I bought an new American Standard Strat about a month ago, and just decided to try putting the whammy bar on. I have had other strats, and when I put the bar on those, it went in smoothly; however with this one, I could not get it to screw into the bridge assembly. I am using the bar that came with the guitar, and the only problem seems to be that the hole at the top of the bridge where the whammy goes in and the trem block are not perfectly aligned. Should that be the case? Is there something else I should be doing to get the whammy in?

If the hole in the block does not align properly with the hole in the bridge plate, that is a defect. Recommend you take it back to the shop that sold it. If you bought off an individual, find an authorized repair shop.

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James Burton Upgrade Telecaster
Hot Rodded Am Fat Strat Texas Special (now featuring Kinman Traditional II pickups)
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An American Strat is very likely not a screw in style bridge but is a push in style. You may have been given the wrong 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.

MIA Strats are screw in....the MIA Deluxe is a pop in.

I would take it back to the shop and see if its a defect or if somehow you got the wrong arm.

The hole is slightly misaligned too. The bar should go in at around a 105degree angle to the tremplate when viewed from the bass side of the strings.

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No no and no

Check the bridge plate to ensure the curved slots are properly seated in the anchor pins. You didn't "tighten" the pins, did you?

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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.

No, I made no adjustments to the bridge plate.

Do you have the capability to post pics?

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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.

Operator error?

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You dig?

I have no camera. Beneath the whammy hole in the bridge plate you can see a crescent-shaped sliver of the trem block. The hole in the trem block seems angled and correctly manufactured, but the whammy will not fit into the smaller hole made by the misalignment of the bridge and trem block.

To Martian: Its possible that I might be to dumb to screw it in properly, but I have a Squier and an 04 american strat previously and never had a problem with those.

Now, now, don't get mad at me, I was just playing with you.

In all seriousness, there is absolutely NO excuse for why a US Strat should have made it to the sales floor with this malady, period. FWIW though, they do and your problem is not unique. Sparing you the various and assorted reason(s), the bottom line is that you should not have to get all caught up in it aside from bringing the guitar back as a warranty issue.

If they offer you a new guitar, fine. Check it out from top to bottom on the spot and upon your approval, life goes on. If they don't offer you a new one and claim they can fix it, you have two choices:

1. If your state has a, "Lemon Law", you can demand an exchange or a refund or,

2. If you are agreeable to letting the facility correct the malady, ensure that the tech who is going to work on it has a level of proficiency equal to the task. NEVER presume ANY facility's staff is automatically competent because of the products they sell or are authorized to service. A very important point: Make a note of the overall cosmetics of your guitar especially in the affected area prior to surrendering it. If they ask what you are doing, tell them. Upon them returning the guitar to you, if you are not completely satisfied in terms of function AND condition, I refer you back to the prior paragraph.

A tip: If you want the guitar back quickly, you can ask them for a 'loaner' in the mean time as chances are, your guitar will go to the head of the line. If they claim they don't do loaners, you can start talking about option #1 as cited above. This is especially effective if there are customers in ear shot.

Lastly, show NO intimidation as you dropped down good money and are entitled to a first class, trouble free instrument.

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You dig?

Hahaha. I never got mad, I just wanted to clarify that I do know what I am doing (to some extent) with this strat. I will probably end up taking it in to the shop and getting it repared or maybe exchanging it. Thanks for the advice!

Glad to help and remember, YOU are in the 'driver's seat' here.

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You dig?

Thanks again