Setting Post Height on Modern Two-Post Tremolo Bridges

How much clearance should there be between the bottom of the bridge and the top of the guitar? In this video I'll walk you through my process to set it just right.

[@a-laise]

Nice Video!!

[@namvet9881]

Thank you for this video.
One of my Stratocasters is a Fender, and the other is an $85 Strat made on some Pacific island. I like them both. With the tremolo bars stored away, I have set up the bridge assemblies of both, locked down to the guitar body, primarily for tuning related stability. That seems to work for me. However, lately I've been listening to some guitar music with very tastfully done tremolo effects. OK, that did it for me and now, having just discovered this helpful video of yours, I'm going add a tremolo bar to one of these guitars. So you see, this all your fault! 😊

[@iperfungus]

Hi Kev! Max from EBMM forum here! Thanks a lot for the video!

[@DrKevGuitar]

Hi Max!

[@drewdemaio4162]

Thank you!!! I've been neglecting my posts and finally realized that's where I've been messing up and what a bonus to see you have an EBMM as I do too!!!!

[@bentorres925]

Thank you I needed this video

[@gs7788]

I set up a decked bridge. The problem is that I can't screw in the whammy bar because it rubs against the body of the guitar when screwing in. Is it the fault of the tremolo bridge screws that regulate the height being screwed in too tightly? I had to set a higher pitch on the side of the treble strings to obtain the same bridge pressure

[@flppr1]

What about installing strings on the 2 point Ernie Ball trem and getting the right trem angle and height, balancing the pull of the springs and strings? Do you have a video for that? Jason Richardson Sterling Cutlass 6 string guitar. No room to fit a gauge under front of trem on this guitar.

[@DrKevGuitar]

When the top of the body is recessed for the trem, you want the top of the bridge plate to approximately level with and parallel to the guitar top. My ability to make videos is limited by Long Covid, but if you ask over at the ernie Ball Music Man forums, the good folks there can talk you through. Use the forum search tools and you'll find past threads where it has been discussed already. 👍

[@elpedomasgrande1]

The post height in relation to the saddle height dramatically changes the slinkyness of the guitar, as you are changing the break angle from the pivot point to the string. This means that depending on what configuration you have a bend has to travel more or less to reach the desired pitch.

[@ezer0923]

If I want to deck it(I'm not a trem user), should I lower it till the plate is flat on the body?

[@DrKevGuitar]

@@ezer0923 You can but for my own guitars (on the rare occasions that i do) I just tighten the trem claw screws till the bridge doesn’t move when I bend.

[@Paul-lj3qw]

Very annoying