Installing the VegaTrem! - The Most EXPRESSIVE Trem For Your Strat!
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- Опубліковано 11 лис 2018
- The VegaTrem is a killer upgrade for Fender's vintage 6-screw trem - without permanently modding your guitar!
It's a really expressive floating system that holds tune!
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Camera - Canon 80D,
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Enjoy!
"It's small size enables you to go past the body"
Me explaining how I broke all 6 strings at the same time
KEKW!
What?
😂🎸
Maybe Fender should just do an "update" to a trem. Pop in trem arm should be as standard ages ago.
Changes with player series were nice but some features are still missing.
The American strats have significantly better trems with pop in arms. I will say the block saddles on the elite / deluxe trem are much nicer than the bent saddles that come on the others though.
maslascher lol.. fender? Update? Yeah right. They’ve making the same guitar since the 50’s and every update model has basically no update. I mean how many damn re-issues are they gonna make? Lol
I have a G&L Strat with a pop in trem arm which needs to be fixed from time to time and a Fender Strat with a screw in trem arm and that little spring at the bottom which causes just enough friction to keep the arm where I want it to be. I prefer the latter.
Don‘t fix it if it ain‘t broke.
I see fender as a traditional brand, wouldn't expect the to do a great change in most of the their series.
Maybe in a modern series or something like that.
The ultras goes a little but not totally.
Thanks a lot Darrell you got my bank account in the negatives
Dude cost me $179 for a Blade Runner.
Well worth it! 😁
Darrell Braun Guitar did u like the FR better or no, or equally??
I just wanna point that, this bridge was designed to not destroy vintage strats with routing. I played two of this trems on different strats and it's just amazing, as Darrell said, plays like butter. It would be really nice to get some of this to stores so people can try them. (Yeah, i know one of the guys behind that trem hahahaha)
As I wrote to the OP, it's a very cool trem.
Can I ask, with a fairly decent set of standard machine heads, does it stay in tune? Or would fitting locking machine heads make it better and string fitting easier?
Also if one string breaks does the whole guitar go out of tune or will it hold tune (Eg in a gig situation)?
Many thanks 👍😊
I get on quite well with my System 1 Fender trem, the traditional trems on my other two Strats less so. The System 1 trem isn't perfect though.
Is a Vega worth the extra money when compared to other known manufacturers? I think that it might be - but as I'm on a budget it'll take a lot of thought to buy two (or is it a case of value and quality are remembered long after the price is forgotten?).
Tell them to make them a more reasonable price then maybe stores would carry them lol. I mean you spend 1500+ on the strat I don’t wanna spend another 300 for a trem block that’s only giving me up pull
@@dukenukembubblegum7311 Best replacement trem I ever bought. Can't say enough good things about it.
Awesome product.
Luv and Peace.
@@musoseven8218 I bought a Harley Benton Strat for £75 and replaced the pickups with a set of Lace Sensors. My goal was to go after an early 90s Strat Ultra feel.
I put a Tusq nut and String trees on it and locking Ratio Tuners and I fitted a Vega trem.
The trem is the standout mod after the pickups.
It is crazy stable and feels buttery smooth to use. You can approach Jeff Beck solos with this thing.
I've been messing about with Where Were You and I can just about pull it off.
Best Trem I've ever used.
Heartily recommend.
Luv and Peace.
Anyone in Scotland or the UK hit me up and you can visit and try it out.
It really is a gamechanger.
Looks good and pretty well engineered. Personally, it's just too expensive for the amount of whammy bar shenanigans I use.
Believe me you'd use more if you had a silky smooth working trem.
Luv and Peace.
now thats one nice bit of kit Darrell, really looks and sounds awesome, thank you for sharing with us, Cheers,
I am absolutely blown away thank you for the video this is freaking awesome!
Now it's official, I'm going to have to alter my beautiful Daphne Blue 50's Mexican Strat. You are a great salesman Darrell... another very well made video!
This one is REALLY expressive! Very fun to use :)
Love it! Looks like I'm ordering one of these for my MIM Strat. Great video as usual Darrell. God bless 🎸👍
Will this fit my Squier Affinity Strat?
This trem alone costs MORE than your Affinity Strat lol
@@edwardmonsariste4050
ynot ________ . I was just joking. I don’t actually own an Affinity Strat. But I have seen people throw $200 pickups in Squier Strats, thinking that it would be a great upgrade. Kind of liking putting a Hemi in a Geo Metro - just a little bit of overkill.
