Hey everybody, I'm about to order a '50s Classic Series Strat soon. I want to know if extra tremolo springs are included in the bag as well as other things. I like my bridge flush to the body and I use 10-46 gauges (which I see this guitar comes stock with) but it looks like the factory set-up always has the bridge set to float. Let me know otherwise, I'll buy them separately if I have to, thanks.

My '99 Classic'50s came with the bag and the trem arm, 3 springs installed, nothing else. I don't know if that's changed, but Fender doesn't list any accessories as coming with new ones so I assume extra springs aren't included.

I use 10~52 strings and don't have any trouble setting the bridge flush with 3 springs -- I can do big Buddy Guy type bends and double-stop bends without the bridge lifting at all.

I've tried 5 springs and the trem arm can still lift the bridge to lower the pitch -- if you want to turn it into a virtual hardtail you pretty much need to block the bridge (either with a chunk of wood or a stack of coins or something else that's solid). Depending on my mood, sometimes I float the bridge, sometimes I set it flush with 3 springs, sometimes I block it -- the extra springs I bought just sit in my parts drawer.

If you wanted to use Stevie Ray style superheavy strings, 5 springs might be necessary to set the bridge flush. But for 10~46 strings I wouldn't bother buying extra springs at least until after you get the guitar and experiment a bit.

Thanks man. How do you set your 3 springs, straight across or in the triangle pattern ( like this: /l\ ) ? I rarely use the bar except for something like in Little Wing before but I do wicked bends and double stops, the floating setup just doesn't suit my playing style.

I currently have mine set straight across and have the spring anchor screwed in so that it's about 1/4" from the wall of the spring cavity, so there's room to add even more tension if desired.

Angling the springs adds more tension, so since I use heavier strings than you're planning to use you should have plenty of leeway to deck the bridge as hard you're likely to want even with just the stock 3 springs.

I'm a bit biased, but the Classic Series are great guitars and you'll probably be very happy when you get yours. I found that replacing the full-size zinc block with a steel block is a worthwhile upgrade (I used an AllParts block), but it's not as significant as replacing the skinny zinc block on older MIM Standards -- they're very good sounding Strats even when completely stock.

I got my 2004 '70s Strat used and it came with five springs , I assume the previous owner added the two extra ones there. I'm glad now I know I don't have to buy extra springs. I'm getting my Classic '50s in black, I want a strat with a Clapton/Gilmour/Hendrix vibe, I just love the original vintage specs. Yeah, the MIM Classic Series are great.