2009 TDPRI Giveaway Winners List is available HERE

Johnny Caster · May 26th, 2006, 04:03 PM

Zippo · May 26th, 2006, 04:09 PM

The dog-leg.

RevMike · May 26th, 2006, 04:44 PM

Wiggle stick.

The String King · May 26th, 2006, 04:47 PM

Whammy Bar, or, to my dad simply "Knob! hehehe"

ruger9 · May 26th, 2006, 05:55 PM

Bigsby.

Or, if I'm talking about my old (needs to be reconditioned) 80's Charvel Model 4, I'd call it a whammy bar, I guess- Floyd Rose licensed copy. But, since I don't play that guitar, I don't talk about it, so that leaves my Ibanez AF75 - Bigsby.

Val-tone · May 26th, 2006, 06:41 PM

That reminds me... The evening I brought home my very first guitar, there was this other one there. If my memory serves me correct it was a used Ibanez artist with a flame maple top. Anyway, I think it had a Bowen Handle if I recall. This dude comes in, obviously drunk, he starts playing it. "You know what that is? That's a cheat bar," he tells me.

That Ibanez was I'm sure waaaay better than the Lotus Les Paul copy I bought, cheat bar or not. But what did I know then? The Lotus looked closer to Jimmy Page's guitar, and therefore was better, IMO 21 years ago.

BTW, Years later I managed to pick up a real Bowen Cheat bar for 10 bucks, minus the arm and spring. I ordered the spring from the manufacturer and replaced the arm with a Bigsby one and installed it on my Epiphone Genesis. I stuck a shim underneath the plate so it wouldn't wobble when I pressed on it. Works pretty good, I'd look for another one if I bought another guitar with a stop tailpiece. Oh, I got a Schaller roller bridge for it too.

ToneFan · May 26th, 2006, 06:41 PM

Looks like one of those weird implements my dentist lays out on his tray when he's ready to drill...

Coyote · May 26th, 2006, 06:45 PM

I just call it a Tremolo, without the 'bar'.

maestrovert · May 26th, 2006, 07:12 PM

i voted for "Vibrato Arm"

skiraly017 · May 26th, 2006, 07:30 PM

I have no idea, I play a Tele. :D

Honga Man · May 26th, 2006, 07:42 PM

Kickstand.

Scott S · May 26th, 2006, 08:46 PM

Talent Lever.

WickedGTR · May 26th, 2006, 09:20 PM

Crutch.

Tool of Ignorance.

'Johnson'

etc.

cvansickle · May 26th, 2006, 10:29 PM

The effect it enables is actually vibrato, so it's a vibrato bar.

Fender didn't help by calling it a "synchronized tremolo" and the amps had "vibrato" effects which were really tremolo.

Johnny Caster · May 26th, 2006, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cvansickle

The effect it enables is actually vibrato, so it's a vibrato bar.

Fender didn't help by calling it a "synchronized tremolo" and the amps had "vibrato" effects which were really tremolo.

Actually, the lever employs a whammy effect judging by the results.

I find it hard to believe that the next common name is something other than all the ones listed... To you guys really call it something else, or just trying to be smart a--es?

So far my favorite is kick stand!

crawdad · May 27th, 2006, 01:33 AM

Call it whatever, but PLEASE, don't call it a
tre--MELLOW.

Tim Bowen · May 27th, 2006, 01:50 AM

Wang bar.

Leo Fender was indeed a genius, but he did seem to be a bit fuzzy as to the distinction between "tremolo" and "vibrato", at least in this particular respect.

I played one of those Bowen Handles once, and seriously considered changing my name afterwards.

G&L and Wilkinson non-locking trems are really good. Vintage-style strat trems are a real trick to stabilize, but they're my fave. I have a MIM strat with a cheap, stock trem assembly that is ridiculously stable, for whatever reasons. I've done absolutely nothing to it, it was that way from jump street. For what it does best, only a Bigsby warbles like a Bigsby, as limited as it may be. I don't play locked nut trems anymore, but I vastly prefer Kahler to Floyd Rose. I didn't get on at all with that "Fender/Floyd" contraption that was stock issue with the Fender Deluxe Strat Plus, or whatever it was called.

MojoRex · May 27th, 2006, 01:56 AM

....pretty much unneccessary. Even though it impresses the girls.

