if you want your bridge elevated yet parallel to the body, fund some those PRS style 6pt screws, they have a ring towards the head so the plate will sit in those and you can adjust up or down, a little each screw obviously but n one guitar I only use 2 screws, works, light strings and half step down but I use it like a 2 pt, WORKS .. if you can find sturdier I managed to find some stainless with the rings on the shank.. why I can get away with only the 2 on he one strat, they do warble slightly when hitting the bar hard but they go right back to tune so . . . try to find some on the bay and try it, if they are not stainless use at least 4 of them otherwise it may be unstable.. on a few I use all 6 and very stable and I can adjust the leading edge up and down, set the plate parallel, I usually set the bridge parallel about a string 1/8th" above the deck . . works great .. one more thing, be careful when tightening these, with the ring the shank is narrower there and can snap, so i pre-drill so only the threads are grabbing then I wax the screws so they screw in and out with ease, have few n hand in case one snaps off until you dial in hole size and lube so forth, once you do that you should be good to go . . .
thanks for this. interesting. can you explain why you like to have your bridge elevated yet parallel? Maybe you should make a video on the process. thanks.
Eh? Flat to the body may be some folks' preference, but it's not the setup that Fender intended. It's designed to float. That said, I might try this with mine, in case it works for me.
thanks for the comment. I should mention I set up guitars for buyers of my used guitars. If I send them a floating trem I get nothing but complaints. ("This guitar won't stay in tune!") I have found the average buyer is very happy with a flat stable tremolo after selling guitars for 15 years as a business now. The floating guys will probably want to set up to their preference anyway. I'm sure there are many out there that know more about Strat tremolos than me, but I have learned what the average player/buyer wants. I think in 15 years I had one guy ask me why I didn't float the tremolo, otherwise very happy customers with no float. thanks again!
It's a trade-off. If you want tuning stability decking the trem as the vid instructs will get you there, but the trem gets pretty stiff and you may have to bend the arm to have it in a usable position. If you want ease of engagement and that old-school warble like a Bigsby B6 or a Jazzmaster-type trem, it's gotta float. Yuh pays yer money and yuh takes yer choice.
hi, thanks for putting it that way. It's a very personal choice. Some guys like me just prefer to have the extra tuning stability of a flat bridge and don't care about the more flexible floating setup. If I was a lead player that might be a different story. Also, as I mentioned in another comment, I'm usually setting up Strats for guys that bought them from me, so I like to just deck them and they will probably want to set it themselves if they prefer a float. thanks!
I have the two fulcrum point trem on my 2013 Fender FSR 59 Thinskin USA Strat. The guitar looks almost Identical to the one in this video, accept for the trem, even the same color and maple fretboard. It has a one ply pickguard like the ones on original 59 Strats also. I setup the trem with an eighth inch gap between the body and trem. It is really stable and stays in tune as compared to the old MIM Strat I had before. The MIM Strat had the same problem as you're having. No matter what I did it just wouldn't stay in tune for more than a song, if I was lucky. I bought the FSR Strat from a friend about three years ago because he let me take it home to try it out for a few days before I bought it. It was in new condition as he only played it a few times after getting it new as a birthday present. He said it was in the case in his closet for five years without touching it. It even still had the fresh lacquer smell when I first opened the case. Seven years ago I bought a made in France 1998 Vigier Excalibur that has a Floyd Rose style trem and locking nut to replace the old MIM Strat. I will go to the grave before I part with my Vigier, as it stays in tune forever, even when doing wild divebombs. The trem on the Vigier has roller bearing fulcrums instead of blades like most Floyd Rose trems. It has a super fast neck that is the most comfortable, lowest action, buzz free I've ever played, bar none. I was lucky to get the Vigier so cheap because the lady that sold it to me never heard of the brand and didn't know they go for $4500 new. Sorry for the rant, I'm stuck in bed for a couple of day's with nothing to do but surf the web and TV.
Ive played fender style 6 screw bridges for 40 plus years. I have yet to see one hold tuning using the bar. Sometimes they come close, but with any gain, the slightest thing sounds horrible. Decked is only way im sorry to say.
yea, so you're saying floating the 6-screw bridge is not really ideal. I'm not surprised. I think with careful attention to the nut slots and bridge saddles so there is no friction and careful tremolo adjustment (and knowing how to play a floated bridge) they can be made semi-workable, but I'm no expert as I just always deck the ones I set up just for simplicity and tuning stability. thanks!
This video and the whole idea of how to adjust a tremolo has triggered a lot of people. Got die hard "floaters" who say flat to the body is heresy and the other side who say keeping a Strat in tune is a pain. Now we're gonna get into terminology? Gotta love it...
@@mykhedelic6471 ok noted. unfortunately I think that horse has left the barn. I along with many others now use the term "vibrato" in the wrong way without even knowing it. cheers!
