Setting up a Stratocaster bridge and how it works in depth.
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- Опубліковано 30 жов 2020
- Tip a Tea and support me: ko-fi.com/devilandsons The classic Strat tremolo bridge, taken apart and examined in detail.
Then some tips for setting it up as a true floating bridge.
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![The Perfect Stratocaster Trem / Vibrato Setup [Floating, Flat Or Blocked?]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/PjVXWyUGpwc/mqdefault.jpg)
![The Perfect Stratocaster Trem / Vibrato Setup [Floating, Flat Or Blocked?]](/img/tr.png)
This has got to be the best "how to" guitar video out here. Everything is explained so well and in great detail.
Thank you do much, that is so kind of you to say.
Thanks for posting this video. I've been playing guitar for over 60 years but I've never involved myself in the setup. I made notes from your video(s) and 'nervously' set-too on my Strat bridge, following your directions to the letter. Thanks to you Daniel, I'm absolutely delighted with the outcome and I have ventured into another side of understanding the guitar. Needless to say I'm hooked on your 5 star videos.
It's an absolute pleasure. Comments like yours make it all the time I put into these videos worthwhile. Thank you for letting me know.
Exactly what I was looking for! Concise, very clearly explained, easy to understand. Thank you!
It's my pleasure. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment.
Good job. 2 things almost no one mentions are the Counter sunk screw holes underneath the bridge plate and the Bevel underneath. Counter sunk holes, the deeper they are cut the sharper/ more blade like they become and makes for a smooth pivot otherwise it is squared off and difficult to pivot. Second, the Bevel, most Strats have a bevel past the screw holes which makes the bridge pivot at two points, one is the centerline of the screw the other is the end of the bevel which results in the bridge sliding up and down on the screws. The bridge plate you have the bevel is at the center point of the screw and hence will not slide up and down the screw.
Great information, thanks so much for adding this. I hope future viewers read the comment. 👏
Howdy from across the pond here in Canada. I have just acquired an SE Strat from the AXL Factory. It is my first time dealing with a Trem system. The info you have shared in this video has really helped me get a handle on how to set up my Strat. Clear & precise how very nice!!
Hello. Thank you for taking the time to comment, much appreciated. Enjoy your new guitar.
great video, thanks. I learned that you can set up a Strat tremolo bar in floating. I thought it only could be set up to dive bomb only. So happy right now!
So glad that this helped you. Enjoy your floating strat trem!
Very thorough explanation. Thank you.
It's a pleasure,thanks for commenting
Hi, I think there's a mistake on how the spring tension affect the pitch change 14:11. No matter how strong your springs are, as long as the bridge is in a certain angel and you want a certain bending range, the bridge is gonna move a certain angle/distance to change the tension on strings, the springs are just working against the movement, 5 springs will force you to put more strength to move that angle/distance than 3 springs, not more distance/angel.
(I always use only 2 springs to let the guitar bridge bend easier.)
Thanks for sharing. Recently acquired a two point Strat and this is very helpful.
Thanks for letting me know. Enjoy your new guitar.
Cracking video old chap!
Thanks from across the pond. 🍻
Cheers geezer. Thanks a million.
Fantastically helpful video!! Thanks so much for the free education!
It's a pleasure, thanks for commenting.
Very informative. Thanks!
It's a pleasure. Thank you for taking the time to comment.
Great Video. Thank you
Thanks for watching, much appreciated
Thank you for making this video. I just recently purchased my first electric guitar. It is a used Strat style from an off brand. The action was set too low and it the guitar was pleagued with frett buzz. Just a little screw tightening to raise the action and it plays cleanly.
Excellent, I'm glad I could be of help. Enjoy your new guitar.
just got my first electric, thank you for an excellent job with this video. Very informative and easy to follow with a thorough walk through on setup! Great for a beginner like me. 😎
It's a pleasure. I hope you enjoy your first electric experience. What did you get?
