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Post by jkemmery on Jul 24, 2007 15:45:06 GMT -5
If you're using a standard strat style whammy device (vibrato, tremolo ~ let's just call it a whammy, it's fun to say and write , you can bump up the spring tension to the point that when the guitar is fully in tune, the back of the bridge is resting on the body of the guitar or rather, pulled tight to the body of the guitar. Of course, this will eliminate "pull ups", which may be completely out-of-the-question for some, but, when set up in this manner, along with a good set of locking tuners and a Graph-Tech nut, normally seems to keep you in tune fairly well. I used this technique way back in the '80s on my Jap Strat with a System 1 trem to good effect. Of course, it had a behind-the-nut locking mechanism, not locking tuners, but the principle should be the same. If you watch SRV play, and then take a look at pictures of the back of No1, with it's 5 whole springs, I believe this is the same technique he used. If you lightly slap the bar it will raise the bridge some then smack back down on the body, causing vibrations in the strings making a springy, smaking sound. Stevie used this smacking technique in many live performances, and it does sound like the bridge is smacking back down on the body. Wilkinson, HipShot and many other styles of bridges work well with this, as will a Floyd provided it doesn't have recess routing. The guitar I just build has a Wilkinson WVPSB, which with it's wide heavy body works in much the same manner as the old System one back on my '80's strat. It stays in tune nicely with trem useage. Make sure your nut is nice and tight and you may want to shim the neck some right under the heel so that you can run the bridge down as flush as possible (if you have a 2 poster) to keep the action high enough not to buzz.
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