SpotGtar Posted July 31, 2003 Report Share Posted July 31, 2003 I'm going to build my first guitar very soon and I'm trying to get all the supplies to do the job. I need to decide which type of tremolo to purchase. I would like to have a guitar with a tremolo similar to an floyd rose, but I've heard there are better tremolos out there. I just don't know which ones. If anyone has any recomendations, I would love to hear them. Also, I have thought about putting in a tonepros bridge similar to the gibson tunomatic bridge because it looks fairly easy. Just how hard is is to put in a tremolo? If it's too dificult, I'll go this route. What do you guys think? Thanks, SpotGtar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86barettaguy Posted July 31, 2003 Report Share Posted July 31, 2003 I don't think you'll find anything better than a floyd. first thing you need to know is what you want in your trem. certain tonal qualities? simplicity? tuning stability? If you're looking for tuning stability and simplicity I'd suggest the Floyd Rose. contrary to what people say it's not hard to re-string or set-up (seems to me that most guys who complain about it being a pain in the arse are the ones sending their guitars with vintage-style fender trems to a tech to have it intonated...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jai Posted July 31, 2003 Report Share Posted July 31, 2003 I don't think you'll find anything better than a floyd. thats depends on what type of music you play too. I play country and love dual-fulcrom (sp?) trems like on G&Ls because I don't use it much, so I have don't normally have the whammy bar in, and with a G&L trem you can just use you hand with hardly any effort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpotGtar Posted July 31, 2003 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2003 I play mostly heavier rock although I'm getting more into blues and jazz. I definitely want tuning stability. I also want a tremolo that goes both ways, I've got an old strat with a one-way tremolo. Also, what do you think of the new floyd rose tremolo that requires special strings? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Rosenberger Posted July 31, 2003 Report Share Posted July 31, 2003 what do you think of the new floyd rose tremolo that requires special strings? I think the Jury is still out on that one I personally love the Schaller Floyds because of the Hardened Knife edges, but if I could have any trem it would be an Ibanez LoPro Edge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted July 31, 2003 Report Share Posted July 31, 2003 i like the lo pro and the original floyd.i prefer the press in type bar over the screw in though.(like the lo pro).and i have heard good things about the kahler flatmount although one is hard to find.the install on the flatmount is much easier and it allows you to leave more wood mass in the body(smaller rout) i have used the tone pros and it is definately the easy install.four holes and you are done.great tone too but i prefer a trem.i always have a fixed bridge guitar around though for ease of tuning(when you want to figure out songs by ear) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jehle Posted July 31, 2003 Report Share Posted July 31, 2003 I actually like hard tails, and I set my trems (when I have them) flush to the body to make them act like hard tails. If I had to choose, I'd go with the vintage type tremolo system. But I'm an old fart and I like the tone of old systems. If you are into heavy tremolo use and need to play it in that style, I'd have to suggest the Floyd or Lo Pro. Changing strings isn't that bad on them, as already mentioned. You get used to it. And there's no substitute for that slack string dive bombing you can do on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roli Posted July 31, 2003 Report Share Posted July 31, 2003 LOL what about a Bigsby one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowser Posted July 31, 2003 Report Share Posted July 31, 2003 lol or you could have the tune-o-matic and just bend the neck when u want to divebomb... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedy McFeely Posted August 1, 2003 Report Share Posted August 1, 2003 me personaly, i like the original floyds. they are pretty much the easiest and most tried and true. i like the edge stuff too, but still i think if i was going to build one, go floyd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68 lost souls Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 I am wondering what to get aswel. I love TOMs with stop tailpiece and I dont want a floyd or any other floating bridge as I want to easily change tunings live and also quickly. What would you suggest? I am considering the stop tail piece that stew mac sells but are they any good? Does it require much changing of the guitar? How exactly does it fit on? