I love it. +1

_________________
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

I don't really know if this is true, but maybe it's to stop the springs from vibrating while playing, by letting the springs rest on your clothes. I read somewhere that spring vibration messes up the sustain and sonic ability of the body.

I still keep it on however because there's a risk of breaking off the ground wire, and it looks better =)

_________________
No matter how much you pay for an instrument, in the wrong hands it will always sound "cheap."

Gear:
2007 MIM Stratocaster (Lace Sensor Golds)
Peavey Valveking 112
Behringer TU300, CS100, NR100
Dunlop Crybaby Classic
Marshall BB-2
Ibanez TS-9

I believe the primary reason is for quick string changes and replacing broken strings on the fly. Remember, this practice goes back to when the back plates had 6 relatively small holes for the strings. Plus, those holes only lined up with the sustain block when the trem was set to float. When I had my old AV '62 Strat I decked the trem (set to bend down only); once the trem was decked the holes didn't line up very well any more.

I don't see the need to remove the plate on a "modern" Strat where the plate has one large slot under the trem block.

thanks for clarifying!!! I probably took mine off the first time I changed strings and have been too lazy to put it back on, don;t even know if I still have it.

That's one of my favorite features of the Mayer Strat- they never drilled them in the first place. Very cool look.

_________________
Custom Shop '59 Strat with John Cruz Master Design Pickups
Vibro King
Fulltone Clyde>Deja-Vibe>TS-808>TS-9>Boss Tuner

I just tried it right now with my Am Std Strat. The only sound difference I heard was a bit more treble. I tried it with some distortion (Boss DS-2) and the neck pickup has more bite to it. I also tried the distortion with a wah in the neck pickup and the wah is more noticeable. So I guess I'm gonna leave mine off

I've gotten used to it off. I just tried it with the backplate on and it felt funny.

_________________
Website: http://www.rebeccalaird.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccalairdmusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beckslaird
Instagram: http://instagram.com/beckslaird

Because Jimi Hendrix didnt keep the back plate on, Nuff said.

_________________
1969 Tele Thinline "Natural Finish"
1994 Strat "Arctic White Squier Series"
1995 Strat "Red Squier Series"
1998 Strat "Midnight Wine Fat Strat"
2002 Strat "Sunburst"
2006 Strat "Electron Blue"
2000 Jazz Bass "Purple"

I dont have em on my strats just for ease of access. I heard the tone altering theory some while back and investigated it. I dont hear it changing the guitars tone. If it did we'd all be playing pickguard'less strats too by now.

_________________
No no and no