After 25 years of being decked I decided to give floating a go. After a quarter century of playing and mucking around with guitars you learn where the tuning instabilities really come from. I will never go back as i love the shimmer of the floating bridge. Bend double stops are not as negatively affected as i was lead to believe
You can swap out tuners for those staggered fender tuners that have lower poles on the thin strings and it will allow you to bypass the string tree for one less friction point.
After decades of playing my '68 hardtail, when I got my Custom Shop '59 Strat, I wound up taking out the springs altogether and blocking the bridge with a plastic bag full of quarters. Works and sounds great
My original strat (79/80 model) was always pretty stable for tuning. Got it professionally set up about 8 years ago for the 1st time. Its stays in tune so well. Original bone nut, replaced rusty trees and new complete tremolo about 10 years ago as I’d worn it out !
I decked my strat a few years ago and never looked back but after watching this I’m considering floating it. Like many others I experienced tuning issues which is why I decked it. I purchased the book you recommended! Can’t wait to implement the tips into my routine. As always, I greatly appreciate your videos!
I'm more a Tele guy and have always had trouble on my Strat with unison bends going out of tune. Mostly just like the Strat neck PUP. So I de-Stratted my Strat by blocking the trem, pulling the middle PUP. Popping a strat-sized Broadcaster PUP (metal baseplate and all) in the bridge position and wired it with 4-way Tele wiring. It doesn't sound exactly like a Tele or Strat. But its a fun guitar with some interesting tones not found in a standard Tele or Strat. But my Tele is still my No. 1.
This video made me so happy, I love Strats and I really like yours, the checking on that finish is amazing. When I was a kid I had a job cleaning pools, and they gave us this grease called Super Lube for use on O-rings. It's Teflon-based, fully synthetic. It's clear, doesn't smell, doesn't react chemically with anything, and it's really cheap and easy to find. I tried using it on my Strat trem one day (25 years ago now!) and I still use it to this day. It's absolutely perfect for it. A toothpick and a few dabs of that stuff and I can get any Strat to stay in tune for the long haul.
I have 3 strats ,all set up to float and I string all my fenders with 9s and they all work great .They all have the 2; point trem ,but I don't know if that makes a difference.
I’ve been saving this one for a few days and I love Strats so get ready for a big long comment! Also! The Cloud City reference is indicative of why I’m subscribed!
I float my strats. I use 9.5 - 44 strings too, but only use 3 springs. No problem with returning to pitch with the trem set up correctly and the nut lubricated.
I had been a decked player for a long time but bought a Strat that was owned by Mike Landau. Floating. Now I get it! I feel like I missed the whole vibe of Strats for years. So yes to floating
I've got one set up to float and a second not to. 3 Springs on the active trem. Works well with 9 - 46 strings. Never more than 2 winds on the E and A posts. Use a bit of lub on the nut and you're good.
I have 2 Strats…one standard tuning…one in E flat…both stung with 10’s. Both are floating and are setup like Jeff Beck…pulling up on the trem gives you a full tone on the high E. With a nut cut properly and some graphite in the slots they stay in tune really well. I’m certainly no Jeff Beck but this system works well for me. Also replaced the Fender string tree with an aftermarket roller type that I put a tiny amount of Vaseline on. After a big pull up or dive just smack the whammy bar again and it comes right back.
I decked my Strat decades ago after reading somewhere that Jimmy Page did that to his… Made a lot of sense to me at the time, especially as the guitar would go wildly out of tune as soon as a string broke. I tightened the springs down a little bit too-and added a piece of stick-on rubber to the underside of the trem block to keep it from clacking against the body of the guitar
I used to have it floated. Always stayed in tune. Now however I have all my strats set flush to the body and 5 springs. I think it sounds better and you don't have to worry about going out of tune if you break a string midsong. Love your show 👍😀
I played a '57 Strat for 27 years in the honky tonks, dive bars, hippie clubs in my youth and middle age. Looked a lot like yours. Shot frets, weaker pickups and I always played five springs. Thanks for the tips. FWIW, I knew Paul when we were all living in Mendocino. Great guy...
I use 9s floating and hardly ever have to tune. Tinkered a lot and ended up with brass saddles, 4 “raw vintage” low tension springs, bone nut, and staggered tuners. I also have a more severe float. I don’t know if I just got lucky or what but 9s work great! I also noticed you can tighten the claw angled one way or the other slightly and it changes the tone a tiny bit on the high vs low strings by tensioning one side vs the other slightly.
I thought I wanted a strat until I finally played one a couple of weeks ago at GC. I had all these ideas for using the trem bar. I have some physical limitations and wasn’t able to use it like I was thinking. Back to my tele!
@@AndrewBoydMusic I think I was more intrigued with the trem bar and the way Jeff Beck played more so than the strat tone per se. Another thing driving me to want to get a strat was my late good friend played an Olympic white one and I wanted one like he had as a tribute to him.
@@allenmitchell09 Ahhh I see. That's cool in tribute. Olympic white is one of those classic fav color schemes ( aged mint pickguard or of course that Hendrix color scheme) I was primarily a Strat guy for years but took a break once I found a great Tele. Funny how one or the other changes how you play music. Different styles live in each guitar. Also Maple and Rosewood neck and different body woods changes the whole thing as well. May you Keep rockin that Tele. Peace out.
@@AndrewBoydMusic Yeah exactly! My friend was a huge Hendrix fan and that was his reasoning for wanting that color and all. The one I want would be basically the same Woodstock strat except I play lefty and I want the big headstock. Which Fender doesn't make. I would have to parts cast it.
