That first tip is exactly what I needed to hear. I kept wondering why it wouldn't stay flush, and here you are telling me I've been doing it right the whole time.
Thanks for saying the truth, if you want a dive bombin shred machine, get one. But this one stays in tune very well if you have the guitar set up right. And Ed, imo the American Professional Strat trem is the best functioning of the ones that come stock I have used in 20 years (omg I am getting old). It was smart to say this one works fine for most things, as many people hate on it and think it’s the first thing to change when you buy a new strat. It worked fine for Gilmour and Hendrix, so shake the thing!
Very Good. Im using the Nut Sauce and it does help. A Professional Set-Up and proper Intonation helps tremendously. I do all my own maintenance after watching the Frudua Videos. He is a Master.
My strat came with the trem decked and I didn’t even know you could set it to float. After I figured that out, I realized I liked the increased sustain and tuning stability of having it decked. I’ve actually considered putting in a block because I never use the tremolo.
Interestingly enough contrary to common experience with floating tremolos, when I unlocked the trem and set it to float it gave the guitar considerably better sustain.
Interestingly enough contrary to common experience with floating tremolos, when I unlocked the trem and set it to float it gave the guitar considerably better sustain.
Another tip is to pull up on the tremolo bar before tuning each string. Then, if you DO happen to fall out of tune, you can pull up on the bar to go back into tune.
@@quentin536 yes, after a dive, a quick yank all the way up, strings muted if necessary. Back in perfect tune in a split second. And mine is a cheap squire with a 6 screw type trem.
Yeah same ! That quick gentle pull on the bar has become second nature . It's funny , when I was young , I couldn't stand Strats , they never seemed to stay in tune compared to the Epiphone EA250's vibrato that I owned then and I thought they sounded thin . I used to love records with Hendrix, Clapton, Hank Marvin , Buddy Holly , Richie Blackmore, and many other Strat players but when I picked one up ,I sounded shit lol. Although I bought a used '96 Squier from a friend about 19 years ago (I still have it) , I really got into Strats & the bar about 5 years ago. My go to guitars right now 😉👌
You can also buy finely powdered teflon. Process: 1. Restring 2. Use a 'Strecha' to stretch the strings. 3. With the strings detuned low, smooth a tiny bit teflon powder over the top of the strings (in their slots) then pull up each string (allowing the powder to drop in and around the slot) and finally snap the string back into the slot. This coats both the string and slot with teflon. 4. Retune the strings. Viola! Perfectly smooth string slots;)
This works great if all you do is vibrato chords, but if you stretch a string during a solo, then go back to chords, your axe will likely be out of tune. The secret here is to simply push your trem arm down just once, not too hard, not too soft and DO NOT pull back on it (up-pitch). Doing this is an art (like playing) and should bring the strings all back to equilibrium (if they were properly equalized and tuned prior to the stretch). Practice it.
Yeah, but then you have to dive the bar after every bend. Especially g string bends, so yes that method works great, but it is not practical. Pulling up on the bar to reset works way better, of course then you got to do it after every downward movement of the bar. Strat trem sucks, it just does. Watch steve lukather play his musicman, and he can bend, go up, go down, in any combination and that guitar stays in tune. I dont know why musicman stays in tune so much better. The trem looks basically like a fender trem, operates on same principal, but that system is 100 times more stable than any fender.
My question is this, if I hit an open string and then bend another string, the open string drops in Pitch. I hate this. Is there any way to stop this with Floating Bridge on a fender? Same problem with unison bends. Like Tool Sober for example. When I bend one string and not the other, the non-bent string drops in tune. This is a problem I'm struggling with.
Check the string holes on your bridge plate the next time you have the strings off.. Remove the saddles and inspect them for groves and burrs caused by the string movement with the tremolo. Wound strings pinch here the most. Deburr and lightly camper these holes or replace the bridge plate with a higher quality of steel.
I set mine up to where I can do anything from Hendrix, VH, to Jeff Beck. I get the results I did with the ball & chain Floyd! The Floyd reminds me of a set of training weels for a bocycle.😀 Don’t need any nut sauce! We use try things like chap stick, 3&1 oil & would also shave a pencil & put the graphite in the nut. That worked the best. Don't need any of that today. Works flawlessly if you know the main secret.There are a few tricks & physics involved. I been doing it since the early 70’s around 1972-73 I was playing & listening to Jimi Hendrix at the time. Plus I use a different nut & Sperzel tuners. Works fine & I don’t have to stretch the strings either. I was buying Fender necks from Manys Music at 48th st. NYC. The original Sam Ash was accross the street. No one I can think of was routing out a strat in 1972-73. I was putting humbuckers in a couple of custom explorer body's with the original fender bridges not Gibson. Anyone wants the details just ask. It's not a magical black art thing. There is just two main things to make it work😊
Steve, I liked your work in AirHeads, Reservoir Dogs and Fargo. And I agree with your views on tipping. You look like you haven't aged a day! Thanks for the tips! (Hey, you tipped?)
