ampage Tube Amps / Music Electronics	For current discussions, please visit Music Electronics Forum.

ampage archive

Vintage threads from the first ten years

previous: JohnC Yes, thanks to Don I discovered the... -- 8/5/1999 3:32 AM

Re: Japanese Strat question

8/5/1999 4:58 AM
Steve A.	Re: Japanese Strat question John: Is it that guitars with this kind of vibrato have less sustain that fixed bridge models? I think that one of the basic laws of physics is involved here ("for every action there is an equal and opposite counter reaction..."). Having the vibrato block "floating" between the springs and the tension from the strings will swallow up some of the sound and sustain. In other words not all of the sound energy from the strings is getting transferred to the body. Just tightening down the springs on the back so that the vibrato block rests tightly against the body will help some, and you can still use the tremelo bar to bend down. (That works with the vintage-style strat tremelo bridges, not the newer ones that pivot on 2 screws since the bridge may end up at a weird angle...) If you don't need to use the tremelo bar at all you can block the vibrato block with a hard wood trimmed to hold the block at the desired angle. (I haven't done this myself so I'm not sure if you just wedge the wood piece(s) in place or use glue...) Steve Ahola P.S. Hipshot makes a vibrato stabilizer that mounts next to the springs. It uses springs and countersprings to help hold the block in place so that your low strings don't get way out of tune when you bend the high strings. I've added them to all of my strats and they allow you to use the bar while helping to keep the guitar in tune. (I think that Fender is marketing them these days, too.) One drawback: as you rock the bar from below pitch to above pitch, I get a little knocking sound (but maybe I've just never gotten them adjusted right!) And if you are trying to do a Joe Satriani-style "flutter" by flicking the end of the tremelo bar- forget it: the stabilizer swallows all of that as it tries to keep the block in place...

8/5/1999 4:58 AM

Steve A.

Re: Japanese Strat question

John:

Is it that guitars with this kind of vibrato have less sustain that fixed bridge models?

    I think that one of the basic laws of physics is involved here ("for every action there is an equal and opposite counter reaction..."). Having the vibrato block "floating" between the springs and the tension from the strings will swallow up some of the sound and sustain. In other words not all of the sound energy from the strings is getting transferred to the body.

    Just tightening down the springs on the back so that the vibrato block rests tightly against the body will help some, and you can still use the tremelo bar to bend down. (That works with the vintage-style strat tremelo bridges, not the newer ones that pivot on 2 screws since the bridge may end up at a weird angle...)

    If you don't need to use the tremelo bar at all you can block the vibrato block with a hard wood trimmed to hold the block at the desired angle. (I haven't done this myself so I'm not sure if you just wedge the wood piece(s) in place or use glue...)

Steve Ahola

P.S. Hipshot makes a vibrato stabilizer that mounts next to the springs. It uses springs and countersprings to help hold the block in place so that your low strings don't get way out of tune when you bend the high strings. I've added them to all of my strats and they allow you to use the bar while helping to keep the guitar in tune. (I think that Fender is marketing them these days, too.) One drawback: as you rock the bar from below pitch to above pitch, I get a little knocking sound (but maybe I've just never gotten them adjusted right!) And if you are trying to do a Joe Satriani-style "flutter" by flicking the end of the tremelo bar- forget it: the stabilizer swallows all of that as it tries to keep the block in place...

Replies:

Liam I don't think the tiny knocking sou... -- 8/5/1999 10:07 AM