Hardtail?

I have a Squire Strat body with a tremelo I'd like to change to a hardtail Strat.

Will I have to fill in the cavity or can I mount it without having to do that?

I'm going to have to redrill the holes anyway cause I don't want to use the stock Squire trem.

You can block it like Eric Clapton does. He doesn't use the tremelo, but feels that the metal block adds to his tone. He blocks it so it doesn't move which makes it a hardtail. That might be a cheaper way to go.

As for the need to fill the cavity, I don't have a clue.

I don't think a string through body conversion (i.e. filled trem cavity area) is practical.

Block it, or just tighten down the spring claws severely.

Screw the bridge down ALMOST all the way chet. If you screw it down all the way, you'll actually raise the back off the body because the front edge (where the screws are) is curved.

Then, get yourself a handful of pennies and do what I did:

http://www.brokenjoe.com/images/web%20shots%20misc/Pennies.jpg

Then you can say that your guitar is actually worth something!

Yeah, I didn't think of the string-through deal.

I'll probably find a used Fender trem and put five springs on it.

I have a '50s Strat neck I'm putting on it along with some nice Custom Shop pickups.

Screw the bridge down ALMOST all the way chet. If you screw it down all the way, you'll actually raise the back off the body because the front edge (where the screws are) is curved.

Then, get yourself a handful of pennies and do what I did:

http://www.brokenjoe.com/images/web%20shots%20misc/Pennies.jpg

Then you can say that your guitar is actually worth something!

Great idea Joe.

But those look like Canadian pennies.

Everybody knows that Bhutanese ngultrums have the best tone for that application.

Cheers,
Geoff

Screw the bridge down ALMOST all the way chet. If you screw it down all the way, you'll actually raise the back off the body because the front edge (where the screws are) is curved.

Then, get yourself a handful of pennies and do what I did:

http://www.brokenjoe.com/images/web%20shots%20misc/Pennies.jpg

Then you can say that your guitar is actually worth something!
Thanks for the pic. I just got a MIM 60's Strat in trade and was wondering how to " disable " the trem block without totally modding the guitar. You are the man!

Why don't you just get a strat body made for hardtails and put your existing neck and hardware on it? Would that be way too pricey for what it is?

Build a hardtail , Chet . I love mine . What pups are you using ?

There's a HT body in the classifieds that I have been oogling (no affiliation). Cheap and ready to finish. Or do like brokenjoe but get some 1954 wheaties pennies for real vintage mojo!:razz:

Are you listening , Chet ? USACG has a Swamp Ash hardtail body in the web specials . Do it !

Here's what I did:

With one hand, I pushed the bridge plate flush to the surface of the guitar. While holding down the bridge plate, I used my free hand to unscrew the two bridge plate screws a few turns, then tightened the screws until I felt resistance (this ensures that the bridge plate is flat against the guitar surface).

I installed two extra springs (for a total of five) on the tremolo claw, then adjusted the tremolo claw screws until the bridge plate was flush against the body.

Voila! Instant hardtail and no more tuning issues.

A hardtail bridge does not cover the entite trem cutout. The solution is to completely plug the hole with a well fitting block of wood, which of courrse will entail a complete refinish. I did this on my 12-string Strat conversion (the 12 string bridge has 6 through-body and 6 top loading strings). You might be able to find a top-loading hardtail bridge. But it is definitely a job and a half. A hardtail body is the way to go (I've done both). In fact I am considering re-doing the 12-stringer with a Warmoth ht body.

just use all 5 springs-- bring claw in some-
and for xtra-- block with wahddever you feel would do job, as long as it not muffle things, like a wadded up role of toliet paper

Found a little teakwood knick-knack about the circumference of a half-dollar and exactly the right thickness. Hammered the sucker in there between the cavity wall and the trem block. My strat NEVER goes out of tune EVER....