It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 2:28 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Tremelo??
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:16 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2008 7:06 am
Posts: 4
Was thinking about getting my 13 year old son his first guitar for Xmas and was looking at this package from GC.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Squier-by-F ... 1177837.gc


I heard that the whammy bar would make it difficult to keep this thing in tune but that it could be removed and this would eliminate the problem.

I dont know anything about guitars and I'm not sure if this is true or if this is a good guitar to start with.

any advice would be helpful.

Thanks,


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:50 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jun 30, 2008 2:52 am
Posts: 3840
Location: Colorado Springs
I think you are definitely on the right track. Squier actually makes some darn nice stuff at their price point. I ahave been a very heavy player for 30 years who has owned numerous high-end Gibsons, Fenders, and others ... and I am right about to buy for myself a Thinline Telecaster from Squier's vintage modified series. My point is that Squier makes some real stuff.

That all being said, I strongly urge you to go up the rung one step up. Get the "Affinity" series package. For $50 more you upgrade ALOT and get a Squier Affinity (sells by itself for $180 or so) and real Fender amp. If your little guitar player really takes off, he will outgrow the rig you propose fast. The Affinity package has some much more real equipment that will be hanging around much longer.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Squier-by-Fender-Stop-Dreaming--Start-Playing-Affinity-Special-Strat-Pack-With-Fender-Frontman-15G-Amp-104487442-i1175988.gc

_________________
Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:55 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2007 8:19 am
Posts: 859
I have a Strat with a whammy bar on it and for the longest time I would not put it on. Not neceassarily due to any concerns with staying in tune, but more because I did not use it. i now leave it on my guitar and since I do not use it often it rarely affects my guitar's tuning.

_________________
I tried to think of something clever to put here but- OH! Something shiny!!!


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:29 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2008 8:47 am
Posts: 2967
Location: Westchester County, NY
Simply removing the tremolo arm will not help staying in tune as much as blocking the bridge would by either adding springs or screwing in the trem claw screws further in the body. Removing the arm from a factory guitar still leaves the bridge floating, therefore each string tension affecting all of the others.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 11:52 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 6:11 pm
Posts: 2621
Location: Sunny So Cal
This is a pretty nice starter pack. The equipment is good and will keep your son motivated to play.

The tremelo can throw your tuning off if it's used very aggressively, but he will soon learn how to retune and/or not divebomb the trem so much.

If you want to remove the trem arm it simply screws out (and then screws back in)

_________________
"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 12:54 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2008 7:06 am
Posts: 4
mthorn00 wrote:
This is a pretty nice starter pack. The equipment is good and will keep your son motivated to play.

The tremelo can throw your tuning off if it's used very aggressively, but he will soon learn how to retune and/or not divebomb the trem so much.

If you want to remove the trem arm it simply screws out (and then screws back in)



I dont know anything about guitars, by removing whammy bar does this stop the tremelo from "floating".


I'm lost.
I'm a drummer, now I know why guitarist think we are idiots!!!


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 1:09 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 6:11 pm
Posts: 2621
Location: Sunny So Cal
tamarock wrote:
mthorn00 wrote:
This is a pretty nice starter pack. The equipment is good and will keep your son motivated to play.

The tremelo can throw your tuning off if it's used very aggressively, but he will soon learn how to retune and/or not divebomb the trem so much.

If you want to remove the trem arm it simply screws out (and then screws back in)



I dont know anything about guitars, by removing whammy bar does this stop the tremelo from "floating".


I'm lost. I'm a drummer, now I know why guitarist think we are idiots!!!


Nope, removing the arm stops you from being able to use the tremelo (because there is nothing to push on).
To stop the trem from "floating" (that's where the back of it doesn't touch the guitar body) you take off the rectangular plastic cover on the back of the guitar and tighten the screws on the "claw" that the trem springs attach to. Just screw them in evenly until the back of the tremelo come down and touches the guitar body. Don't worry, lots of players do this.

_________________
"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 1:14 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2008 7:06 am
Posts: 4
Thanks for the tips, I'm sure you will see me here Xmas day!!!


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 1:16 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jun 30, 2008 2:52 am
Posts: 3840
Location: Colorado Springs
jeffo46 wrote:
Tighten up the bridge screws in the back of the guitar. That'll stop any tuning issues with a floating trem. Works for me.

+1 -- A Stratocaster is designed to have a floating tremelo such that the bridge does not sit flush against the body. The problem commonly noted with having a "float" is that when the trem is used it often will not go back to the exact place it was before, resulting in an out-of-tune condition. What a lot of players do to remedy this (myself and jeffo46 included) is to remove the float such that the bridge does sit flush against the body. This can be done by either of two methods (neither is better than the other):
a) adding an additional spring in the back (what I did) or
b) tighten the two "claw" screws in the back (what jeffo46 did)

HOWEVER -- by doing so, you change the overall string length, and may cause an intonation problem. Therefore, I recommend you don't do anything yourself. Take it to a local music store that has a "guitar tech", and tell him this:
"I have a new Squier Strat. I want to add an additional spring to remove the bridge float. Also, even though the guitar came all set up, can you please check the intonation and the action?"

That will cost you $25 (if you bought it there, it will likey be free). Now the guitar is really ready to go. The guitar comes set up from the factory, but - often - these factory setups are at least a tweak away from being wholly right. An improperly intonated guitar will always sound out of tune on various portions of the neck, and can be very frustrating to a new guitar player (as well as having the "action" - aka, string height - either too high or low). Trust me on this... Honestly, you should do this regardless of whetever guitar you buy, trem or not.

_________________
Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 3:13 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 1:53 pm
Posts: 1037
Location: Southeast Missouri.
01GT eibach wrote:
I think you are definitely on the right track. Squier actually makes some darn nice stuff at their price point. I ahave been a very heavy player for 30 years who has owned numerous high-end Gibsons, Fenders, and others ... and I am right about to buy for myself a Thinline Telecaster from Squier's vintage modified series. My point is that Squier makes some real stuff.

That all being said, I strongly urge you to go up the rung one step up. Get the "Affinity" series package. For $50 more you upgrade ALOT and get a Squier Affinity (sells by itself for $180 or so) and real Fender amp. If your little guitar player really takes off, he will outgrow the rig you propose fast. The Affinity package has some much more real equipment that will be hanging around much longer.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Squier-by-Fender-Stop-Dreaming--Start-Playing-Affinity-Special-Strat-Pack-With-Fender-Frontman-15G-Amp-104487442-i1175988.gc


+1

There's a Squier affinity Strat in my guitar class (that nobody is allowed to use). I compared it with my MiM Strat and the neck is slightly slimmer and yet still C-shaped. It plays well, and they're good guitars. :D


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:01 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:53 am
Posts: 5189
Location: Magnolia, Texas (just north of Houston)
I agree with 01GT eibach. This has a better Squire guitar and it has a better amp with this package. And yes you could take the guitar to a guitar technician to add a spring or tighten the claw screws in the back of the guitar. The intonation will need to be adjusted. If you are not familiar doing this, the use of the technician will sae you and your son some headaches. Merry Christmas to all.

_________________
RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: