Fender Strats - Who Needs Tremelo???

[jim1960]

I prefer having options, so I'll stick with the trem.

[muscmp]

i don't know about tremelo, but i sure like tremolo on my strat. you can't get the exact effect with fingers but you can come close.
to each their own, tho.

play music!

[mr. beaumont]

I like having a hardtail Fender (a tele) and a trem in my electric stable...but my Tremoloed Fender of choice is a Jazzmaster.

I think the trem is part of the package with a Strat, and like most players, it's a part that gets used spaaaaarrringly...but it's cool that it's there.

[Dadzmad]

I have an older MIM and don't use the trem (have not mastered it), but I have the bridge floating with the arm attached as I like sound and bouncy feel of the guitar. It's the heart of the Stratocaster.

[StevenL]

I 'hard-tailed' mine by just tightening down all the springs. Just touching the trem on mine threw it out of tune slightly. Couldn't stand that and the process to actually set one up for intonation seemed (to me) impossible. I've never really never experienced a need for it in my playing world, but would have liked to have the option. But I don't miss it. If I ever feel the need to become a dive bomber, I'll buy a Squire and take off.

[maxtheaxe]

All due respect to guys like Robert Cray who like the hardtails, as someone else mentioned, that's why I also have a Telecaster.

I think you gotta have the trem on a Strat; it's such an integral part of the whole Strat mojo. It can always be blocked if you need to but can't be added if it aint there. Certain players (Jeff Beck comes to mind) use this so melodically, in ways that can't be done with only the fingers. Check the solo played by Beck on Stanley Clarke's song, 'Journey to Love' from the late 70's album of the same name (seriously...download this and check it out). Beck has been refining his trem technique along these lines ever since. Sometimes he just hits a note and then plays the trem like a trombone...sliding into the pitches he's after.

Another thing I've discovered is that the trem makes it easier to grab those notes that sustain into melodic feedback...something about that variability of those warbling frequencies, or maybe being able to sound the note just slightly off pitch until it grabs the amp and starts to sing by itself...really makes that technique come alive.

edit: Incidentally, with regard to one major complaint about these, that they make the guitar go out of tune, I've found that it is absolutely necessary to have locking tuners. Put those on, 98% of those problems are solved. On the rest, I like to use Nut-Sauce type lube in the slots (we're presuming here that those slots are cut right, yes?)and saddles. Once I get the strings settled in, it stays in tune no matter how hard I dive-bomb or jiggle or whack the bar, ala Jeff Beck.

[6L6]

The only reason I've owned Strats over the years is because I love the trem bar and use it all the time.

This guy was my major early influence:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIdxrSnTUPQ

If you're wondering, Hank has the bottom Tone knob wired to the Bridge pickup. He rolls it off to "7".

[s2y]

Originally Posted by 6L6

The only reason I've owned Strats over the years is because I love the term bar and use it all the time.

This guy was my major early influence:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIdxrSnTUPQ

If you're wondering, Hank has the bottom Tone knob wired to the Bridge pickup. He rolls it off to "7".

Somewhat annoying how the bridge pickup doesn't have a tone knob. I plan on using a master tone knob when I order mine and move the volume knob out of the way.

[clintj]

Originally Posted by posternutbag

I've played Telecasters most of my life, so when I wanted a strat, I immediately went looking for a hardtail. There are not many of them. I eventually settled on an American Standard Stratocaster because my local guitar store was blowing them out since the Am. Standard has been discontinued.

Initially I planned to block the trem system, but I actually find that I use it. It wasn't something I particularly wanted or even needed, but I have found a use for it, specifically, putting a little extra feeling into a bend.

So, while it is something I could live without, it is a tool in the tool box. The only real problem is that you have to take the trem arm off when you close the case, and keeping track of the little black tension spring is a pain.

Just curious, but have you tried pointing the arm down towards the jack? Mine fits in the case without removing the arm if I do that.

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[redir]

Originally Posted by maxtheaxe

All due respect to guys like Robert Cray who like the hardtails, as someone else mentioned, that's why I also have a Telecaster.

I think you gotta have the trem on a Strat; it's such an integral part of the whole Strat mojo. It can always be blocked if you need to but can't be added if it aint there. Certain players (Jeff Beck comes to mind) use this so melodically, in ways that can't be done with only the fingers. Check the solo played by Beck on Stanley Clarke's song, 'Journey to Love' from the late 70's album of the same name (seriously...download this and check it out). Beck has been refining his trem technique along these lines ever since. Sometimes he just hits a note and then plays the trem like a trombone...sliding into the pitches he's after.

Another thing I've discovered is that the trem makes it easier to grab those notes that sustain into melodic feedback...something about that variability of those warbling frequencies, or maybe being able to sound the note just slightly off pitch until it grabs the amp and starts to sing by itself...really makes that technique come alive.

edit: Incidentally, with regard to one major complaint about these, that they make the guitar go out of tune, I've found that it is absolutely necessary to have locking tuners. Put those on, 98% of those problems are solved. On the rest, I like to use Nut-Sauce type lube in the slots (we're presuming here that those slots are cut right, yes?)and saddles. Once I get the strings settled in, it stays in tune no matter how hard I dive-bomb or jiggle or whack the bar, ala Jeff Beck.

Michael Caswell too comes to mind.

https://youtu.be/wtx6bcr0LQE?t=51

I rarely use the tremolo on my Stratocaster, but I like to float the bridge any way because it sounds Strattier to me with it floating. Please don't ask me to define Strattier

[Steel and wood]

I don't really get hard tail Stratocasters. (If you don't want or need tremolo then you simply don't use it or even don't connect the arm is how I see it).

Tremolo is integral to the way my favourite Stratocaster players like Hank Marvin and James Calvin Wilsey play. (They rarely let go of that bar). But for me, a gentle toggle now and then is mostly how I apply. (I particularly like the ability to add colour to a slowly strummed chord or two rather than individual notes which you can only do using a tremolo arm).

Having said that, if the arm is not attached for whatever reason, then it's not a game changer.

[690MBCOMMANDO]

All my strats have a trem on them but I rarely use them. Main reason is that with a trem I still have a choice, but no trem = no choice.

A lot of the more modern rock, blues, jazz, stuff I play gets to where I need to be based on playing technique and really not so much trem.

[pieterh]

Originally Posted by clintj

Just curious, but have you tried pointing the arm down towards the jack? Mine fits in the case without removing the arm if I do that.

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Funnily enough I was always worried about that until finally, a few years ago, I found the manual that came with my Strat and reread the suggestions re term arm. If you point it towards the bottom left of the guitar (as if seen on a guitar stand and it's a guitar for right handed players) then it goes into the case no problem. Spring safe!


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[wrathfuldeity]

I have 2 dearly loved knock off strats a carvin DC 135 and 80's mia peavey predator. The carvin is it HSS hardtail the predator is more or less blocked with five Springs. So now this discussion has me thinking about removing a few of those springs and getting the trem to work well...btw it has an aftermarket steel block which ime really improved the sustain. So a brief highjack quick question how many and or what kind of springs do you use...cause the stock peavey ones are seemingly unworkable? I really don't want to get a new trem bridge...but its about the only thing that hasnot been changed. Thanks