Everyone Said Get It. I'm Disappointed.
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- Опубліковано 29 чер 2024
- The Dusenberg Les Trem 2 is a great tremolo, but it's not for everyone. Episode 3 of the Gibson experiment.
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0:00 Intro
0:20 Story
1:20 My Thoughts
1:37 Why The Les Trem
2:45 Install Issue and recommendations
3:58 Extensive Test
5:34 Who It’s For
6:11 Neck Dive and Other Questions
7:35 The Next Test Bridge
Andre, you’re the best. Glad to know you.
Weirdly, I also don’t care for the Les Trem, mainly because I find that the spring has way too little tension for the way I play. I like a firmer feel, and even in the case of Bigsbys I’m always swapping those springs for hi-tension replacements.
Another minor complaint: I’m not crazy about the shape of the arm and how it hits my palm.
All that said, it works! That’s good, just not for me
Oh nooo the FRX haha
@@PuisheenI had a feeling you’d be upset about this 😂
I may be too late to the table, but you'll have to cut the pickguard for Frx as well. The "batman" pickguard collides with the adjustment bolt. You'll see what I mean when you're gonna try to install it...
Anyway, thanks for the video.
Funny, for me it's the Bigsby that I really don't like the feel of the bar on. Everything is really a matter of preference and I think that's awesome. It's a really cool time for guitarists right now where we have so many options to make our own dream guitars
@@SBanas argh…not looking forward to this
I'm really sorry that my recommendation as to the Les Trem didn't work for you as well as it did for me, but I'm very curious and looking forward to your experiment with the FRX bridge. Thank you!
Don’t apologize! I do this for you all :). It’s all fun for me regardless
@@andrefludd I think your opening line was exactly right. IF you like the bigsby trem style, the les trem is a perfect upgrade for that. If you're more used to fender trem styles (or anything else really) potentially not your cup of tea. I for one found my trem awakening with my duesenberg. But that's me coming from gretsch. ALWAYS a good thing that people have different preferences. Thought the video was great. (also that SG looks so nice in the more natural brown tone. I've never been a huge fan of red guitars)
Looking forward to the next episode. I'm on the verge of ordering an FRX for my already heavily modified Epiphone SG. Thank you for your insights!
Not sure how I'm just finding this channel, but I dig your vibe. No shilling, no "look at my expensive gear I can't play" stuff...more content like yours would make UA-cam guitar videos much more interesting. I could totally get high and geek out about guitars with this guy...and pizza😂
Good stuff dude! 🤘🤘🤘
Thank you :)
The Doc is the real deal. IMO
The stetsbar is really nice too, keeps in tune nice, not talked about enough imo. But of course an FRX will do the job wonderfully, i'm planning on getting one for my LP studio
The FRX is HEAVY, which is why I went with a Stetsbar on my hollow Cort M800. I'm sure a double locking setup is more stable than the Stets, but it's as good as any non-locker in keeping tune IMO. I do think locks might be needed with the headstock and string angles on a Gibson.
Subscribing on a whim based on this articulate, fair, and comprehensive review of a product that I am very interested in.
Finally! I never thought we'd get to hear your take on the FRX. I'm still debating whether to install one or not, but I hope you can help with the decision.
Good on you for trying things twice to give a second assessment. That kind of open-minded, "I'm willing to be proven wrong" attitude is really healthy and good. Plus then you can say more definitively that you know what you like and know what you don't like.
Interestingly, I don't like Bigsby tremolos at all, but I love my Les Trem. I can definitely understand why it's not for everyone though. They're really more for subtle vibrato and not for the extreme whammy bar stuff you can do with strat style trems. I installed it on my 339 because I was coming from a strat and really missed the whammy bar, and I was pleasantly surprised. I do abuse it quite badly by doing divebombs with it anyway, which means more tuning and maintenance (and a lot of strings breaking at the ball-end winding), but it's worth it for me. Plus it makes my guitar look like a really classy vintage motorcycle... or espresso machine 🤣
I really appreciate this segment of the experiment, as I have many guitars with a tune o matic bridge… my new number one is a Yamaha Revstar, and I do want a trem of some type. Keep it up and congrats on the channel growth!
Thank you! I can’t why to try the revstar later this year
I’m very excited to see your FRX install and test. I have a SG and Les Paul that I would consider installing. The basic question I would want answered is, what are the limitations of the FRX compared to a traditionally installed Floyd Rose? Is is pitch down or pitch up or ability to flutter or all of the above?
