How to Set Up Vintage Tremolos | Guitar Tech Tips | Ep. 30 | Thomann

Should a strat style tremolo lean forward? Or should it sit tight on the body?
Well... it depends, really. :) This time we'll learn how to nail the 3 most beloved setups with vintage style tremolos.
Enjoy Guitar Tech Tips!

With help from Sonarworks:

Interesting bits and pieces:
0:00 Introduction
0:31 1st: Floating tremolo setup
1:43 Test ride | Floating tremolo
2:12 2nd: Dive only setup
2:59 Test ride | Dive only
3:24 3rd: Hardtail setup
3:59 Test ride | Hardtail
4:32 Outtakes

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[boomerbassmeme]

I have said something similar before but I will say it again. Thanks to your tips I am able to do basic setups and maintenance on my instruments. This is so handy with the nearest tech being over 100 miles away through the mountains and with the state of the world today! Thank you for all you do Kris! If you aren't too busy this weekend could you check my work? 🤣 (only 28 of them, will supply the coffee and sandwiches 😊)

[vintagepipesnightmares]

You can’t leave the saddles height where they are after raising the bridge 3 mm. This video teaches how to loosen or tighten screws. This is not a setup video friends.

[RLJmusiclife]

Thomann rocks….period! I have ordered guitars and gear that travels half way around the world and arrives at my doorstep in just days! Way faster than Amazon! Top quality gear and a class act all around! Thomann in Germany is my number one music store.

[sperl]

Sweet and to the point like a good guitar lick. 👍🏻

[GuitarNTabs]

Hi Kris.
Thanks for making this great video, I enjoyed it!

A question....
What about the 6 screws.. Aren't they supposed to be adjusted as well??

Also, a request, would you *please* make a video about the 2-point tremolo system, and how to set those up?
They're found on quite a few Fenders, etc.

Thanks.

[smithfield]

I think the 2nd tremolo option is better for tuning stability in my experience

[stratosphere]

If you're setting the Vibrato flush to the Body, you may have to adjust the Sting height...(Rattel and Buzz)...

[TRCOES]

If you actually want your floating tremolo to stay somewhat in tune, you have to match your string tension with the spring tension in the cavity.

[kakodae]

Dude… this instruction was AWESOME!😆🤘🏾🤘🏻🤘🏿

[cradd]

I always use a block of wood between the trem block and the body for hardtail applications.

[theandiller]

Can you guys please make a tutorial about adjusting music man guitars? 🙏🏽

[pronumeral]

"test ride" - the expression is "test drive" my Deutsche friends. Great tutorial video though, loving this series from you guys, very useful for my Classic Player 60's Strat.

[K-CHOMA]

Your "hardtail" setup is what I use most of the time. But i still use tremolo arm to make some "dreamy" stratocaster sounding chords or dive a little bit. 9-46 strings and 5 Black Fender Springs work just fine.
With this set when bridge is floating above 1mm under body double stops bends are almost not out od tune but there is a little bit movement of bridge while bending. So I keep tremolo decked. I will try my new idea next month. 8-38 strings and 5 Springs and floating bridge. Maybe that thin strings will move bridge less than 9-46 and double stops bends will be possible without going out od tune that much.

[alafenetre]

So the 2nd and the 3rd options are basically the same, it's just that diving will be harder. Instead of the 3rd option you can use the blocking method. I prefer the 2nd option but with the bridge very close to the body and not touching it. That way I can very slightly pull the vibrato and push it but if I bend one string the other strings remain to pitch.

[marcelgrill]

I don't own a guitar with a trem like that. Still like your videos^^

[joesatchton]

I'm a multi-decade Floyd user and shockingly don't currently own an S style guitar with a vintage style trem. That will change later this year. But I have to ask a dumb question: when you set it to dive only or hardtail mode, the plate of the trem sits on the body. Does this not potentially cause cracks in the finish where the plate rests on the body? It seems logical that over time finish cracks would form...? Cheers and thanks!

[BorbasBence]

Great video, thanks! Is it just me, or did the guitar sound much better with the hardtail setup?

[mikewarren]

Please make a video on how to fix a stripped screw on tremolo cage

[arhamrauf]

Do you have to adjust action and intonation after floating the tremolo?

[queeffersthrlnd]

What if my bridged tremolo is hard to use when using? How do I make this easier? By loosening the claw screws a bit but not enough to make it float? When hard tailed can you still use tremolo just with more effort?