FAQ You #6: the best tremolos, anchoring while picking, Halloween, and more!

Twitter/Instagram @BenEllerGuitars
Hey kids! It's time for episode 6 of FAQ You, Uncle Ben's frequently asked question series!
on this episode i'll be answering questions about gear, picking, anchoring, the best tremolos, and more! I love doing these FAQ episodes for you all, so please be sure to drop me some comments with whatever you want to see answered next time!
Also leave comments for whatever questions you have for Davey Stranger, who will be hosting a very special guest episode of FAQ You! Thanks for watching!

[Madcap]

I'm super glad some one asked you about the anchoring technique. I have always anchored because I feel it allows me to be more precise but just recently I've gotten frustrated with my progress and started blaming my anchoring for holding me back. I felt like maybe my problem was that I couldn't move my hand/pick freely enough. When I tried to play non-anchored though, I was sloppy and felt like I couldn't "aim" the pick properly so I went back to anchored again but have still had that doubt whether it was right or wrong. It's good to know that I'm not not doing anything wrong, it will just take more practice in other areas that have issues to move forward. Thanks for helping me out :D!

[ChefBum]

Love this video! I’ve struggled with whether to anchor or not for awhile. Anchoring sure seems to increase my accuracy, especially when switching strings. But it seems to increase my hand tension too.

[TheCIScommander]

My Ibanez RG350dx had the problem with the posts leaning forward as you described, since the anchors were drilled directly into the wood. I fixed it with 3 things. First, I got an entirely new, far superior tremolo from stewart macdonald, called the "golden age tremolo". The quality of it is great, better than a floyd rose special, at the same price as one. Second, I glued the anchors in with 2 part epoxy. Third, and most importantly, I put a spacer in between the post and the edge of the body, so now there's no way for them to lean forwards. Tuning stability is quite good now.

[NoStNick]

Those post inserts can get loose over time as well. I've reset plenty that were either installed poorly, wiggled loose over time, or were lifted due to the player allowing the trem to drop into the cavity every time they restring the guitar. You're right that the wood screw posts in basswood wouldn't work well, but an older original Floyd with those post screws mounted in maple are awesome.

Thanks for pointing out the Gotoh. Next Floyd replacement job that comes my way I'll give it a shot.

[bestboy]

Really sick costumes you and aunt kate were Rocking

[rickfeith]

I LOVE the Megaman thing!!! Its just....perfect

[redcustard]

The Gotoh (GE1996T) has those stud locks too Ben, I have one installed on my old Yamaha Pacifica 821 which I have a vid of on my channel where I put it through it's paces, It's an amazing trem and I can see why Suhr use em.

[faltman]

Thanks again for one more informative and helpful video.. I subscribe to a lot, but if you want to learn anything this chanel is the best. Thanx!

[Locoandchooch]

I have a Kahler Floyd on my Tom Anderson, I like it, seems better made than most trems.

[CoolspyGaming]

Meet The Machines sounds awesome! Can't wait.

[stianjrgensen]

Best FAQ series on YouTube, right here

[mustangtech]

Hey Ben.. maybe for an upcoming faq you u could go into the different RG numbering systems. New to ibanez, not sure what the differences are between the different series.. which ones do u like/dislike?

[david_aguilera_art]

Found what I was looking for!

Thank you for posting all of these videos!

You are by far the best instructor putting out content on any platform. I Hope I can afford lessons with you someday.

[Heymrkittyman]

Opus Eponymous is one of my top 5 albums of all time. Definitely gonna check out that recommendation. And of course they're Swedish as well lulz

[lloydthehuman]

I know it's not gear as such but I'd like to hear more about how you did your fallout finish

[JohnPD]

I have an older Ibanez 350 DX where the wood surrounding the Trem insert cracked. I bored a 1-inch hole with a Forstner bit which was centered over the steel insert area. I cut a piece of 1-inch oak rod and glued ti in the finished hole. I then drilled out a new holes for the steel inserts. Super fine ever since. Basswood is too soft. The insert holes have to be drilled perfectly, if they a hair too small the oak cracks. Even though the oak cracked the inserts are still in place and they haven't budged a bit. The trem performance is vastly different.

[AjGrant-lkii]

Have you ever tried, the true temperament freting system? And what are your thoughts?pro's and cons.

[mecasper]

Question for a future FAQ... I am really working on the Cracking the Code series, nailing some pretty sweet super fast licks and solos, but my picking hand elbow is killing me. I know you make many references to also having suffered this condition, but you never really go through much detail on how you got rid of it, besides just saying relaxing. Please Uncle Ben, how did you solve this problem? I do not want this pain hindering my progress any longer

[kebabkomission]

Question: Did you happen to try the Kiesel/Hipshot Trem? If yes, what do you think of it? Thanks for the answer and this video.

[codygranrud]

Faq, now I've got to listen to that album.