Just wondering about how people feel about trad Fender trems on strats. Do you prefer them floating, or held flat to the body by tightening-up the spring plate in the trem cavity (or perhaps using a block of wood, wedged into the space between the trem block and back of the trem cavity)??

I don't use the trem much, and I also sometimes rest my hand on the bridge so I prefer it lieing flat, so I can't inadvertantly push it sharp as I play.

That said, my latest strat (YJM) arrived with a very nice set up, apart from the nut which is a little high (they usually are, of course), and a neck that was a smidgin too straight (resolved by a 1/8th-1/4th turn anticlockwise with the truss rod alan key).

this morning I redjusted the whole thing to my ususl taste, trem lieing flat, and truss rod and bridge saddles redjusted to suit.

I think I may have just screwed up a really good set-up! Completely reversable of course! Advice pleae!

Continued..........

The neck curvature is that same as before, and the action height at the 17th is also, yet the 3rd string now rattles and buzzes slightly, it didn't before! I starting to have a bit more respect for the 'tech's' art!

Might need a new set up to your current humidity level.

Hunidity may well often be a cause of changes in action, requiring a new set-up. It's unlikely to be the cause in this case however, since the guitar was fine yesterday UNTILL I did a setup!

it would take some some for humidity changes to take effect as the permeability of the finish (maple neck, this one) to water vapour is pretty much negligible. Humidity may be an issue in the USA (Texas, and the Carolinas for example), and other places. But, variations in temperature are normally more of an issue, but we're looking a changes of 10 degrees or so, to cause changes in neck relief by anything significant. Unless you're a 'shredder' who like a REALLY low action, then you might have to live witha alan key in your pocket.

So thanks for suggesting it, but I don't think that is the cause.

until earlier this week i had my vintage flat to the body (mainly becausei was too lazy to do the fender setup) and i didn't have too many issues besides the action having to be too high to reduce buzz.

I floated mine on monday and i'm not looking back. The action feels better, the tone is still there (i think i lost a little bit of sustain, almost not noticeable, but i feel like the overall sound has improved, especially when using the trem) and i can bend heavier strings easier.

its up to the player, but i feel like fender has been setting these guys up for almost 60 years, typically with a 1/8" float, and they have been doing it for a reason. i dont have tuning issues, and i only very slightly mute the strings with the side of my hand and dont push the bridge sharp.

i dunno, its up to you...thats my $.02

I float mine off the body about the thickness of a nickel. I have never had a problem in the 40+ years I've been doing it.

_________________
You dig?

If it is buzzing just adjust the saddle for that string since you messed with the trussrod the bridges angle might have gone a little lower

I have the trem setup flat on the body. I use 11s strings and added 2 more springs in the cavity tuned to standard. It has been a while ago, but I think I had do change everything in the setup (truss rod/saddles height and intonation, pickups height, etc). I did follow the Fender web site setup spec as a guideline only. My setup is different though.

It is rock solid as far as tunning/setup stability is concerned.

Sounds to me like you just need to raise the 3rd string slightly.

Don't forget to recheck your intonation.

_________________
Chet Feathers

Authorized TonePros Dealer
Authorized WD Music Products Dealer
F/A Official Southpaw Compliance Certification Tester http://faamps.com/

http://www.facebook.com/cafeathers


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

I prefer to run my vintage style 6 hole trems flat to the body, as I don't use the bar on those guitars. On guitars that have either the 2 pt. fulcrum or Floyd/Kahler locking trems, I set it up to float.
I am very critical of tuning issues, and even after meticulous set ups, the vintage style tremelo doesn't stay in tune well enough for me. I prefer to use my locking trem guitars for that sort of stuff. I do have one guitar set up as a floating vintage trem, but that is more for bigsby-style quiver trem sounds than dive bomb full slack whammy usage. I do that on my Floyd/Kahler equipped guitars.

Humidity isnt a problem in the uk. I cant say i've ever had a problem with it in 22 years. Its pretty much the same all year round here. I dont think its your problem. Like Chet said raise the G a bit.
Personaly i love both floating and blocked trems. Both have their uses, no i dont get tuning problems on the floats. I do on flat set trems that arent blocked though.

_________________
No no and no

I don't use my trem much so I have mine setup with 5 springs and floating. I like the feel and it works well for me.

_________________
Chet Feathers

Authorized TonePros Dealer
Authorized WD Music Products Dealer
F/A Official Southpaw Compliance Certification Tester http://faamps.com/

http://www.facebook.com/cafeathers


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