I’ll test all this thanks for the suggestions
I watched a video yesterday about a guy who fitted a copy of the Les Trem and it kept snapping strings.
Some of his commenters said the string appertures needed filing smooth as both the Les Trem and the copy were not lapped smooth enough and this roughness snapped the string when dive bombing, he did this but it still kept happening and so he wrapped the first 1/2 inch of each string with tape and that solved the issue.
I am thinking of getting the Les Trem for my LP Custom, luckily I have lapping papers and pastes and the tools to apply them so I shall lapp the string apertures completely smooth before fitting the vibrato bridge.
Thanks for the review and we think you used a good analogy with the whole pizza thing. Coming from the same school of bridges that you did we may have agreed with you completely but now that we play surf music with lots of reverb the Les Trem is so smooth and really contributes to the overall sound and vibe. We’re pretty much playing Jazzmasters, Jags and hollow body guitars so for those with the Tunomatic bridges the Les Trem has been a fantastic option for us.
I feel very similarly, but in regards to amps.
For years, I’ve used a super cheap Chinese 2x12 with no name speakers, and an honestly decent Orange head. Sounded super clear and not under water or anything like that.
I recently bought my first “real” cabs from a super good company. However , with my current amp, they sound underwater and not clear in the slightest- almost like they’re in a different room.
Besides buying my first tube amp, I’m kind of out of ideas with what to do. I’ve tried 3 “real” cabs with “real” brand speakers and nothing has come close to sounding as good as the No name stuff. I’m starting to go crazy just thinking about it
Why mess with success?
@@Augrills because I’m a musician lol. Have you had a similar issue?
@@C0nnie I get that lol. Nah, my setup is simple as pie. I got a Peavy Delta Blues combo with a 15” speaker and the sound is good enough for me. If you were happy with your cheaper cab and it worked better with your amp, id stick with it is all I’m saying
I discovered your channel right after I started my Strandberg experiment. And now simultaneously we both started a SG experiment😂. I have had an Gibson SG in the past. And now picked up an Epiphone to modify. I actually prefer the neck on the Epiphone. Keep up the good work!
For those thinking of getting les trem, go for it, but Get a string butler and a wilkinson roller bridge for near perfect tuning stabilty.... i have a ton of guitars with 2 point / floyd rose /edge trems....and added 2 of these to 2 of hard tail guitars to just have variety and its been worth it, but i have 24 guitars so i can keep 2 of them with the les trems on and i still have options....
Good thing is you can swap back to the original bridge in a few minutes if your limited options wise.
Andre thank you for trying the Les Trem. I found the other video with the Rivolta after I dropped the comment you responded to. Again thank you.
I think you are probably getting THE Trem you want or will work better than a Bigsby or Les Trem. I understand why that Trem should work better for you. I hope it does.
I LOVE Bigsbys and Wide Swing Tremolos because they get that blue note waiver down so well you were doing. All the other terms blow right past the blue notes. I get it, it's an acquired taste. In fact I spent years figuring out how to get that subtle Blue note waiver. Long and short, the best way is to replace the stock spring with a Reverend Soft Spring. Really though you want a bit of length between the bridge and the vibrato. That's why Offset guitars and Gretsch style guitars do it so well. I had Epiphone Wildkat guitars and that short length robbed some of that Blue note magic. Also it was before Reverend made the Soft Spring.
I have Strat-ish guitars with standard Strat terms and they blow right past the blue notes. I tend to put in soft springs on those too and I get a nervous stutter from that set up. I also float them enough so that I get a half note throwing it backwards. I dig Psychobilly so the nervous wiggles add to the tension in that style of my playing.
I did buy a Xavier JT100 last year to see if I like offsets, turns out I do. I am going to upgrade the Trem and the bridge to Halons (will cost more than the guitar and the upgrades already made to it) in the near future. The reason for this was to get an inexpensive offset and it also fits my "what's a Tele but not a Tele," guitar run I have been doing for the last decade. But the offset trem was intentionally sought as something different than Strat terms and Bigsbys.
I look forward to seeing the next video for your SG. I also really like your playing too amigo! 😎👍✨
Thanks for the tip on the pickguard
Fair enough! I got my first Strat in 1981 & a Sadowsky NYC "S Style" in 1992 - love 'em both and the trem systems are similar and very friendly (for me, at least). In the last few years I bought a Duesenberg Star Player (with their trem) and a lovely Japanese made Gretsch solid body w. Bigsby. Despite the fact that they both work fine I do find these 2 trems clunky and 'heavy handed' - but I'll put up with that because it's the guitars I wanted because of their feel and sound and use trem in the studio where needed but 'with caution'.
