I don't like the way the bridge of a Fender Stratocaster is made (vintage sync tremolo) because when a string snapped,the other strings will not be in tune and also,it is very difficult to tune! how can i make it like 'hardtail' or fixed bridge safely? I don't use the whammy bar because I rely on string bending so I want to remove it but I'm afraid to do it cause I might do something bad to my strat.btw,my stratocaster is a Fender MiM Standard Strat.what does some artists like john mayer,clapton,etc etc do to their strats to make it like hardtail bridge? cause i noticed that they do not usually use the whammy bar.

All you have to do is take the cover off of the back of the guitar. Loosen all your strings. There will be two screws in there, screwed into the body. Screw them on in until they pull the bridge down to the body. Probably don't have to screw them all the way in. Just screw'em in until the bridge is laying on the body, then tune the guitar.

If you tune it and it pulls the bridge back up again, simply screw 'em in some more. It may throw the intonation off a bit. But it may not. Intonation may need setting after you do it.

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"Damn Right I Got the Blues"

WOW! Thanks a lot! I appreciate your help!

What bshane84 said or you could cut a block of wood to fit in the gap between the trem-block and the body. A decent local guitar store should be happy to do this for you if you don't feel safe with a saw in your hands.

Blocking the trem is common,it gives you the best of both worlds. A hardtail similarity with the option of easily reversing the mod.
Keep in mind that the block has to fit snuggly between the trem and the wall cavity, thus preventing the trem from pivoting and increasing sustain. ( also the block's density will affect the tone, alder vs ash vs oak vs ??)
I strongly suggest getting a hold of the book " The Fender Stratocaster Handbook " by Paul Balmer. priceless how to's in repairs, upkeep, adjustments of many strat configurations both CS, MIM, MIA, and others.
Have fun dialing in your strat.

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

+1

Very good book. And the recommendation of placing a wood block in the cavity is what I would have said too.

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-T

"You can't spend what you ain't got, you can't lose what you ain't never had" ~ McKinley Morganfield

I'll just put a block of wood in the tremolo cavity? how about the screws in the bridge? should i loosen them up or something? the whammy bar? i'll simply remove the tremolo arm? btw,thanks

should i place a tape over the receptacle hole when i remove the tremolo arm?

I wouldn't say there was anything "wrong" with this style tremolo. It "balances" between string tension and spring tension, so it's the nature of the beast for all tremolo's. Instead of blocking your trem off, look into buying the Hipshot Tremsetter! Blocking your tremolo, or cranking it down to the body with the claw screws will work. The real question is how often do you break strings, then, why is that happening? Bending strings can easily throw the other strings out of pitch on a strat, which for me would be the best reason to block off the tremolo. The guitar is designed so you can adjust almost every aspect of it to your liking. Good luck, and I hope you get your axe set up to your liking! If you do block this strat's tremolo, buy a second strat you can leave with a functioning trem. It is a real cool feature, and can add great diversity and dynamics to your muisc!

Might be a good idea. There is a spring - similar to what is in a ball-point pen - in the tremolo arm hole. You don't want to lose this in case you want to revert back to using the tremolo. A silver colored circle of tape will match the bridge pretty well. Or take it out and store i with the arm.

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-T

"You can't spend what you ain't got, you can't lose what you ain't never had" ~ McKinley Morganfield

The six screws ( vintage style) thru the bridge anchor your bridge to the top. Removing those will allow you to have the ultimate slack key strat
DO NOT REMOVE THEM, it would be as useless as removing the 4 screws at the base of the neck

As far as tight they should be snug, BUT I'm getting the anxious feeling that you should take your strat to a reputably knowledgeable repair guy/gal.
If for only until you understand the details that can ruin an instrument.
WE have all been there at one point in time and I wish someone had told me "not to do that "
Again I demand that you look into buying the book I mentioned earlier by Paul Balmer.
Even though Strat's look fairly simple, " How hard can it Be ? Right ? a few screws and pieces of wood "
I am not trying to amuse myself with your plight, only communicating in a jovial manner that
ignorance is not bliss when it comes to musical instruments.
You do not want to do something that will cost hundreds in repair when a check up with a repair person would have just cost $20 to $50 maybee??

Just apply the " When in Doubt, Ask then Doublecheck "

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

I always block off the trem. It stays in tune a lot longer....Enjoy.

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Your Fender HSS Standard Stratocaster in Electron Blue was made at the Fender Ensenada Plant in Mexico in the Year: 2008.
Final Assembly Date: July 30th, 2008
Model Number: 013 4700 587
Serial # MZ8031252

You can also alter your trem with an add on product like the Tremol-No. This gives you the option to have both a trem and a hard tail and from what I recall keeps your trem in tune even if you break a string.

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"You can never have too many guitars."