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strange Fruit Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 i personally like wilkinson trems. gotoh locking tuners + Graphite nut + wilkinson = magnificent tuning stability. but wilkinson dont make them now, so you would have to use a Gotoh one instead. Just as good imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68 lost souls Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 Sorry forgot to mention I want alot of sustain as well and I want alot of versitility Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigtommyb Posted July 28, 2004 Report Share Posted July 28, 2004 Im also a fan of the wilkinson trems, the like the idea of the new floyd rose speedloaders but dont think its worth getting till the strings are more easily available... and i must admit i do love my Ibanez Lopro floyd rose but i dont really use it all that much so i would go with the wilkinson trem. BigT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madcow Posted July 28, 2004 Report Share Posted July 28, 2004 LOL what about a Bigsby one? i inherited my uncles old 40 year old hollow body with a bigsby style bridge and i don't really like it at all... it can't go up very much, to the dismay of my broken strings, and it gets the guitar out of tune when you dive bomB Floyds are the best, originals especially(i've heard rumors that the new licesnsed ones don't stay in tune, but me and my friend vigorously tested my LFR and it seemed fine. those things have a huge range!) overall its your playing style Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68 lost souls Posted July 29, 2004 Report Share Posted July 29, 2004 Any thoughts on using a mustang tailpiece with a TOM? What would bethebest nut and tuners to use with it to keep it in tune and how well does it keep in tune? Ive read that they dont stay in tune very well (at all) if you use the vibrato. Would locking tuners solve his. If not what else would? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strange Fruit Posted July 29, 2004 Report Share Posted July 29, 2004 Locking grovers, graphite nut, or wilkinson roller nut would be better, probably a schaller roller TOM and i think Schaller make roller string trees as well. That would probably make it a resonable trem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68 lost souls Posted July 29, 2004 Report Share Posted July 29, 2004 Dont need string tees but Ill do some research on the others things you suggested, almost sure stewmac sells them all. Thanks Anyone else got any opinions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68 lost souls Posted August 3, 2004 Report Share Posted August 3, 2004 Ok so heres a few of the setups Im thinking about: Nut: Graphite or roller Tuners: Locking (which make) black. Bridge: Schaller Roller TOM Tailpiece: Mustang or Stop tailpiece with one of these http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailp...e_Tremolos.html Which dp you think is better? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xafier Posted August 3, 2004 Report Share Posted August 3, 2004 Well seen as a topics already started about bridges... I'm thinking of getting this for the guitar I'm going to make: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...me=STRK:MEWA:IT Cant seem to figure whats the difference between a low profile and normal one? any info? also just cus it's licensed by floyd rose doesnt mean its gonna be good quality right? should I consider it at all... or look around more UK sites trying to find decent but well priced parts? Also got my eyes on a really nice 24 fret neck on ebay, hope I get it, will go really nicely with my first make if I can get it for a good price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68 lost souls Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 Ok so I was on a guitar shop today and I was talking to the tech there and he recons I should go with a Bigsby and I found a bigsby that isnt quite as bulky as normal its the B500 model. I can also get it in black which was a diadvantage of the fender dynamyc vibrato. He also recons people dont use regular Mustang/jaguar bridges. How do bigsbys cope with weird tuning? Do they stay in tune? Should I use a roller nut or a graphite nut? Which one is better the bigsby or the stop tail piece with the vibrato built in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southpaw rocker Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 I'd say go with a bigsby, an earvana nut, and sperzel locking tuners or maybe planet waves locking tuners. that's just me but i'd stick with the bigsby in any case. My project will have a wilkinson trem, graphite nut and sperzels (all black.) but anyway the decision is ultimately yours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meegs666 Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 if its an arch top, i would go with a roller bridge tom setup with a bigsby. anything else i would get the smaller bigsby. the kind that people use on solidbodies. if its an lp style arch top id get a tom and a les trem from stewmac. either way id use an earvana nut for strat style bridge and a graphite for bigsby or anything else. i always use locking tuners anyway, trem or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68 lost souls Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 Just in case it makes a difference its a 1 3/4" SG. So what your saying is that I should use a graphie nut with a bigsby? Ive heard good things about slip stone? Im looking at this bigsby B500 Are grover locking tuners not better than the other tuners? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meegs666 Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 i would say either graphite or slipstone would be good. and there is also a gibson vibrato that looks good on sgs, i doubt they have it in black though. and to me sperzels are the best locking tuners, especially on a classic style like gibsons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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