Flat mounted bridge

carnanreagh · July 22nd, 2007, 11:22 AM

Hi there. I want to replace my tremolo bridge ( i dont use it and I'm tired of hitting it and it going out of tune) with a flat mounted bridge. Is it as simple as just swapping bridges or is there something special that needs to be done? Thanks

GuitarSlinger · July 28th, 2007, 04:23 PM

Howdy, don't know if going through the trouble to replace the bridge is the answer (yet). Here is an exact response I gave someone that hates their trem as much as you in the strat forum:

First off, tighted the claw (the 2 screws going into the body at the back of the guitar) so that the bridge is flush on top. Don't overtighten, thats just never a good idea, and don't UNDERtighten either, make sure the screws are nice and snug so that the bridge is nice and tight up against the body. Second, if you want, add 2 more springs for a total of 5 (all running parallel with eachother). I do this so that the bridge stays down (doesn't lift) when I'm doing extreme bends.

beep.click · July 31st, 2007, 11:30 PM

Years ago, I opened the back of my guitar and jammed a block of wood between the tremolo block and the body. A lot of people were doing this, at the time -- we were trying to increase sustain... which worked, somewhat. More importantly, though, it completely immobilized the bridge.

tazzboy · July 31st, 2007, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beep.click

Years ago, I opened the back of my guitar and jammed a block of wood between the tremolo block and the body. A lot of people were doing this, at the time -- we were trying to increase sustain... which worked, somewhat. More importantly, though, it completely immobilized the bridge.

i just add 2 additional Tremolo tension springs

carnanreagh · August 6th, 2007, 09:30 AM

Thanks guys!

Strat-Talk · August 6th, 2007, 01:41 PM

Clapton uses a block of wood. In fact, I think his Signature model from Fender comes that way. I've even see folks sell the blocks cut to size.

Lots of folks tighten down the screws on the bridge and put all the springs in the trem cavity and make them extra tight, too.

I had a Hard-Tail '79 Strat and it was nice. I've never known though if you can put a Hard-Tail Strat bridge on a Trem equiped Strat without any modifications or not.

johnreardon · August 7th, 2007, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tazzboy

i just add 2 additional Tremolo tension springs

That's all I do as well. Keeps the bridge perfectly flat. Strats used to come with 5 springs, back in the 60s anyway.