I have an American HSS strat. I love it because I can play blues on the neck's single coil, but hard rock with the humbucker. But the tremolo as-is doesn't cut it for me for good hard rock. I asked the Guitar Center tech about putting a locking nut on my neck and he said no. I was wondering if he doesn't know how to do it, or if it really isn't a good idea. I could swear I've seen strats with locking nuts at the top of the neck...

Whoever you asked knows exactly what their talking about.

You cant put one in the traditional place, negating the use of modern made locking nuts. You'd need to either look hard and be lucky to find one to fit on the fretboard to headstock dropaway. Or have one made.
They won't work with a regular tremolo. You need microtuners at the headstock to stop every string going sharp when you lock the nut. Also it still wont stop return to zero point/ string slip within the block problems that your no doubt experiencing now.
So you'll still experience tuning troubles.

You need a floyd rose or kahler trem to go with that lock nut.
It would be easier and cheaper just to buy a new guitar.

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No nut for you! Next!

I think that the tech may be right. This has been discussed here before, and those in the know have said that it isn't a good idea to route out and drill holes for the locking nut on a neck that wasn't made for a locking nut. There is an alternative double locking system that doesn't require any permanent modification to your Strat. Some people think that it doesn't look good, but Eric Johnson and other artists swear by it for keeping the guitar in tune.

http://www.super-vee.com/

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

Thanks for the advice. The super-vee looks interesting, except that I notice you have to take your neck off. I'd rather not do that. I don't want to put it on and have it not be perfect as far as the bend of it, etc. Also, I'd rather keep the strat trem and just put their locking nut on, but not sure if that is doable...

You could try just the nut, I don't see why not. The tuning may not be as stable with the stock trem, as nikininja pointed out, but couldn't hurt to try just the nut, and it may be an improvement. If you just wanted a locking nut to begin with, go for it. Why would it be necessary to remove the neck? I have not had to remove the neck when changing bridges or nuts, do they say that on their site?

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

When you lock the strings at the nut you'll send em sharp. Theres no way to combat that at the bridge and the tuners won't alter tuning once the nut is locked. You need them bridge end microtuners

Ultimately you'd end up with a guitar near impossible to tune. You'd have to measure how much the strings sharpen by when locked. Then tune to that degree flat and hope it all works out. Every time you change strings! If you change manufacturer or the manufacturer uses a different core to the strings, you'd have to measure again.

I see no reason why fitting a SuperVee would require anyone to take a neck off.

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You can use the Floyd Rose type locking nuts, but you will have to route the headstock from the nut back towards the tuners....making this a permanent installation.

Ahh, good point. Their manual on their website shows the instructions, and part of it is taking the neck off. I'd hate to do that.

Why?

Really?7

Taking the neck off a guitar is simple in comparison to the things your talking about.

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In fact look at this instalation video, there is absolutely no need to take the neck off at all. Dunno where you read that.

http://www.super-vee.com/video_namm.html

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Here's their manual: http://www.super-vee.com/installation_8-5x11.pdf

I've never done it, but if you take the neck off, are you not in danger of not getting it back on just right so the tunings, octaves, etc are perfect?

No not at all, unless you go ramming it in. Just be carefull taking it off, put it back on the same way.

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well that's good to know, makes me feel better. Thanks.

I absolutely do not recommend shimming the neck.

The only possible reason I can see for that is if the nut material can't be cut and you have to have predetermined nut slot heights. In which case it would cause problems with the guitar playing intune on low frets, whether you shim or not.

The SuperVee looks good but if you can't adjust nut slot height, forget the system. It's a waste of time if you cant adjust that crucial area.

Like I said firstly, buy yourself a guitar with a locking trem. It's the easier if not cheaper solution.

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