How To Set Up A Floating Tremolo

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Who Hither has Successfully Set Up a Strat Tremolo?

• Thread starter tjnugent
• Start appointment Feb 23, 2022

• #21

I am going to post a video of me using the whammy, I use mine alot, and do not have issues with going out of tune at all, mabey after 30 mintues of play, it may need a quickly tune upwards, but information technology says in melody or returns to the same resting spot after each use of the whammy bar.

i really is about getting that temlo plate, and then that information technology can motility freely without binding up on something, on either the trem screws, or mabey if block does not fit in correctly.

also haveing just the correct amount of tension between the stings and the springs, and then that it wants to "balance" at the same spot everytime, and returns to information technology rapidly when you drib the bar.

I remember in general, proficient techs are hard to observe. not only do yous have to find a skilful tech, merely one that knows how to set your guitar upwards how you like it. Give thanks is why I just prepare mine upwards myself or learned to.

I got a guitar setup and when I brought it home, I took out a tool and ajdjusted some stuff anyways, so rendered the setup pointless.

skilful luck

• #22

Cheers House... I certainly appreciate it. I tin can't set up my current Strat like that considering I currently have the wrong solid steel trem block in there. The whammy bar hole doesn't line upwardly. I accidently ordered the incorrect cake a very long time ago and when the holes for the bar didn't line upward.. I but installed it anyway, considering I hardly use a bar anyways... Just now I would similar the selection if want it.

TJ

• #23

StratNewb, that is pretty much by the volume. I am glad to hear people are having success. I know this sounds weird, but I accept not found a setup tech who will fix upwardly a strat like that. I enquire them the age old question. Can y'all set up the guitar then the trem works and when doing double bends, i string doesn't go apartment.. They all say... No!.. Not so much about the string going flat, but on the entire setup. All of them say it doesn't work.. and when you lot site guys yous have seen play and use the crap out of it and stay in tune... they say that they go out of tune and just change guitars... Basically I think you may accept to play with it for a while and setup techs in a shop, don't want to spend that much time fussing with it. I need to see a slap-up setup tech... I should start looking. I honestly have not found anyone hither withal.

TJ

I wish you the best of luck. I think you're correct, most luthiers don't care to spend more time with a guitar than they accept to, and part of getting the trem to bladder is waiting for the strings to stretch. The way I run into it is if guys like David Gilmour use a floating synchronized trem (and he uses it a LOT) and so in that location's no reason why a adept guitar tech can't setup any decent Strat copy to do the same.

I know information technology isn't exactly almost to yous, only in that location is a swell instrument shop near me in Maplewood, MO, about 15 minutes exterior of St. Louis. It is Goez Instrument Repair on Sutton Blvd. Skip Goez is the owner and I retrieve someone told me he used to be a guitar tech for Clapton, or some big name musician. Anyway, him and his tech John actually know their stuff and they have people send them instruments from out of town all of the time. They did a great setup on my Mexican P Bass for $125 (rewound the pickups, leveled the frets, cut and filed the nut, set the intonation, etc.), and they practice free lifetime rechecks and adjustments. I take no thought how much information technology would cost to send a guitar in that location and dorsum, but if yous desire it done correct and yous desire to pay for it they're the only guys I trust.

• #24

Basically I call up yous may have to play with it for a while and setup techs in a store, don't want to spend that much time fussing with it. I need to run into a great setup tech... I should get-go looking. I honestly have not found anyone hither yet.

TJ

TJNugent, if I recall correctly, you are originally from the San Diego/La Mesa area? If yous get back to SD, bring your guitars and get to this identify:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-repair-zone-san-diego

Everybody in town raves about him. If I mess my guitar up trying to do certain things intonation-wise, that'due south where I'm going to go.

• #25

I play CV 60. Today I recorder a sample of sound with POD HD500. All the time I used a tremolo. Later on virtually 8 minutes difficult and soft tremolo working my guitar is still in melody. AFAIR I practice nothing with stock guitar exept strings.

Sample is here (language switch in the bottom of the page)
http://prostopleer.com/tracks/5257934yMDe

Last edited: Feb 25, 2022

• #26

I don't accept a trouble with strat trems as long as the nut is ok.

• #28

I demand to run into a great setup tech... I should start looking. I honestly have non found anyone here yet.

