66Satellite
Tele-Holic
Just wondering.... Don't think I'd have any use for a tremelo. What sayeth the Strat-owning Tele guys?
should a Tele guy looking to buy first Strat buy a hardtail?
- Thread starter 66Satellite
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xFallenx
Friend of Leo's
I bought a 2007/2008 American Standard Startocaster in sienna sunburst with a rosewood neck and I hated the trem arm ( wammy bar) so I never used it.It may as well have been a hardtail it never went out of tune though. I sold it 2 weeks after getting it. I just couldn't enjoy using it cause it wasn't a Tele ,but ymmv (your mileage may vary) 
KevinB
Doctor of Teleocity
For me, a Strat's not a Strat without the trem. Even though I hardly ever used it, I think it adds to the shimmery, signature Strat sound.
Longer
Tele-Meister
I would get a tremolo, then lock it down. Then if you ever want to explore the Trem, you'll have the option.
AirBagTester
Friend of Leo's
Play one first! Then you'll know. You can always block it or lock it.
You'll know in 5 minutes whether you want a floating trem or a hardtail. For me it was like, "Yesss, this one."
You'll know in 5 minutes whether you want a floating trem or a hardtail. For me it was like, "Yesss, this one."
chipbutty24
Friend of Leo's
You can deck the trem and make it like a hardtail easily.
Tom Coyle
Tele-Meister
Played a Strat for years before switching to a Tele. Never used the trem. Just tighten up the springs in back or ad a couple until the trem lays against the body, reset your action and intonation, and play away. Properly done,it won't move at all. If you ever change your mind and want to try it, it's there.
Tom
Tom
Woollymonster
Tele-Meister
I agree. I blocked the trem on my '56 AVRI after I got it and hated the way it sounded. So, I set it back up to factory specs with the trem floating and will never change it. I rarely use the bar. I love my Strat and play it as much as my Tele. Tuning is not an issue.
flyswatter
Friend of Leo's
When I first set up the MIM Strat I got a few months ago, I screwed down my trem with 5 springs so the bridge wouldn't budge -- thinking as a Tele player that the Strat needed the extra stability to stay in tune. I felt really stiff and lifeless/ hard to bend strings, so I went back to a floating bridge with 3 springs screwed medium tight, but loose enough so the bridge could pivot slightly on string bends. I've had no trouble and since and the guitar stays in tune/ plays fine. So don't underestimate the quality of a Strat relative to a Tele.
Minivan Megafun
Tele-Afflicted
The problem is finding a hard tail model! Your options are pretty limited as Fender doesn't offer it as an option. I have a Strat and I just put 5 springs underneath so the bridge would be decked.
bluebirdrad
Tele-Meister
Agree. . I think part of the Strat sound is all those springs vibrating. I would just buy a regular Strat and add the extra springs if you need to.
Unless you're willing to settle for a Robert Cray model Strat what's been suggested above is about your only choice as far as buying one. That's the only hardtail model Fender offers.
I have a really terrific 2008 AS Strat, it's also got a pretty full neck fuller than any American Standard Tele I've seen. It sounds really good with the bridge floating, and like a different guitar without it floating. If you do a little research on the net, and set it up right, it will be stable in tuning, and if it goes out of tune, you can just work the arm and like magic it's back in tune. If I were going to block the bridge, I would block it so that the bridge is elevated slightly in back to floating specs by blocking both sides of the bridge assy. there is something about the guitar that just doesn't suit me with the bridge decked. Even if you jack the saddles up, and can get them high enough, they look sillier to me than having the bridge canted a little. The guitar is designed to have the bridge up at the rear, and in my opinion when you deck it, the whole guitar is out of whack. If you don't get too heavy handed palm muting isn't a problem, I put slightly heavier, but only 3 springs on mine, then adjust the claw just so, and you can palm mute, work the arm either direction, and just have fun.
Vladimir
Friend of Leo's
To me, a Strat is a totally different guitar from a Tele, and the vibrato bar is a part of it.
Get one with a trem, and get used to using it. It will make you a better person. ;-)
The real question is, that with the vast majority of Strat players blocking their trems why Fender doesn't just get with the program and put out a standard hard tail Strat with an optional trem model. While they're at it they could get that damn third knob out of the way as well. As far as I can tell the only thing keeping the Strat from being the perfect guitar is tradition.
hemingway
Doctor of Teleocity
Quite.
I built a hardtail parts-strat as I had no use for a trem. I'm not sure about the springs making a huge difference to the sound. Mine sounds like a strat, Robert Cray's sounds like a strat . . .
you might find one of these '83's if you keep your eyes open, a nice guitar....
the missing link between Tele and Strat....a solid body, has that snap and pop like a Tele does, the clarity of notes,,with the PU options of a Strat..... and has the slippery contoured body...
if you never use the trem.... at least try a HT ....
the missing link between Tele and Strat....a solid body, has that snap and pop like a Tele does, the clarity of notes,,with the PU options of a Strat..... and has the slippery contoured body...
if you never use the trem.... at least try a HT ....
Attachments
Exactly. From nut to butt it all does the same stuff.
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