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Post subject: String trees
Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 3:27 pm
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What's the function and impact of string trees? I notice that some Fender Custom Shop Strat models, like the Custom Pro, have none. The American Deluxe Strat has none. Other Fender models, like the Custom Shop Clapton and Beck, have one. Then still other Fender models, like the Custom Shop Dick Dale, have two. My own Highway One has two, while the Fender photo of a Highway One shows one. What do they do and are there any negatives to having two?

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Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 3:39 pm
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Great question......I've often wondered that myself.

And, the American Deluxe Strat has a sting tree. At least mine does.


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Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 3:40 pm
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The function of string trees is to exert downward pressure on strings and prevent them from popping out of the nut during the more aggressive moments. If it's too low then it can cause the strings to kink on the tree and on the nut.

There's no problem with having two - it's just commonly not needed on the thicker strings as they typically have more grip.

Any help?

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Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 3:43 pm
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EdMardell wrote:
The function of string trees is to exert downward pressure on strings and prevent them from popping out of the nut during the more aggressive moments. If it's too low then it can cause the strings to kink on the tree and on the nut.

There's no problem with having two - it's just commonly not needed on the thicker strings as they typically have more grip.

Any help?


That did help. But....why do some models not have a string tree?


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Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 3:45 pm
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Syeklops wrote:
EdMardell wrote:
The function of string trees is to exert downward pressure on strings and prevent them from popping out of the nut during the more aggressive moments. If it's too low then it can cause the strings to kink on the tree and on the nut.

There's no problem with having two - it's just commonly not needed on the thicker strings as they typically have more grip.

Any help?


That did help. But....why do some models not have a string tree?


My guess is because they're not designed to be played hard, or that wasn't thought of yet on the classics and the reissues stay true to the original.

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Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 3:46 pm
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And obviously on Les Pauls etc, the headstock is angled so that problem is eliminated anyway.

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Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 3:48 pm
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The strings act more to allow the strings to go over the nut and have a path to the tuner peg with a small angle - too large an angle can cause the string to have to much force on it, which can weaken it, and then break.

Some guitars don't need string trees, since the path to from the nut can be a straight line.

Gil 8)

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Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 3:50 pm
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Thanks for the information!

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Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 3:58 pm
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Some don't need string trees because they use staggered height tuners. The lower tuners pull the string down further then normal tuners allowing greater pressure at the nut..hence no string tree needed. The EJ has a headstock that is thinner then a normal strat, you can't even hold a cig between the strings and the head because the gap is too big. This pulls the strings down further and no string trees. It's all about creating downward pressure at the nut.

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Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 8:32 am
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What's the best staggered, locking tuner if I want to upgrade? Schaler/Fender's aren't staggered is that correct? Sperzel or some other brand is and will eliminate the need for string trees?

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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 4:56 pm
I like to take one of if theres 2 cos u can do the srv riverera paradise thing beheind the nut on the G string (its my fav noise on the guitar)


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