TJ

You are your own all-time tech. Only you will know exactly what you lot want and exist willing to put in the time to get it there. Don't expect for someone else to exercise it, just learn to practice it yourself.

• #29

My cv50 is set up by me - read no adept at all - it's floating a piffling fleck - i don't really apply it for puling upwardly the tone much.
almost all I did was not correct but information technology worked. so requite it a effort it may find the sweet spot.
also why not taking a look at the new trem systems
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ8FErhbuXI
I don't know about you lot guys, but that looks like magic to me.

• #xxx

Hullo Ian,

I do believe that is the same bridge that Richard Hart, the guy who bought my La Cabronia Tribute had installed on i of his guitars. He told me he had to transport information technology to LA to get it installed. When he got the guitar back, he loved the EverTune, but wanted information technology on the La Cabronita... lol I have not heard from him lately.. Possibly I will accept to driblet him a line and enquire how he is doing. He lives in Phoenix and is a great singer song writer, guitarist.

TJ

PS. Thank you for posting that video... very cool stuff.

• #31

I gave it just as example for "the new systems" because it was the just one I call back the name of - beingness just a bridge system with no trem information technology'southward a bad case, but I've seen at least 2 or 3 new trem systems that were sounding like worth checking out... one was on some rolling bearings and was easy setup in strat or tele. they tend to be a bit pricey for a squier guitar unfortunately.

edit: institute information technology
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjMgnYlJBu8

• #32

Never seen it... if you use the tremolo, it will go in and out of tune.

I'k going to have to retract that remark... later on setting upwardly the trem to float most a dime'due south width in a higher place the deck and tuning it carefully... (equally per the remarks virtually how to do it)
information technology seems to return to tuned pretty well... not dialed in 100% perfect, mind y'all, but close enough to call it back in tune.

• #33

I am enlightened this is an quondam thread merely I would similar to add together my .02 cents for posterity'south sake. There are many methods to set up upwards the vibrato on the strat, most all volition become you at that place. The trouble is not with the vibrato setup, simply with all of the string contact points. Tuners, cord trees, nut and saddles must all be 100% for the organization to work properly. In a lot of guitars this requires a hardware change, modification or comeback earlier the arrangement will work as it is supposed to.

Rather than pull your hair out, address each and every ane of these points of contact earlier you tin expect to wildly workout with the trem bar and autumn dorsum into tune. Also the number of springs used will exist dependent upon the gauge of string y'all are playing. three, 4, or five springs may be called for in regards to this. Non rocket science or Houdini magic. Also the idea of using springs in this way, /|\ is crap as the tension of the outer springs is not fifty-fifty with the center bound causing uneven bound wear, although the ultimate pressure will work for the organization. Over time having fifty-fifty spring pressure becomes important.

Another note, the trem claw in the Bullet is consummate crap and volition bend causing havoc to the tuning, supersede it with a better one. I don't know near the Analogousness, and the Standards accept usable ones. Having to deck the trem is a sure sign that some point forth the string contact system in that location is a problem. Get all the parts working together then we can say, "Houston we have lift off."

• #34

Mine works perfect can play The Ventures and The Shadows all 24-hour interval in tune.

I immobilized my tremolo, guitar couldn't stay in melody if I use it. But I'll might try this.

Thats is like buy a sport car and quit the wheels LOL

• #35

hey tj,

I have had skilful success getting a floating trems to say in-tune. My chief 3 or 4 squiers I setup myself and they all accept floating trems and stay in tune.

my bullet china 2008 will not do it, I have to deck that ane, and my china standard 1999 has a difficult time with it too just I retrieve that is due to a small cake, I decked it anyways.

earlier I showtime, if yous take a floating trem you will want a dainty tuner. makes life much easier

The main thing I noticed, Although possible with a small block, it is easier and feels better with a full size block.

The other thing, utilize merely 3 springs, when y'all install them, put the middles spring to the middle hook, and the other 2 like the photograph shows (some people use 2, I call back it is not enough tenstion to return to resting spot well, and 4 springs, is to much tension just to use the whammy)

before yous starts, brand certain y'all loosen all six screws holding the trem plate, you should be able to lift the terminate up of the tremolo up and down before you start the next function.

(you lot should meet a footling angle cut on just below the trem screws, you want to exist able to lift the back of the tremlo so the angle cut is flush with the torso, you do not want to loosen anymore so that.)

