About Fender 2008 standard american strat

shindig · May 27th, 2009, 03:51 PM

Hey all, i just bought a fender 2008 standard american strat and noticed that the bridge tremolo rises above the body. Is this normal? I noticed the bridges on other strats dont rise above the body. It almost looks like a floyd rose. If it's normal i'll leave it alone but i was thinking about opening up the back to lower it down. http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/8938...527091640a.jpg

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/4207...0527091640.jpg

Boris Bubbanov · May 27th, 2009, 04:18 PM

Hey!

Take the back cover off, and if you have only 3 springs add another if one is handy. Otherwise tighten those 2 trem claw screws into the body some. That'll make the plate ride a little lower. I like the plate to ride about an 1/18th inch above the surface of the body, but more is cool , also.

I see your picture. That is very high. I've never had a trem guitar in my harem with a plate left that high. If you lower it, you will enjoy the result I'm pretty certain.

Donovan · May 27th, 2009, 04:52 PM

It is normal to be up like a Floyd. It comes stock this way.You can put it down, but it comes down to preference.

shindig · May 27th, 2009, 07:08 PM

Okay thanks alot guys, I think i'll lower it a bit, but should I do this with the strings off, or maybe loosen them a bit? Also will this mess with the intonation? Thanks everyone.

Iagent · May 27th, 2009, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shindig

Okay thanks alot guys, I think i'll lower it a bit, but should I do this with the strings off, or maybe loosen them a bit? Also will this mess with the intonation? Thanks everyone.

You should be able to lower it with the strings installed, but you will have to retune and check intonation from the 12th fret and continue the process of setting intonation if adjustment is required.

thaus · May 27th, 2009, 08:05 PM

Hard to tell how high it is sitting with your pics...........take a small steel rule and measure the gap......Fender specs say about 1/8 of an inch. If you want to deck it (have it sit flush with the body), add another spring and screw in the claw. But it was designed to float so I am of the belief that the best tone is with the bridge slightly floating as per the specs. String gauge, springs, claw screws, make all the difference.........

problem-child · May 27th, 2009, 09:41 PM

I have mine on the deck. No additional spring. I just tightened the claw screws until it layed flat. Then you can adjust how stiff you want the trem to be. I like mine where it will just begin to float when I do an extreme (left hand) string bend. Any tighter and it seems too stiff to me when you go to use it.

Different strokes for different folks.

hendrixfan · May 28th, 2009, 03:15 AM

mine is floating,setting up the trem flush will mean you can only push down on the bar

stratagem · May 28th, 2009, 12:03 PM

A say a youtube video where Carl Verheyen 'demos' his Strat. He suggested floating the bridge just enough to raise most notes a full step when you pull up on the bar. I've since changed a few of mine to these specs and I like it. It's still around the 1/8" suggested by Fender but it adds a cool dynamic to pull up on the bar with the expected result of a correctly pitched note.