why does everybody take the back plate off their strat?

So they can lose the plate or the screws?

Did I get it right? What do I win?

Seriously... I didn't and if I do for any good reason, it's going right back on.

_________________
You're only as strong as
the drinks you pour,
the tables you dance on,
and the friends you roll with.

On mine if I have the bridgeplate down on the body,(hardtail),then the holes in the plate won't line up....or if you take all the strings off a floating bridge,it won't line up when the bridge sets down,even the newer AS style plates.
It's easier to take it off or file the holes larger.

+1. All of mine are locked down, and changing the strings is a lot easier without the plate.

I heard Eric Johnson say, in an interview, that it increases the output. I don't know if that's true or not, and I don't understand how, but supposedly that's EJ's reasoning.

_________________
Strat+Tweed=Tone

Everybody doesn't. At least I don't. My bridge floats so I have no issues changing strings. That seems to be the main concern. That and some people argue taking it off somehow improves the tone. Just ask Eric Johnson.

_________________
-Kirk

GUITARS
'12 Sonoran Acoustic - black (dated 10/31/12)
'13 Standard Strat
AMP
Vox ac4c1-bl
PEDALS
Compressor
Big Muff
Vox Stomplab 1G
Carbon Copy Delay

They don't like that big echo chamber in there?

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

It definitely seems the trendy thing to do, doesn't it? I think I read once the Mayer signature doesn't even come with a backplate.

I leave it on personally. Peace of mind for my springs.

When I switched my pickguard from parchment to white pearloid, the difference in the two materials was displeasing to my eye. I had two choices: either trying to find a white pearloid trem cavity plate or simply removing the offending object. I opted for the latter.

It's also easier to crack pecans with your trem block if the cover is removed. Playing guitar is hungry work.

_________________
I really like all them "Aster" guitars. You know, like the Stratoc, Telec and Jazzm.

because everyone else does!

and it maximizes my already epic tone!

_________________
Blues with a feeling.

GUILD GUITARS: MADE TO BE PLAYED!

Easier to change strings for me. But I have 5 springs on the trem screwed in far so the bridge is flush on the body, I don't use the tremolo.

The plate is in a box on my workbench, along with the screws. Never cared or thought about a better tone. I was just too lazy to put mine back on, never cared or thought twice about it.

Genius!



Andy

_________________
Pending Greatness

When I used to keep my bridge flat on the body I just bought an old, used trem cover and made the hole larger. This way I still had the original trem cover in good condition.

Most of us leave the back plate off because it is simply less crap in the way when you want or need to make some quick adjustments to set up. It is true John Mayer's strat comes with no back plate and that is why... Many players capable of tweeking there own set up just don't need the plate in their way... and on a personal note... sometimes I can get wierd useful noises from having access to touching the springs in the back.

_________________
explorationx

LOL! I took mine off and I do not even need to plug in my guitar anymore. Forget that 1970's Bassman Amp!
Just kidding. I have them on all of my guitars. It is kind of like naked without it being there...... on my Ultra, string changes are not a problem!

_________________
Xhefri's Guitars
www.xhefriguitars.com

I've always left all of mine on as they were meant to be. I think it looks cheesy without it. Further, if the tremolo block is set right, having the plate on is absolutely no impediment to changing the strings. YMMV.

_________________
You dig?