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Post subject: Left handed trem systems
Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2018 5:55 pm
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I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts and opinions about having a left handed trem system on a right handed Strat. So Stevie had this on Number One, and I have always wondered why the concept never took off into mass production. I am guessing that the majority of people that would have experience with this config, are people that have SRV replica guitars. How does it feel? Does it seem more functional than the normal configuration? For those that do find it more functional, is this an option that more production Strats should have?
I am tempted to purchase a cheap replica, just to play with that left handed config. Any and all info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!


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Post subject: Re: Left handed trem systems
Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2018 6:51 pm
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The idea behind the reversed trem, (as well as the headstock and pickup flips), is to more closely emulate the characteristics that shaped Jimmy Hendrix's tone.
Flipping a Strat upside down (left or right handed) makes four changes:
1 - It completely screws up the control ergonomics
2 - It alters the "bending" characteristics of the strings by putting more of the bass strings above the nut, and less of the treble strings. This change in length makes it easier to bend the bass strings, conversely, though harder to bend, it causes bending of the treble strings to have greater impact because the percentage of tension change is increased for a given effort.
3 - It moves the "heavy" end of the tremolo block to the bass side
4 - The angle change in the pickup puts the pole pieces at different harmonic nodes on the strings.

Of the 4, IMHO, only #4 has a tonal impact significant enough to actually hear, but #3 was the only mod that SRV had.
I think Stevie just "did it" and had it not become a bit of a trademark, would not (or actually may not) have done it again. It was a Partscaster, and early in his career he was not wealthy... a lef-handed bridge may have been what was available to him.
His Strats on the cover art of "Live Alive", "Carnegie Hall", and "In Session" all have conventional trem setups.
Other than his number-1, it does not appear to be at all normal.

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Post subject: Re: Left handed trem systems
Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2018 7:01 pm
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THESE are the kinds of answers that I am looking for. Thank you, sir! Yes, Stevie didn't have this config on his other Strats, and the Charley Wirz Strat with the lipstick pickups was a hard tail. Aesthetically, it does look a bit cool, but maybe because it's different, but here is a case where function is affected. I would still like to know if anyone digs having the trem configured like that.


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Post subject: Re: Left handed trem systems
Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2018 7:07 pm
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Steven168 wrote:
I would still like to know if anyone digs having the trem configured like that.

The idea always bugged me because it would require a change in technique for palm muting.

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Post subject: Re: Left handed trem systems
Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2018 8:29 am
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The reason why the guitar had a left handed tremolo bridge is covered in this article https://www.guitarplayer.com/gear/see-s ... 2003-video

It needed replacement because handled the guitar with kid gloves

:shock:

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