I have been floating my Strat for 13 years… Scott Henderson taught me some good tricks! oval out your 6 screw holes…so there is no binding with rough tight edges!!! Very important!!!! I also only use 3 springs… and also added some foam to deaden to verb effect in the springs! I additionally I upgraded the Saddles first to “ Roller Saddles”… but those failed after a year 😕and after that I went to a composite Graph Tech saddle for the last 9 years. 👍👍👍!!! With the float setup correctly 90 % of the time it stays in tune but if it goes a bit out just pluck the vibrato bar a few times and it magically comes all back in tune!!!! The only issue is that intonation on a Full-float… is The#6 Low E saddle and the #3 G saddle I had to remove 1/8 “ from the rear of both saddles with a file and also cut the spring 50% in both Saddles to get my intonation on those strings. I am using 10-46 Maxima Gold strings with the string tree removed and a bone nut. I did buy a Roller-Nut but never installed it… because that is a lot of serous cutting to the neck that could ruin the neck permanently… so it seems to all work perfectly with the bone nut no issues!!!! Cheers Gerard
My first real Strat was a Korean Squier II with a brass bridge but missing the trem arm... I took it in to get set up and we "decked" the bridge which I prefer to this day... the combination of the heavy bridge and tension on the springs makes it sustain in a way I like. It taught me to love Fenders and is still one of the best playing guitars I own!
Always float my Strats- i’ve found setting the spring tension so that hitting the 7th fret harmonic on the G string and pulling up on the trem so it’s raises pitch a whole tone seems to work well for tuning stability…
Hello, thanks for the tutorial. Be aware that a Stratocaster scale length shortens a fraction when the tremolo goes forward, and your string action raises higher also, so keep in mind you should be lowering your action after floating...I'm okay with this since in standard tuning (440) the 25.50 scale length can make the tension pretty tight to the fingers if you bend notes. Either Decked or floating has its advantages, having 2 different stratocaster guitars each set up differently be ideal. All of us should also know when using 3 springs they should be straight NOT in a pyramid or pointed configuration...if they are parallel the tension is even making tuning much more stable.
That's a super cool looking guitar Zac! I don't remember for sure but I think it was Carl Verheyen that I saw a long time ago talking about the floating setup of a Strat. I think he was showing how it's possible to set it up so that when you pull up, it'll pull the various strings up by a specific amount. Like the G string will go up a a whole step, the B a third or something like that. Made it possible for some really musical options when bending up.
Such a great common sense video Zac … I adopted the same approach 40 years ago - never had a problem with a ‘low float’ … just right for a Strat. Raw Vintage springs too👍🏻 They make a difference.
Pencil lead, advise against because it is a mild abrasive actually which can damage the nut. Nut sauce worked great for me for ears. Also eliminate string tree completely with staggered tuners. Also, sewing machine oil (not 3-in-1 oil) on the bridge screws has been key. also break angle at the bridge.
Great episode. For viewers who don't want to buy low tension springs, I recommend the three spring triangle method. One down the middle and the other two at each far end of the bridge narrowing to the three center clips on the law. I float for a whole step up on the G and a half step on the B and E. This allows some cool suspension steel tricks on the G and B or the G and E.
I have you do not want to run the springs diagonal like that on the 2 outer springs. Basically you render your center spring useless when you do that. Instead run all your springs parallel for even tension. The softer springs run about $20/set. Spend the money and be happy with your tremolo (try them and you'll see).
I had my Strats floating for decades until about a month again, trying something different by not using the trem-arm. Not floating them seems to help with tuning.
Great post. The fact a strat can do both speaks to its versatility. Great if you’re on a budget. If I could afford to I’d go with a Malmsteen strat and a mason tele. That’s just me.
I float , tuning is incredibly stable and even after a big bend a small pull or tug on the arms brings it right back. For a hardtail sound I have a Tele,.
Two point trems are the only ones I’ve used - Ibanez and US standard strats. They seem to work great with standard springs and 9s. Two point trems float well with the plate level with the body.
Off topic...my wang bar broke and it was a freak accident...the screw heads at the tip of the bar snapped inside the hole where it winds in ..on this model from here on out I have locked it down like Robert Cray. Otherwise all other Strats float as need be....and thank you for your advice!
This happened to me too. So just decided to lock it down for good. I got used to it. Later I bought another standard with a wang bar to compensate, etc.
One trick I learned to keep a floating term in tune is to equalize the tension between the strings and the springs. You do this by angling the claw. The larger bass strings exert more pull than the smaller gauge strings do so you simply loosen the claw on the light gauge side and tighten it on the heavy gauge side. You have to play with the adjustments but eventually it won't matter of You're pulling up or pushing down on the bar it will equalize and return to it's original position it's just physics
I have 9s, and they hold nice after I installed Highwood saddles. I'm going to change my tremolo block to heavy steel block and put your springs on it. I have Bare Knuckle Vaneer 63 pickups on my 2008 maple neck and ash body Strat. I'm still looking for a more vintage sound. I'm thinking of a different cap for more treble bleed and possibly different pots and vintage wire for the cavity. I appreciate any hints.
I also put a small drip of silicon oil in the slots in the Highwood saddles every time I change strings and in the nut slots. Also, on the 2008 style string anchor on the E and B.
Hi ya Zac, I totally agree with your thinking on the Strat set ups. I have three of them here and they all float, I set the bridge height to like 1/8th on an inch although I never actually measure… after a while you just know by eye 🤙
I deck and use the bar but, only lightly or at the end of a song when I know I have a moment to hit a tuner. Also use 10s and pencil led. Thank you cool episode! As always...
This is great...Strat is my main guitar; I bend hard and constantly, had trouble with floating whammy, but never been happy with blocked whammy. Been doing more twangy stuff lately and planning on unblocking to use the bar, and getting a Tele for non-whammy material...a ton of relevant stuff I've wondered about here, like string gauge (I typically use 10 E). Thanks, Zac!!