Now here is where the tuner comes into play,

Tune it to E A D G B Due east, and meet how far the tremlo floats,

to become a skillful floating bridge, information technology actually only needs to bladder about a ane/8 inch above the torso, If you lot accept a expert ear, its easier to exercise because the tremlo actually should exist setup by pitch and not "acme"

floating trems, when set up up actually well, when you pull the whammy up, you should get a full stride upwardly. when you push it downwards, you should get a total step down. so using your ear and having a practiced tuner is primal.

bassicly, you have to proceed adjusting the screws and tuneing information technology, and doing it again, until y'all get to that full step up and total footstep downwardly spot. it takes a while to become there, but its and so worth it.

afterward that, y'all then have to go re-arrange the heights of the saddles to preference. and re-conform the i notation, again here is where the tuner is a practiced tuner is a must.

after that, tune it upward, play it bunch, melody information technology up over again, then leave the back plate off for a day or ii,

do a one time over final check on

-when you pull the whammy, 1 note stride up (with your first finger just hold one sting downward on a dot, then go up 2 frets to the side by side dot. and so go back to your first finger on that same dot, and pull the wammy all the manner upward, it should be that same 2nd note

-when you push button the whammy - 1 note step down. (aforementioned deallo)
-look at your saddle hieghts over again.
-check the inotation 1 concluding time.
-put the back plate cover on and play

I exercise non set mine up like the picture. All my spring are in line parallel with each other and I wrap the string clockwise and under so bend upwardly to lock it in identify so they dont slip in the tree and I have no bug on any of my guitars when using the whammy

• #36

Yes, this is an old thread, but .......being certain your nut is properly cut (and lubed) as well as proper cord wrapping will ensure virtually whatsoever "trem" arrangement will work fine....I have no problems

• #37

I notice that if the nut is cut properly and some lube is used at all points every bit said above, I don't have any issues. I use simply moderate trem and don't practice whatsoever crazy dives etc and then it'due south generally not an issue. I have stock tuners on the strats I have but they are from the Standard on up and are decent quality. Don't ain any Bullets etc with "traps".

• #38

I accept one of my Strats set up as a floating tremolo. It stats in melody and returns to tune after using tremolo. I use this fender video as a guide to set it up.

• #39

I am aware this is an erstwhile thread but I would like to add my .02 cents for posterity'south sake. There are many methods to set up the vibrato on the strat, most all will get you there. The problem is non with the vibrato setup, but with all of the string contact points. Tuners, string trees, nut and saddles must all be 100% for the system to work properly. In a lot of guitars this requires a hardware modify, modification or improvement before the arrangement volition work as it is supposed to.

Rather than pull your hair out, accost each and every i of these points of contact before you can look to wildly workout with the trem bar and fall back into tune. Also the number of springs used will be dependent upon the gauge of string you are playing. 3, 4, or v springs may be called for in regards to this. Not rocket science or Houdini magic. Also the thought of using springs in this manner, /|\ is crap equally the tension of the outer springs is not even with the centre spring causing uneven spring wear, although the ultimate pressure will work for the system. Over time having fifty-fifty leap pressure becomes important.

Another annotation, the trem claw in the Bullet is consummate crap and will curve causing havoc to the tuning, supplant it with a better i. I don't know about the Affinity, and the Standards take usable ones. Having to deck the trem is a sure sign that some point forth the cord contact organisation there is a problem. Get all the parts working together and then we can say, "Houston we take lift off."

My bullet claws aren't the best only they oasis't bent or caused havok there perfectly fine and I have my bridge bout a dimes top off the body not angled,merely with the six screws backed out but a piffling to keep the whole bridge parallel with the torso and I accept very little bug. The occasional retune, only I feel like mines more than stable than say jimi,,who often times was tuning mid note and quite ofttimes in certain songs due north concerts.
Btw I accept three springs in the middle three slots,straight ||| not /|\ . Works great

• #40

Always accept a floating trem. Fifty-fifty when I dive flop, they stay in tune, and these are mim bridges with x's or 11's..There's a certain corporeality of trial & error, but one time you get it, information technology doesn't take long to get them to work.

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How To Set Up A Floating Tremolo,

Source: https://www.squier-talk.com/threads/who-here-has-successfully-set-up-a-strat-tremolo.9159/page-2

Posted by: wildmaninflaing.blogspot.com

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