I Want a Headless

[Eagle]

Strandberg have a new trem though.

The design looks a considerable improvement but I suspect it’s zinc die cast parts on the black pieces.

 

[JiveTurkey]

 

[Oddguitar]

Definitely. I actually regret getting the trem on my Strandberg. It's a pain to tune when each turn causes the bridge to deflect. That's why I installed a Mag-Lok on it, to make tuning easier and more reliable.

I wish modern headless trem designers would take a page out of Ned Steinberger's book and equip their trems with the ability to lock, specifically to avoid the bridge deflection during tuning that you're describing. This omission makes tuning a headless with a trem unnecessarily difficult and you lose the ability to drop tune. I like the new Strandberg Arc Tilt trem, but there is still no way to lock it. Ned figured this stuff out in the 80's, yet in 2026 it somehow still eludes designers.

 

[Oddguitar]

Hardware matters more on headless. The lock is super important.

I really like Ned Steinberger's new NS Fulcrum™ Self-Clamping Tuning System as well as Riviera Gear's trem and hardtail offerings that allow stringing the ball-end through a micro-headstock (ala Kubicki Ex Factor). This eliminates the sharp string ends associated with most headless string locks. Both are designed with up-facing knobs, so you don't have to carve out the body behind the bridge to allow access to the tuners, which means total body design freedom. Exciting times for lovers of headless instruments!

 

[Eagle]

I wish modern headless trem designers would take a page out of Ned Steinberger's book and equip their trems with the ability to lock, specifically to avoid the bridge deflection during tuning that you're describing. This omission makes tuning a headless with a trem unnecessarily difficult and you lose the ability to drop tune. I like the new Strandberg Arc Tilt trem, but there is still no way to lock it. Ned figured this stuff out in the 80's, yet in 2026 it somehow still eludes designers.

It doesn’t elude them it adds complexity and cost .
The new Strandberg trem looks good BUT it probably is a lot of zinc castings and I have suspicion that it is not very durable.
Lockable fulcrum trems are few and only the jam trem actually covers all the issues that need attention. The others work but require ultra precise setup and constant maintenance.

 

[Oddguitar]

It doesn’t elude them it adds complexity and cost .
The new Strandberg trem looks good BUT it probably is a lot of zinc castings and I have suspicion that it is not very durable.
Lockable fulcrum trems are few and only the jam trem actually covers all the issues that need attention. The others work but require ultra precise setup and constant maintenance.

I guess I’ve been spoiled by the TransTrem. I’ve sadly never had the pleasure of trying Jam Trem, although I saw one (minus the bar) a local GC the other day that was about $400 that had me tempted for a moment. I assume that the other lockable fulcrum trems you referring to are the Wilkinson Convertible and Kahler Auto-Latch. I was actually thinking about getting a Kahler Steeler Pro with Auto-Latch, but now your comment is making me wonder if it is worth it The thought of constant adjustments is not appealing to me…

 

[Eagle]

I guess I’ve been spoiled by the TransTrem. I’ve sadly never had the pleasure of trying Jam Trem, although I saw one (minus the bar) a local GC the other day that was about $400 that had me tempted for a moment. I assume that the other lockable fulcrum trems you referring to are the Wilkinson Convertible and Kahler Auto-Latch. I was actually thinking about getting a Kahler Steeler Pro with Auto-Latch, but now your comment is making me wonder if it is worth it The thought of constant adjustments is not appealing to me…

The thing they lack that jam trem has is the ability to fine tune the spring tension on the fly without tools. This allows you to hit the lock point precisely by micro adjusting the position of the equilibrium . Imagine if you needed to remove a plate and get out tools instead of the knob on the back of transtrem. Also how perfect the adjustment needs to be to lock the transposition pin in the park position without the slightest touch on the edges of the cam. The auto latch is better than the convertible in this regard but not much.

 

[Oddguitar]

The thing they lack that jam trem has is the ability to fine tune the spring tension on the fly without tools. This allows you to hit the lock point precisely by micro adjusting the position of the equilibrium . Imagine if you needed to remove a plate and get out tools instead of the knob on the back of transtrem. Also how perfect the adjustment needs to be to lock the transposition pin in the park position without the slightest touch on the edges of the cam. The auto latch is better than the convertible in this regard but not much.