I use four of the black Fender springs with 9-46 D'Addario strings. The black ones have a softer tension. They match up well with the 9-46 strings. I do have it float as I like to shake chords and single notes.
@@sammccue500 I've also combined the powered graphite with Vaseline to make it easier to apply - it ain't pretty, but it seemed to work. Nice thing about mechanical pencils is the lead is skinny enough to fit even in the high E nut slot.
I float my strat bridge. Graphtech nut and retainer, 10 guage strings, 2 springs, with the spring claw set deeper on the bass side. More tension on the bass side spring helps ballance the string tension more equally. It feels buttery smoothe and stays in tune quite well. As far as other strings dropping pich during bends, ive learned to hold the trem still with the arm when i do these kinds of bends.
Thanks for the tip on the Xotic springs. Currently a floater with 3 springs… seems to behave very well. Mind you, I’m only going for the shimmer/wobble thing on the Fenders. As ALWAYS, thanks for the time you share and the insights. Much obliged Maestro.
Wow. Just what I needed. I just put on a new Babicz Trem on my Strat and am having a terrible time with the set up. not the product which is incredible but the tech(me) who needs some schooling.
Great video, I have always floated my stats, much like you, just a little pullback However, I have in some cases added Vintage style, locking gears to reduce backlash Which, of course just a little quick tug can take care of that many times as well Thanks again,
Leo Fender called it a 'tremolo' because he intended it as a means of imitating rotating Leslie organ speakers which produce a tremolo effect, even though they, in turn, were originally intended to imitate vibrato. Full circle! There is an element of genuine tremolo, as the vibrating string becomes louder when tensed, and quieter when depressed, so it does vary in volume to a significant degree.
Definitely to float; I actually have a Fender Stratocaster style Starcaster guitar that initially belonged to 1 of my nephews until December 25th, 2013 when he handed it to me as a Christmas present: it’s a HSS with a floating tremolo bar, just as Mr Leo Fender himself intended it to be played & used 💝 🎁 🤶 🎅 🎄 🎸 💯 👍
I thought Leo made the Stratocaster for Country Western swing & the belly cut idea was from a guitarist testing out his guitars. I wonder if they used flat-wounds back in the day. My brother’s 58 Junior had flats on it. Then he gave it to me back in 68. I still have it & use it. But the strings are Ernie Ball 10s now.
Thank you Zac; I always finish your post's more informed. Another Paul Johnson recording/CD worth searching for is "The Duo-tones: Surf Music unplugged". Mr. Johnson & Gil Orr (The Chantays) perform classic Surf & Pop tunes on two acoustic guitars; no Drums or Bass accompaniment. Wonderful & intimate music results...
On my main Strat - it is essentially decked allowing just down bends with the bar but it still useful and I don’t go crazy with it so tuning is not an issue. I have one Strat tuned to D standard and it is floating too. I have to play it differently but it is nice too, but not my main thing. I also have 2 hardtail Strats.
Mine is decked with a piece of foam wedged in between the trem block and body to kill the reverb. I play a lot of double stop bends. The string tension feels a bit slinkier when it is floating. I prefer the percussive sound of a decked bridge.
Used to always float, but I went through a phase of constantly breaking strings on my Clapton Stratocasters so I decked them. No wooden block like they came, just cranked down the bridge. Whenever I break a string it’ll stay in tune until the end of the song and I can change to the second one!
Great topic, Zac. Anywhere you could point me for a tutorial on how to setup my stray for floating? Mine was decked against the body long ago by a tech and Ive wanted to return it to floating for a while now.
On Strats and String Gauges. I have found that vintage spec Strats (including Fender AVRI, Original and Vintage models) need at least 10 - 46 strings. However, modern spec 22 fret Fender Strats (such as the Ultra, Professional and Mexican Player), while being perfectly happy with 10 - 46 gauge, also perform well with 9 - 42 gauge.
Have a 57 that I tighten the claw down and don't put the bar on. Have a 1997 Strat Plus set up like Jeff Beck. Its stable as a Floyd. Have others decked but leave the bar on and use minimally. Really, try to seldom use it and try to play like me and avoid all the cliches that go with a Stratocaster. Thank you for a Stratocaster video today . Was a rough day at work and you made my evening .
I prefer to float but sometimes have to tune down. If you deck the trem and set the springs right you can still use the bar. Going down of course but stays in tune well. 6:47
I’ve always set up my Strats almost decked w 3 springs, it stays in tune when you do bends and allows for a bit of tremolo. A perfectly cut nut is key though. I also have a strat with a Tremsetter in place of the center spring. As always, I suggest trying different setups and find what works for you
Float it or don't buy a strat! I learned several years ago how to float them effectively on TH-cam and now I don't much care for guitars without a trem - makes a huge difference!
Thanks for this Zak. Why the 5 springs? I float mine with three (American Standard 1986) and it will settle down and stay in tune - sometimes after a few months in the case! Aah, we just got to the softer spring section - I agree about the reverb thing. Nice insight!
Hey Zac, you didn't really emphasize it but the soldered ball ends on the D'Addario NYXL's also help with the tuning stability. I've actually had the ball end come unwound on the high E on unsoldered ball ends. That's a fun one in the middle of a gig when the high just keeps going flat until it eventually lets loose!
Unless I missed it, interestingly enough you never mentioned locking tuners regarding tuning stability along with a proper cut nut.....also interesting to see you have 5 springs whereas so many who use a floating bridge removed a few to use only 2 or 3. Once again, it's all so subjective ! Thanks for your perspective Zac !
Well, I want to thank you for what you do. So informative and on point. I'm no great shake on guitar, but I've got dreams of improving and being a better guitarist at my age... 59.in fact I was so intrigued by your comments on, "String Theories" by Adam Levy and Ethan Sherman, I bought a copy for myself... Thank you Zac.
