There has been lots of conversations about back plates on Strats. Whether to take them off or just leave them on.

I'm watching Carlos Santana on "Santana: Multi-Dimensional Warrior" and noticed that he does not have the back plates on his PRSi with trems.

_________________
Chet Feathers

Authorized TonePros Dealer
Authorized WD Music Products Dealer
F/A Official Southpaw Compliance Certification Tester http://faamps.com/

http://www.facebook.com/cafeathers


I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

John Mayer does it, so it must be cool...

i actually leave it off as well, but because it gets on my nerves when im changing strings, because the ball ends like to get stuck inside

I've always kept mine on. No particuliar reason except that it just seems right to me.

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

i don't even have mines anymore , hendrix threw his to the wind as well a total pain when sting changing or trying to get a broken string end out

_________________

i have read that some people remove for better tone and such. Not sure if that is actually true.

I have also heard of stripping as much finish as possible in the rear cavity for the same reason. Although I can't imagine doing that, I do leave the rear cover off, I like the look. Although the look would be way better without all the holes !

I left mine on. Grab the string ends with a pair of needle nose pliers. So far... no problems.

Took mine off when changing strings. Just too lazy to put it back on.

_________________
The time has gone, the song is over, thought I'd something more to say.

i have always kept mine on.
never had any of these "problems" people claim to have by keeping them on.

I have all mine on, but most have only 3 or 4 screws holding them on, in case I need to take it off.

I leave mine on. Most of the time the strings come right out the back, every once in a while I may need to use my Needle Nose Pliers to grab one on my CV 60 Stratocaster. The back plate on my Highway 1 has one big rectangle, never an issue getting the strings out.

Tone difference...if there is, I cannot tell. I hardly think it would.

_________________
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

To be honest I hate the look of them being off and have never played with one being off.

Had a bit of a chat with a member who was having issues with the placement of the battery rout on his Clapton Strat which he's had for over 20 years. Seems he'd been ticked at Fender for not using a battery box (which, by the way, they've placed in the Powerhouse guitar).

It had occurred to me that the backplate could be removed completely as noted in this discussion. It is not exactly easy to get that nine-volt out of the trem rout and I have not doubt that it would not be jarred in routine use.

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"

It depends on how lazy I am after changing strings. The back plate on my '65 Strat dried out and cracked at two of the screw holes years ago and I have never replaced it. Go figure that that would happen after 40 plus years in the dry desert air.

The back plates are always off my VG and Clapton Strats, too. The others are optional.

John

I took mine off. I play unplugged much, I don't want to wake up everybody and I'm a bit lazy to plug and unplug it in and from my amp all the time. What can I tell you, I play much. A couple of times a day, for a couple of hours. Whenever I have the time really. So, i don't need that back plate to blur and mute the sound of my guitar. And it does look meaner without it.

_________________
"If you're on a path that's beaten, it's not your path." Joseph Campbell

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

"All that is impossible remains to be achieved."
Jules Verne

www.stratcollector.com

Mine's on, never had a need to take it off, if string stuck I use a needle to push Ball / Bullet out, can't see why it would make it any easier to change strings with it off, or am I missing something here, do some of these plates fully enclose therefore necessitating their removal to change strings bit of a design flaw if so

OK it used to be little round holes? until changed to oblong in 55?