@@stillkickinmusic if you dive the bridge having it decked won’t return the tuning to pitch. The only thing the instrument responds to is the last state it was in, example, if you stretch the strings aggressively and tune your guitar this way it will stay in tune no matter how hard you bend regardless if it floating or decked, next if you dive and tune dive and tune no matter how much you dive the guitar will remain in tune independent if it is decked or floating but as soon as you bend a string or pull up you are out of luck. Same theory if you float the guitar and tune to pull ups. The vibrato bridge setup is a system and dependent on the state in which you set it up. No matter what snake oil people promise you can never get it to remain in tune with all 3 scenarios Bend/Dive/Pull Up that is why you have to decide how you will play and use the vibrato so you can choose the best configuration for your needs. Double locking system is only minimally affected by this almost unnoticeable.
@@bluwng I think I get what you're driving at. the only thing I notice is floating bridges have some room for error, where if not set up just right (or played just right) they will not even return it to whatever that initial state was. They will return all strings slightly sharp or flat. Decked gets rid of that problem.
@@stillkickinmusicThe only people who deck the bridge don't use the trem and that's fine. If you use it, it's much better floating. If you can't get it to stay in tune when floating, there is an issue that can be resolved. 42 years of playing Strats.
Thank you for this info and your experience. Agree floating can be done right. Only thing I might quibble on is that if you deck then you don't use. I think lots of people keep it flat to the body and only bend down. I understand it may not be as expressive or flexible as floating but I think people may still use the tremolo in that way. thanks!
@TeleCaster66 i got about as many years as you playing strats. And i would highly disagree. Floating strats all tske a trick to get them back in perfect tune. Either string bending, diving the bar. Or pulling the bar. No strat will stay in tune without one of these methods for your typical heavy bending lead player.
@@DonFonzarelli-uq9yx you stretch and tune, stretch and tune, stretch and tune. You wiggle the arm and slap it. You tune. Wiggle exactly the same and slap. Around the 4th time you just wiggle and slap. It is tuned now. I can stand on a strat and kick the strings then pick it up and wiggle then slap. Tuned. 45 years same trick, just like Jeff Beck before sticky rollers.
![The Perfect Stratocaster Trem / Vibrato Setup [Floating, Flat Or Blocked?]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/PjVXWyUGpwc/mqdefault.jpg)
if you want your bridge elevated yet parallel to the body, fund some those PRS style 6pt screws, they have a ring towards the head so the plate will sit in those and you can adjust up or down, a little each screw obviously but n one guitar I only use 2 screws, works, light strings and half step down but I use it like a 2 pt, WORKS .. if you can find sturdier I managed to find some stainless with the rings on the shank.. why I can get away with only the 2 on he one strat, they do warble slightly when hitting the bar hard but they go right back to tune so . . . try to find some on the bay and try it, if they are not stainless use at least 4 of them otherwise it may be unstable..
on a few I use all 6 and very stable and I can adjust the leading edge up and down, set the plate parallel, I usually set the bridge parallel about a string 1/8th" above the deck . . works great .. one more thing, be careful when tightening these, with the ring the shank is narrower there and can snap, so i pre-drill so only the threads are grabbing then I wax the screws so they screw in and out with ease, have few n hand in case one snaps off until you dial in hole size and lube so forth, once you do that you should be good to go . . .
thanks for this. interesting. can you explain why you like to have your bridge elevated yet parallel? Maybe you should make a video on the process. thanks.
Eh? Flat to the body may be some folks' preference, but it's not the setup that Fender intended. It's designed to float. That said, I might try this with mine, in case it works for me.
thanks for the comment. I should mention I set up guitars for buyers of my used guitars. If I send them a floating trem I get nothing but complaints. ("This guitar won't stay in tune!") I have found the average buyer is very happy with a flat stable tremolo after selling guitars for 15 years as a business now.
The floating guys will probably want to set up to their preference anyway. I'm sure there are many out there that know more about Strat tremolos than me, but I have learned what the average player/buyer wants. I think in 15 years I had one guy ask me why I didn't float the tremolo, otherwise very happy customers with no float. thanks again!
It's a trade-off. If you want tuning stability decking the trem as the vid instructs will get you there, but the trem gets pretty stiff and you may have to bend the arm to have it in a usable position. If you want ease of engagement and that old-school warble like a Bigsby B6 or a Jazzmaster-type trem, it's gotta float.
Yuh pays yer money and yuh takes yer choice.
hi, thanks for putting it that way. It's a very personal choice. Some guys like me just prefer to have the extra tuning stability of a flat bridge and don't care about the more flexible floating setup. If I was a lead player that might be a different story. Also, as I mentioned in another comment, I'm usually setting up Strats for guys that bought them from me, so I like to just deck them and they will probably want to set it themselves if they prefer a float. thanks!
And for budget strats, it's really difficult to get them to float properly with the cheaper parts.
I've got the two point trem and have tried everything to get stable tuning. The Strat now stays in the case, and I play the Les Paul.