I have decked mine for years with three springs. And, I still use the arm to drop pitch. Any issue with doing this? I didn't hear this option mentioned in your video. Thanks, as always.
NICE strat! Since he didn't say, I'm going to guess it's a 1955. It could be a late '54, but I'm going with '55. But, I'm not an expert. Nice video Zac.
Thanks for the tips on the tremolo set up. I have an old 90's MIJ Strat with a Schaller two post trem on it. Never have been able to get it to stay in tune. I've tried blocking it, and another device designed to hold the bridge in place. Nothing works very well. You can't really deck the thing because there isn't enough room to get the intonation correct. I did use 10 gauge strings, but didn't like the feel. Wouldn't stay in tune anyway. I haven't tried removing the nut locking mechanism. I really hate using those tiny tuning nobs on the bridge. Every once in a while, I'll grab a tuner and screw the whole thing up! I was screwing around with the guitar yesterday, and I have to say it's about as good as it every has been right now. Just don't do any dive bombs.
I keep the bridge on the wood..but adjust the springs so that I just reach behind and use my hand on top for tremolo effects. I don"t like the whammy bar. I try and keep those strings loose
Okay, I’m gonna share a controversial hack that came out of playing outdoor gigs in Florida during the summer with ridiculous humidity. On a gig, the guitar (Mighty Mite maple fretboard w/compound radius) became unbearable so I asked a server for a little bit of olive oil. That solved this stickiness of the fretboard but I also noticed the tuning seemed better even after using the vibrato arm. Not loving the idea of using olive oil on a regular basis, I tried WD-40. Wow, what a difference. Not only did the guitar play better but the WD-40 seemed to last longer as it impregnated the fretboard. I have since used it on all my guitars including several vintage 60s guitars. I’ve also noticed I don’t have to polish my frets as often and they seem to be lasting longer (I’m lucky to have been playing a lot the past few years). Soaking a Q-Tip with WD-40 and treating the nut and string tree has been a game changer and, so far as I can tell, has not affected the finish of any of my guitars or dried out the wood. Of course, I always wipe off any excess. I now keep a small spray can in my work gig bags. Hopefully the humidity in Florida will let up soon😂.
heres another pro tip for wd40: cleans stainless steel perfectly-a million times better than any “stainless steel cleaner” fingerprints on your fridge door u thought were there forever? gone. stuffs amazing.
If it's set up right there is no problem. I made my living repairing and building guitars and can't believe some of the butchered jobs of so called professional shops and people give up . I always kept my own Strat close so I could show them if done right how well it works .
I had my Strat blocked for a long time until I had a refret on it. I had just seen Marc Cohn at a small venue with Shane Fontayne on Strat and a Taylor acoustic backing Marc. His Strat sounded great and he used the trem bar subtly and I loved it. I asked the tech who did the work on my refret( a local tech named Steve Soest) to set up the trem for a mild float, and when I got it back I've never looked back! It stayed in tune and added a whole new dimension to my playing. On another note, re your book nook segment, have you ever read the book, "Between the Strings; the Secret Lives of Guitars' by John Schroeter? He approached about 95 guitarists and 5 builders to write a short story on their relationship with their instrument. When I read it, I bought ten of them and handed them out to my guitar playing friends. It is out of print but can still be found online - check it out!
![The Perfect Stratocaster Trem / Vibrato Setup [Floating, Flat Or Blocked?]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/PjVXWyUGpwc/mqdefault.jpg)
The Tele guy on Strats! I love it. Beautiful guitar btw.
Thank you, Keith
After 25 years of being decked I decided to give floating a go. After a quarter century of playing and mucking around with guitars you learn where the tuning instabilities really come from. I will never go back as i love the shimmer of the floating bridge.
Bend double stops are not as negatively affected as i was lead to believe
Rock on!
My Strat tremolo is also floated to where it is parallel with the body and not very high like yours, Love it and it does stay in tune. Great video!,
You can swap out tuners for those staggered fender tuners that have lower poles on the thin strings and it will allow you to bypass the string tree for one less friction point.
Eric Johnson Strat…
After decades of playing my '68 hardtail, when I got my Custom Shop '59 Strat, I wound up taking out the springs altogether and blocking the bridge with a plastic bag full of quarters. Works and sounds great
My original strat (79/80 model) was always pretty stable for tuning.
Got it professionally set up about 8 years ago for the 1st time. Its stays in tune so well.
Original bone nut, replaced rusty trees and new complete tremolo about 10 years ago as I’d worn it out !
I decked my strat a few years ago and never looked back but after watching this I’m considering floating it. Like many others I experienced tuning issues which is why I decked it. I purchased the book you recommended! Can’t wait to implement the tips into my routine. As always, I greatly appreciate your videos!
I'm more a Tele guy and have always had trouble on my Strat with unison bends going out of tune. Mostly just like the Strat neck PUP. So I de-Stratted my Strat by blocking the trem, pulling the middle PUP. Popping a strat-sized Broadcaster PUP (metal baseplate and all) in the bridge position and wired it with 4-way Tele wiring.
It doesn't sound exactly like a Tele or Strat. But its a fun guitar with some interesting tones not found in a standard Tele or Strat.
But my Tele is still my No. 1.
Thanks, Zac. Lots of good information for us Stratocaster players that I hadn't heard before. Well done.
This video made me so happy, I love Strats and I really like yours, the checking on that finish is amazing. When I was a kid I had a job cleaning pools, and they gave us this grease called Super Lube for use on O-rings. It's Teflon-based, fully synthetic. It's clear, doesn't smell, doesn't react chemically with anything, and it's really cheap and easy to find. I tried using it on my Strat trem one day (25 years ago now!) and I still use it to this day. It's absolutely perfect for it. A toothpick and a few dabs of that stuff and I can get any Strat to stay in tune for the long haul.
