I lost the vibrato bar on my MIM Strat, and bought a new one. It has never fit tight. Is one for a USA Strat the wrong thread/gauge? If so, how do you know what to buy for the MIM version?

You may have wrecked the treads now, hopefully not.


Some Americans are 10-32 thread, MIM are M5X.8 (metric)

unless yours is a
Classic series or Classic Players ( VintageTremolo) then it would be 10-32 also.

MIM Standard Strat
Fender # 0992310100

Thanks. Sorry to waste your time. I did a little research and found that there is a difference. I expected Squire to be different, but I was always told that the US & MIM were same (non-electrical) components with just different build quality. I'm going to pick one up this AM and pop it in... hoping that I didn't strip things out. Ughh!

Any insight on replacements if I did?

Hey common! Guitar stuff is never a waste of time.

If you didn't do to much damage ( to the hole) you could run a tap through to clean up the treads.

Also wrap some plumbers Teflon tape around the threads of the arm as many find they like it a little tight anyway. That may offset what little damage you may have done.

If your Strat is pre-2006 you might want to update to a bigger block anyway.

http://store.guitarfetish.com/tremelos.html

the newer "Upgrade" MIM blocks are on ebay from time to time as well

Never thought about the teflon tape, but that is a great idea.

Great tip on the Guitar Fetish trem; I ordered it! It won't arrive in time for a gig next week (I have to fly, & I keep a MIM just for such occasions), so I will try the teflon tape thing now, then replace the bridge when it arrives.

IOU man. Thanks.

Your very welcome & I hope the gig is great !