guitar modification

[jamal buchet]

i have a old fender strat that was modified when i bought it fender gold lace pick-ups and the middle one is completely gone..anyway i dont use the tremelo AT ALL so is there a way to secure it to stay in tune a little better...i really dont wanrt to screw it up worse..so if this is something really technical then nevermind any way if you all have any suggestions??

 

[M.Brane]

Just make sure it's nice and flat against the body and has enough tension on the springs to keep it there. When I had a Strat with the bar I also stuck some foam behind the springs to keep 'em from ringing.

 

[64Firebird]

You could block it. That means you just put a wood block between the trim and the body of the guitar inside the back where the springs are. Just be sure you've got a good tight fit.

 

[Track Rat]

I blocked mine. Now it behaves.

 

[bongolation]

Yeah, I absolutely detest those so-called "tremolos," which are in fact vibratos (only Bigsby got their terminology correct).

My solution? Tomorrow I'm buying a hardtail MIA Stratocaster.

 

[Dom Franco]

How many Springs do you have?

Most new Strats are set up with only 3 springs on the Vibrato mechanism. All Strat type guitars have places for up to 5 springs.

Open up the back plate and check how many springs you have. Most music stores will have abunch of these extra springs laying around in the back room.

3 springs = easy divebomber detuning,

4 springs = average vibrato action guitar stays in tune better.

5 springs = very hard to push down and lower pitch but good for occasional vibrato effects, and guitar will stay in tune very well.

If you never use the vibrato, just block like has been suggested.

Dom Franco

 

[jamal buchet]

ok so i guess the concensus is,,,,block it!...easy enough..just stick it in there and screw the plate back on?..i dont need to secure it to the actual guitar itself?...would aluminum work better than wood i work in a metal fab shop and could have something precision built to an exact fit..???

 

[Track Rat]

I made a wooden wedge and kept shaving it till it was as close to a perfect fit as I could make it and then set it in place. Then I took two wire brads and used them to pin the block in place so it couldn't back out. That way no big holes in the guitar and if for some reason I wanted to take it out, you'd never know it was there.

 

[jimistone]

i have 5 springs on mine and it never goes out of tune...i rarely use the tremelo myself.

just put 5 springs on it...you don't need to block it

 

[Clive Hugh]

I would not advise you to go with alluminum for the vibrato as it is pretty unforgiving compared to wood.
Also remember that the back of the strat is routed out and being wood it is not a precision thing so machining a piece of allie is a waste of effort.
You are better to make a wedge out of a fairly dense wood and a light taper as in a fox wedge. Give it a light tap in, don't wallop the shit out of it or you will split the body. Also the wood will transmit the sound better than the vibrato so you'll gain in sustain.

 

[jamal buchet]

[
You are better to make a wedge out of a fairly dense wood and a light taper as in a fox wedge. Give it a light tap in, don't wallop the shit out of it or you will split the body. Also the wood will transmit the sound better than the vibrato so you'll gain in sustain. [/B][/QUOTE]

ok not to keep sounding like a moron..(ahem)...adense wood like?......oak ..or.....mohagany?..sorta??