Hey folks, I'm wondering what the process is to block off the tremolo unit on a strat, or which strats come with a hardtail bridge. Do most come with that option? I'm just not a trem guy.

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It's okay, because the ball is on a string and attatched to the cup.

Most players that don't want to use the wammy &/or prefer a hardtail/fixed bridge...
Simply lock or fix the tremolo into a set position.
There is a numbr of ways to do it.

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explorationx

See if you can get a dealer to pull the back plate off a Clapton guitar and take a look at the way the trem block is stopped against the back of the cavity. That's probably the simplest.

I did that on my '97 American Standard, and my MIM Buddy Guy Polka Dot to name two.

As far as hardtails, there used to be an American Standard Hardtail, the Robert Cray guitar is, as well as the new Corgan. Beyond that, unlike us, most players are divebombers.

Doc

I can't find any photos of the back of the Eric Clapton strat...
But I did find this link showing the "block of wood technique"
http://www.trueguitar.com/tremblocking.htm

Here is another idea...
This is a Hipshot Tremsetter:

This device doesn't disable the wammy, but it does return it to zero.
"With the Tremsetter you can bend strings, play bridge harmonics, aggressive
rhythm parts or mute strings, and the bridge remains stable."
I think even if u break a string u won't go out of tune.

zzdoc is correct to mention the clapton model & the strats below:
[url=http://www.fender.com/products//search.php?partno=0115002805]
The Billy Corgan strat has all humbuckers:[/url]


[url=http://www.fender.com/products//search.php?partno=0139100324]The Robert Cray Strat has single coils
[/url]

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explorationx

The shim on the Clapton is not forward of the trem block...it sit behind. Nor is it fixed to the body. The Clapton is supplied with a trem handle which gives the owner the option of converting the tremolo to operational

In fact, that I bought my '93 used, that is how it came, and I had to have it shimmed. I would not encourage any owner to make this "stopped block" irreversible.

When the CS delivered my new guitar, they failed to shim the block. The tech at GC took a Clapton off the wall and fabricated a shim to the exact shape and size of the one the factory provides.

Doc

I just tightened the springs on mine until the bottom of the trem. sits flush against the body. You can still use the trem. if you want, but it always returns to the flush position. Stays in tune very well, and is even better if you dont use the trem.

here is a couple of ways to "block" the trem

using a battery:


some form of rubber or whatever:


and the five spring tight claw method:


heres a picture of mine


i can still use the trem with some force, but if i take the arm of the guitar is a hard-tail strat!!

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It's a mix between Jazz and Funk, it's called "Junk"

my only experience of this is with string changes on floyds and keeping the bridge in possition for intonation adjustment. I use playing cards inserted either side of the trem block. just keep putting em in till theres no gap between the block and the body. Easy to cut to size, easy to install/remove, if you mess it up you wont hurt the guitar and its as cheap as chips.

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No no and no

You are also showing examples of the different styles of trem blocks Fender has employed in its various designs. Each would require a different approach. The Clapton, of course, has a vintage block.

Doc

On a 1979 hardtail. It's a lot simpler to buy 1 than stop 1 from working.

With that in mind, I notice that the "Hardtail" option appears to have passed into history from the products section.

I expect that you might have the CS build one, but apparently Fender has decided to no longer offer it.

Doc

The Tremol-No will let you "lock up" the trem:

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Hardtail strats come and go as Fender production models. Doesn't Fender still make the Robert Cray model strat? The Cray model is a hardtail. I have two 2004 American Standard hardtails that I love. Since I don't use a tremelo, I didn't want to own an instrument that had an irrelevant (to me) feature.

Your comments on the Cray model are correct, however, the guitar with respect to specs might not suit the prospective buyer. Your guitars were an available catalog item in 2004. Perhaps the company will see fit to provide the same option for the new '08.

Doc

Clapton has said that while he doesn't use the trem, he preferred the blocked trem guitar to a hardtail because of the tone.