I think you would really love the American professional 2 jazzmaster, it has a panorama tremolo on it and it's honestly my favorite of any tremolo unit.
I work at a music store and set up guitars every day btw.
...only Americans can expect to find the best pizza in the world in New York. Greetings from Italy friend! 🍕😁
TRUTH!
The pizza in Rome was great. NYC/NJ still better :)
On the subject of neck dive, I recently bought my first bass, a Fender Mustang short scale. I love it, but it’s also the first guitar I’ve ever owned with neck dive. I researched all of the methods and didn’t like the friction approach or permanent mod, so I settled on a 1 lb rubber-coated scuba weight on my strap. Highly recommended!
I love how the frx looks on sg's, glad you're gonna try it
As a New Yorker I have to take issue with that Jersey has the best pizza comment 😂
I second that!
As long as we can all agree that Chicago does not make the best pizza
Me too! It's Boston. Yankees Suck 😁
After visiting and eating ny pizza, i have to say we make better pizza at home in the midwest.
Def not true lmao I did enjoy Wisconsin pizza, but NJ is way better
Really interested in that FRX (and the Stetsbar other people have mentioned)
Solid vid once again. The hours put in are really appreciated. Since you are essentially doing a deep dive on a bridge. Have you tried a Sofia trem? If so, any thoughts on those?
I’m still on a search for my perfect headless guitar. I have a few Vaders that I like a lot, but the strap button isn’t ideally situated for my forearm.
Of the other guitars I’ve been looking into, Skervesen doesn’t offer a trem on the Shoggie, and I’m not feeling the neck on a Strandberg,. The other choices were either a Kiesel HK, OD Medusa (no opportunity to try one before purchasing) or a Mayones Hydra elite pro with a Sophia trem. I know you’ve had issues with the tuning stability on the Duvall you had earlier, but otherwise the build quality was solid.
Assuming that Duvell was a fluke, if you’ve tried one, I was curious about your opinions on a Sophia trem vs a Hipshot headless trem?
I want to try a Sophia but haven’t yet. The hip shot headless trem is fine for the stuff I usually do. I had it on one of my vaders
Excited to see what you think of the bridge you picked. Wonder if it would work on GV WOOD
That is a thought. I’m not sure if the FRX works with carved tops out of box.
Interested to hear what you think of the FRX since it was a meme back in the day of the guitar forums I frequented.
Also you need to try an Ibanez JS1000 since you appreciate ergonomics, aesthetics and floating bridges for whammy stuff with a comfortable, not too thin neck.
I'm keen to see how the Floyd works for you. If it's a good result I might swap out the Les Trem on my Firebird.
The FRX will probably be pretty awesome. Its too bad they don't make a chrome version of the Virtual Jeff whammy bar though.
3:14 Hell yeah!!!
Either nylon (or tusq) or roller saddles. My experience with Bigsby and Les Trem II with conventional TOMs are quiet bad. Metal strings rob against metal saddles, yak! I did know it would't work, but tried it nevertheless. The Duesenberg company that produces the Les Trem says you should use rocking TOMs, same as rocking bridges on Jazzmasters and Jaguars.
Anyway, with a roller TOM bridge the Les Trem works really well and allows me even to divebomb!
(That Revolta from your previous LesTrem vid kinda proves that.)
Man.. Your playing is really subtle. Love how your chords ring.
Thank you. I appreciate that :)
Im really curious about the FRX, especially if you could you use without a lock nut as well. Duh, of course you can, but how well will it stay in tune with all the factors aligned, nut and tuners 🤓
I’m going to check that for sure
I put the last trim on a new les paul. It was Great. Now i'm going to buy a new sg And use it again.
Your videos on the strandbergs was a big part of me deciding to go ahead and buy one, and I'm a month into that guitar and can't imagine a world without it now. Don't think I'll be running out to buy a Gibson just yet though.
Glad I could help!
You've been posting 99% everything I could ask for from a channel. Still excited to see how you would play metal though haha
I have a feeling, and I've said this before I think, but I have a feeling that your particular style will give metal the breath of fresh air it's been needing for a long time now.
Side note: your playing style has recently been influencing my own, and it's making me learn songs I wouldn't have bothered with just 3 months ago. Keep at it, I love this!