I have 3 strats ,all set up to float and I string all my fenders with 9s and they all work great .They all have the 2; point trem ,but I don't know if that makes a difference.
I’ve been saving this one for a few days and I love Strats so get ready for a big long comment!
Also! The Cloud City reference is indicative of why I’m subscribed!
I float my strats.
I use 9.5 - 44 strings too, but only use 3 springs.
No problem with returning to pitch with the trem set up correctly and the nut lubricated.
I block the trem with a piece of wood. The trem adds a certain good resonant sound that you do not get with a hardtail.
This is why Clapton never went hardtail on his main Stratocaster, despite always blocking the trem!
I had been a decked player for a long time but bought a Strat that was owned by Mike Landau. Floating. Now I get it! I feel like I missed the whole vibe of Strats for years. So yes to floating
I've got one set up to float and a second not to. 3 Springs on the active trem. Works well with 9 - 46 strings. Never more than 2 winds on the E and A posts. Use a bit of lub on the nut and you're good.
I'm not really a strat guy but I have to say...that is one beautiful guitar! The back especially is just lovely
I have 2 Strats…one standard tuning…one in E flat…both stung with 10’s. Both are floating and are setup like Jeff Beck…pulling up on the trem gives you a full tone on the high E. With a nut cut properly and some graphite in the slots they stay in tune really well. I’m certainly no Jeff Beck but this system works well for me. Also replaced the Fender string tree with an aftermarket roller type that I put a tiny amount of Vaseline on. After a big pull up or dive just smack the whammy bar again and it comes right back.
I decked my Strat decades ago after reading somewhere that Jimmy Page did that to his… Made a lot of sense to me at the time, especially as the guitar would go wildly out of tune as soon as a string broke. I tightened the springs down a little bit too-and added a piece of stick-on rubber to the underside of the trem block to keep it from clacking against the body of the guitar
I used to have it floated. Always stayed in tune. Now however I have all my strats set flush to the body and 5 springs. I think it sounds better and you don't have to worry about going out of tune if you break a string midsong. Love your show 👍😀
Can you still use the whammy bar?
@@adiaz1182 Yes, but against the tension of five springs, it is much harder, and you can only lower the pitch.
Zac is a fantastic influencer and ambassador for our wonderful pastime... all solid and usable advice.
I appreciate that!
KEEP ON DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING MAN!!!@@AskZac
I played a '57 Strat for 27 years in the honky tonks, dive bars, hippie clubs in my youth and middle age. Looked a lot like yours. Shot frets, weaker pickups and I always played five springs. Thanks for the tips. FWIW, I knew Paul when we were all living in Mendocino. Great guy...
I use 9s floating and hardly ever have to tune. Tinkered a lot and ended up with brass saddles, 4 “raw vintage” low tension springs, bone nut, and staggered tuners. I also have a more severe float. I don’t know if I just got lucky or what but 9s work great!
I also noticed you can tighten the claw angled one way or the other slightly and it changes the tone a tiny bit on the high vs low strings by tensioning one side vs the other slightly.
Locking tuners and a really good bridge help too. For me, a Wilkinson bridge made a huge difference.
I thought I wanted a strat until I finally played one a couple of weeks ago at GC. I had all these ideas for using the trem bar. I have some physical limitations and wasn’t able to use it like I was thinking. Back to my tele!
ever try a Nashville Tele? Adds a "strat" style pickup in middle position... might give you enough strat to... Get you there
@@AndrewBoydMusic I think I was more intrigued with the trem bar and the way Jeff Beck played more so than the strat tone per se. Another thing driving me to want to get a strat was my late good friend played an Olympic white one and I wanted one like he had as a tribute to him.
@@allenmitchell09 Ahhh I see.
That's cool in tribute.
Olympic white is one of those classic fav color schemes ( aged mint pickguard or of course that Hendrix color scheme) I was primarily a Strat guy for years but took a break once I found a great Tele. Funny how one or the other changes how you play music.
Different styles live in each guitar.
Also Maple and Rosewood neck and different body woods changes the whole thing as well. May you Keep rockin that Tele. Peace out.
@@AndrewBoydMusic Yeah exactly! My friend was a huge Hendrix fan and that was his reasoning for wanting that color and all. The one I want would be basically the same Woodstock strat except I play lefty and I want the big headstock. Which Fender doesn't make. I would have to parts cast it.
i always deck mine, no block of wood, I just tighten the spring claw until the bridge lays flat against the body when the strings are at pitch.
EVH had a fender trem on the black and white striped strat with 3 springs.
I always deck the bridge. I would have preferred a hardtail.
with hardtail loses the subtle and carateristic natural reverb of springs cavity
That is one gorgeous Strat, sir.
I have been floating my Strat for 13 years… Scott Henderson taught me some good tricks! oval out your 6 screw holes…so there is no binding with rough tight edges!!! Very important!!!! I also only use 3 springs… and also added some foam to deaden to verb effect in the springs! I additionally I upgraded the Saddles first to “ Roller Saddles”… but those failed after a year 😕and after that I went to a composite Graph Tech saddle for the last 9 years. 👍👍👍!!!
With the float setup correctly 90 % of the time it stays in tune but if it goes a bit out just pluck the vibrato bar a few times and it magically comes all back in tune!!!!
The only issue is that intonation on a Full-float… is The#6 Low E saddle and the #3 G saddle I had to remove 1/8 “ from the rear of both saddles with a file and also cut the spring 50% in both Saddles to get my intonation on those strings. I am using 10-46 Maxima Gold strings with the string tree removed and a bone nut.