@@DevilAndSons a friend gave me an Abilene she won at Rocklahoma ‘16…strings on and it works after all those years 😎
Cool. Enjoy
Excellent...thank you much
It's a pleasure, thanks for leaving a comment.
I'm gonna go on a big kick of watching your videos now. You really know what you're doing. I've been playing over 30 years but never really took the time to properly learn all the proper setup steps. I always just sorta wung it.
Welcome and thanks for watching. I hope you enjoy them.
this will be handy for tomorrow
Good luck!
Thanks alot bro for this video.. Im going to set up my strat.. Hopefully everything go well and perfect... 🎉 Thanks alot for sharing
It's a pleasure. Good luck with the set up, do let me know how you get on.
Great video, Now i can safely adjust my guitar bridge.
Best wishes
Thanks for letting me know, and for watching - much appreciated
I came for the how-to info but stayed for the tatts. Dude, that's some awesome ink! Great how-to vid as well 👍 New sub.
Cheers. If you like them check out @tomastomas108 on Instagram.
its helpullll a lot,.. thanks
It's a pleasure. Good luck with your guitar.
Dude you got a great voice for this ! 👍
Thanks so much. Thay's very kind.
Thanks!
It's a pleasure, thank you so much. Have fun with your new guitar.
This is extremely helpful. Thanks man. lml
It's a pleasure, thanks for letting me know.
Great vid!
Cheers. Thanks for leaving a comment.
All in aid of the Al Gore Rhythm
@@murphyman104 I had to look that up!
Great video, so helpful. What do you recomend/your experience if you want a trem floating on a Fender strat regarding staying in tune is that to replace that bridge with a for example a Vega Trem or any other suggestion that best keeps the Fender in tune in the most situations?
Are you having trouble with yours going out of tune then? A better quality bridge should improve it, but first I'd double check the machine heads to see if they are slipping at all.
EXCELLENT video for the uninitiated!!
Thanks so much, that's very kind of you to say.
3:55 What are the sizing of these bolts? I bought a used guitar and these bolts were stripped and I can’t find a replacement.
Actually I called it a bolt, but it is an engineer screw. I think it may vary depending on the make of block you use but normally an M4 screw (4mm) that is 6mm should work. On the Allparts website they list the genuine fender ones in imperial as #8-32 X 3/8"
There are only 2 springs on my strat with the screws all the way up on the claw. the screws on the body seem to be tightened too much.
Should I loosen it? I want to have a decked setup so I won't need to worry about stability that much
Personally I would loosen the screws on the body so that the bridge plate is completely flat, and if the springs aren't strong enough you do have space to add an extra or two. If you do add springs you'll have to start by loosening the screws on the claw to add them, then retighten. Inwould probably just put at least one extra spring on to be sure.
Excellent video yet again. Wish I had understood finer points of easing off the tension on the screws mounting the bridge to the body before my first build. Pacing and level of detail excellent complement to your lengthier setup video. Bravo.
Can you recommend a good tea during Strat setups, and would it be same with LPs? (I’m assuming a spot of milk as well.)
Thanks so much, I'm glad you enjoy them. Tea is almost always with milk, the exception would be a cup of earl grey or lapsang (both of which I love but not whilst I'm working). Although I would recommend Yorkshire Tea for any occasions, and I think sugar ruins tea despite many people saying otherwise. Perhaps I should make a video about how to make a proper brew?
@@DevilAndSons Good recommendations - thank you. I think I’ve done a number on myself though, as I’ve finished the tea before I got to the guitar. Definitely think some guidance on a proper cuppa is warranted. I need all the help I can get! Cheers.
Definitely agree, sugar in tea is like steel wool on pickups.
Ha, yeah. I worked for an artist once who always drank herbal teas as he'd get so involved with work his tea would go cold and at least with those he could still drink them. It's rare I finish a cup of tea as I always seem to get so stuck into work I forget about it, then when I think I should go make a cup I suddenly remember the cold half drunk one.
how did the front of the bridge raise? If I do this, the screws just move up and down but the front of the bridge stays on the body. Was there a moment where you forced it up with a screwdriver or something like that?