Martinussen · May 27th, 2006, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MojoRex

....pretty much unneccessary. Even though it impresses the girls.

If it really impresses the girls, it MUST be a vibrato...

genelovesjez · May 27th, 2006, 03:48 PM

"What's this thing called, Love?"

"Cut! No, no, no! It's what's this thing called love!"

Thank you, Benny Hill.

genelovesjez · May 27th, 2006, 03:51 PM

"What's that thing in the road? A head?"

"Cut! No, no, no! It's what's that thing in the road ahead!"

Thank you, thank you. Try the veal.

OutlawSteph1975 · May 27th, 2006, 05:10 PM

Whammy bar! It can't be a misnomer because it really doesn't mean anything. lol!

bw · May 27th, 2006, 05:25 PM

The Panic Button!

bug music · May 27th, 2006, 06:04 PM

de-tuning bar

- Jay

Big John · May 28th, 2006, 06:47 AM

superfluous !

mojohen · May 28th, 2006, 09:57 AM

It is interesting that it actually IS a "vibrato" arm.
It's also interesting that a Fender amp with a "Vibrato" channel, is actually a tremolo..

mojohen

Deacon Blue · May 28th, 2006, 12:49 PM

Back in the day. we called 'em twangers.

Jeff

BB · May 28th, 2006, 06:48 PM

In the hands of Jeff Beck, I'd call it "amazing"....in my hands, the name "suck stick" comes to mind........

Joel Terry · May 28th, 2006, 06:54 PM

I call it the best thing about the Stratocaster. The unit to which it is attached is both an engineering and musical marvel.

(To actually answer the question, I call it a "vibrato bar.")

Joel

1293 · May 30th, 2006, 09:40 AM

I've heard of a double whammy, but that's the first Triple Whammy I've ever seen.

Charlie Bernstein · May 30th, 2006, 10:35 AM

the electric guitar orchestra conductor's baton.

vic108 · May 30th, 2006, 07:46 PM

It's called (in most hands) an UGLY STICK....

When in the hands of 98% of all guitarists,
things get real ugly - real quick.

trag-o-caster · May 30th, 2006, 09:36 PM

I remember seeing an old Sears or JC Penney catalog when I was a kid, and they referred to it as a "Torsion Bar". I'd never heard that before, or since.

I've called it a whammy bar since at least the mid-80's. Before that I think I called it a vibrato bar. I did give a good work out on my first Strat when I was 14. I broke that sucker right off, leaving a chunk of it inbedded deep down in the hole. That was the end of my whammy days.

I don't admit this to many folks, but I did play a Kramer Focus 2000 in the late 80's, with a Floyd Rose. Weird noises are fun, but it ain't music.

View Poll Results: What do YOU call it?
Tremolo Arm	10	15.15%
Tremolo Bar	4	6.06%
Vibrato Arm	3	4.55%
Vibrato Bar	8	12.12%
Wang Bar	4	6.06%
Whammy Bar	27	40.91%
Tensional Vibrola Lever	0	0%
Something Else (State)	10	15.15%
Voters: 66. You may not vote on this poll

May 26th, 2006, 04:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
Johnny Caster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: San Antonio, TX Age: 23 Posts: 1,082	What's this called? __________________ "I'm gonna toss my telecaster through the television screen cause I don't like what's goin on!" - Radiators From Space

May 26th, 2006, 04:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
The String King Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: East Sussex, U.K. Age: 17 Posts: 1,072 22 Photos	Whammy Bar, or, to my dad simply "Knob! hehehe" __________________ I twang therefore I am

May 26th, 2006, 05:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
ruger9 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hackettstown, NJ Posts: 2,052	Bigsby. Or, if I'm talking about my old (needs to be reconditioned) 80's Charvel Model 4, I'd call it a whammy bar, I guess- Floyd Rose licensed copy. But, since I don't play that guitar, I don't talk about it, so that leaves my Ibanez AF75 - Bigsby. __________________ "I've got callouses, from all those nights, spent playin' a Telecaster, 'till my fingers bled Bud Light" - Travis Tritt

