How do I install a tremolo plate on my production version Black1? I see there are no places where I would put the screws on the back, so how would I do this? Thank you.

I assume that like Eric Johnson and his Signature Strat, John Mayer asked that they not drill the mounting screw holes in the body because he leaves the rear trem cover off. (It's not a tonal thing for either one -- EJ just feels it looks better to not have the holes in the body if you're going to leave the cover off anyway.)

They come with a cover plate because some people prefer to have the cover on. But you have to drill the holes for the cover if you choose to install it. It's like the way the Vintage Reissues have 3-way switches installed but come with a 5-way switch in the case candy. People who prefer modern 5-way switches have to unsolder the 3-way and solder in the 5-way.

The cover doesn't have to be super-precisely placed. Put masking tape on the body around the trem cavity. Put the cover on the body and visually center it over the trem cavity. Make sure the string holes line up (more or less) with the string holes in the bridge block so you'll be able to change strings without removing the cover each time. Mark the screw hole positions using the cover as a template. Drill the holes. Remove the tape. Procure screws and rub a little wax on them, then put the cover in place and screw in the screws.

Is the Black1 nitro finished? If it's poly you could stick the cover on with double-sided tape if you didn't want to drill the holes. But tape adhesives will do bad things to nitro.

I believe it is nitro, but it does not come with a trem plate, and I would rather not drill holes in it so I guess I'll leave it off. Thanks for the reply.

The Custom Shop EJ Strats had the mounting screw holes. They also came with the back plate cover factory-installed.

I believe these features can be available as optional extras for the regular production versions as well; they could increase the prices a bit.

Its not nitro, its poly, they aren't supposed to come with trem covers because they aren't supposed to have one, its a feature of the model. No point in adding one unless you want to knock some off the future value of the guitar.

Besides, it would alter the tone.

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