Without FR, 2 point bridge, locking tuners and lsr roller nut are the only one I ever played that stayed in tune whatever I did. It was a Am Dlx HSH. Could dive bomb until the stings did hang in å bow and let the arm loose again and it was in perfect tuning pitch again. I have never touched a Fender that you could do that before or after that guitar.
There's one other thing you can do. I learned a technique from Carl Verheyen on adjusting the spring tensions on youtube. Jeff Beck also uses it. It worked really well on a strat I have that was giving me tuning problems.
You are amazing! and this video is the explanation of why even using locking tuners your guitar can go out of tune if there is no lubrication in every nut slot.
i subscribed just for the description of " Its basically awesome" and to learn about your store and knowledge !!!! thanks for the awesomness !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I also lubricate the saddles on the bridge. Remember every place the string makes contact. Also if your springs are old you're going to have problems keeping in tune.
Quick answer: Use the arm gently and sparingly. If you want to do stuff like Eddie Van Halen or Jeff Beck, you'll need upgrades like a Floyd Rose and / or locking nut
thanks man, really trying to do those hendrix and eddie van halen divebombs. sometimes i just literally play lenny (which doesn’t use the whammy bar in a really hard way) but it still goes out of tune. helped a lot
Wind the strings the least amount possible on the tuning pegs, stretch the strings, make sure the nut is smooth and lubed, if u use the bar for just a little vibrato it’s pretty good at staying in tune but if ur doing dive bombs all the time just get a Floyd if u wanna stay in tune.
Most any trem can be set up for floating. It all has to do with the spacing ( trem saddles ) from the body = Approx 1/8 inch ( as shown here ). Adjusting the inner cavity's trem block and spring tension to allow it to float - so you can Pitch Up or Down.
I am planning to buy a strat, but I sometimes change to drop tunings. I've heard that its a pain to change the tuning in a trem system. Can you please help me on this.
I'm just plugged into Channel 1 of that Mesa JP-2C with reverb from the amp! That ringing, glassy tone is characteristic of a Stratocaster. New strings always help but that's it! All Strat!
That’s the sound of those criminally underrated Mexican Standard ceramic pickups, I love them. They are one of the main reasons I chose the MIM over the American Standard.
I'm going to buy a electric guitar soon and start out playing but I have a question, because the strat I'm getting has a tremolo bridge, and I'm wondering if I were to remove the whammy bar and not use it at all, will my strings go out of tune as often w the whammy bar?
2 reasons 1. when u use the tremolo and when u are done the tremolo doesn't get back in place(u need to loosen the bolts on term and lubricate them) 2. the string gets caught in the nut of the guitar(smooth sandpaper and gently sand the string slot, and ofc locking tuners would help)
also need to lube the underside of the string tree and saddles. I can dive bomb and go pretty crazy on it and it holds it's tune very well. and do yourself a favor and get locking tuners. they should come standard on my Pro II but they don't. greedy fender.
Thank you for this information but, most of us are familiar with the different types of lube for keeping your Strat in tune when using a gentle touch on the tremolo bar. So.....how does Jeff Beck keep his guitar in tune? Aside from the Fender Wilkinson Roller Nut, which he has on everyone one of his Strats and can't be bought anywhere unless you snatch up one of the few remaining 80's Strat Plus' that actually came with the Wilkinson Nut, (which I have done), how does he keep his guitar in tune. He works that bar as hard as anyone I've ever seen and rarely do you see him tune up live, even after torturing that tremolo on the previous tune. Sometimes he just swaps out guitars, but for me the real question is, how it it that Jeff's guitar rarely go out of tune? Any suggestions?
Thank you for this video. I was wondering if you could do a review of a Tagima TG-530 Strat Style Guitar and your opinion of the whammy bar set up on that guitar in comparison to a Fender Strat?
Pretty sure it's because the tremelo system and how when you mess with one string, it causes the tremelo system to raise up, making the other strings go out too
I love my Strat and it is set up nicely but I threw away the tremolo a long time ago because it DOES twang it all out of tune no matter what. Frustrating really.
I have an American Dlx with the LSR roller nut. I don't use the trem so I decked it using 5 springs and tightening the claw screws but it still won't stay in tune. Strings immediately go flat on bends (well stretched strings). I think the strings are binding in the roller nut but that's the problem that roller nuts are supposed to eliminate and I don't know what to do about it. Any ideas?
Try using 3 springs in a V configuration ... the center straight up/down and the other two right next to the center on both sides and both going to the corner hook to make the V pattern. Works for me Neal
hello i have a problem. Once the guitar is in tune when using the tremolo, the tone of the first string is raised and after the band returns to the tone. The guitar is a Malmstein fender. Can anyone help?