May 26th, 2006, 06:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
Val-tone Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Milwaukee, WI Age: 43 Posts: 622 5 Photos	Cheat Bar That reminds me... The evening I brought home my very first guitar, there was this other one there. If my memory serves me correct it was a used Ibanez artist with a flame maple top. Anyway, I think it had a Bowen Handle if I recall. This dude comes in, obviously drunk, he starts playing it. "You know what that is? That's a cheat bar," he tells me. That Ibanez was I'm sure waaaay better than the Lotus Les Paul copy I bought, cheat bar or not. But what did I know then? The Lotus looked closer to Jimmy Page's guitar, and therefore was better, IMO 21 years ago. BTW, Years later I managed to pick up a real Bowen Cheat bar for 10 bucks, minus the arm and spring. I ordered the spring from the manufacturer and replaced the arm with a Bigsby one and installed it on my Epiphone Genesis. I stuck a shim underneath the plate so it wouldn't wobble when I pressed on it. Works pretty good, I'd look for another one if I bought another guitar with a stop tailpiece. Oh, I got a Schaller roller bridge for it too. __________________ "This is a song that sometimes takes a building in a manner which our forefathers were very used to. Did you hear that? It's right, isn't it? That feeling that's left everybody, the cosmic energy! Everybody goes yeah! Bash!" - R. Plant

May 26th, 2006, 04:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
Zippo TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 72	The dog-leg.

May 26th, 2006, 04:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
RevMike Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Staten Island NY Posts: 1,070	Wiggle stick.

May 26th, 2006, 06:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
ToneFan Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: New York, NY Age: 45 Posts: 296 11 Photos	Looks like one of those weird implements my dentist lays out on his tray when he's ready to drill... __________________ Visit my Web Page @ http://myspace.com/joemartin

May 26th, 2006, 06:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
Coyote Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2005 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 302	I just call it a Tremolo, without the 'bar'. __________________

May 26th, 2006, 07:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
maestrovert Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Somewhere over the rainbow Posts: 8,024	i voted for "Vibrato Arm"

May 26th, 2006, 07:30 PM	#10 (permalink)
skiraly017 Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hermosa Beach, CA Posts: 675	I have no idea, I play a Tele. :D __________________ "But right now I need a Telecaster through a Vibrolux turned up to ten."

May 26th, 2006, 07:42 PM	#11 (permalink)
Honga Man Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 695	Kickstand.

May 26th, 2006, 08:46 PM	#12 (permalink)
Scott S Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SW CR IA US NA PE Age: 29 Posts: 2,875	Talent Lever.

May 26th, 2006, 09:20 PM	#13 (permalink)
WickedGTR Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Hillbilly Hollywood Posts: 2,277 9 Photos	Crutch. Tool of Ignorance. 'Johnson' etc. __________________ http://www.myspace.com/jameswilsey

May 26th, 2006, 10:29 PM	#14 (permalink)
cvansickle Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA USA Posts: 741 5 Photos	The effect it enables is actually vibrato, so it's a vibrato bar. Fender didn't help by calling it a "synchronized tremolo" and the amps had "vibrato" effects which were really tremolo. __________________ Death Or Glory - Who Dares Wins!

May 27th, 2006, 01:33 AM	#16 (permalink)
crawdad Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,595	Call it whatever, but PLEASE, don't call it a tre--MELLOW.

May 27th, 2006, 01:50 AM	#17 (permalink)
Tim Bowen Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Age: 49 Posts: 4,166	Wang bar. Leo Fender was indeed a genius, but he did seem to be a bit fuzzy as to the distinction between "tremolo" and "vibrato", at least in this particular respect. I played one of those Bowen Handles once, and seriously considered changing my name afterwards. G&L and Wilkinson non-locking trems are really good. Vintage-style strat trems are a real trick to stabilize, but they're my fave. I have a MIM strat with a cheap, stock trem assembly that is ridiculously stable, for whatever reasons. I've done absolutely nothing to it, it was that way from jump street. For what it does best, only a Bigsby warbles like a Bigsby, as limited as it may be. I don't play locked nut trems anymore, but I vastly prefer Kahler to Floyd Rose. I didn't get on at all with that "Fender/Floyd" contraption that was stock issue with the Fender Deluxe Strat Plus, or whatever it was called. __________________ "Everyone is different in how they learn, but for me, it's turning the pegs and just playing." - BB

May 27th, 2006, 01:56 AM	#18 (permalink)
MojoRex TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Massachusetts, USA Posts: 31	I call it.... ....pretty much unneccessary. Even though it impresses the girls.