There will be metal…very soon. ;)
Of course you should have all the features you like on a guitar, but I like the fact that different style guitars might force you to play outside your comfort zone, which inspires new ideas and stretches your skill set.
If you mod all your guitars to play and sound the same what’s the point of having different ones?
I’d rather explore what that sg has to offer as is than worry so much about what you think it’s missing.
Plenty of amazing music has been made without a trem system.
Also, sg’s are notorious for neck dive. the way they are designed with the neck meeting the body at the last fret and the body being super light weight, upsets the balance point of the guitar. It’s physics.
Both of those things were part of the design to counter the traditional heavy weight of a Les Paul and to allow superior fret access for shredding.
All very good points. I might actually discuss this topic in a video soon
@@andrefludd i don't know if you are interested in slide guitar music at all, but sg's make an excellent blues slide platform. just a thought!🤔
was thinking to my self "why not just use a floyd if thats what you like". been really interested in that product youre trying next since ive seen it. even being a stricktly tune o matic or nothing guy myself lol I have an sg standard that ive been thinking about trying the drop on bigsby or the product you revealed
I’m with you. I have a Kahler, a VegaTrem, a Wilkinson with locking saddles, OFR and a Schaller Floyd. Love them all, don’t dig the Bigsby or Les Trem all that much. I did previously own a SG Special with a vibrato, and with a Tusq XL nut I had no problems. I’ve never heard anything good about the FRX, however.
Those look like Hipshot tuners. They sell some (overpriced) plastic replacement buttons that would almost certainly work with those tuners. That wouldn't totally fix the neck dive but it would help. I replace all my metal tuner buttons with plastic buttons. Bonus: they're not cold to the touch like metal ones.
Oh, and if you put a Maestro Vibrola with the lyre tailpiece on it that'd pretty much solve the neck dive problem.
Really appreciate your video. Like you, I've never cared for the Bigsby style trem. In fact, it seems sketchy to introduce a moving tailpiece on a headstock design that does not pull the string in a straight line. But, there are so many Gretch guitars out there with a 3X3 headstock and Bigsby trems that they obviously work. I'm not going to argue with Chet Atkins. My main issues are: Compared to a 2 point trem, it requires a lot more movement of the arm to get little change in pitch. I would have the tendency to overuse the travel to get the desired effect. But, that is what knocks them out of tune. So why would I want that.
Today, I saw where someone was selling one of these trems unused. Thought about getting it for my 335. But, all those concerns started running through my mind. That's when I found your video. I so much appreciate your honest assessment.
Hey Andre - does the Les Trem allow quick drop D tuning, or does it throw the other 5 out?
You need to check out the Stetsbar vibrato,,, or if you can find one an 80s Washburn Wonderbar ,it's a lot like a kahler flat mount except no routing the only mod is screw holes in the top , just really hard to find one since it's been many years since they made them.
I am kinda the complete opposite myself, bigsby is probably all the vibrato I need but honestly I rarely use a trem so I usually deck a strat bridge or put some kind of trem stop on a Floyd rose , but back in the day when I did use the trem I probably overused it so now when I want it the bigsby is so subtle and I like that .
Side note , I really can't wait to see what you do when you get a guitar with the Steinberger trans-trem on it !
I have an old hohner Steinberger copy that has the standard trem and it works fine I'm going to research if the trans-trem would work on a Steinberger copy and see if I can upgrade , the changing tuning thing is so cool and useful
They've been updated since I got mine, but I don't think a stetsbar would cut it for Andre unless they've made really big changes.
@@steelisreal Personally I had no problems with the stetsbar (just have to make sure that the nut is cut properly, and maybe lubricate it (vaseline+graphite), but that's always true with or without a trem system). I had the stetsbar pro II, but that was probably almost 10 years ago
@@riffsnreviews Pro 2 was the model after mine I think, I've got one of the originals. It works well, it's just more like a bigsby than a 2 point.
I had the Les Trem on my Ibanez Semi Hollow. While I like the way it works, I eventually removed it because it just couldn't get the tuning stability right... Even after installing a roller bridge and lubricating the nut... Well, I stick with my other guitars that come stock with a wiggle stick
String Butler would likely cure a ton of tuning instability issues with SG or any of the Gibson "open book" headstocks and it plays nice with aftermarket trems without requiring any install issues. Darrel Braun did a video on it. I have to wonder why all guitar tuners are not straight from the nut and buried into the headstock so they run straight from the bridge-nut-tuners? This would take the pegs somewhere else, likely not visible from the front of the headstock, but that seems like nonsense aesthetics reasons.