Whenever I use the tremelo bar my guitar will go super sharp or flat like the bridge is getting stuck in a new position. Trying to figure out how to fix this problem.
@Europa some bridges are easier to work w/ than others. don't give up... assuming the bridge mechanism is not defective, lubricate the contact points where the bridge touches the 6 screws. the 6 screws should allow full motion for the tremolo bridge (up and down), the screw heads don't need/shouldn't touch the bridge. (use a screw driver, a wire, etc.. dip it in lubricant and then touch the back of the screws that hold the bridge. a small amount will wick down the screw) if the strings are new, make sure they are stretched.. also press down on them at the point where they come off the saddles and behind the nut. also, proper spring tension helps... this is how you adjust the springs and bridge height: 1. with the guitar in tune and the bridge floating, tighten the back tremolo screws so that the tremolo touches or is parallel w/ the body. (sometimes there is a gap, it depends how the front of the bridge is positioned relative to the body) 2. retune the G string to G. 3. use sticky notes under the bridge to float it, enough of them to make the G string become an E. (this will be the balanced position for your floating bridge) 4. with the sticky notes holding the bridge, retune all strings. 5. remove the sticky notes from under the bridge. (the tuning will go high, as the bridge pulls on the strings) 6. using the back tremolo screws, loosen them gradually until the guitar is back in tune. this is the final position for the bridge. using a different gauge of strings requires a re-balance of the spring tension. hope this helps, good luck. *if done correctly, the E string should go a half step sharp (F) when the tremolo is pulled all the way up. ** the heavier strings (E, A) may remain sharp (no more than 10 cents) after the tremolo is pulled all the way up. to reset them, slightly press down the tremolo... this is most likely due to friction between the many contact points (the 6 screws, the strings touching the bridge and the saddles, the nut and lastly, the give in the tuners)
Whenever I do double stop bends on my MiM strat, the E string's pitch goes slightly lower because the bridge is pulled up a bit due to the bending of the B string. So my B string's bend has to match the E string note that I'm fretting, but at a slightly lower pitch, making the note be out of tune. Does anyone else have this problem?
thats just how a floating trem works. You need to tighten the springs on the back to make it flush with the body so that when you bend a string the bridge doesnt pull forwards because the springs would have more tension than the strings
Kiko lourerio from megadeth suggests to hold the bridge down with your hand while doing bends so other strings dont go out of tune when the bending pulls the bridge up
The best way to maintain tuning stability is making sure the strings are totally stretched out and use a nut lube like Big Bends Nut Sauce or GHS Grphital. These products keep the strings from binding in the individual nut slots. Bottom line though, dive bombs on a non-locking trem is pushing the design of the thing to the limit so you have to manage expectations!
@@MooreMusicGuitars that is your answer? You don't know how to set up a Strat. I've had at least a dozen Strats over the last 15 years and have never had a problem keeping them in tune and I've never used any lubricant. No need. No need for a Floyd. I have a brain and I use it well.
@@acegibson9533 lol chill the fuck down dude. He's just trying to help. You act like he's purposefully misleading people, he's just saying what he knows and does to his instruments. No one is stopping you from doing the same. Not everyone is as "professional" as you and that's perfectly fine.
I think it's www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/big-bends-nut-sauce-tuning-lubricant - but I also think it's just expensive Vaseline petroleum jelly (some people also use chap stick).
What about the string bends that always sets that string out of tune. And u need to use the tremolo to bring it back to tune! This really stress me out
You didn't cover the most important things. You need to make sure the screws on the trem are set properly on the front of the bridge. If they touch the plate in a certain way it'll go out of tune. You then have to balance the tension with the springs. Unfortunately the better made guitar the better the term will be.My custom shops Never go out even with dive bombing and I don't use lubes. An mim stratocaster will have issues due to building quality. Either will never more work to function well.
Sensible comments from a knowledgeable person. While it's true that Fender tremolo is not a good design, Ed explains how to compensate and get the best tune stability possible.
Daniel Ibanez - Not a good design? It works fine as a tremolo but we're asking it to be something it's not. Even Eddie runs his Floyd flush against the body and has to be depressed before he can raise a note, plus with a locking nut. And we all hate a locking nut. I've been playing an SL57 and the angled headstock seems to help. Maybe a roller nut with a zero fret? IDK?
@@virnalinebrida-sunga7748 i learn from carl verheyen and it work,,but it just running a little bit..but its ok .. i think VEGA TREM or SUPER VEE BLADE RUNNER is the best tremolo for strat
Its a chame for Fender. 2700 swiss Franks for a Malmsteen, and i canot tudch de fucking tremolo. They say its Like wintach and charge iven more. I hat the shit gutare. Money throd out of the window. Finale jet they are not able too resolf tiuningproblems. The RU-vid is full with people wo are sad about that. Shame Fender, livin in the fucking Old Days. For 2500 Dollars and no tune. You talking trash