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Post subject: Reasons for different tremolo setups?
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 11:37 am
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After my recent MIM Strat purchase, I have been reading everything I can about set-up, especially the tremolo set-up. I have set up various guitars and basses, but none had a tremolo. I am understanding there are 3 ways to set it up. 1-so you can push or pull the tremolo arm. 2- so you can push down only. 3- bridge decked. I have no tremolo arm as of yet but did notice the back of the bridge is setting flat to the body. If a guitar stays in tune with a floating tremolo, what would be the purpose of setting it up any other way?
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Post subject: Re: Reasons for different tremolo setups?
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 12:17 pm
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Bridge set flat to the body is not floating - it's decked!
So there's two ways to set up a tremolo bridge :lol:
Here's how to set up a floating bridge ...



I have the bridges floating on my Strats, but then I'm not into dive bombing extravaganzas.

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Post subject: Re: Reasons for different tremolo setups?
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 12:27 pm
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There is scientific reason to believe that a trem that is properly decked and blocked should provide the guitar with an increase in sustain. I have decked and blocked guitars in the past and in fact one of my Strats is currently still decked and blocked. If there is an increase in sustain it is subtle. I do not believe I can discern it and I have pretty good ears. The Calaham block mod has more impact in that regard. For a floating trem I like it to float about 50/50. I have never had any desire to try a trem that was set up to dive only. There are several ways to enhance tuning stability on a floating trem. The one drawback to floating trems that I have often noticed is that while bending one string the other strings can flatten in pitch as the bridge moves. It changes how you touch the guitar to compensate for it. This doesn't happen to the same degree on a blocked trem. The neck will move a little but it is much less noticeable than a moving bridge.

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Post subject: Re: Reasons for different tremolo setups?
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 1:29 pm
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A very simplified tremolo explanation:
The floating tremolo is for players who use it. Those sounds can't be achieved any other way.
The decked tremolo is for players who don't - but maybe someday want to. Or, for those who can't get the floating trem to work properly.
The blocked tremolo is for players who don't use it, but believe that a Strat with a trem sounds better (or just different) from a hardtail Strat. Or for those who just love Clapton.


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Post subject: Re: Reasons for different tremolo setups?
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 2:49 pm
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jmattis wrote:
A very simplified tremolo explanation:
The floating tremolo is for players who use it. Those sounds can't be achieved any other way.
The decked tremolo is for players who don't - but maybe someday want to. Or, for those who can't get the floating trem to work properly.
The blocked tremolo is for players who don't use it, but believe that a Strat with a trem sounds better (or just different) from a hardtail Strat. Or for those who just love Clapton.


+1

If I would like to play Lenny by SRV I'd definitely need a floating trem.
But I do bend a lot over 2 tones and I strive for perfectly intonated/tuned dowble bendings,
so I need the decked trem to avoid other strings to decrease pitch when bending.


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Post subject: Re: Reasons for different tremolo setups?
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 7:28 pm
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jmattis wrote:
...The blocked tremolo is for players who don't use it, but believe that a Strat with a trem sounds better (or just different) from a hardtail Strat. Or for those who just love Clapton.


Except that Clapton did not block his trem, only decked with the claw screwed tight to the body. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Reasons for different tremolo setups?
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 8:21 pm
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pretto84 wrote:
If I would like to play Lenny by SRV I'd definitely need a floating trem.
But I do bend a lot over 2 tones and I strive for perfectly intonated/tuned dowble bendings,
so I need the decked trem to avoid other strings to decrease pitch when bending.


This is the exact reason why I do not setup a floating trem; I like the option to dive a bit or add vibrato so I have my trem set up with just enough spring tension to deck the trem.


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Post subject: Re: Reasons for different tremolo setups?
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 11:17 pm
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The issues I find is if the tremolo is set to float, every time I bend a string, the other 5 go flat.

The way I set the tremolo on my guitars is with 5 springs on, and then I set the tension so the tremolo is on the body, and a 1 1/2 bend of the "G" string will not effect the low "E" string.

Yes, I still can use the tremolo to go low and back, and that works for me. I also find the tuning stay "In tune" fair better and for long periods of playing time.

But there are others that have there set to float and just can't live without it.....to each there own I guess.

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Post subject: Re: Reasons for different tremolo setups?
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 5:22 am
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Well, I can see this doesn't have a "it's supposed to be this way" answer. It is all about playing styles and personal preference. Mine was setting on the body. That is, until I took the 9-42 strings off and replaced them with a 10-46 set. Then it was about 1/8 inch off the body. I believe that the claw springs must equalize string tension on the truss rod as that doesn't seem to need adjusting. I think that is fine. It did raise the action a little and intonation on the E and A strings changed just a little.
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Post subject: Re: Reasons for different tremolo setups?
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 7:47 am
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Jeffytune wrote:
The issues I find is if the tremolo is set to float, every time I bend a string, the other 5 go flat.


There it is in one sentence. I do a lot of single and double bends where I'm bending the B and/or G strings with a fretted unbent note on the high E to get pedal steel effects. Just doesn't work on a Strat with a floating trem, I need the bridge blocked off or everything drifts flat.

Try this with a floating trem and see how far you get ...

https://vimeo.com/78045680

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Post subject: Re: Reasons for different tremolo setups?
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 11:19 am
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jmattis wrote:
A very simplified tremolo explanation:
The floating tremolo is for players who use it. Those sounds can't be achieved any other way.
The decked tremolo is for players who don't - but maybe someday want to. Or, for those who can't get the floating trem to work properly.
The blocked tremolo is for players who don't use it, but believe that a Strat with a trem sounds better (or just different) from a hardtail Strat. Or for those who just love Clapton.

That seems a little vague to me as it assumes a player's intentions.
Sticking to just the facts without going into preferences:

A decked bridge is simply one in which the plate is flush to the body. Nothing more. Nothing less.
The bridge cannot be moved in a way that raises pitch.
However, it can be used in a way that lowers pitch such as in a dive-bomb.

A blocked bridge is one that has been immobilized. It can't go up or down at all. Usually done by forcing wedges into the cavity on either side of the block.

A decked and blocked bridge means exactly that. It is both decked and blocked. The plate is flat to the body and has been completely immobilized.

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Post subject: Re: Reasons for different tremolo setups?
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 12:04 pm
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GilgaFrank wrote:
Jeffytune wrote:
The issues I find is if the tremolo is set to float, every time I bend a string, the other 5 go flat.


There it is in one sentence. I do a lot of single and double bends where I'm bending the B and/or G strings with a fretted unbent note on the high E to get pedal steel effects. Just doesn't work on a Strat with a floating trem, I need the bridge blocked off or everything drifts flat.

Try this with a floating trem and see how far you get ...

https://vimeo.com/78045680


Nice Video Frank, very soulful & smooth.

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Post subject: Re: Reasons for different tremolo setups?
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 12:16 pm
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Yeah, nice video. Thanks for sharing.


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