Ok, on top is a 2007 Deluxe and on the bottom is a 2010 Deluxe. I've noticed the trem bar is closer to the strings on the 2010. Not sure if you can see clearly from the pics but I'm pretty sure the bar sits closer to the strings on the 2010 when I play it. Interchanging the bars produces the same result. One thing I noticed, on the 07 the bar pops in only once and it's secure. On the 2010 however I hear 2 pops, had to push bar further down, sort of like 2 consecutive pops, in order to secure the trem bar. Is this normal for the newer strats? Removed and inspected the bridge on the 2010, I don't see anything broken.

I doubt the holes are deeper. I own 14 Strat's, and all have different tremolo bar bend angles and sit at differing heights from the top of the guitar. I think it is the way the threads are cut on the arm, or the way the bars are bent. It's what makes every guitar a little bit unique!

And the dilemma is what exactly...

You can get your bars to be equal but all bars do not go in all trems...
even from a 2007 to 2010.....
If this is a problem for playing then have your bars matched....

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

The 2010 is newly acquired, so I just wanna make sure the trem block isn't missing a part in the hole, like a bar stopper or something. As with playing, the "deeper" bar does pose a bit of a problem since my fingers would graze the strings when using the bar. I'd like a bit more room in there. The case isn't probably about unmatched bars since whichever bar I use on the 2010 it would still sit closer to the strings. Both bars sit taller on the 2007, with just the right amount of space between the bar and strings, at least for me.

There is a spring that resides in the trem insert hole, if that is missing on one than that may explain your discrepancy...

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

With the pop-in tremolo arm on the Deluxes the arm is held in place by a key that catches the detent in the arm. Is it possible that the "second pop" you are feeling is the key going past it's normal seating detent?

If you push the arm only to the first detent on your 2010 will it hold the trem bar normally? The detent pressure, for lack of a better term, is adjustable with a set screw in the block. Maybe your 2010 is set at minimal pressure and you are pushing the bar to the base of the hole where as your 2007 is set to engage with more force so you never get past the detent?

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Custom Shop '59 Stratocaster
AV Hot Rod '52 Telecaster
AV '56 Stratocaster
'65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue

Yes I have that key that catches the detent in the arm (as seen in the slit of the trem block). After the first pop, the trem is held normally (doesn't fall off the bridge and in correct height I might add) but the bar isn't snug in the hole (bar has very very small lateral movement before being able to pull the whole bridge). Only after the second pop will it feel snug in the hole. This time, any movement of the bar will move the entire bridge right away.



I''ll check on that. This spring is different from the key that catches the detent right? How small is this spring? Got any pic? Seems kinda difficult peeping in the trem hole to see clearly.

Yes I've seen those screws (2 pcs) on the block and I don't think they're the problem. I've tinkered with those and they didn't seem to alter the "detent key pressure" (no difference in pushing/pulling force to get the bar in/out). What they did alter is pressure on the bar so that when they're tight the bar stays where you leave it (say horizontally). Loosen them and you have a swinging bar. Both bars on both bridges can reach the detent key. The only difference is that on the 2010, after the detent reaches the key you'll have to push it just a little bit further down (maybe a couple of millimeters) to achieve a snug fit.