I did buy a Roller-Nut but never installed it… because that is a lot of serous cutting to the neck that could ruin the neck permanently… so it seems to all work perfectly with the bone nut no issues!!!!
Cheers
Gerard
I've been USING my tremolo decked for decades. with no issues.
Well installed strings, well shaped and lubed nut and that's it.
really nice playing at the start of this video, different from your normal thing.
My first real Strat was a Korean Squier II with a brass bridge but missing the trem arm... I took it in to get set up and we "decked" the bridge which I prefer to this day... the combination of the heavy bridge and tension on the springs makes it sustain in a way I like. It taught me to love Fenders and is still one of the best playing guitars I own!
Always float my Strats- i’ve found setting the spring tension so that hitting the 7th fret harmonic on the G string and pulling up on the trem so it’s raises pitch a whole tone seems to work well for tuning stability…
Hello, thanks for the tutorial. Be aware that a Stratocaster scale length shortens a fraction when the tremolo goes forward, and your string action raises higher also, so keep in mind you should be lowering your action after floating...I'm okay with this since in standard tuning (440) the 25.50 scale length can make the tension pretty tight to the fingers if you bend notes. Either Decked or floating has its advantages, having 2 different stratocaster guitars each set up differently be ideal. All of us should also know when using 3 springs they should be straight NOT in a pyramid or pointed configuration...if they are parallel the tension is even making tuning much more stable.
That's a super cool looking guitar Zac! I don't remember for sure but I think it was Carl Verheyen that I saw a long time ago talking about the floating setup of a Strat. I think he was showing how it's possible to set it up so that when you pull up, it'll pull the various strings up by a specific amount. Like the G string will go up a a whole step, the B a third or something like that. Made it possible for some really musical options when bending up.
Great episode. Thanks for your knowledge on traditional trems.
Used to deck 'em, now I float 'em. I don't use the tremolo often, but they almost never slip out of tune, even if I do.
My very first guitar (I mooched on my brother's new 1960 Jazzmaster for a while) was a 1954 Stratocaster my dad gave me Christmas of 1963.
wow
I deck/block it and use it with a trem. Works just fine. It is so much personal preference
Such a great common sense video Zac …
I adopted the same approach 40 years ago - never had a problem with a ‘low float’ … just right for a Strat.
Raw Vintage springs too👍🏻
They make a difference.
Pencil lead, advise against because it is a mild abrasive actually which can damage the nut. Nut sauce worked great for me for ears. Also eliminate string tree completely with staggered tuners. Also, sewing machine oil (not 3-in-1 oil) on the bridge screws has been key. also break angle at the bridge.
Floating trem introduces so many issues. I prefer a dive only, but I will keep one floating floyd
Great episode. For viewers who don't want to buy low tension springs, I recommend the three spring triangle method. One down the middle and the other two at each far end of the bridge narrowing to the three center clips on the law. I float for a whole step up on the G and a half step on the B and E. This allows some cool suspension steel tricks on the G and B or the G and E.
Great tip!
I have you do not want to run the springs diagonal like that on the 2 outer springs. Basically you render your center spring useless when you do that. Instead run all your springs parallel for even tension. The softer springs run about $20/set. Spend the money and be happy with your tremolo (try them and you'll see).
I have been running them like that for 30 years and it works great for me.@@nazmoking3171
I had my Strats floating for decades until about a month again, trying something different by not using the trem-arm. Not floating them seems to help with tuning.
Great post.
The fact a strat can do both speaks to its versatility. Great if you’re on a budget. If I could afford to I’d go with a Malmsteen strat and a mason tele. That’s just me.
I float , tuning is incredibly stable and even after a big bend a small pull or tug on the arms brings it right back. For a hardtail sound I have a Tele,.
I do the same, Strats are for floatin' Teles have the hardtail option covered
Vegatrems are pretty amazing and non invasive.
Two point trems are the only ones I’ve used - Ibanez and US standard strats. They seem to work great with standard springs and 9s. Two point trems float well with the plate level with the body.
Off topic...my wang bar broke and it was a freak accident...the screw heads at the tip of the bar snapped inside the hole where it winds in ..on this model from here on out I have locked it down like Robert Cray. Otherwise all other Strats float as need be....and thank you for your advice!
This happened to me too. So just decided to lock it down for good. I got used to it. Later I bought another standard with a wang bar to compensate, etc.
My first strat, and guitar, was the same, a 1987 MIJ Squier with the System 1 tremolo, with the locking part on the headstock. I still have it.
One trick I learned to keep a floating term in tune is to equalize the tension between the strings and the springs. You do this by angling the claw. The larger bass strings exert more pull than the smaller gauge strings do so you simply loosen the claw on the light gauge side and tighten it on the heavy gauge side. You have to play with the adjustments but eventually it won't matter of You're pulling up or pushing down on the bar it will equalize and return to it's original position it's just physics
I have 9s, and they hold nice after I installed Highwood saddles. I'm going to change my tremolo block to heavy steel block and put your springs on it. I have Bare Knuckle Vaneer 63 pickups on my 2008 maple neck and ash body Strat. I'm still looking for a more vintage sound. I'm thinking of a different cap for more treble bleed and possibly different pots and vintage wire for the cavity. I appreciate any hints.
I also put a small drip of silicon oil in the slots in the Highwood saddles every time I change strings and in the nut slots. Also, on the 2008 style string anchor on the E and B.
Hi ya Zac,
I totally agree with your thinking on the Strat set ups. I have three of them here and they all float, I set the bridge height to like 1/8th on an inch although I never actually measure… after a while you just know by eye 🤙
I deck and use the bar but, only lightly or at the end of a song when I know I have a moment to hit a tuner. Also use 10s and pencil led. Thank you cool episode! As always...