Ah, yes that could be happening, especially if the springs are tight on the back. It may be worth loosening the springs first, you may still have to nudge the bridge up with a screwdriver, then retighten the springs ( which you would be doing as part of the setup process anyway)
I hope that helps, if not do let me know.
The setup as shown in this video will have the saddle screws
tear the blazes out of the hand when palm damping. Won't it ?
A solution would be to shim the neck back to allow the saddles to be raised reducing the screw projection.
In this case I normally just end up putting shorter saddle screws in.
How much of a float did that give you on the high e? About a whole step?
Sosorry I missed this. I can't remember exactly, but I think at least that.
May i ask? What wrench size does it fit in the saddle area? 1.5mm? I have bought a stratocaster recently and i dont know the wrench size for saddles and for the trusrod Thankyouu
It dies vary a bit by make. Is yours a Fender?
1.5mm would be fender and 1/8" truss rod should be correct
American Fender Stratocaster is
.050 inches, and made in Mexico and import Squier is 1.5mm
Thanks for this @curtrod
I would like to see how you set the bridge position . Center line , scale etc . Where do you put the bridge ?
Thanks for watching.
Good point, I don't think I have a video the explains this on it's own, although I think I do in some build videos. I do have two videos that might help though, the first on scale length
ua-cam.com/video/8piycrcII5o/v-deo.html
The second on intonation ua-cam.com/video/cQ-yslOuHck/v-deo.html
I think I will make a video about this though on a build I'm working on in November.
I am at this point right now in my parts caster build . I have never set a bridge up before . Establishing a centerline and scale is so important . I don’t want to screw it up . I have never done a tremolo bridge either . Thanks , I will be watching ,
Cool, and good luck. The key thing really is to set the scale length at the middle position of the bridge saddles so you have give both directions to compensate.
great explanation. almost as hard as a floyd rose I see
Ha. Thankfully not, unless you want to set it up floating, but even then it is less of a faff.
...and thanks for the kind comment.
well-deserved @@DevilAndSons 🙂
oof@@DevilAndSons
@darkmaster450 🤘
Love your content!
I just picked up a new Fender LE Player Strat with the 2-pole synchronization bridge, and I’m finding that I can only get my action high enough (eliminating buzz, and sitting where I like them) if I let the bridge float.
Also, when I lay it flat (and support the neck w books) and try to adjust the intonation, the 12th fret voices slightly sharp, but the saddle is all the way as close to the tail end as possible (pushing up against the pole)
Any advice??😊
Thanks so much for your kind words.
When I've had that problem with intonation my first step is normally to cut the spring behind the saddle to give the saddle a bit more distance to travel. Do you think that will be enough for you?
@@DevilAndSons sorry for the confusion, the saddle is pushing up against one of the two poles. The saddle screw is extended all the way (high E string) and both the harmonic, and fretted 12th fret are sharp compared to the open string. Just a little.
I also just read that you can raise the entire bridge with the two pole screws, so that may give me the string height I’m lacking.
I’ll have to start from square one, and fret the 1st, and last fret and measure the relief. Fender recommends having a tiny bit of relief, right?
Then I’ll do everything else again. Maybe eight the bridge heightened and the neck givens tiny bit of relief, the intonation will change?
Thoughts?
@pjincho if it's sharp you move the saddle back. Ibwould say if ot's a new guitar and ot doesn't intonate correctly you should return it.
@@DevilAndSons yes. There’s a 60 day return policy. I’m trying to see if very light-lift at home set up can remedy it. Now that you mentioned it’s the other way, I’m pretty sure I can get it to work.
In what situations can a person raise the bridge by the 2 pivot poles? Can this be used to add height if the grub screws don’t give you enough?