Alright man, nice cliffhanger. I'm waiting to see how the next vid goes!
HAY DR. ANDRE, THANX FOR THE TREM TRYALS. DID YOU HAVE A MOMENT TO SEE KIRK DOUGLAS'S ( CAPTAN ) DEMO VIDEO?? THAT GUITAR LOOKS SWEET... STAY COOL... PEACE...
Had the same Rivolta with the Les Trem but just couldn't get on with it. Like you I suppose, too many years of playing with "traditional' whammy systems.
It will be interesting to see how the next one pans out.
Looking forward to the next installment (pardon the pun!)
I maybe popping a les trem on my son's Greco Rick copy this weekend to replace the bigsby style tail it has now. Long backstory involving a lost bag on a bus means it has the longer arm which didn't suit the guitar it was originally bought for but might suit the Rick. Gotta find a harder spring though, he's running 12's on that sucker
If someone curious about neck dive. It's not that about the weight of the guitar, it's more about leg cutout position. I have a Jazzmaster and it neckdives, but 2 of my superstrats don't. Reason is Jazzmasters, SGs etc has a leg cutout somewhere around bridge pickup, so all of the neck and half of the bodyweight is over your leg. Strats are far more balanced in this terms
I remember watching a video where the same guitars had neck dive with some people, while they were perfectly stable with other people. So I guess there's more to it than the leg cutout.
@@riangarianga There is. But the leg cutout is the reason wy certain shape will never be balanced. In terms of different results on the same guitar model - it's also about weight. Like Very thin Ibanez S model will also have a neck dive. It's a combo of two things: the weight balance and the point of the balance. That's why 7 string have more chances to dive than a 6 string model. Cause they do have more weight on the headstock, which in crucial. I just grabbed my 2 guitars by the neck joint and Jazzmaster is body heavy and superstrat is balanced. So cutout do affect balance a lot
@@eternum7056 What you mention can't really be argued. However, there's also the leg shape/size factor, that was the point of that video I remember watching (unfortunately I couldn't find it). A thin leg won't be the same than a thick leg for the purpose to stabilise any guitar.
Personally I prefer always playing and practicing standing since a few years ago. I also suffered from neck dive on what is now my favourite guitar. In addition, the horrible belly cut (I really dread them, I prefer flat backs) was so annoying, it acted like a fulcrum when I happened to press on the guitar body with my arm. However, I lost weight, my tummy became flat, and I gradually stopped having both neck dive or belly cut issues. The reason being previously my protuding tummy changed the contact point of the guitar on my body, forming a triangle with the strap buttons, however with a flat tummy I suddenly had more surface to contact the guitar body, so that triangle disappeared together with that belly cut wobble, and friction increased, helping with stability. Same guitar, same person, different repeatable results.
@@riangarianga I wrote thin comment just to nmake people notice the cutout position. I don't think that leg size will matter that much, cause your bone will be in the deeprst place of cutout, but you'll increase the contact area that should improve overall stability . It's a very interesting thing you've noted about triangle with a belly, I'm more about sitting player, so I can't say much about it. What I'll say that personal experience with instrument matters a lot, but may wary a lot between even different persons. By the way, thank you for sharing opinion and experience
@@eternum7056 Sharing is growing, thank you too!
Now this is the content I desire modding your guitar for perfection
You must not have watched my video comparing different whammy bars. The video demonstrated exactly what the Les Trem does and how much it drops pitch. Sorry you missed it. Rock on!
Look into getting a String Butler if you want this thing to stay in tune with heavy vibrato use.
I've never been a fan of traditional guitars, with one exception, the Schecter Nick Johnston USA model, it's far better than the import model
I had a bigsby on my sg and it made reaching the control knobs so hard
I'm thinking about putting one on my Epi 61 Les Paul SG. Would the guitar still fit into it's OHSC? I don’t see how...
I'm a fan of the Duesenberg.Not the range of a strat but much more than a bigsby.The Duesenberg sags only slightly when you do whole string bends,It feels natural.My strat is set up w a floating trem for positive up bends,The price I pay is a saggy bridge when I bend and a warble/quiver in pitch with a heavier pick attack.(a la Jeff Beck but always there a little)Also the strat drifts in pitch quite a bit when floating.The Duesenberg will be much more stable.
Always a nice start to night shift when you drop a new video
:) I appreciate you, man.
