When I use locking tremolos and tuners I hardly care about string/spring tension, stringing methods, the type of strings I use etc.

However since I started to experiment on a Strat I find that managing a Strat is a delicate matter. Surprisingly I would choose to leave the vintage trem alone because learning to setup the Strat for best use has been an adventure.

Wow! the Strat is indeed a wonderful guitar. I wonder y people are bothered bout single coil pickups being weaker I mean that can be improved by amp & pedal settings or if you must fixed humbuckers on them all 3 positions if u please. Personally after experiencing SSS I don't prefer humbuckers. So what if they are loud? They are not as sweet, well to each its own.

About Strats can't do metal, I think thats a kintergarden remark, sure single coil and humbuckers would sound different but you don't expect Yngwie Malmsteen to sound like Metallica but both in their own way are very intense. I don't prefer humbuckers but I don't diss the Les Paul coz it has its strength, in my personal opinion Les Paul would do better Metal music compared to the modern metal guitars so to speak. The Les Paul lead tone is amazing but not quite as versatile and sweet as the Strat esp. on a raw clean setting the Strat shines out anytime.

I mean try playing acoustic or semi acoustic style on a Les Paul or Metal Guitars they don't sound appropriate, do that on a Strat it all seem natural. Do simple rhythm on the Strat and u see the Strat pop sound starts kicking. Now turn on the gain on your distortion or overdrive they maybe no humbucker's heavy load but they blend in fine with Metal Music.

So which do you prefer loud and intense or sweet and slick? to each its own. Anyway in my case as a moderate hobbyist I play very simple stuff but with the help of the Strat Guitar I sound much better.

As a working stiff in a cover band, I've got to be prepared to play anything from "Hang On Sloopy" to "Sweet Child O' Mine". My Strats (with my particular stompboxes and vintage amp arrays) do both -- and everything in between -- equally well.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

I don't normally play electric, but when I do, I prefer Fender Stratocaster. Or Telecaster if I need something a bit more potent

_________________
I traded my car in for a microphone.

I have to say that I much prefer the single coil sound of the Strat,Tele etc. but the Les Paul,S.G. etc. also have there place in my favoured guitar sound as well as P-90s.As for vibratos I'd never buy a guitar with a locking vibrato,it would be useless for me as I do an awful lot of above the nut bends-something that a locling vibe won't permit.

_________________
'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

In this opinion, the (original layout) Fender Stratocaster, Fender Telecaster, Gibson ES-335 and Mosrite Mk I are arguably the most intuitive of solid /semisolid body electric guitars...

...and "meld" with the player to an amazing degree.

Hi i agree about the fender stratocaster. play gibsons and others but allways go back to strats they just seem to get more out of them .Cheers

I love my Strat. It does everything I want it to and more. Except metal. Mostly because I hate metal though...