I am amazed it stays in tune as well as it does! Thanks Darrell!
The Mexi-Strat gets a new trem! Check my Instagram for a HUGE torture test! instagram.com/darrellbraunguitar
The VegaTrem has a range close to that of a locking system, but without all the hassles :)
I'm happy you got a vega after my comment on your Sophia trem video! This one makes more sense on a strat. What's next? Did you check out wudtone trem yet?
I like that it incorporates great features from other trem systems into one very nice package. It's like a Bladerunner/Wilkinson/Floyd Rose hybrid.
Which pickups do you use with this mexico strat? I'm about to change my Fat 50's. Don't like them so much.
Hopefully I'll have time to try out a few more after Christmas!
Hi! Just the stock pickups :)
Thanks for this! Phil McKnight just installed one of these on a $200 Strat-type and didn't go into much detail on its added improvement-he was adding several mods at once-and I remembered seeing this video of you changing just this trem. You did a good job of checking the unit out and, except for the price, I want one of these.
Nice-looking trem system and a good demo of it. Thanks, Darrell.
I like it. Seems perfect for getting the pop in trem arm and letting it float. Truly impressed. As usual.
I’m buying it. No wonder why it’s been a successful product being SO GOOD.
This is the best demo of the Vega Trem I have seen. 👍
Loved seeing the install in addition to the demo. Thanks!
Idk why i even watch these. i have my trem blocked off lol
😄 Hard core guitar nerd like me! 😎🤘
Same here. But I want it unblocked. Lol. Perhaps this or the rail tail is the key. Lol
Blocking a strat trem is akin to blasphemy if you ask me!
i dont even have a guitar
KingP3T3 I don't even have a guitar.
An engineering masterpiece, it's amazing. Rock on!!!
your sound check was just awesome! its feels like keep listening and listening.
Thank you for this review. I purchased it after watching your review. I love my Vega Trem. I’ve played a strat for 41 years, this trem is by far my favorite. Ive used babicz schaller floyds and all Fender versions. 🙏
Was going to ask about return to tune but, WOW,...that's great.
That trem design has got to be a winner Darrel.....does everything a player could want and it looks a quality piece of gear.
Tasty playing on this one. Thank you for all of the various vibrato bridge reviews, showing options for my Stratocasters.
Darrell, thanks so much for info on this trem! I just installed the Vega-Trem on my Korean Squier Strat, and the results are impressive! I finally have a useable trem system on my Strat, and I did not even do any work to the nut or add locking tuners. Just a bit of Nut Sauce at the nut and under the hold-down posts on the headstock (yes, I left them on) and it works fantastic! Great product!!
Great review Darrell - Thanks so much for this. I'm considering it for my 1999 CIJ Strat and am looking forward to your long term review. I suspect it will stand the test of time though. Keep up the great work.
Cool design i like the minimalistic look of it and the flush fit
Love the videos Darrel! Please keep them coming!
Another great video from the one and only DB!
Thanks Lewis!!
Thanks for the video sir. My specialty dealer just started carrying these. I have an old Mex Strat that I really enjoy that's about 25 years old. This looks like the solution to an issue that I have been looking to solve.
A Floyd rose mini?
Looks great
Thanks Darrell! Got my new shirts today, love the print on them.
Sweet!! I can't believe you got yours before me!
Joys of living way up in Canada lol
Take a pic and tag me in instagram if you want. I'll come by and say "hi" 🙂
Nice watching a how to vid from Darrell! This helped so much thanks Darrell
I love how FACT ORIENTED your clips are, man. Congrats on maintaining a healthy Sales-Smoke-Free Zone.
That two grooves per saddle thing is also used by Mr. Trevor Wilkinson in some of his newest Tremolos... It's a good feature that works well with locking the saddles down onto the base plate to minimize kinetic energy loss in the vibrating strings. Wilkinson already does that too. In a well-designed bridge, vibrating is all the strings have to do, not work part-time holding floppy, energy sucking saddles in place.
This Vega Trem looks like a great idea for guitars with that wretched 6 screw system with its high friction losses. Where the Vega seems to truly excel is in offering extremely good trem bar elevation due to the base plate's small size. That is their competitive edge.
