Im new to fender. I have a few Ibanez with floating trems. Whats the difference in these two types of bridges? Thanks

I prefer the 6 point and so do most professionals. If you want to go that route expect to pay either a lot less than American Standard (most Mexican Strats are 6 point) or a lot more (high end Americans and Custom Shop are mostly all 6 point).

I think that they sound better but many people on here will contest that.

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

Ok, how does the tuning stability on the 6 point. I heard it was not as good as the two point.

The two point is the newer design of the two, although Vntage RI's often come with the 6 screw to preserve the vintage appearance. As far as which is better, the camps are split. I have both and find no significant difference in tone. Some insist that one has better sustain over the other. My personal observation is that it depends on what the trem block is made of and it's mass/density. The two point is definitely easier to work with when have to remove the block.

Nope i prefer 6point trems too and also think they make a improvement to tone. I own guitars with both types the 2point is easier to operate. The springs have a lot less tension in them. The downfall of it is that 2 point trems are fare more prone to post/knife edge wear than 6 point trems. All the pressure from the strings is focused on only 2 posts rather than 6. That said the 2 point's are far easier to setup and i find (consequently) return to pitch better when new.

_________________
No no and no

There is no doubt a difference in tone between the two, if you play them side by side, everything else being the same (pickups, body wood, strings) you will hear it. I personally prefer the 6 point. I owned a 2 point first. One thing that should be taken into consideration is how you play. If you want to be able to pull up and have the pitch raise any higher than about a semi-tone, than you're going to want to go with a 2 point. Although you can setup a 6 point to raise higher, at that point you're going to be subject to tuning stability issues.

Well I have other guitars with floyd roses on them so I guess the 2 point should fit my style pretty well. Thanks guys.

My 6 point stays in tune much better than my 2 point did, but im not sure if that's the reason why. I use my trem pretty regularly to compensate for not being able to bend as deep on my fretboard, and after an hour of playing, the tuning shift is negligible.

Thanks for that help guys.

Now theres a broad sweeping statement!!

If you actually check out the artists page, and check out some of the lesser known artists, then you will see there are many users of the 2 point.

Also, this begs the question, what is considered a professional? Is it someone famous internationally, or someone who is awesome, makes a living from playing but might be only known in local circles.

I would say professional means you do this for a living and not simply that your famous. anyone can be famous for a myriad of reasons, but professionals are people who are skilled in 1 or more areas and make a living from this.

Using this definition, there are even more truly awesome guitarists, in my area at least that all use 2 point bridges.

Just had to point that out as your statement of most pros preferring 6 point is akin to saying most footballers drink powerade to give them that extra bit of energy!!!! in the end the powerade, or the the 2 point/6point bridge have nothing to do with the person being a professional.

Im not a professional (footballer or guitarist), but i have used both bridges and preferr the 2 point as, for me at least:
1. it is usually far superior in aiding a guitar to hold a tuning.
2. its much easier to adjust during a setup of a guitar.

At the end of the day, Leo Fender was moving onto 2 point bridges for the above reasons. Most folks use a 6 point as they are most familiar with them, or the artists they loved used 6 point bridges. the 2 point is a development in the technology of guitar, for reasons of making the guitar better, and nostalgia should never get in the way of making something better ( except in the case of starwars and indiana jones!!!)

+1
Interestingly, Dan Erlewine mentions in his latest Guitar Player Repair Guide that on a few of his Strats, the late great Stevie Ray Vaughan used only the two outer screws on his six screw trem. Whether this was for tonal response or for some other reason, he does not say. As I stated earlier I have both the 2 point and the 6 screw and cannot hear any significant difference. This of course is nothing more the my personal opinion. YMMV.

The 6 point is far more durable than the 2 point though. My experiences of 2 point trems is that they are prone to the knife edge malaise that floyds suffer. Once those knife edges become worn theres not much you do. You can try filing them back sharp again but theres only so much of that you can do before your intonation will bottom out. The posts wear too luckily their an easy change. Later i may put the black springs from the 2point trem that Mr Allthumbs sold me just to check if it improves ease of use. If it does then the 6point will be the clear winner round my end.

_________________
No no and no

Really? I have played 20 year old guitars with floyds on them that hand no problems with the knife edges. A good quality floyd rose wont have dull knife edges for a looooong time. How long are we talkin here?

Well that is unusual i get about 6 months before i need to start addressing knife edge issues, thats the main reason why i switched to kahler. EVH is reported to have only got 2 weeks before the thing was useless. That could well be down to the fact that he could afford to replace them that often. So as soon as pitch return problems started he ditched em for a new one.
All how you use them i suppose.

_________________
No no and no

OMG thats terrible. I may just put a better quality tremolo in there then.