Well that's one way to avoid dealing with Strat tuning issues, but they really can be set up to be stable, just takes some work. cheers! thanks
I have the two fulcrum point trem on my 2013 Fender FSR 59 Thinskin USA Strat. The guitar looks almost Identical to the one in this video, accept for the trem, even the same color and maple fretboard. It has a one ply pickguard like the ones on original 59 Strats also. I setup the trem with an eighth inch gap between the body and trem. It is really stable and stays in tune as compared to the old MIM Strat I had before. The MIM Strat had the same problem as you're having. No matter what I did it just wouldn't stay in tune for more than a song, if I was lucky. I bought the FSR Strat from a friend about three years ago because he let me take it home to try it out for a few days before I bought it. It was in new condition as he only played it a few times after getting it new as a birthday present. He said it was in the case in his closet for five years without touching it. It even still had the fresh lacquer smell when I first opened the case.
Seven years ago I bought a made in France 1998 Vigier Excalibur that has a Floyd Rose style trem and locking nut to replace the old MIM Strat. I will go to the grave before I part with my Vigier, as it stays in tune forever, even when doing wild divebombs. The trem on the Vigier has roller bearing fulcrums instead of blades like most Floyd Rose trems. It has a super fast neck that is the most comfortable, lowest action, buzz free I've ever played, bar none. I was lucky to get the Vigier so cheap because the lady that sold it to me never heard of the brand and didn't know they go for $4500 new. Sorry for the rant, I'm stuck in bed for a couple of day's with nothing to do but surf the web and TV.
Ive played fender style 6 screw bridges for 40 plus years. I have yet to see one hold tuning using the bar.
Sometimes they come close, but with any gain, the slightest thing sounds horrible.
Decked is only way im sorry to say.
yea, so you're saying floating the 6-screw bridge is not really ideal. I'm not surprised. I think with careful attention to the nut slots and bridge saddles so there is no friction and careful tremolo adjustment (and knowing how to play a floated bridge) they can be made semi-workable, but I'm no expert as I just always deck the ones I set up just for simplicity and tuning stability. thanks!
I love Leo, love his designs, love the Strat, but gawdam it irks the SH_T outta me when I hear people say "trem" and "tremolo."
This video and the whole idea of how to adjust a tremolo has triggered a lot of people. Got die hard "floaters" who say flat to the body is heresy and the other side who say keeping a Strat in tune is a pain. Now we're gonna get into terminology? Gotta love it...
@@stillkickinmusic Well, it's something I hear alot, don't often comment, guess I was in a mood.
Anyway, it's a vibrato....
@@mykhedelic6471 ok noted. unfortunately I think that horse has left the barn. I along with many others now use the term "vibrato" in the wrong way without even knowing it. cheers!
It doesn’t do anything for tuning stability if you use the vibrato.
ok, please expand. my only point here is lying decked to the body you've got more tuning stability than floating....
@@stillkickinmusic if you dive the bridge having it decked won’t return the tuning to pitch. The only thing the instrument responds to is the last state it was in, example, if you stretch the strings aggressively and tune your guitar this way it will stay in tune no matter how hard you bend regardless if it floating or decked, next if you dive and tune dive and tune no matter how much you dive the guitar will remain in tune independent if it is decked or floating but as soon as you bend a string or pull up you are out of luck. Same theory if you float the guitar and tune to pull ups. The vibrato bridge setup is a system and dependent on the state in which you set it up. No matter what snake oil people promise you can never get it to remain in tune with all 3 scenarios Bend/Dive/Pull Up that is why you have to decide how you will play and use the vibrato so you can choose the best configuration for your needs. Double locking system is only minimally affected by this almost unnoticeable.
@@bluwng I think I get what you're driving at. the only thing I notice is floating bridges have some room for error, where if not set up just right (or played just right) they will not even return it to whatever that initial state was. They will return all strings slightly sharp or flat. Decked gets rid of that problem.
that is a terrible thing to do it floats a nickle deep or tuning is hopeless
I'm sorry I don't understand what you're saying but I don't think decking a Strat bridge is a terrible thing to do. thanks.
@@stillkickinmusicThe only people who deck the bridge don't use the trem and that's fine. If you use it, it's much better floating. If you can't get it to stay in tune when floating, there is an issue that can be resolved. 42 years of playing Strats.
Thank you for this info and your experience. Agree floating can be done right. Only thing I might quibble on is that if you deck then you don't use. I think lots of people keep it flat to the body and only bend down. I understand it may not be as expressive or flexible as floating but I think people may still use the tremolo in that way. thanks!
@TeleCaster66 i got about as many years as you playing strats. And i would highly disagree. Floating strats all tske a trick to get them back in perfect tune. Either string bending, diving the bar. Or pulling the bar. No strat will stay in tune without one of these methods for your typical heavy bending lead player.
@@DonFonzarelli-uq9yx you stretch and tune, stretch and tune, stretch and tune. You wiggle the arm and slap it. You tune. Wiggle exactly the same and slap. Around the 4th time you just wiggle and slap. It is tuned now. I can stand on a strat and kick the strings then pick it up and wiggle then slap. Tuned. 45 years same trick, just like Jeff Beck before sticky rollers.
Nope.
Thank you for the comment.