the
new
string on, bend the crap out of it-- not just by doing a normal string
bend, but
stick your thumb under it and press down with your other fingers. Do
this the
entire length of the string. Tune it to pitch, then bend it again, and
tune it
again. Then move on to the next string. By doing this, your trem will
never
leave its balance point.
One other tip- have as few windings as possible around the tuning peg. I
use a
method that leaves almost no winding at all on the peg, but it is kind
of
difficult to describe, much easier to show.
Ferenc wrote:
> I usually just leave the strat trem on my Cyclone II
> and continue to tune over and over again after
> stringing until it stabilizes. I take it this is not
> the smartest route then. What exactly do you do
> Brian?
>
> Richard
>
> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> .
> Visit for archived
> messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
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>
>
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Less string = less opportunity for unwanted streching.
Ferenc wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I was always under the impression that more windings around the tuning
> peg where the way to go, so you could tune the string more precisely. I
> use a minimum of three windings per string. Why would less windings be
> better?
>
> Jerry S.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ferenc Dobronyi [mailto:]
> Sent: zondag 31 augustus 2003 22:23
> To:
> Subject: Re: [SurfGuitar101] American Standard Strat Trem
>
>
> If you have a floating trem, here is the fastest way I have found for a
> complete
> string change. Instead of taking all the strings off, take them off one
> at a
> time, and replace the discarded string with a new one. After you put the
> new
> string on, bend the crap out of it-- not just by doing a normal string
> bend, but
> stick your thumb under it and press down with your other fingers. Do
> this the
> entire length of the string. Tune it to pitch, then bend it again, and
> tune it
> again. Then move on to the next string. By doing this, your trem will
> never
> leave its balance point.
>
> One other tip- have as few windings as possible around the tuning peg. I
> use a
> method that leaves almost no winding at all on the peg, but it is kind
> of
> difficult to describe, much easier to show.
>
> Ferenc
>
>
>
>
> wrote:
>
>>I usually just leave the strat trem on my Cyclone II
>>and continue to tune over and over again after
>>stringing until it stabilizes. I take it this is not
>>the smartest route then. What exactly do you do
>>Brian?
>>
>>Richard
>>
>>__________________________________
>>Do you Yahoo!?
>>Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software
>>
>>
>>
>>To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>>.
>>Visit for archived
>>messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>>
>>
>>
>>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> .
> Visit for archived messages,
> bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
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>
>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
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c'mon ferenc, show us!!
On Sunday, August 31, 2003, at 01:22 PM, Ferenc Dobronyi wrote:
> I use a method that leaves almost no winding at all on the peg,
> but it is kind of difficult to describe, much easier to show.
>
> Ferenc
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Here's how I do mine:
1. Turn on the TV
2. Get a beer
3. Remove low string > add graphite to nut> Insert string in peg with
enough slack to the first fret.
4. Bring string to pitch, pull away from the guitar hard then bring
back to pitch. I repeat this until it stops slipping.
5. Repeat step (4) for each string.
6. Get another beer:)
Note: Having the nut cut to match the string gauge seems to really
help.
Rick
--- In , "Jerry" <jerry.soetewey@b...>
wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I was always under the impression that more windings around the
tuning
> peg where the way to go, so you could tune the string more
precisely. I
> use a minimum of three windings per string. Why would less windings
be
> better?
>
> Jerry S.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ferenc Dobronyi [mailto:ferencnd@n...]
> Sent: zondag 31 augustus 2003 22:23
> To:
> Subject: Re: [SurfGuitar101] American Standard Strat Trem
>
>
> If you have a floating trem, here is the fastest way I have found
for a
> complete
> string change. Instead of taking all the strings off, take them off
one
> at a
> time, and replace the discarded string with a new one. After you
put the
> new
> string on, bend the crap out of it-- not just by doing a normal
string
> bend, but
> stick your thumb under it and press down with your other fingers.
Do
> this the
> entire length of the string. Tune it to pitch, then bend it again,
and
> tune it
> again. Then move on to the next string. By doing this, your trem
will
> never
> leave its balance point.
>
> One other tip- have as few windings as possible around the tuning
peg. I
> use a
> method that leaves almost no winding at all on the peg, but it is
kind
> of
> difficult to describe, much easier to show.
>
> Ferenc
>
>
>
>
> errant_jedi@y... wrote:
> > I usually just leave the strat trem on my Cyclone II
> > and continue to tune over and over again after
> > stringing until it stabilizes. I take it this is not
> > the smartest route then. What exactly do you do
> > Brian?
> >
> > Richard
> >
> > __________________________________
> > Do you Yahoo!?
> > Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software
> >
> >
> >
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> >
> > Visit for archived
> > messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
> >
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>
> Visit for archived
messages,
> bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
>
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> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
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Rick,
I know you-- you mean "repeat step 2 six times."
ferenc wrote:
> Here's how I do mine:
>
> 1. Turn on the TV
> 2. Get a beer
> 3. Remove low string > add graphite to nut> Insert string in peg with
> enough slack to the first fret.
> 4. Bring string to pitch, pull away from the guitar hard then bring
> back to pitch. I repeat this until it stops slipping.
> 5. Repeat step (4) for each string.
> 6. Get another beer:)
>
> Note: Having the nut cut to match the string gauge seems to really
> help.
>
> Rick
>
> --- In , "Jerry" <jerry.soetewey@b...> wrote:
>
>>Hi,
>>
>>I was always under the impression that more windings around the
>
> tuning
>
>>peg where the way to go, so you could tune the string more
>
> precisely. I
>
>>use a minimum of three windings per string. Why would less windings
>
> be
>
>>better?
>>
>>Jerry S.
>>
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Ferenc Dobronyi [mailto:ferencnd@n...]
>>Sent: zondag 31 augustus 2003 22:23
>>To:
>>Subject: Re: [SurfGuitar101] American Standard Strat Trem
>>
>>
>>If you have a floating trem, here is the fastest way I have found
>
> for a
>
>>complete
>>string change. Instead of taking all the strings off, take them off
>
> one
>
>>at a
>>time, and replace the discarded string with a new one. After you
>
> put the
>
>>new
>>string on, bend the crap out of it-- not just by doing a normal
>
> string
>
>>bend, but
>> stick your thumb under it and press down with your other fingers.
>
> Do
>
>>this the
>>entire length of the string. Tune it to pitch, then bend it again,
>
> and
>
>>tune it
>>again. Then move on to the next string. By doing this, your trem
>
> will
>
>>never
>>leave its balance point.
>>
>>One other tip- have as few windings as possible around the tuning
>
> peg. I
>
>>use a
>>method that leaves almost no winding at all on the peg, but it is
>
> kind
>
>>of
>>difficult to describe, much easier to show.
>>
>>Ferenc
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>errant_jedi@y... wrote:
>>
>>>I usually just leave the strat trem on my Cyclone II
>>>and continue to tune over and over again after
>>>stringing until it stabilizes. I take it this is not
>>>the smartest route then. What exactly do you do
>>>Brian?
>>>
>>>Richard
>>>
>>>__________________________________
>>>Do you Yahoo!?
>>>Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>>>
>>>Visit for archived
>>>messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>>
>>Visit for archived
>
> messages,
>
>>bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>>
>>
>>
>>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
>>
>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> .
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bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
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