- This topic has 19 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 3 years, 12 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
-
Vojtech mentioned that he had a problem setting up a vintage trem. Tremolo units can be a royal pain whether they are vintage or modern. Anything that has 3-5 springs as part of its components list is destined to be unstable and for a person just learning to do a setup, it can be a real headache
Below are several videos by an Italian guitar & amp maker that is probably the best info that I’ve found for Strat setups. Since he has at least 5 videos in this series, I only posted Part 1 of a series that he did on trem units and then there are several shorter videos on the various steps of a setup. Excellent info especially for setting intonation.
If you look at his You Tube page, he has posted a wealth of knowledge
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXU3GYv5qEzuPePqXOJBgXwSet up your strat for best tremolo use part 1
Vintage Trem (6 screw)
Floating Trem (2 pivot)
String Height
Strat Intonation
How to keep your Strat tremolo in tune
-
-
-
GnlGuy, while we are on this topic, do you have an opinion or fact regarding the issue of the number of springs and the impact on Stratocaster tone or the idea of keeping the back plate off? Lot’s of (mis) information out there….Other than making the tremolo stiffer, not sure it will sound better……Your Take?
Thanks and regards,
Roberto
Roberto
-
GnlGuy, while we are on this topic, do you have an opinion or fact regarding the issue of the number of springs and the impact on Stratocaster tone or the idea of keeping the back plate off? Lot’s of (mis) information out there….Other than making the tremolo stiffer, not sure it will sound better……Your Take?
Thanks and regards,
Roberto
Just thinking outside of the box a bit here, it would seem that if you installed 5 springs on a trem instead of the usual 3 – yes, the trem would be more stiff but it would seem that it also put more tension on the strings, which in turn, could affect the neck relief. Could, not saying that it would but the extra pull of the added springs, would pull harder on the strings and that would be passed onto the neck & truss rod.
Sound wise, I wouldn’t think that the back plate being off would affect the sound & tone. I’ve been wrong a couple of times, which my wife made me aware of….LOL -
-
Galeazzo (Frudua) is one of those people who is so talented that it almost makes me want to give up. He is a luthier, makes amps, and his videos on singing Beatles’ songs are the only ones that I know of that are completely accurate in terms of getting the harmonies exaclty right.
And he seems like a really nice guy, too!
Highly recommended.
-
-
I had mine in bits earlier this year and followed the fender instructions manual. My local Guitar shop thought it spot when I showed ti to them so I was pleased with that confirmation. I think if you want to have a go why not use the fender manual for starters as I did To get it right you need a suitable feeler gauge. I have a micrometer and shaved down a piece of wood to create one .. From memory it was 1.6 mm it worked just fine to gauge the string clearances. To set the intonation you ideally need a tuner so that you can get the length of the strings right between bridge and nut for perfect intonation. Only other tools were an hex key Allen key to adjust the bridge heights and a cross head screw driver to set the intonation length. I am glad I did it and I learned quite a lot from doing it. A feeler gauge was also used to set the tremolo pivot clearance as per the instructions.
-
-
GnlGuy, while we are on this topic, do you have an opinion or fact regarding the issue of the number of springs and the impact on Stratocaster tone or the idea of keeping the back plate off? Lot’s of (mis) information out there….Other than making the tremolo stiffer, not sure it will sound better……Your Take?
Thanks and regards,
RobertoI can add this on the trem’ springs. I bought a Strat set up w/ 9-42’s and so I quickly changed to 10-46’s. I couldn’t keep that guitar in tune for 5 minutes! I took off the back cover and found only 2 springs. Once I installed the 3rd spring, no futher issues.
-
Is it possible to ever get the action on a Strat as low as on (for instance) a Les Paul? Lately I’ve shied away from Strats because it a Gibson just feels more comfortable to play from a string height standpoint- although I miss that classic single coil sound.
There will be a NGD in my future, just trying to decide between a Strat or an LP…
Mark
-
Is it possible to ever get the action on a Strat as low as on (for instance) a Les Paul? Lately I’ve shied away from Strats because it a Gibson just feels more comfortable to play from a string height standpoint- although I miss that classic single coil sound.
There will be a NGD in my future, just trying to decide between a Strat or an LP…
Mark
Mark
Good question and the answer is yes. You may be aware but each string has its own saddle with adjustment screws. Once you get it set where you want it, tune the guitar and with your tuner, check the 3rd string 2nd fret and see if you are an A note. If not, the nut slots aren’t cut deep enough.
