So over the years I have gone back and forth...keeping my bridge as a floater (back and foward use of bar); held agasint body (forward use only); and for a short period of time, fully blocked with no moement.

Much like the affect of gear aquistion syndrome, I was sure the the changes affected my tone. Besides, I was younger then, had no kids and had the time to re-intonate and set action every other month! Having said that, I am now back to seting the bridge against the body with forward action only. To my ears I get richer tone as notes ring out (not counting the sustain impact of my Keeley Compressor) but the guitar does seem to stay in tune longer. A nice plus is when a string breaks (thankfully a rare occurance), I can finish the set or the song without the guitar going wacked out of tune.

What does everyone else do?

I too have changed back and forth over the years.

Now I have 5 springs and floating.

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

For years, I floated it; for years, I kept it flush. Nowadays, I keep it floating but very close to the body, just far enough off the body so the plate doesn't vibrate against it. I'm sure this won't be a permanent decision either.

I agree with all your observations. Additionally, I feel there's a more 'reverbish' tone, for lack of a better word, when the block is floating.

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You dig?

I have my two strats floating.....

[size=12]Hello, right now i've got my bridge non floating and when i use the whammy the bridge comes back and hits the wood around the bridge. Should the bridge be flat against the body or raised alittle? TAKE CARE[/size] JEFF

I strongly advocate floaters.
Unless your using a trem like EVH or JH the pull back on returning to pitch helps the guitar stay in tune, along with other things.

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No no and no

Can't do Gilmour (ala "Echoes") without a floater.

Always floating, for 30 years!

Always floating.
Cant play "where were you" any other way!

I almost never use a trem on my main strat, so it's blocked. My #2 strat floats.

When I want to get crazy, I have another "metal" guitar with a floyd on it.

I just tightened the trem claw. I am used to a Floyd, and I am pretty sure this one would just annoy me going out of tune.

My ESP stays in tune better than any guitar I have ever owned and you can get crazy on it.

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Guitars:
1. mid 70's Ventura MIJ Gibson l6-s clone (Pre-lawsuit) in Black with Rosewood FB and EMG 81 BR/ 85 Neck
2. ESP KH2 Neck Thru
3. 2008 Am Std Strat in 3 tone sunburst

I went with a hardtail

Not me -- 4 springs, no float, and never looked back.

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

I personally keep it flush with the body; all 5 springs and pretty decent tension. I find it holds tune a LOT better that way. I don't use the whammy bar all that much, but I don't need to be able to bend UP. I think what's lost in versatility is MORE than made up for in tuning-stability.

Yeah, the tuning stability and the easy and accuracy to change tunings it worth not using the trem, to me at least. I don't miss it at all, and when I do, I have other guitars that I can unleash the beast with.