Lol spewing I have to wait to see the outcome of the floyd
I’ve tried an FRX on an Epiphone LP, and they seem to be a really mixed bag. Mine never held tune and the knife edges got divots pretty much immediately after using, and others say theirs is flawless. Floyd Rose support is nonexistent as well, so good luck if you have issues. I hope it works for you! Sure didn’t for me, lol
Fingers crossed mine is good
Doc you got me missing my hometown Queens NYC (better pizza I am sure); Teaneck where my cousins are from; and the Vigier I sold! Lol
I’m salivating for the Vigier Experiment
Always thanks and best!
I think I may have spoiled the possibility of the vigier experiment. I already have my opinion on the brand, tried all their guitars for a long time. I like the idea of coming in without knowing how things will turn out. That being said, I still have to review the shawn lane vigier :).
Doc, it’s your channel: I just love how much you love the brand! All your podcasts and vids…..thank you for bringing back the passion in playing and experimenting with gear to express oneself!!
Unfortunately, I didn't have the best experience with the les trem. I bought a Epiphone SG and threw one on with a graphtech nut and hipshots. No matter how I set it up, it would go out of tune with any trem use, no matter how little it was. I even paid a luthier to set it up and I couldn't get it working well. I'm looking forward to the FRX review! Always wanted to try one!
For me the Les Trem fulfilled one purpose.
A non Invasive try of a trem on my Paula. It took some time to get it to stay in Tune, but it works now with a roller Bridge and a Decent bone nut.
It made me realize, that I would probably go for a floyd rose, because that resembles more of what I want from a Trem System.
The best thing about it tho, is you can always go back.
It's great for People to try, without breaking your guitar or the bank.
So it comes back in tune ? ! Thanks
I have a guitar with a vibrola and just put a roller bridge on it and never had any tuning issues. Granted, I'm not doing dive bombs, but I use tremolo like you do in your videos- a subtle wiggle to accent chords and notes. A little late now, but of you give a vibrola a chance in the future consider adding a rolling bridge.
I think the vibrola is great! It just isn’t for me. Tuning isn’t the issue
@@andrefludd Fait enough- I honestly just like the look of it aesthetically- it is maybe the worst tremolo functionally. Excited for when you do the floyd rose bridge- I have been wanting to get a guitar with a floyd but I hear they are difficult to deal with if you don't know how to take care of them, so it will be helpful to hear you talk about them.
I like the thing about the two point bridges and what looks like a Steinberger ZT-3 in the background ^^ I regret a little not picking up one of those when they were available with a pretty good discount when Steinberger Brand was shut down (was that by Gibson?). They don't come up that often on Reverb and I don't really want to pay more for a used one than the sales price back then. Btw: I have a Prophecy Instruments build coming up (actually a pair with a 6 string and a short scale 4 string base). If you are interested maybe we could arrange it so Nick would ship them to you, so you can give the guitar (or both) a try for a couple of weeks.
What a small world! I’ve been talking to Nick for a couple of months now. I’m planning to go visit him in Baltimore this summer, record some videos and podcasts. I think he’s doing some really innovative stuff and he’s not too far from me.
@@andrefludd Ah that is great. I haven't really played any of his instruments yet but I agree - he seems very innovative and so far the process has been great. Some of these other Luthiers offering comparable product at similar price point seem to stuggle quite a bit managing ongoing builds, backlogs and communicating with customers about milestones and delays ... anyways: Same offer for an upcoming Equilibrium Guitas build :)
As well as locking tuners is it absolutely necessary to install a tune o matric roller bridge with the Les Trem II?
There are other options, but some type of low friction saddles will be best. Roller, nylon, graph tech, lots to choose from.
I have never tried a Bigsby. They look very touchy though, like it would go out of tune easy unless you just gently used it.
Another informative, honest and entertaining video - thank you.
Thanks Simon :). Love seeing you here every Friday
@@andrefludd - thank you so much!
A buddy of mine had the FRX on his flying V and decided to remove it cause he wasn't a fan tremolos when he removed the FRX it left four dents from the Pressure points of the bridge which they don't say damages your guitar
They do supply a couple of pads to add to ur guitar to absorb that damage.
I am a disappointed user too!
Tuning stablility: non existent
plus, the arm get loose so easily. the set screw have already bite into the arm but it still get loose. I took it to a guitar tech, he help me to file two planes on the arm shaft, for it to stay at the angle i prefer, and provide more area for the set screw to clamp on. but it still got loose.
I don't even want to sell it, to prevent the buyer from hating me.
