6 screw strat trem and what has worked and not worked..

[ThrowBackMan]

Hey guys. I posted awhile back about my Frankenstrat I have that has a 6 screw bridge and I wondered how EVH and others were able to use it and stay in tune. Anyway, I started playing with it, and had a new graphite nut put on by a tech and told him what the problem was, etc,. So, now I can do a really good dive with the trem screwed all the way to the body and it will stay / return in tune almost every time. Every once in awhile it seems like it knocks out the G strings just a bit, but I'm shocked at how good it stays in tune.
I tried it with the bridge off the body just a little so I could do pull ups, which I don't do often, but it woudln't stay in tune and would go sharp a little on the g or b strings, but not every time, only it seemed if I really abused it like I might do with my floyd equipped charvel.
Anyway, I'm going to try some other things, but I think the nut had a huge impact on the guitar. I think the strings were sticking maybe in the nut. I'll get it though, will keep experimenting until I can get it to take most of the abuse I want.. hehe..
If you have some secret that you think works every time or almost every time, please let me know! Thanks
T

 

[ThrowBackMan]

I've seen those advertised and if I build another strat style guitar, I may just have to get one instead of a floyd this next time.. I'd like to try and stay away from the floyd although I love them, if I could only find something that would stay in tune all the time. I thought about the blade runner with the Fender roller nut or whatever it's called. I had played a fender US strat a long time ago with one a friend had and it stayed in tune pretty damn good all things considered along with locking tuners.. which I'll also do if I build another. Thanks for the idea.. Really appreciate it.

My secret was a Super Vee Bladerunner tremolo system. So awesome.

 

[sytharnia1560]

those super V's look the business for sure

I have my malmsteen strat set up like jeff beck has his (bridge angled up) and it seems to stay in tune pretty damn well...although I don't pull up on the bar very often anyway. I think one of the keys is no "slipping/sticking" anywhere. A little thing I learnt years ago was to "shake" your guitar after a dive....for me it seemed to help a little

 

[ThrowBackMan]

Hi,
So, what do you use for a nut? Does the blade runner stay in tune as well as a floyd? I mean, can you abuse it big time and it stay in tune? Pull ups dives, etc?

Thanks so much.
T

The super Vee doesn't need any modification to the stock guitar. It's an easy Install, I opted for the brass block upgrade too. My Strat is very much a stay In tune dive bomber. If you want you can also use vintage saddles too if you don't like the look of theirs. That's about as stealthy as it gets...

 

[thenine]

Hi,
So, what do you use for a nut? Does the blade runner stay in tune as well as a floyd? I mean, can you abuse it big time and it stay in tune? Pull ups dives, etc?

Thanks so much.
T

The super Vee doesn't need any modification to the stock guitar. It's an easy Install, I opted for the brass block upgrade too. My Strat is very much a stay In tune dive bomber. If you want you can also use vintage saddles too if you don't like the look of theirs. That's about as stealthy as it gets...

I went with the Tusq XL nut. If the nut is lubed and cut right , it's not really a problem.
Your definition of whammy abuse may be different than mine to be honest.

did you get the Super-Vee or the Blade Runner?

 

[Zap]

When changing strings, no more than two loops around the pegs. Make sure they're on there real tight with especially no slack in the unwound strings. I like to take pliers and and shape the string with a pair of 90 degree angles so it doesn't slip in the tuner. Lubricate the string at the string tree and the nut. Stretch the strings at the 12th fret and tune to pitch. Repeat this a few times and it should stay in tune very well.

 

[ThrowBackMan]

When changing strings, no more than two loops around the pegs. Make sure they're on there real tight with especially no slack in the unwound strings. I like to take pliers and and shape the string with a pair of 90 degree angles so it doesn't slip in the tuner. Lubricate the string at the string tree and the nut. Stretch the strings at the 12th fret and tune to pitch. Repeat this a few times and it should stay in tune very well.

Thank you. Do you keep the metal angular thing on the headstock that holds down the little b and e strings? I'm just wondering? I saw a guitar or two / strats without the same, but I've also seen some that were made of rollers and mine don't have the same. I've been wrapping the string big time around the pegs.. I mean like several wraps.. I thought if it were wrapped several times it would be less likely to slip?

Thanks so much.
T