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Post subject: HardTail Strats
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 1:41 pm
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I want to know why Fender does not offer hardtail bridges as a regular option on more strats. I love Strats and have been playing them for many many years. My first strat was a 79' Hardtail. Over the years I have seen how infrequently they offer these. Usually it is just as some very high priced signature model.
I know the easy answer is if they sold better they would be available but to me that doesn't cut it. Heck even if you go on Fender's quasi-custom site where you choose your options, you still can't get a hardtail.

To me, it should be an option on any strat. Especially the MIM models, just like the option to get a lefty model. I love strats but I don't love tremolos and Fender doesn't give the option to choose. Despite my preference for Fenders, I have had to go with other brands like Carvin for a reasonably priced hardtail humbucker strat.

Come on Fender, it's a small thing that you could do for your customers that can be a big deal to a player,


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Post subject: Re: HardTail Strats
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 1:50 pm
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caustic69 wrote:
I know the easy answer is if they sold better they would be available but to me that doesn't cut it.


Actually, that does "cut it".

Business is all about business -- nothing more, nothing less. The ratio of Strats with conventional trem bridges compared to those built as hardtails ran about 255:1 up until around model-year 1965. Thus, production of the hardtail was curtailed and even halted many times over the intervening years. If you're hell-bent for a hardtail, do what many of us here did -- build your own. The parts are still plentiful and they're not that difficult to assemble. I have three of these.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: HardTail Strats
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 2:08 pm
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Like I said "to me" that doesn't cut it.
Sure you can throw all the numbers you want and I do build my own be it kits or modding or however.
My point is that it should be an option. If other brands can do it, Fender should also. If Charvel can do it and Fender is their parent company it should be do-able. If you disagree that's fine. Business is business whatever.

Retroverbial wrote:
caustic69 wrote:
I know the easy answer is if they sold better they would be available but to me that doesn't cut it.


Actually, that does "cut it".

Business is all about business -- nothing more, nothing less. The ratio of Strats with conventional trem bridges compared to those built as hardtails ran about 255:1 up until around model-year 1965. Thus, production of the hardtail was curtailed and even halted many times over the intervening years. If you're hell-bent for a hardtail, do what many of us here did -- build your own. The parts are still plentiful and they're not that difficult to assemble. I have three of these.

Arjay


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Post subject: Re: HardTail Strats
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 2:16 pm
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I gave you the indisputable facts.

And I gave you a viable option.

Deal with it. Or not.

It makes no difference to me.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: HardTail Strats
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 5:00 pm
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Not to be a wise-ass, but do you have a screw driver and a piece of wood around the house?
Many, many non-trem fanciers (E.C., for one) have dealt with this issue easily for ages. Tighten the claw, screw the bridge plate all the way down, put on all the springs, and wedge a fitted piece of wood behind the trem bridge. Adjust string height to your taste. Shim if necessary. Problem solved. No big deal. Simply wishing Fender would do this or that ain't gonna solve your problem.


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Post subject: Re: HardTail Strats
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 8:19 pm
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nyquilcoma wrote:
Not to be a wise-ass, but do you have a screw driver and a piece of wood around the house?
Many, many non-trem fanciers (E.C., for one) have dealt with this issue easily for ages. Tighten the claw, screw the bridge plate all the way down, put on all the springs, and wedge a fitted piece of wood behind the trem bridge. Adjust string height to your taste. Shim if necessary. Problem solved. No big deal. Simply wishing Fender would do this or that ain't gonna solve your problem.

+1 I also would like a hard tail, but this is a simple and viable solution. I didn't even bother blocking the bridge with wood because it changed the tone in a way that was less pleasing to my ear so I just decked the bridge. It's good and stable.


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Post subject: Re: HardTail Strats
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 8:42 pm
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As someone said earlier, it's all about the money. The truth is hardtail Strats sound different than regular Strats, and most people like their Strats to sound like Strats, not kind of like Strats.

I owned a '77 Hardtail, and it just never sounded right to me. It has something to do with the way the strings and bridge block vibrate. This is why guys like Clapton don't use hardtails. They want the stability, but keep the timbre of guitar. Now Nile Rodger's, "Hit Maker" would sound wrong if it had a floating bridge.

Bottom line: They just aren't that popular. If they were, then Fender would make more.

I would say having one or two to choose from would be nice.