Love to see you experimenting the crap of this guitar. I my self want a 24 fret, p90s SG with trem system that stays in tune. So your lessons learned will be quite usefull
Glad I could help
I think the Les Trem is pretty great simply because of how cheap it is and how easy it is to install, if you have a stop tail guitar but need a tremolo bridge, this is a pretty stress free route.
You make it sound clean af. If you watch these vids listen on a good blue tooth like beats speaker.
The trem bar is cool. You gotta be super delicate imo to not overdo the effect. Very subtle and proper so it feels natty.
Keep at it. I’d like to try that 1. Sometimes you gotta calibrate your technique with exact style your playing with trem.
Thank you :)
The Les Trem II is not recommended for batwing pickguard SG guitars. I import the best German versions and when matched with a Tonepros roller bridge they perform awesomely. I sell them at GRA8C music.
I expected a Bigsby Vibrato. Not for dive bombing but different. Would one help neck dive?
Honestly you probably need a Stetsbar trem or a Floyd Rose FRX. Both have a much wider range and you don’t have to do any permanent modifications. They are pricey, but they are real trem systems. I have a Bowen Handle trem on my SG, and you need roller saddles and a graphite nut that’s well lubricated to have any real hope of keeping it in tune. But again, it’s a bigsby style trem, much like the Les trem. Recommend the stetsbar or FRX - just finished video, you got the FRX, and yes, that thing kicks ass. Ugly as sin lol but it works great
I have a standard requirement for my guitars: they do what I expect for their price without any modifications. If they fail to do so, I return them or sell them.
If I have to do more than a setup, intonation and new strings, the guitar is not suitable for my needs.
In the past I purchased inexpensive guitars (e.g., Jackson JS series) with the idea to upgrade them. Turned out that for the price and some adjustments in my amp / modeler / effect settings, they work just fine.
Selling a few guitars now, top of my list after my backordered Behringer System-55 is a Kiesel Holdworth. I fully expect it to do what I expect from my specs.
Cheers!
I make Pizza!!! Come to Chicago I'll make you some in person!
Best Pizza IMO: Lombardi's on Spring St., NYC., whenever I'm in the city, I go if I can.
I like thin crust pizza tho.
My other fav in the city is Katz's deli on Houston.
I've been! enjoyed it, but not my fav.
I have a Stetsbar Pro II on my Les Paul and it is fantastic. Highly recommend it.
Also New Haven CT has the best pizza. Hands down.
Pepe’s pizza is def GOAT status
You can always try the GFS Extrem vibrato.
Does it not get in the way when strumming funky? I know its non-issue with my bixby
Thank you, Doctor
For the money theres no better alternative for lp. You should check out the stetsbar trem. THATS smooth. Almost parker/floyd rosish. Due to funds i put a les trem on my mij hondo935 335 copy. It stays better in tune than any oof my strat vintage tremolos. Much better then bigsby. Might be to a nice slippery brass nut. Had to chang my low hanging rock anticks: almost broke my wrist doing a windmill. Its very high above the bridge. Also when the bar is rotated back the end sticks out poking the hand.
Can anyone tell me if the FRX, is "quicker" to change strings on compared to OFR?
I’ll tell you very soon :)
Real question about how it feels vs the hard tail. Do you feel like when you weren’t touching the tremolo that it felt the same? I guess I’m wondering if there were any pitch issues or if it felt different?
The guitar felt the same to me overall.
The guitar felt the same to me overall.
Andre now I know you are friends with Mike Adams you gotta get a jazzmaster on the channel!
Maybe we will collab on one someday :).
Great video Andre, I admire your honesty, you didn't knock it, you said it was good, but it just wasn't for you, but it convinced me, it's just what I'm looking for, so keep up the good work.
Glad it was helpful!
Can you lift it up or down only?
Every single SG neck dives, there is nothing you can do about it other than strap a hefty counterweight on its ass, and it has to be something MUCH heavier than a Bigsby. It's inherently flawed design, no matter how tasty it looks. Boy does it look tasty though, that double horn design is probably THE best shaped feature on any guitar, certainly any mass produced plank of wood.
I haven't played mine properly in a long time and I guess I'm starting to miss it. A 2007 Standard originally in ebony that I stripped down to mahogany and finished with tung oil, easily the best looking guitar I own but I've enjoyed playing pretty much any cheap piece of shit I've bought since more. I even brought a 250€ partscaster Tele to live abroad with me instead since it's simply a more suited guitar for my hands with its baseball bat neck. Maybe one day I'll go back home and play that SG like I used to, weirdly melancholic to even think about it now...