Absolutely the best addition I've seen yet ! Got to get one of these !
indeed!
Maybe I'm missing something, but unlike a floyd, you're still gonna have the problems associated w/ binding and sawing in the nut. The floyd rose locking nut was key to its stability. Essentially, you're right where the first gen of floyd started, before the locking nut and fine tuners perfected it. Also, the most annoying aspect of any free floating trem still haunts it: The looming live performance quick guitar switch, as unlike a traditional strat trem resting against the body, the guitar is rendered useless when ya break a string. And although I never had one, f.r. eventually developed a counter tensioning sys which purportedly rectified that issue too. Naw, while I've since gravitated away from much trem, if or when I do wanna revisit it, I think I'll just opt for a floyd rose.
So… get good locking tuners and a roller bridge? Or perhaps just low friction like graphtech?
@@guyfawkes8873 It's what I do too, and it's pretty stable and a whole lot less fuss than a floyd, but it will never match the absolute stability of a locking nut system.
Dam I'm going to have to add this to my other upgrades to my player strat, love your vids Darrell always look forward to them.
Thanks man!
Darrel: “little bit of vibrato will do it”
Me: “DIVE BOMB FOR DAYS BRA”
Wilson Minogue ..lol.... I was thinking the same thing. Like, dammit, abuse that thing and let’s see if it’ll really stay in tune.
Darrell, like yourself, I am a huge fan of the floating tremolo and have it on most of my guitars. I love the innovations of this new tremolo design and hope to try out this cool bridge sometime in the not too distant future. Nice video as always! Although my first car was a Vega so that makes me a little skeptical😭
That thing looks crazy kool. I love it ❤
awesome trem I love how you can actually pull up to those Steve via harmonic notes where it sounds like a dying horse but in a cool way :)
Mine arrived today! Thanks Darrell
Nice and smooth sounding.
What a beautiful tone!
Just got one! INCREDIBLE‼️ 💪🏼🤘🏼
Might have to get one of these for my modified MIM. Last thing it needs is a new bridge. Thanks for video never would have heard of them if not for video.
Never mind looks great and probably amazing but $300 for it is a bit high.
Looks pretty good and sounds very good! I liked that.
Great video dude!
Very informative. Thank you Darrell.
Another great demo my friend!
Thanks Jeremy!
at 7:30 there is a noise that intrigued me, until i noticed your palm squeazing the low e string to the pickup ;) nice playing, great tones!! It seems like grade a tremolo!!
Wow that sounded absolutely amazing and so smooth!!!
It really is 👍👍👍
Sweet trem skills man!
this looks fabulous!
I was looking for a replacement tremolo for my strat anyways! This is definitely the one!
imo
Absolutely slick...both the trem and the vid!
imo
Thank you! Great vid. Lots of good info!
darrell, king of trems
If you've got demo requests, I'll take 'em 😁
@@DarrellBraunGuitar I'd love to see a shoot out of all the higher end bridge upgrades for Strats. VegaTrem / Floyd Rose Rail Tail / Callaham Bridge / Super Vee Blade Runner etc... Cheers & thanks for the great demo's!
I'm just waiting for your top 5 trem-system video.
You just know it's coming! 😁😁😁
@@DarrellBraunGuitar Hello Darrell, We're waiting!!!
Hi Darrell:
Thank you for the pleasant presentation.
There are a few things that I would like to point out if I may.
I don't understand Vega's thinking regarding the springs. You say that the light gauge string springs are for .008 and .008, and that the "heavy" gauge string springs are for .010-.012 respectively. Based on close to 40 years of experience, and as as a life-long user of .012 or .013 gauge strings on all of my guitars, I can tell you and Vega, that with absolute certainty, that there is a more than significant difference between .010 and .012 gauged string sets, and that the difference between .010 and anything lighter is almost non existent.
As far as setting up other Strat trems, you are correct in setting them up to "float," so that they can be pushed downwards, or pulled upwards; however, the user should be able to set up the bridge to the desired range of motion and pitch change, without the "problem" of the bridge plate being limited by the surface of the guitar body. This of course is very subjective, and largely related to the gauge and tension for the strings the individual user installs.