May 27th, 2006, 03:48 PM	#20 (permalink)
genelovesjez Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Age: 42 Posts: 3,736	"What's this thing called, Love?" "Cut! No, no, no! It's what's this thing called love!" Thank you, Benny Hill.

May 27th, 2006, 03:51 PM	#21 (permalink)
genelovesjez Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Age: 42 Posts: 3,736	"What's that thing in the road? A head?" "Cut! No, no, no! It's what's that thing in the road ahead!" Thank you, thank you. Try the veal.

May 27th, 2006, 05:10 PM	#22 (permalink)
OutlawSteph1975 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,289 7 Photos	Whammy bar! It can't be a misnomer because it really doesn't mean anything. lol!

May 27th, 2006, 05:25 PM	#23 (permalink)
bw Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central IL Age: 38 Posts: 233 4 Photos	The Panic Button!

May 27th, 2006, 06:04 PM	#24 (permalink)
bug music Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2004 Location: Taxachusetts Posts: 896 5 Photos	de-tuning bar - Jay __________________ "When I die they're gonna say He couldn't play sh*t, but he sure made it sound good" - Hound Dog Taylor

May 28th, 2006, 06:47 AM	#25 (permalink)
Big John Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Suffolk UK Posts: 6,680 39 Photos	superfluous ! __________________ If you are going to be a bear, be a grizzly !!

May 28th, 2006, 09:57 AM	#26 (permalink)
mojohen Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NY Posts: 177 12 Photos	It is interesting that it actually IS a "vibrato" arm. It's also interesting that a Fender amp with a "Vibrato" channel, is actually a tremolo.. mojohen __________________ " Time to get ready for the storm"

2009 TDPRI Giveaway Winners List is available HERE

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May 28th, 2006, 12:49 PM	#27 (permalink)
Deacon Blue Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Waxahachie, Tx. Age: 66 Posts: 339	Back in the day. we called 'em twangers. Jeff __________________ "Boomadilly wah wah bippy bopaloo la whoa!" Thurston Harris

May 28th, 2006, 06:48 PM	#28 (permalink)
BB Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Pacific NW Age: 54 Posts: 3,431	In the hands of Jeff Beck, I'd call it "amazing"....in my hands, the name "suck stick" comes to mind........

May 28th, 2006, 06:54 PM	#29 (permalink)
Joel Terry Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Old Hickory (Nashville), Tennessee, USA Age: 41 Posts: 4,680 17 Photos	I call it the best thing about the Stratocaster. The unit to which it is attached is both an engineering and musical marvel. (To actually answer the question, I call it a "vibrato bar.") Joel __________________ Currently reading: Jack Lord Was An Insufferable Ass; For Example, His Christmas Gift To The Cast And Crew Was Passing A Roll Of Clorets Mints Around: Bitter Recollections From The Set Of Hawaii Five-O by Kam Fong as Chin Ho

May 30th, 2006, 09:40 AM	#30 (permalink)
1293 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,896	I've heard of a double whammy, but that's the first Triple Whammy I've ever seen.

May 30th, 2006, 10:35 AM	#31 (permalink)
Charlie Bernstein Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Augusta, Maine Posts: 4,134	E.G.O. the electric guitar orchestra conductor's baton.

May 30th, 2006, 07:46 PM	#32 (permalink)
vic108 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mudwogweap, VA Age: 53 Posts: 1,008 9 Photos	It's called (in most hands) an UGLY STICK.... When in the hands of 98% of all guitarists, things get real ugly - real quick. __________________ Guitars will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no guitars

May 30th, 2006, 09:36 PM	#33 (permalink)
trag-o-caster R.I.P. Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Flushing, Michigan Age: 48 Posts: 5,142	I remember seeing an old Sears or JC Penney catalog when I was a kid, and they referred to it as a "Torsion Bar". I'd never heard that before, or since. I've called it a whammy bar since at least the mid-80's. Before that I think I called it a vibrato bar. I did give a good work out on my first Strat when I was 14. I broke that sucker right off, leaving a chunk of it inbedded deep down in the hole. That was the end of my whammy days. I don't admit this to many folks, but I did play a Kramer Focus 2000 in the late 80's, with a Floyd Rose. Weird noises are fun, but it ain't music. __________________ Timothy Jon Lamb