You need to install a roller bridge if you're using one of these vibrato systems.
What if you got the traditional Gibson vibrola, a bridge with roller saddles and a string butler?
I never tried that setup so idk.
@@andrefludd I think it’d work. The roller bridge would remove friction at the saddles and the string butler would remove binding at the nut.
Hey doc, Any chance of getting some Duesenberg reviews?
I’d love to. I reached out to them but so far no response. I think as I grow a few of these bigger companies will consider sending me stuff. Let’s hope in 2024.
Hi Andre! The Les Trem could theoretically be made to stay in tune. It's true that a good setup will allow it to. Still, I would pass on putting it on anything of mine. The funny thing about this product is that to me it seems useful, functional, yet gimmicky at the same time. On a positive note, you're getting lovely tones from the SG.
Cheers!
Thanks man! To be honest, at the end, I may come to the same conclusion. SG might just be best fixed bridge. Few more episodes to find out :)
"Im pretty much an idiot" hehe. Me too man. Ive done a lot in my life, how hard could it be to luthier. Well my warped and twisted guitar necks that are always out of intonation and have funky bad action after I think im a luthier. Out of all the things ive done, working on instruments is another level of difficulty. When Every mm in every which way has to be perfect. A perfectly crafted instrument is just so precisely balanced in every which way. Every time i get a neck under my microscope I learn something new every time. And we are talking less than 1mm most times. Anyways yeah I wouldnt suspect id enjoy that trem arm. Im a floating bridge guy so i only play one type of bridge for my personal instrument. Nothing beats the expression this type of bridge offers with very little effort or technique. Its always allowed for me to do things that are impossible without. I would probably try something to route in if I played a gibson again. But gl with that one.
I used to live in Chicago, and they're mighty proud of their pizza. And their claims have merit, I might add. But I really think Chicago is one of the best places for cuisine of any kind. The ethnic variety is gobsmacking and packed tightly. I can only presume this happy set of circumstances can be found all over the New York area right out past Philadelphia.
But I live in Colorado. Microbrewerys, weed, and mountains are what we're known for. I don't drink or get stoned, and I work too much to pay the rent to enjoy Aspen or Veil.
And the trem... I'm a hardtail man. Owning a Floyd Rose would be like having a girlfriend with bodacious ta-tas, but I'm into a finely sculpted leg instead. It can be done. It has been done. But you might imagine the Floyd and the girl in question will catch you strumming elsewhere.
I was just about to comment on your last video, to get the duesenberg trem. They’re so well designed.
But yeah, they’re definitely in the bigsby family of design. So if you don’t dig Bigsby’s… 😬
I’ve come to the experiential and logical conclusion that in order of tuning stability for guitar vibratos:
1. Double locking is as close to perfect as you can get. Issues with these and hassle etc etc
2. Second best is two fulcrum pivot bridges (Gotoh 510 etc) with locking bridge saddles
3. Third best is two fulcrum bridges with no locking saddle function (stock Gotoh 510 etc)
4. Everything else-all the Bigsbys, Duesenburgs, Jaguars, etc that utilize springs and rotate the bridge on an axis.
The drop off from a two knife-edge fulcrum bridge to a bigsby etc is dramatic for tuning stability in my amateur opinion
Perhaps there is another type of bridge out there I’m not aware of that utilizes ball bearings as the pivot point in non locking format (I know Kahler does but that’s a double locking system)
This has me thinking that maybe I should do a “tremolo experiment.” Though it would be more accurate to say “whammy” experiment. But that would require a sponsor for sure. No way I could get a dozen bridges, help from a tech, etc all on my own. But I’ll def bookmark this idea and comment for when we are a bit bigger. Thank you. Believe it or not, no bridge or even trem company has agreed to send me a unit. I tried. One actually agreed to send me saddles and tuners and then backed out. SMH
@@andrefludd it will happen. You share a few similar characteristics of that Jim Lil UA-cam guitarist who has published numerous videos empirically investigating what actually influences tone of electric guitars
This type of approach is needed and almost a public service lol
The anticipation waiting to see how the FRX fairs is killing me. I have a line on one for a reasonable price and want to slap it on my SG like a madman.
:)
@@andrefludd Couldn't wait. Just went for it! Hahaha. Still looking forward to seeing what you think!
So I assume your next bridge attempt will be the Floyd Rose drop in ToM replacement?
play some Rush if you install a floyd rose on a gibbie