Most complaints about the standard vintage Stratocaster are unfounded. First off, string gauge standards were much different when vintage Stratocaster, Jazzmaster/Jaguar, and Bigsby (as well as other manufacturers) "trems" were designed. The standard string sets in the '50s and '60s had a .012 or .013 high E and usually a .054 or .056 low E, with a wound .026 or .028 G. So when someone says that their Stat won't stay in tune, or that their vintage Strat tremolo is broken, the problem, is that the there is not enough tension to hold the tremelo/vibarato in place to begin with due to strings that are too light; furthermore, the early designs were not meant to dive-bombed with. Now, that doesn't mean that you can't dive bomb with them, or slam or pull hard with them. Listen to any live recordings of Jimi Hendrix, pre-Tommy era Pete Townshend, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and you will hear some serious vintage Strat trem pulling and pouncing, and all returning to pitch! Well, sometimes Jimi didn't because of the light strings he used. Stevie Ray used .013, and Pete used .012 or .013.
Thanks!
Thanks Darrell! This is actually one of three products that I was considering for my strat, and this is by far the most stable.
What others were you considering? Did you go for this one in the end?
@@CarlyonProduction Hello David! I actually own an 80's vintage Fernandez (Fujigen factory built) strat- which are in effect identical to Fender japanese strats of the same era. It has a two point bridge system, and yes- I got the Vega Trem two point model. It works flawlessly, but it's not your Floyd style 'dive bomber'... which is fine. It is really the silkyest drop in I have tried. I would say that Wilkinson builds the dive bomber- if that's your ticket. I was seeking 'smooth wobble'- which this does incredibly well!
@@chasmenear7130 ah thanks for the info! Have you ever tried a Sophia trem? They look mind blowing also.
@@CarlyonProduction Nope, but that was one of my considerations! I was chasing a vocal quality for the guitar, and the Vega delivered...I would importantly add that I also swapped into a set of locking Sperzel tuners- which suited both aesthetic, and stability issues! String trees are (for me) a no go!
I'd have to add here that I am not (by definition) a 'strat guy'- rather a player who loves a dishy strat tone for certain applications! I find a great trem to be a large part of the equation!
I very enjoy watching your videos
Super smooth!
Awesome video sir
The VegaTrem is certainly very nice and playable, but I must compliment you on the distortion and delay you are using for the recording - just out of site... VERY NICE!!! I'm checking out the details that you kindly listed for the pedals!!! Thanks - very enjoyable!!!1
I love how thought out the design of this is. It's really impressive.
Really nice playing.
I would like to see some string bends combined with dive bombs to check the tuning stability of this trem.
Hi Darrell, thank you for all the great videos you produce. Awesome work. Regarding this trem unit it would have been also very cool and important to hear the tonal difference between the Vintage Style Trem and this unit. Especially because of the small block compared to the massive blocks of a Fender Vintage Trems or a Callaham Steel Blocks. Does the tone thin out, or does it get thicker/bigger, that would be very important information for every player. It's not only the functionality that matters most, at the end of the day if it doesn't sound at least as good or better it remains a nice product for whammy enthusiasts but not for sound/tone improvement. Thanks a lot and keep up the great work. Cheers Horst Keller
I can tell you're very Gilmour Influenced. Incredible man. Good choice:)
I want one! :D Great video, thank you.
that's like the smoothest tremolo i've ever seen-
Looks great!
Another great video💪
Thanks Kev!
Nice tone!
Looks like an amazing bridge. I am actually building my own strat (still purchasing all of the pieces I want) which led me to this video. However I see this bridge online for $279 ….. I just cannot see myself spending that much on a bridge. lol
congrats on your channel !!! im lucky to get 100 views a video but I always check out your stuff
Interesting. Thanks for sharing ✌🏻
Wow, I love the consistency with your reviews, I'm glad I subscribed, as others are saying, your becoming the trem' king! Keep up the good work, also just out of curiosity are you interested in the new floyd rose frx? (The frontloaded replacement trem for tune-o-matic's) would love to see it on a V
Thanks Jordan!
Yeah, I'd love to try out the FRX 👍
Ok Darrell...the Floyd Rail Tail vs The Vega....you've played both...which do you prefer? which one had the best tuning stability. My Mexican strat needs answers!
I'd like to throw the Sophia trem into the comparison.
Delta Whiskey,
well both of these keep me thinking...
none of either have proper bridge height adjustment imho. Using saddle height to set the overall distance seems rather awkward, unlike with 2-point pivot trems, where you set the outer saddles flush with the plate for ‘more sustain’ and follow your fretboard radius with the other. Then you get to set the overall height, and get to choose whether you want it dive only or 2-way floating.