If you need to get instructions on how to determine how deep to cut the slots, this page give a great method to follow
Since you stated that a NGD is approaching for you, I suggest that you check this on any guitar that you buy and insist that be corrected if necessary.If you don’t have slot files, I suggest that you take it to a luthier. Some of the cheap tools sold for this process are substandard and will mess the slots up quickly. I speak from experience LOL
-
-
-
i have 1979 fender strat with 3 bolt system the plate and has a kahler tremolo. Changing strings is a pusseling the types of string brands and how the cam works and man when its right its plays well stays in tune The previous owner had this trem system instrolled gave it to me Any advice on changing and other will be helpful thank you and Happy New year to you and family Wassathst
-
Hey Harry,
To build on what GnLguy said, you might want to consider the method by which the kahler trem was installed and whether to proceed, or mull over the thought of selling the guitar and find a more traditional Strat. IMO, the value of your 3-bolt, while vintage, has been altered by installing a non-traditional trem. The kahler cam system requires a bit of routing for the mechanism that doesn’t allow a drop-in replacement with a traditional Stratocaster-style tremolo. In the best case scenario, the original owner started with a hardtail, and had the routing done professionally. Less, ideally, some wood blocks were grafted in to fill the original routing cavities on the face and back of the guitar. It’s possible this was done and the body refinished, again to the detriment of the vintage axe’s value. In any case, it’s going to take an experienced guitar repair expert who understands how to rout for a trem, and possibly start by filling in the kahler routing cavity to get a good base. It’s going to be expensive, and that’s purely up to you.
At this point your choices are:
1. Sell the guitar and use the money toward a guitar that you want, knowing what you’ve learned about non-traditional trems. Lesson learned, go buy a new, or used Strat that hasn’t been somebody else’s experiment. Sounds like what the original owner did, otherwise they’d still have the guitar.
2. Pay the money to fix the guitar. This is going to be expensive to do correctly, and having an inexperienced person do the work can result in less than satisfactory results. Spend the money, or live with the result.
3. Keep the guitar, enjoy it for what it is, and buy another guitar (Strat, Gibson, whatever) that you really want. Play the heck out of it, be inspired to play and grow as a guitarist. It’s really not going to cost more to buy a used Strat, than to fix your guitar.In the end it’s your guitar, your money, your choice. I would strongly recommend a solution that lets you truly enjoy playing and being inspired to grow as a musician, and not be hampered by the issues you mention. The Kahler is not for everybody. There’s a reason you don’t see new ones; they aren’t (Weren’t) for everybody, and people either loved or hated them (Apparently, a lot more people disliked them). Fender-style 6 and 2 point trems, Floy Rose, and even Bigsby’s are still around and have stood the test of time.
The best advantage of a Strat trem is you can run it traditional “floated” (Able to pull 1/2 tone sharp), or “decked” (Flush to the body, like a hardtail). I bounce back-and-forth often with one of my Strats; I like it stock for the signature Strat sound, but sometimes I’ll adjust it down and run all 5 springs cranked down a la SRV. It’s a mood thing for that guitar, and that serves me well.
Your decision.
Peace!
Joel
-
-
i have 1979 fender strat with 3 bolt system the plate and has a kahler tremolo. Changing strings is a pusseling the types of string brands and how the cam works and man when its right its plays well stays in tune The previous owner had this trem system instrolled gave it to me Any advice on changing and other will be helpful thank you and Happy New year to you and family Wassathst
Hi Harry
If you have never changed out a trem unit, suggest that you take it to a reputable luthier and let them do it. You never know what the previous has done in order to install the Kahler system and what may have to be repaired or replaced
There are many after market trem systems to choose from that are based on the original. Graph Tech, Gotoh and the traditional Fender units come to mind
-
There is no voodoo to switching out a trem/bridge/saddle unit, the body will already have the original screw holes for the original trem/bridge, Modern trem/bridge and blocks come in 2 piece instead of the fender 70’s one piece. So you may want to try hunting down an original 70’s one.
Just make sure you buy the trem/bridge/saddles with the correct string spacing pitch. getting the trem to float is a whole different ball game imho..Billy..
-
I have two strats one a 1997 American Standard 3 bolt floater, and the other a 1954 reissue vintage 6 bolt floater, 4 springs on each. The ’97 I decked but blocked it in the back cavity to keep it just a hair off of the deck so it doesn’t slam it, and also for more contact. The ’54 I decked with no block. That is how I have had my strats from day one, nice action, no tuning issues, able to switch string guage without any tweeks, and still able to use the whammy on the down side… Dive bomb baby! I have Gibsons as well and the action is comparable on all of my setups.
-
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