Nice Strat!
This is great...Strat is my main guitar; I bend hard and constantly, had trouble with floating whammy, but never been happy with blocked whammy. Been doing more twangy stuff lately and planning on unblocking to use the bar, and getting a Tele for non-whammy material...a ton of relevant stuff I've wondered about here, like string gauge (I typically use 10 E). Thanks, Zac!!
Zac, have you tried the Carl Verheyen angled claw setup? It's what worked best on the strat I have floating.
Thanks for mentioning this! I also have had great success with the Carl Verheyen angled claw method! No tuning problems!
Me too 😁😁
I need to check it out again. I can’t remember
higher guage strings means more force on the bridge screws, which keeps it from slipping around
I use four of the black Fender springs with 9-46 D'Addario strings. The black ones have a softer tension. They match up well with the 9-46 strings. I do have it float as I like to shake chords and single notes.
Mechanical pencils are good for adding graphite to the nut slots. Another option is Carmex lip balm and a toothpick to apply.
A tube of locksmith's powdered graphite and all five springs, locking tuners and no string winds.¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@@sammccue500 I've also combined the powered graphite with Vaseline to make it easier to apply - it ain't pretty, but it seemed to work.
Nice thing about mechanical pencils is the lead is skinny enough to fit even in the high E nut slot.
I think i need to pick up a copy of that book, i keep finding myself playing the same things over and over... B)
Thanks for the info Zac!
I float my strat bridge. Graphtech nut and retainer, 10 guage strings, 2 springs, with the spring claw set deeper on the bass side. More tension on the bass side spring helps ballance the string tension more equally. It feels buttery smoothe and stays in tune quite well. As far as other strings dropping pich during bends, ive learned to hold the trem still with the arm when i do these kinds of bends.
Thanks for the tip on the Xotic springs. Currently a floater with 3 springs… seems to behave very well. Mind you, I’m only going for the shimmer/wobble thing on the Fenders.
As ALWAYS, thanks for the time you share and the insights. Much obliged Maestro.
Thanks!
Never did I expect a Cloud City reference in a Ask Zac vid! 🎸
Wow. Just what I needed. I just put on a new Babicz Trem on my Strat and am having a terrible time with the set up. not the product which is incredible but the tech(me) who needs some schooling.
I put Raw Vintage springs - only 3 of them per guitar - with 9 gauge strings floating and no tuning issues!
Great learning smiling! Top ! Thank you Zac !
Great video, I have always floated my stats, much like you, just a little pullback
However, I have in some cases added Vintage style, locking gears to reduce backlash
Which, of course just a little quick tug can take care of that many times as well
Thanks again,
Hey Zac. That’s one of the prettiest Strats I’ve ever seen! Do you have a video where you talk about it? Vintage ‘54?
No. It was made by a friend for me last year. Pretty great work!
Leo Fender called it a 'tremolo' because he intended it as a means of imitating rotating Leslie organ speakers which produce a tremolo effect, even though they, in turn, were originally intended to imitate vibrato. Full circle! There is an element of genuine tremolo, as the vibrating string becomes louder when tensed, and quieter when depressed, so it does vary in volume to a significant degree.
I know exactly what you're talking about. My 80s Japanese Strat had a System One tremolo, too. 😅😅
Definitely to float; I actually have a Fender Stratocaster style Starcaster guitar that initially belonged to 1 of my nephews until December 25th, 2013 when he handed it to me as a Christmas present: it’s a HSS with a floating tremolo bar, just as Mr Leo Fender himself intended it to be played & used 💝 🎁 🤶 🎅 🎄 🎸 💯 👍
I thought Leo made the Stratocaster for Country Western swing & the belly cut idea was from a guitarist testing out his guitars. I wonder if they used flat-wounds back in the day. My brother’s 58 Junior had flats on it. Then he gave it to me back in 68. I still have it & use it. But the strings are Ernie Ball 10s now.
Thank you Zac; I always finish your post's more informed. Another Paul Johnson recording/CD worth searching for is "The Duo-tones: Surf Music unplugged". Mr. Johnson & Gil Orr (The Chantays) perform classic Surf & Pop tunes on two acoustic guitars; no Drums or Bass accompaniment. Wonderful & intimate music results...
I have two strats one I have decked and the other one floating both are fun.
On my main Strat - it is essentially decked allowing just down bends with the bar but it still useful and I don’t go crazy with it so tuning is not an issue. I have one Strat tuned to D standard and it is floating too. I have to play it differently but it is nice too, but not my main thing. I also have 2 hardtail Strats.
Mine is decked with a piece of foam wedged in between the trem block and body to kill the reverb. I play a lot of double stop bends. The string tension feels a bit slinkier when it is floating. I prefer the percussive sound of a decked bridge.
Used to always float, but I went through a phase of constantly breaking strings on my Clapton Stratocasters so I decked them. No wooden block like they came, just cranked down the bridge. Whenever I break a string it’ll stay in tune until the end of the song and I can change to the second one!
Great topic, Zac. Anywhere you could point me for a tutorial on how to setup my stray for floating? Mine was decked against the body long ago by a tech and Ive wanted to return it to floating for a while now.
Great suggestion! th-cam.com/video/Iy-F7iSIopA/w-d-xo.html
On Strats and String Gauges. I have found that vintage spec Strats (including Fender AVRI, Original and Vintage models) need at least 10 - 46 strings. However, modern spec 22 fret Fender Strats (such as the Ultra, Professional and Mexican Player), while being perfectly happy with 10 - 46 gauge, also perform well with 9 - 42 gauge.
