Normal Strat Trem Arm?

Ok so I have my very first Strat. And I don't know if the trem arm is correctly bent or if I'm just not used to it. But compared to the Jazzmaster's and a Bigsby the trem arm seems very high and far away from the strings. Do I have it set wrong? do I need to bend it down?

On all the Starts I've played with the trem arm in, it's always been a tad high. I'm not gonna recomend or discourage bending it. I don't see how it can be harmful, but there are people here who know a lot more than me. I can give you a tip, though. I don't know how you use it, but when I play something where I just use the bar for subtle vibrato and bends, I have my pick hand in a certain position. My thumb and forefinger grip the pick as normal, while my other 3 fingers are holding the bar from above. My arm is positioned in a way so that my forefinger is under the bar near the tip. I find this pretty comfy, but that's just me.

Hope it helps!

That's how I usually hold the others, but the one on the Strat seems so awkward. On the Jazzmaster it just fits against the fingers, on the Strat I'd have to really reach out with the thumb and forefinger to strum.

Depending on how you wanna use it I like mine so I can strum with the trem bar in hand and not have to reach up higher.

Jimi bent all his by hand. The way Jeff Beck has his set is real weird I could never play like his is set.

So just bend it into place. Go slow they can break.

The best trem arm Ive found is the 64 from Callaham. Its nice and short and doesnt bend up high its more level to the body.

If you have the bridge set flush to the body, the arm will be high. The bridge is meant to be floating at about 30 degrees from the body. Then the arm is pretty much horizontal to the body with an up-curve on the end.
I just looked again, and you have the E.J. Strat. that has 5 springs, and the bridge sits flush. I had one of those for three months, and never could get the vibrato to work at all. It kept taking the strings out of tune, no matter what. I loved the neck though. That's why I got a Baja, and a 50's Classic Strat in Daphne blue instead.. And still had a bit of beer money left over.