Thank you for the exp

The thing they lack that jam trem has is the ability to fine tune the spring tension on the fly without tools. This allows you to hit the lock point precisely by micro adjusting the position of the equilibrium . Imagine if you needed to remove a plate and get out tools instead of the knob on the back of transtrem. Also how perfect the adjustment needs to be to lock the transposition pin in the park position without the slightest touch on the edges of the cam. The auto latch is better than the convertible in this regard but not much.

Jeffrey

The thing they lack that jam trem has is the ability to fine tune the spring tension on the fly without tools. This allows you to hit the lock point precisely by micro adjusting the position of the equilibrium . Imagine if you needed to remove a plate and get out tools instead of the knob on the back of transtrem. Also how perfect the adjustment needs to be to lock the transposition pin in the park position without the slightest touch on the edges of the cam. The auto latch is better than the convertible in this regard but not much.

Geoffrey McCabe has a global tension adjustment for his Sophia trems, but sadly no locking mechanism to go with it…

 

[AZG]

Yes, I'd fancy one of these, with Dimarzio double-cremes:

View attachment 60199

That's the first time I've seen an Ibanez headless that actually made me think, sweet...

 

[Oddguitar]

For those who have used the Hipshot headless trem on a Kiesel and/or the Hantug headless trem on a Aristides, what was your impression of them?

 

[gearJunkie]

the Hantug headless trem on a Aristides

It's nicer than the Strandberg trem, but it still suffers from the same "deflection while tuning" issue.

 

[Oddguitar]

It's nicer than the Strandberg trem, but it still suffers from the same "deflection while tuning" issue.

View attachment 60334
View attachment 60335

Are the tuners stiff to turn? What kind of feel does the trem have? I’ve only had the opportunity to try one older H/06 that was totally out of whack and the tuners were shockingly stiff to turn. Not what I was expecting being used to the smoothnesses that Steinberger tuners offer.

 

[gearJunkie]

tuners were shockingly stiff to turn.

that's accurate, but it is less stiff than the Strandberg. The tuner barrels have better knurling and are larger in diameter, so that does make the tuning process a little easier.

 

[Eagle]

Are the tuners stiff to turn? What kind of feel does the trem have? I’ve only had the opportunity to try one older H/06 that was totally out of whack and the tuners were shockingly stiff to turn. Not what I was expecting being used to the smoothnesses that Steinberger tuners offer.

Mk1 tuners only have a Teflon washer and are stiff if not maintained properly. You can easily add a second washer or thrust bearings as is standard on MK2 bridges. The second washer makes a huge difference as it allows the Teflon to rotate against Teflon instead of metal. It takes almost no space on the thread and can be fitted in minutes.
Playing any badly maintained guitar is not going to be representative.

 

[Oddguitar]

that's accurate, but it is less stiff than the Strandberg. The tuner barrels have better knurling and are larger in diameter, so that does make the tuning process a little easier.

This one must have had something wrong with it because it was much stiffer than any Strandberg bridge I’ve tried. Ned Steinberger set the blueprint for gearless 40:1 tuners back in the 80’s. One would think that current designs could at least replicate that level of tuning ease and smoothness

 

[Eagle]

This one must have had something wrong with it because it was much stiffer than any Strandberg bridge I’ve tried. Ned Steinberger set the blueprint for gearless 40:1 tuners back in the 80’s. One would think that current designs could at least replicate that level of tuning ease and smoothness

My Aristides is no stiffer than my GL tuners .

 

[Jynx]

It's nicer than the Strandberg trem, but it still suffers from the same "deflection while tuning" issue.

View attachment 60334
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Do you have to take that whole face plate off to adjust the springs if you detune?

 

[Eagle]

Most have the Schaller claw that adjusts with a hex key through a hole.

 

[gearJunkie]

Do you have to take that whole face plate off to adjust the springs if you detune?

Most have the Schiller claw that adjusts with a hex key through a hole.

 

[Eagle]

View attachment 60346

The very thing!