To Float, Or Not To Float, Strats The Question - Ask Zac 177

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Today I look at my 2 favorite options for Strat tremolo setup, fully floating, or deck it and removing the bar. Also, we look at some handy tips for helping you stay in tune when floating the bridge, adjusting the string break angle at the headstock, using low-tension Raw Vintage springs, recommended string gauges, and lubing the nut slots and string tree.

Affiliate link, Raw Vintage Springs

Gear used:

2023 Headstrong Lil' King with 12" Eminence GA-SC64 speaker

1955 Stratocaster built by my old college buddy, B. Paisley, using a mix of old and new parts. Ron Ellis 50/60 middle and neck, Duncan Twang banger in the bridge.

Strings:
D'Addario NYXL 10-46
Affiliate link

Pick:
Pick Boy Small Jazz, Tortoise Shell, 1.00mm

Effects: Amp reverb

#askzac #zacchilds #stratocaster

[fivewattworld]

The Tele guy on Strats! I love it. Beautiful guitar btw.

[Les]

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.

[cadams]

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

[IronSwan-llju]

I searched for Reggie young on Spotify and found your playlist and profile. Very nice, I love that kinda organization of “this is this and who.” Amazing work, thank you for the knowledge. Also digging into the other playlists.

[timnatrajan]

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.

[StephenSpelman]

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

[angryshoebox]

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.

[brazilgrass]

I've been USING my tremolo decked for decades. with no issues.
Well installed strings, well shaped and lubed nut and that's it.

[dahag]

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.

[magnushedqvist]

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 👍😀

[Bill_Torti]

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!

[conan]

Since my biggest guitar hero of all time and main guitar influence is David Gilmour, all my Strats have floating tremolos on, mostly 3 springs in a triangle, only one with a Callaham bridge have 4.
And we all know that David bends those strings to infinity and never goes out of tune. I use the trem setup he uses, 1, 5mm of the body measured at the plate's edge, just before the rounded portion.
Of course the secret is to always give it a wiggle when doing deep dives to reset everything to pitch.

[johnw]

Thanks, Zac. Lots of good information for us Stratocaster players that I hadn't heard before. Well done.

[jaymichaels]

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.

[DonaldSchmider-pqxr]

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.

[kylecravens]

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

[bryancollins]

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.

[diegomendivil]

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, .

[mikeenos]

Also, a lot of guys set the strat up decked to dive only ..where you can use the tremolo to dive (slack the strings)... is probably what most do..

[timcastle]

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!,