Have a 57 that I tighten the claw down and don't put the bar on. Have a 1997 Strat Plus set up like Jeff Beck. Its stable as a Floyd. Have others decked but leave the bar on and use minimally. Really, try to seldom use it and try to play like me and avoid all the cliches that go with a Stratocaster. Thank you for a Stratocaster video today . Was a rough day at work and you made my evening .
I prefer to float but sometimes have to tune down. If you deck the trem and set the springs right you can still use the bar. Going down of course but stays in tune well. 6:47
I’ve always set up my Strats almost decked w 3 springs, it stays in tune when you do bends and allows for a bit of tremolo. A perfectly cut nut is key though. I also have a strat with a Tremsetter in place of the center spring. As always, I suggest trying different setups and find what works for you
I use five springs I want a thicker sound and the strat is to thin for me if not especially because mine is early 60s spec.
I have those raw, vintage springs but I only have 4 on there. Maybe I should add a 5th? I do play on 10s.
Float it or don't buy a strat! I learned several years ago how to float them effectively on TH-cam and now I don't much care for guitars without a trem - makes a huge difference!
This video makes me not wanna float my trem. Thanks for further making me want a tele
Thanks for this Zak. Why the 5 springs? I float mine with three (American Standard 1986) and it will settle down and stay in tune - sometimes after a few months in the case! Aah, we just got to the softer spring section - I agree about the reverb thing. Nice insight!
It has to do with the low tension Raw Vintage springs
Hey Zac, you didn't really emphasize it but the soldered ball ends on the D'Addario NYXL's also help with the tuning stability. I've actually had the ball end come unwound on the high E on unsoldered ball ends. That's a fun one in the middle of a gig when the high just keeps going flat until it eventually lets loose!
I bought a replacement set of high E strings and every ball end become unwound. It’s been happening with more and more strings.
Unless I missed it, interestingly enough you never mentioned locking tuners regarding tuning stability along with a proper cut nut.....also interesting to see you have 5 springs whereas so many who use a floating bridge removed a few to use only 2 or 3. Once again, it's all so subjective ! Thanks for your perspective Zac !
Well, I want to thank you for what you do. So informative and on point. I'm no great shake on guitar, but I've got dreams of improving and being a better guitarist at my age... 59.in fact I was so intrigued by your comments on, "String Theories" by Adam Levy and Ethan Sherman, I bought a copy for myself... Thank you Zac.
I have decked mine for years with three springs. And, I still use the arm to drop pitch. Any issue with doing this? I didn't hear this option mentioned in your video. Thanks, as always.
NICE strat! Since he didn't say, I'm going to guess it's a 1955. It could be a late '54, but I'm going with '55. But, I'm not an expert. Nice video Zac.
Thanks for the tips on the tremolo set up. I have an old 90's MIJ Strat with a Schaller two post trem on it. Never have been able to get it to stay in tune. I've tried blocking it, and another device designed to hold the bridge in place. Nothing works very well. You can't really deck the thing because there isn't enough room to get the intonation correct. I did use 10 gauge strings, but didn't like the feel. Wouldn't stay in tune anyway. I haven't tried removing the nut locking mechanism. I really hate using those tiny tuning nobs on the bridge. Every once in a while, I'll grab a tuner and screw the whole thing up! I was screwing around with the guitar yesterday, and I have to say it's about as good as it every has been right now. Just don't do any dive bombs.
I keep the bridge on the wood..but adjust the springs so that I just reach behind and use my hand on top for tremolo effects. I don"t like the whammy bar.
I try and keep those strings loose
Okay, I’m gonna share a controversial hack that came out of playing outdoor gigs in Florida during the summer with ridiculous humidity. On a gig, the guitar (Mighty Mite maple fretboard w/compound radius) became unbearable so I asked a server for a little bit of olive oil. That solved this stickiness of the fretboard but I also noticed the tuning seemed better even after using the vibrato arm. Not loving the idea of using olive oil on a regular basis, I tried WD-40. Wow, what a difference. Not only did the guitar play better but the WD-40 seemed to last longer as it impregnated the fretboard. I have since used it on all my guitars including several vintage 60s guitars. I’ve also noticed I don’t have to polish my frets as often and they seem to be lasting longer (I’m lucky to have been playing a lot the past few years). Soaking a Q-Tip with WD-40 and treating the nut and string tree has been a game changer and, so far as I can tell, has not affected the finish of any of my guitars or dried out the wood. Of course, I always wipe off any excess. I now keep a small spray can in my work gig bags. Hopefully the humidity in Florida will let up soon😂.
Interesting…
Ever use wd40 on a rosewood or the newer boards ? Thanks for the tip ?
heres another pro tip for wd40: cleans stainless steel perfectly-a million times better than any “stainless steel cleaner”
fingerprints on your fridge door u thought were there forever? gone.
stuffs amazing.
Zac's back! ✌️
If it's set up right there is no problem. I made my living repairing and building guitars and can't believe some of the butchered jobs of so called professional shops and people give up . I always kept my own Strat close so I could show them if done right how well it works .
I use two springs for 9-42 feels smooth and silky..5 springs feels like trying to lift 200lbs with a butter knife.
I had my Strat blocked for a long time until I had a refret on it. I had just seen Marc Cohn at a small venue with Shane Fontayne on Strat and a Taylor acoustic backing Marc. His Strat sounded great and he used the trem bar subtly and I loved it. I asked the tech who did the work on my refret( a local tech named Steve Soest) to set up the trem for a mild float, and when I got it back I've never looked back! It stayed in tune and added a whole new dimension to my playing.
On another note, re your book nook segment, have you ever read the book, "Between the Strings; the Secret Lives of Guitars' by John Schroeter? He approached about 95 guitarists and 5 builders to write a short story on their relationship with their instrument. When I read it, I bought ten of them and handed them out to my guitar playing friends. It is out of print but can still be found online - check it out!