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Post subject: Re: HardTail Strats
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 9:27 pm
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nyquilcoma wrote:
Not to be a wise-ass, but do you have a screw driver and a piece of wood around the house?
Many, many non-trem fanciers (E.C., for one) have dealt with this issue easily for ages. Tighten the claw, screw the bridge plate all the way down, put on all the springs, and wedge a fitted piece of wood behind the trem bridge. Adjust string height to your taste. Shim if necessary. Problem solved. No big deal. Simply wishing Fender would do this or that ain't gonna solve your problem.


Yeah, obviously I can see I'm in the minority here. Anyway, yes, I have blocked many a trem. In fact that is the first thing I do to a strat. I appreciate all the "solutions" people offer but basically I was just airing some frustrations that Fender has virtually no offering for this market. I'm kinda surprised a little bit that no one else would like to see Fender offer a MIM hardtail. I mean really, look at all of the Strats Fender has in any given year, and no hard tails? I don't want to have to buy a different brand or mod mine or pay ridiculous amounts for custom shop model. I just feel like it should be possible to just get an off the shelf fixed bridge, plain and simple. But I can see I am one of the few. So be it


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Post subject: Re: HardTail Strats
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 11:07 pm
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Isn't the Robert Cray artist series strat a MiM hardtail?

In stock at Musicians friend right now. I don't see a pic of the back of the headstock to confirm the MX serial, but at $899 I assume it must be.

(I like them too, but would actually prefer a MIA deluxe hardtail)


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Post subject: Re: HardTail Strats
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 12:45 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
caustic69 wrote:
I know the easy answer is if they sold better they would be available but to me that doesn't cut it.


Actually, that does "cut it".

Business is all about business -- nothing more, nothing less. The ratio of Strats with conventional trem bridges compared to those built as hardtails ran about 255:1 up until around model-year 1965. Thus, production of the hardtail was curtailed and even halted many times over the intervening years. If you're hell-bent for a hardtail, do what many of us here did -- build your own. The parts are still plentiful and they're not that difficult to assemble. I have three of these.

Arjay


+1


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Post subject: Re: HardTail Strats
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 2:35 am
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caustic69 wrote:
nyquilcoma wrote:
Not to be a wise-ass, but do you have a screw driver and a piece of wood around the house?
Many, many non-trem fanciers (E.C., for one) have dealt with this issue easily for ages. Tighten the claw, screw the bridge plate all the way down, put on all the springs, and wedge a fitted piece of wood behind the trem bridge. Adjust string height to your taste. Shim if necessary. Problem solved. No big deal. Simply wishing Fender would do this or that ain't gonna solve your problem.


Yeah, obviously I can see I'm in the minority here. Anyway, yes, I have blocked many a trem. In fact that is the first thing I do to a strat. I appreciate all the "solutions" people offer but basically I was just airing some frustrations that Fender has virtually no offering for this market. I'm kinda surprised a little bit that no one else would like to see Fender offer a MIM hardtail. I mean really, look at all of the Strats Fender has in any given year, and no hard tails? I don't want to have to buy a different brand or mod mine or pay ridiculous amounts for custom shop model. I just feel like it should be possible to just get an off the shelf fixed bridge, plain and simple. But I can see I am one of the few. So be it

I'm not disagreeing with you caustic, as I said I wouldn't mind a hard tail MIM strat. If I ever come across one I'll most certainly try it out. But I think most Fender enthusiasts looking for a hard tail would probably just go with a Tele.


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Post subject: Re: HardTail Strats
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 9:45 am
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Fender offers the Cray hardtail and began offering a limited edition 70s styled American Special Hardtail this year http://www.fender.com/guitars/stratocas ... Go&start=1. Fender previously offered Hardtails in the American Standard/Series line, but they do not sell well. I'm with Retroverbial, if you really want one, its easy to build your own:

Image


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Post subject: Re: HardTail Strats
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 9:47 am
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Yogi wrote:
Image


She's a beaut, Yogi!

8)

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: HardTail Strats
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 10:07 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
Yogi wrote:
Image


She's a beaut, Yogi!

8)

Arjay


Thanks. My first kid was born this year and while my wife was pregnant I built this guitar for my son. Pine Hardtail body,Pure Vintage 65 pickups, Gotoh Tuners, CTS pots CRL switch, Acrylic/ Nitro Lacquer finish, Allparts LRO neck. I plan to give it to him when/if he starts playing :)


Last edited by Yogi on Wed Feb 18, 2015 10:28 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: HardTail Strats
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 10:26 am
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That'll be one fine legacy gift!

Arjay

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