The Perfect Stratocaster Trem / Vibrato Setup [Floating, Flat Or Blocked?]

Comments · 1.4K

• PA

  @paultaylor2968 · 3 years ago

  Not one normally to comment .However the professional quality of your videos is astounding . The lighting , soft focus behind, the close ups, animation, stills, and content is on a par with any TV show. The audio is the best I hear on YouTube ...But most of all I find your instruction, commentary and gems of information a treasure trove. Thank you Mick you are very talented and your humble attitude very endearing .

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• EM

  @emaneercsadeeni · 3 years ago

  To avoid the back-and-forth process of balancing the spring tension I like the method taught in the StewMac book. Start with the springs loose which means loosening the claw a few turns. They suggest cutting a block of wood that keeps the trem stationary while the strings are brought to pitch and then you tighten the springs until the block releases and then it is balanced. This is a very quick and accurate method. Highly recommend getting the StewMac book on electric guitar set ups. It has changed everything for me.

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• GR

  @gregcsefko · 3 years ago

  When I was younger, I always decked my trem. As I got older, I found that a well set up guitar with a floating trem is really fun.

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• OT

  @Ottonic6 · 2 years ago

  What I do with my vintage (6 screw) tremolo is watch the bridge as I slowly tighten the outside screws to when I see the back of the bridge start to raise, I stop and then turn the screws back a smidge.. I then tighten the 4 inner screws to where they are slightly looser than the 2 outer ones... Best tutorial I've seen so far on this topic. Thank you.

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• GR

  @GrahamM238 · 3 years ago

  Tuning tip - when you’re tuning a floating vibrato, it’s easier if you alternate from the outside in rather than tuning sequentially from low to high (or heavy gauge string to lighter gauge strings).  So instead of tuning low e, then moving to the a string - go from the low e to the high e string, then the a string, then the b string, etc.  I believe it’s something to do with balancing the impact of the heavier string gauges with getting the lighter gauge strings closer to their end point earlier.  I think I read about this back in Dimebag Darrell’s column in Guitar World back in my Floyd Rose high school metal phase, but it’s a really handy trick and it works!

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• HI

  @highstreetjackmusic · 10 days ago

  Excellent video. I have played Les Pauls for years and recently started playing a strat. It's like wrestling an alien creature. This video helps a ton.

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• SE

  @sequentseens · 3 years ago

  Strat video. Hurrah.

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• JA

  @janomo13 · 11 days ago

  I actually watched the whole video, one of the best instructional videos I have seen yet. Thank you...

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• MS

  @msi1985 · 2 years ago

  I can answer one of your questions... in my city across twelve different musical stores... There is a total of one hardtail strat available for purchase. Robert cray signature series for $1600.... the only other hard tail advertised are custom shop versions for $4500.... so that should answer why people block their trem vs. Buying a hardboiled version 😅

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• 4U

  @4U2BDrew · 2 years ago

  Mick has the natural ability to keep the student engaged in the subject matter at hand.

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• MA

  @Mark-qd8hz · 1 year ago (edited)

  Mick I have been setting up my starts for 25 plus years. &nbsp;A few years back I got sick and it&apos;s affecting my memory a little bit with the help of your video I just set up my American performer Stratocaster to fully float just like always. Love your videos. I know you posted this a year ago but the video was still very helpful.<br>Thank You.

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• BA

  @bartvschuylenburg · 3 years ago

  When you block the trem and remove the springs you also remove the connection from the strings to the ground wire. You might want to clamp a wire between the sustain block &nbsp;and the woodblock to reconnect it to the ground wire to prevent your weird noise. (Especially when your neighbor is a radio amateur)

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