Btw, shots of ‘front tipped’ trems in this video is a total disaster for tuning stability of a 2-point floating trem. According to Newton’s 3rd law you gotta balance the tension of the strings to the opposite directional force applied to the springs. Therefore the trem baseplate has to be as much parallel to the guitar body as possible.
How about that traditional 6 screw bridge with some upgrades with a brass block etc from floyd rose upgrades? They make those trems with their upgrades too.... wonder how they are?
oh for god's sake. just ask yourselfs, what would jeff beck do?
Floyd only divebombs, so useless for me. This one only marginally better than the original. 250 bucks for a 10% improvement. (I stopped using whammy years ago, I play those pedal steel licks which need a hard tail, so don't take my word for it)...
I believe this is the coolest and innovative non-locking tremolo systems on the market. It has a different "Arc" in the bend than a locking Floyd Rose type of trem. In a Floyd type of system, there is a little bit more clarity in the note as you dive-bomb till it falls out of its frequency and the string goes slack. Maybe the difference in how the strings slacken, and the tonal character between a locking and non-locking systems. The physics of the designs.
Another option that I believe that Vega Trem could offer, and this might attract a wider range of interest to their selling market, is to offer, maybe a different bar length as an option. Something more in the length and bend as a Wilkinson Trem. They are quite a bit shorter, and fit in the palm of your hand when your hand is positioned more in the "center" of the guitars picking area, rather than over the neck pickup, which is much more "Natural" feeling, and also more aesthetically pleasing to look at, in my opinion. We can dream, can't we?
The Vega Trem system is definitely revolutionary in its simplicity, and is also an attractive piece of machinery that won't make you alter your instrument to install it.
Liked and subscribed!!! I want one of these asap
OMG. I need one of these!
God I want one, killer playing int this video!!!!
Beautiful guitar and nice trem..i think it work like floydrose
Mateus would love to use that!
Very clever design.
Finally bought one to put on my ‘96 Mexican. Wish me luck!!!
Este puente lo quiero para mi Strato......GRacias por el video amigo..Saludos desde Colombia.....gran contenido el tuyo...abrazos !
Man, those are some tasty tones in the demo at the end! Had to say it!
Thanks Max!
Darrell!!! Thank you for this video!!!! I’m wondering if this system will work on a Kramer Baretta Special!? I hope so! Dude, can’t thank you enough. Subbed up Bro!!!
Great!!! Now im not sure if i should go with this or the super vee!! Thank Darrel for Fkn me up AGAIN!!
😂 Sorry!
You really can't go wrong with either.
VegaTrem has the most dive and up-pull range by a large margin, but the BladeRunner has a bigger contact area that makes it sound really great.
Both are really well made and hold tune well :)
@@DarrellBraunGuitar 😁 yeah, I got sum deciding to do lol. Thanks for all u do brutha!
That’s pretty cool! The only thing I don’t like is the bar doesn’t have the plastic tip, which imho, is an iconic look for the Strat.
Love it! Seems to be a fairly hassel free install, or was that through the magic of video. LOL Thanks Darrell!
Thanks!
Balancing a floating trem takes a lot of adjusting the back springs, and tuning the guitar to get a good balance.
I didn't record any of that process because it it is tedious. Once it's set up you're good to go though :)
Have this trim installed in my Aerodyne Strat now.......dang. This Vega Trim is awesome...expensive...but awesome.
I recently upgraded my vintage tremolo on my Fender CS strat with Highwood saddles and I notice sustain increase and even faster attack, while tone stays the same! Because of design of the saddles, the intonational issues are no longer a problem in my case (I dont use tremolo too much).
Hello. Very interesting video as always. In my opinion it's a very cool system. Well designed but my only question is about the small block under the bridge. It seems to me small compared to the the big massive standard one. Do you notice any differences in sound?
I have no use for one of these, but I do enjoy your playing.
I love how you do all these different trem videos. Great job man. What is this thing made out of? Is the block screwed on or is it a one piece design? The bar looks pretty high off of the body.
Stainless steel.
I'ma try this soon
The questions i have are are the strings easier or harder to bend with the Vega(stiff?) and sustain and volume difference from the original?weight difference? Any tonal change?