@pjincho great, would be good if you can remedy it yourself. Yes, you can use the poles to raise the bridge to raise the action and also to set up the bridge so that it floats.
hi! what a video! could you pls give a link for a gold 2 point tremolo for American Pro 2 strat. I would like to purchase. U would help me so much!!! Thx
I'm afraid I don't know the best place. Which country are you in?
@@DevilAndSons I am from Asia, but I can purchase in US as well.
@DevilAndSons can I share some links, so could you say will they suit my American professional ii or not?
Sorry, I only just saw this. Happy to help if I can
Great vid, I bough a new player Stratocaster the other day but I noticed rattling from the bridge. All the saddles were level with each other. I took it back to the shop where I bought it from and they didn’t something that helped. Do you know what causes it?
It's worth checking if all the small grub screws in the saddles are actually making contact with the base plate. Then I would take the tremolo bar out to see if it's that. Then play touching each saddle in turn to see if it's one of the saddles in particular (the rattling should stop if you touch the saddle that is loose). Also check the springs underneath in case one had come loose. Hopefully one of those things will help.
How do I get the correct saddle pressure against the bridge plate? I watched you’re video to learn but I couldn’t find the info. Also, how does one know if the screws need a thread locker?
I like a hard tail strat and the bridge complete flush against the body so if you can tell me how to get the right saddle pressure against the bridge plate that would be amazing! And I’ve heard this is a common problem with vintage style saddles is that correct?
Hmm. I'm not really sure why it would be a problem. If you want it locked off you need the springs tight at the back so there is no give, or you can buy various devices that completely lock it off which i think is the best move to prevent any tuning issues with strings if one should break. I'd still work through the steps I mentioned as it could easily fixed by one of those, but I'd also check if the buzzing stops when you put the temperature arm back in (I assume you have it out) as it could easily be something loose there.
By that I meant if yhe saddles are rattling it could be one if the grub screws in the saddle isn't touching the bass plate and is loose. There should be two in each saddle and often the saddle can be hrkd in the correct place even if one comes loose and is applying no pressure to the base plate and therefore could be rattling. You just need to tighten them each so they aren't loose without changing the height of the saddle (assume the saddle height is correct).
Any specific or better spots to place the springs
Personally I like one on each side and one in the middle, I feel it is a better distribution.
@@DevilAndSons thank you for the video. My son snapped the tremolo bar off and I'm having to replace the bridge. I will be watching this video a few more times when the parts come in.
That sounds like some aggressive playing there. If you have got a similar design bridge then it should be a very simple swap. Do let me know if you need any advice when it comes.
@@DevilAndSons Thank you. The bridge adjustment for tone and string height are the only parts I believe I will have trouble with. I'm glad I took a picture before I removed and disassembled the whole thing.
I do have a full set up video too that you may find useful once the bridge is on.ua-cam.com/video/fvD-qsM3piQ/v-deo.html
What would be the initial saddle height?
Sorry for the delay in responding. Usually i have the saddles set so the screws aren't sticking out above the top of them, then take it from there. No exact starting point.
In my full set up video I talk more about string height and how to set the saddle height.
ua-cam.com/video/fvD-qsM3piQ/v-deo.html
That's the full set up video
Thank you
The individual bridge saddles with the 2 small Allen screws, are they supposed to be equally aligned on initial set up?? Thank you
Completely wrong between 13:00 and 14:11. To lower a note by a set amount (e.g., 1 semitone) the tremolo arm will move the same distance, regardless of how many springs are fitted. The springs will extend by exactly the same distance, whether there are two, three, four, or even five. Since this distance doesn't change, the force required to move the arm will vary. But the distance it moves won't.
Yes. That does sound right. It's the force that the springs change.
I always make the bridge 3/32" off the body.
I love that you are so precise every time. Also as a brit I can't get my head around inches?
Yelling at a mic .. ffs
Why are you yelling? What did I do?
nonsense, get yer ears checked