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Post subject: MiM Std. Strat Tremolo Problem
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2014 10:11 am
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Hi,
I spend hours searching for differences between Mexican tremolo fabrications. I got a Mexican Standard Body (dated March 01 A.M.) and wanted to fit a new Genuine Fender Mexico Tremolo. I know that the sustain block changed over the years, but that is not the exact problem. It seems that the base plate of the new tremolo became shorter. The mount and string spacing fits well, but there is a gap: https://www.dropbox.com/s/mik2wgp3r3u42h4/IMG_1701N.jpg

This is the body: https://www.dropbox.com/s/xh1v8p8lj2n2lvh/Foto%2004.04.14%2018%2042%2043.jpg

Is there anyone who could measure the width of this edge? It must be around 25mm but the new tremolos measure 22mm. So where can I get a fitting base plate?

Thanks for your help!


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Post subject: Re: MiM Std. Strat Tremolo Problem
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2014 10:43 am
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DavidHeuer wrote:
Hi,
I spend hours searching for differences between Mexican tremolo fabrications. I got a Mexican Standard Body (dated March 01 A.M.) and wanted to fit a new Genuine Fender Mexico Tremolo. I know that the sustain block changed over the years, but that is not the exact problem. It seems that the base plate of the new tremolo became shorter. The mount and string spacing fits well, but there is a gap:

Is there anyone who could measure the width of this edge? It must be around 25mm but the new tremolos measure 22mm. So where can I get a fitting base plate?

Thanks for your help!


Hi David,

I'm sure you didn't want to hear it but that's a new one on me. :lol:

There are many, but I've found that a good source for Fender Bridge hardware is Craig Wells at Overdrive Custom Guitar Works (Strat Parts).

He's very good at answering questions quickly. You can email him at: http://www.stratcat.biz.

Give him the dimensions of the Mount and String spreads and maybe attach that first pic showing the gap.

This would be his web page for tremolo bridges:
http://www.stratcat.biz/hardware-tremolo-bridges.shtml

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Post subject: Re: MiM Std. Strat Tremolo Problem
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2014 3:45 pm
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Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2014 9:27 am
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Hi,
Craig Wells from http://www.Stratcat.biz was a big help. He suggested that it is probably an issue with the tremolo cut-out. The tremolo route is slightly bigger than it should be. Maybe production tolerance, but it's pretty bad and I agree with the guy I'm quoting that I expected Fender to be better than this.

I googled a bit and found a guy who posted the same issue here:

Quote:
Action, Fit & Finish: Honestly, the factory setup was pretty bad, but it wasn't anything that couldn't be fixed with a few tools. The truss rod needed to be adjusted to get rid of fret buzz, and the saddles needed to be raised a bit. Luckily the guitar came with the tools to make these adjustments. The pickups needed to be raised slightly, but they still sounded ok at the factory height. The neck itself has no flaws whatsoever, but the frets sticked out and made it hard to play. The guitar store offered to file them down though, and it plays great now. Intonation was setup fine except for the high E string, which needed just a small turn to get perfect. The body also has no obvious flaws, but the tremolo routing is slightly too big at one corner where the hole for the tremolo arm is. Not too noticable unless you look carefully. The screws for the pickup selector Switch were loose and needed to be tightened, and one of the screws for the tremolo cavity cover was half-way out! Not too big of a deal to tighten, it was just kind of annoying. None of the hardware is rusted or anything, and the tuners were tightly secured to the headstock. The neck wood has a straight grain, so it leads me to believe that it is high quality wood. The nut was cut perfectly. There were no flaws in the finish on the neck or body. Nothing here that couldn't be fixed (except for the tremolo route, but it doesn't bother me), but I expect better from a company like Fender.



http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/electric_guitars/fender/standard_stratocaster_hss/


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Post subject: Re: MiM Std. Strat Tremolo Problem
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 9:04 am
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Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2014 2:32 pm
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Location: Rossendale, UK
There's no problem with the bridge plate dimensions - I've just measured the distance from the back to the front of the tremolo section on my !993/94 Mexican Standard Strat and it's 22mm.
It looks more like a body routing issue.
There is the slightest hint of it on my Strat, but you have to get up really close to notice it.

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Post subject: Re: MiM Std. Strat Tremolo Problem
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2014 9:48 am
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I've seen this phenomena several times but only with the MIM Standard Strat bodies. Yours is one of the less onerous examples though and I doubt that few will notice it aside from the really obsessive. There's really not much to be done that would correct such a routing error save for some *serious* woodworking that would likely require refinishing the body.

Arjay

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