Strat players. Floating or decked?

[Sascha Franck]

Fwiw, it's less that I can't bend up with a decked trem, it's more that I just *hate* the "click" when returning to zero position.

 

[Sascha Franck]

And well, I'm actually not running into much issues with doublebends. Bit of country-ish noodling (for some noodling based FB group), there's quite some doublebends in there:

 

[Eagle]

Fwiw, it's less that I can't bend up with a decked trem, it's more that I just *hate* the "click" when returning to zero position.

If you’re not bothered about it staying in tune for double stops you can set it to only just rest so no up pull and no real hard stop.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

@Eagle are any springs better quality than others?

 

[Eagle]

Floyd to float except this one;

This setup is interesting because Ed had a huge amount of slop in the bar deliberately ( 20mm +) . This sounds unusable but in practice it works well.
In order to use the bar you need to press it down far enough to get past the slop , then the bridge stays engaged fully until it parks back on the body . I hate any slop at all in a floating system but on a decked one this has no play when the bar is in use.

 

[Piing]

Schaller Tremstop. The best of both worlds in one. Instant switch from wild floating freedom to rock solid hardtail.

 

[Eagle]

@Eagle are any springs better quality than others?

Very much so and different strengths. I would stick to sets of the same type/ manufacturer. Gotoh, Schaller, Fender. Silent springs have a detrimental effect on tone acoustically, you may or may not hear it plugged in but anything negative to your core tone will translate. Putting a rubber band inside the spring is a far less negative way to dampen overtones that are unwanted. Remember the springs are part of the Strat’s tone.

 

[Eagle]

Schaller Tremstop. The best of both worlds in one. Instant switch from wild floating freedom to rock solid hardtail.


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Yes it works but it’s hideous, that’s why it’s discontinued.

 

[Frankencat]

I prefer the sound of a decked 6 screw trem like a Callaham but I get an occasional hankerin for a floating trem. In that case I like the Vega Trem but a Gotoh 510 with a brass block will make me happy as well as pretty much and Mann Made trem.

 

[Eagle]

There are three systems the lock when you park the bar (three more )if you include the Transtrem 1-3.
Steinberger jam trem
Wilkinson convertible
Kahler auto latch.
The jam trem is the best but rare as hell
The Wilko needs constant adjustment to the spring claw which could have been addressed.
The auto latch is great but expensive and rare but they are reissuing it now the Steinberger patent has run out.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Schaller Tremstop.

Oh wow, didn't even know that existed. Good to completely destroy an instrument's look, though.

 

[Eagle]

I prefer the sound of a decked 6 screw trem like a Callaham but I get an occasional hankerin for a floating trem. In that case I like the Vega Trem but a Gotoh 510 with a brass block will make me happy as well as pretty much and Mann Made trem.

Why brass on a 510 ? The CRS one is very good.

 

[Frankencat]

Why brass on a 510 ? The CRS one is very good.

Just my preference but yeah that stock one is excellent.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Very much so and different strengths. I would stick to sets of the same type/ manufacturer. Gotoh, Schaller, Fender. Silent springs have a detrimental effect on tone acoustically, you may or may not hear it plugged in but anything negative to your core tone will translate. Putting a rubber band inside the spring is a far less negative way to dampen overtones that are unwanted. Remember the springs are part of the Strat’s tone.

Thanks I assumed that would be the case but wanted to check. I only ordered a pack of three so I'll change it to a set of 5 and go for all new springs. I've got three on my trem at the mo. It came with two others but no clue where they've gone to.

 

[Frankencat]

BTW I encourage you to try the Vega Trem. I was very skeptical until I installed one for a customer on one of my custom builds that he owns. I am impressed by the tone, the feel and the stability. Just looking at it, it's like a piece of jewelry. They have been great to deal with as well and shipping from Spain is not bad, I just ordered two more and got them within a week.

 

[Eagle]

Thanks I assumed that would be the case but wanted to check. I only ordered a pack of three so I'll change it to a set of 5 and go for all new springs. I've got three on my trem at the mo. It came with two others but no clue where they've gone to.

Another thing to remember is harder springs are brighter in the acoustic sound. Gotoh power springs.This is also why the Raw vintage ones are warmer because they are soft like old Fender ones. Similar in tone to Fender black springs.

 

[Piing]

Oh wow, didn't even know that existed. Good to completely destroy an instrument's look, though.

Guitarists that use something like a Roland GK3 pickup couldn't care less about how other's see changes on instrument's looks

 

[Frankencat]

I like the Raw Vintage and also the Callaham springs.

 

[Eagle]

BTW I encourage you to try the Vega Trem. I was very skeptical until I installed one for a customer on one of my custom builds that he owns. I am impressed by the tone, the feel and the stability. Just looking at it, it's like a piece of jewelry. They have been great to deal with as well and shipping from Spain is not bad, I just ordered two more and got them within a week.

I like it but it doesn’t sound like a Strat to me acoustically. It certainly works well.

 

[Frankencat]

No it doesn't sound like a vintage Strat trem but it does sound very good. For the vintage vibe I use the Callaham trem.