hi folks

since there is obviously quite a knowledge pool here , let me ask this:
in the interest of being able to use the trem to bend somewhat radically sharp, as in some of the jeff beck things, must you recess the trem or let an inordinate amount of tension off the springs to keep the trem from hitting the body, I apologize if this is a stoopid question, and, once again, thanx for the help

jack

Not sure what you mean by "recessing the trem." The lowest you can adjust the tremolo plate is flush with the body. Since you want to pull sharp, you'll want your tremolo plate to float. Fender recommends floating the plate about 1/8" off the body at the rear of the plate. That should provide plenty of room to pull sharp.

This is all explained in detail by the Fender people in their setup guides that are available at this website.

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James Burton Upgrade Telecaster
Hot Rodded Am Fat Strat Texas Special (now featuring Kinman Traditional II pickups)
Fender Blues Jr.
SWR California Blonde
Pedals Pedals Pedals

Too much more than an eighth of an inch and things get weird with tuning and intonation. Mine floats, but you won't get it to go radically sharp. Remember, you need to loosen the claw to get more float. I would look for another trem system.

thnx 63 supro
the reason I asked abou t reccessing is that it strikes me that in all the you tube stuff I see...whether its Beck or an immitator, Id swear that the bridge is reccessed down into the body so that the tail swings freely..and, all the tailpieces appear to be stock 2 point ones..you sound like you know what Im talking a bout..
thns again
jack

Hi NorthWood.

I set my trems to pull up from open G to Bb. That gets you around abouts the open B upto C# and open E up to F.

Jeff beck has his ones set to pull up the open E to F#, according to Mike Eldred. Whether the custom shop do that for him or his tech does it, I dont know. I have no reason to doubt it though. All you do is keep loosening off the springs but keep the trem balanced from E-E across the strings. If you undo 1 screw 2 turns, make sure you undo the other the same amount. That way your trem should stay well balanced.

Dont try it on a American Deluxe trem the bar is the wrong shape and you'll end up with next to no dip. The American Standard is pretty ideal for it as thats pretty identical to what JB uses. The difference being the roller nut and the pickups.

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No no and no

Maybe it looks recessed because the front side of the bridge plate is right up against a cut out section of the pickguard? But I can assure you that on a Stratocaster from the factory, the plate can only be made to rest on the body, not any recessed area.

I don't know anything about Wilkinsons or other non-Fender arrangements.

_________________
James Burton Upgrade Telecaster
Hot Rodded Am Fat Strat Texas Special (now featuring Kinman Traditional II pickups)
Fender Blues Jr.
SWR California Blonde
Pedals Pedals Pedals

I have never tried this so it's all just theory and speculation on my part, but...

It seems to me that on a guitar with a 2 point trem such as an American Std., that you could probably raise the bridge up a bit (as Ninja says, make sure you do it evenly on both sides) and then if the neck has a "micro tilt" adjustment, tilt the neck back just a tich to compensate for the action....if there's no micro tilt, then you could just put a very thin shim in right at the heel of the neck in the pocket to accomplish the same thing. I just wouldn't get too carried away...I would think that if you went gung-ho, it could cause some serious problems with things getting really unstable.

Now if the guitar has a more traditional 6 point trem...I would be more reluctant to try this. You could probably raise it up a little but I wouldn't back off those screws too much at all.

Now this is just my own personal opinion here but personally I'm kind of old fashion...I don't usually try to do radical trem bends on a Strat. A little "expression"? Yea...sure...great. But I really feel the need to get radical with the trem, I break out my old Kramer which has a Kahler then I can go up, down, sideways, backwards and dive bomb to my heart's content, LOL!!! If you really feel the need to be -that- radical with the trem, it may be time to consider a second instrument with a trem a bit more "capable" than a traditional Strat trem. Again that's only my own personal opinion.

Either way, good luck and let us know how it works out for ya!

Peace,
Jim

Jim you can do it on a vintage trem no trouble at all. Infact I find them more stable than 2 point trems. Theres plenty of scope for adjustment in the saddles to be able to cover it, without going at the microtilt.

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No no and no

I once saw a Strat at a pawn shop missing the rear plate and the bridge cavity had been visibly carved out, prolly with a router, presumably to make room for a little extra throw on the trem. The guitar was too hacked up in other ways for me to be interested in it so I did not play it. I therefore don't know if the carve worked or not. It was an ugly carving job.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

In my opinion .....

I agree with some of the other posts in that I would go with another guitar for 'radical' trem work. I love the sound and tone of my strat but I blocked the tremolo on my guitar. I don't like the intonation and tuning problems associated with the standard floating tremolo.

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2008 American Standard Tele
1987 American Series Strat
198x G&L (for slide)
Super Champ XD
Roland Cube

Finterra,

Can you describe how you blocked the tremolo on your Strat? I would like to do the same.

Thanks,
Mike

Mtickle

I had a tech do it for me along with a full set up. To block the tremolo he installed additional tension spring(s) in the back of the guitar and now the bridge/tremolo plate is flush with the body of the guitar. It works like a charm. Now I can do bends along with open strings and it doesn't go out of tune.

Since this is not a permanent change, if I ever wanted to use the tremolo, I could remove a spring and it should work ..... although a set up would probably be advised.

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2008 American Standard Tele
1987 American Series Strat
198x G&L (for slide)
Super Champ XD
Roland Cube

Nit Pick.

Technically you did not block your trem. You added claw springs to increase tension so the trem would not move under normal operation but given enough pressure on the trem arm the trem would still move. Blocking the trem involves forcefully wedging blocks of wood between the trem cavity and both sides of the trem casting thereby immobilizing the trem and placing the bridge in a more solid connection with the body. The increased contact area with the body and being under pressure is the basis behind the popular myth that the guitar has more sustain with a blocked trem. No amount of pressure on the trem arm would ever cause the trem to move but you might bend the arm.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

I stand corrected .