I purchased a 62 vinatge re-issue Strat last summer (08). The tremelo bar seems high to me. I seem to remember being able to pick out a melody while hovering over the tremelo bar and with just slight pressure achieve the tremelo effect. This is a distant memory from the early 70's, perhaps a recreational pharmaceutical fantasy. Has anyone out there experimented with bending the bar to get it closer to the strings or is there an after market tremelo bar that would achieve the same end?

I believe I seen shorter arms but I cant remember where.

Well for one thing, I would think it would depend on whether the bridge was set up to "float" or whether it sits flush against the body. With a floating bridge, the arm should fall closer to the strings.

Two things affect that...

1) the angle of the bend on your bar
2) the angle of the of the bridge tilt (already mentioned)

Also, when you used to do pick notes holding it, was that with this particular guitar? Another strat? Something with a different trem system (floyd, kahler, or the glorious washburn wonderbar)

The guitar was NOT the current one but a mid 60's strat. I do not recall which trem system was used. Like I indicated my memory is fuzzy. My current bar is pointing slightly above parellel to the strings at least 3" above the strings.

Well it was probably a completely different system then, so they're all going to be different.

But if you check those points, you might be able to lower it somewhat.

But you don't want it too low, or there won't be much room, if any, to actual push the bar down much, which defeats the purpose of having it in the first place.

Thanks for yours and everyones responces.

quote="dgonz"]Well it was probably a completely different system then, so they're all going to be different.

But if you check those points, you might be able to lower it somewhat.

But you don't want it too low, or there won't be much room, if any, to actual push the bar down much, which defeats the purpose of having it in the first place.[/quote]

atolleter: That shorter tremolo arm can be found on the David Gilmour Signature Strat-- yours for only $3999.99 at Musician's Friend (or you can have it mutilated for another $800 )!

To stay on-topic: I'd try bending the thing in a vise, but be careful of the threads.

Take your standard size bar to a local machinist. Draw or tell him how you'd like it. It shouldn't cost much at all and if you know a machinist, that's even better.

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Just get a vice put the trem arm in it and bend it down.

I always adjust angle. It's never the same for two people.

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No no and no