Hipshot on a Strat: what about the body angle?

Obviously a Strat doesn't have the same kind of offset body as a Jazzmaster or a Jazz Bass, but there's still a little "lean" going on - and I'm not talking about the forearm contour on top of the body. The Strat in question is a Squier - I don't know if that makes a difference, but it might.

Today I drilled the vintage-style Strat bridge and mounted three slotted steel Telecaster saddles on it. I intend to run the B-string through what used to be the B-string saddle screw hole. So far, so good.

But, when I put a Hipshot Will Ray model B-Bender (B-Bender only - no G-lever or drop tuners) on, the plate angled toward the treble strings a bit. This probably is only cosmetic but I'm wondering how those who've mounted Hipshots on Stratocasters have dealt with this.

I had intended to drill and install screws on each side of the strap button screws, as I did on a Tele previously, but with this angle toward the treble strings, I'm thinking of using washers to fill it the gap on the bass side: no washer on the treble side screw, one on the middle strap button screw, and then two or three (or maybe a Grolsch beer red washer that some use as strap locks) on the bass side.

Another option is to only use the strap button screw and install two screws through the top/front of the Hipshot into the top of the body and square it up that way. I'd drill into this cheap Strat in a heartbeat but I sort of hate to drill through the Hipshot - it cost three times what the guitar did - a craigslist deal that was too cheap and too close to pass up. I imagine this Hipshot will find it's way onto another Tele in the future and I don't know if I want holes in the top of it.

Ideas?

Thanks.

Here's a picture.

Am I just a detail freak who is worried about nothing? Should I just add the two side screws and forget about the slight angle?

I have snap-ring pliers to adjust the bender lever if necessary but wonder if not having a perfectly straight string pull will matter. I tried to see under the lever but it's kind of hard to see what's under there - it looks smooth and it's hard to see where the string comes out on the bottom of the bender lever.

Thanks again for any help.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC00182.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/2.jpg

I have a Hipshot on my Squier Affinity I use for slide. The angle you have there would not adversely affect the operation of the bender as long as the string has a perfectly straight pull between the saddle and the bender, but that can be adjusted with ring spanners on the Hipshot itself. In other words, the tilt will only cause cosmetic problems and your idea of using a washer in the bass side is fine. I also added mounting holes to the top plate of my Hipshot to stabilize it even more.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/voided3/DSC01049.jpg

It's early, and I've had no coffee yet, but,,,, it looks like the strap button isn't mounted in the center of the guitar. Seems aligned with the D string, and not between the D and G. Might not make any difference though.
I drilled holes in my Hipshot, removed the felt, and screwed it down to the top of the guitar.

Thanks gents.

voided3, that Strat looks great! I hadn't given much thought to putting more money into this guitar but you have me thinking about a B/W/B pickguard now. I wonder how hard it will be to find one that fits a Squier.

I removed the felt and used Goo-Gone to get the glue from underneath the Hipshot this afternoon. I'm going to drill it. Why not?

I still think I'll need a washer between the Hipshot and the body on the strap button screw. I'm thinking if I put two screws into the top of the body I won't need one on each side of the strap button as I've done in the past.

Thanks again - I'll post more pics when this is done.

No problem! A trick I did with mine is install the strap button on the bass side hole to keep my strap locks clear of the bender. I also put a 1" stainless steel screw in the treble side hole to balance it out.

As for a pickguard, this body has had a Fender, WD, and (currently) Allparts pickguard on it. They all fit fine as long as you fill and re-drill the original holes. I used trimmed toothpicks glued in place, flush with the top of the body, and they worked perfectly.

Well, I finally got the Hipshot on the Strat and it's nice and straight. I used a star washer on the bass side and that balanced it out nicely. I said I'd drill holes on top but don't see the need to do so now.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC01662.jpg

It sits flat on the top:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC01664.jpg

View from the back:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC01663.jpg

And a full body shot. Hmmm - for some reason this uploaded upside down and despite rotating it at Photobucket, this is the best I can do, apparently.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/craigslistuser/DSC01661-1.jpg

Not bad for a $50 craigslist guitar and a Hipshot I already owned. The cool thing is the whammy bar still works! I have it set flat on the body with three springs. Yes, I know the whammy's pull on the B string is a little different now, but for the occasional end of song wiggle, I don't hear it sounding differently than it should.

All in all, this has been a fun, successful, and inexpensive experiment.

I love 'em both. The red one is an old Schecter "Mercury" Strat and the natural one is a Fender hardtail. The Schecter has both the B & G benders and the Fender has only the B bender. Here's a couple of "action" shots..........JH in Va.

Hey Jerry! ...you got to start playing in another key!!! :lol:

I guess I'm stuck in the key of A........I love it!.....JH in Va.

...and from what I've heard...I love what you do!!! :grin: