Back plate. Do you remove yours?

[G Stone496]

I keep them on, I think I only removed a backplate on a Strat 2 or 3 times in 15 years and always put it right back on. They look better to my eye with the plate on. I usually change strings on a Strat through the opening on the backplate without taking the backplate off.

I never had trem springs added or removed on a Strat, rarely had a pickup changed in a guitar and never had a speaker changed in a amp before yet. I'm more the type that likes to turn knobs, switch out pedals, change string types and gauges. And less the type that's into tinkering with screw drivers or soldering irons. Thank goodness there are those that enjoy doing that stuff and are good at it. They make my guitars play like butter and sound like sweet honey.

 

[RobRiggs]

Off. Easier to change strings. If I ever re-paint the body I’ll fill the screw holes.

 

[Zepfan]

Had mine off while setting it up to float when the springs caught hold. So if you want to get a free hair removal, try it.

 

[PCollen]

Off, for ease of string changes.

I float my two Strat Plus trems at a reasonably high angle back to front...2/16" off the body at the back and 0" at the front of the trem plate. By luck or design, my trem blocks and string holes line up right in the center of the backplate cutout. I change my strings one at a time, so there is never any problem doing so with the backplate installed.

 

[RobRiggs]

Had mine off while setting it up to float when the springs caught hold. So if you want to get a free hair removal, try it.

The Fender Epilady

 

[raysachs]

Off. I’ve decked every Strat I’ve ever owned with a trem. Once I take em off to deck the mechanism, I’ve never bothered to put em back on. Easier string changes without the backplate. But I love hard tails too - they’re pre-decked…

-Ray

 

[Lou Tencodpees]

The Strat is an elegant design. For my money the backplate off looks like a stylish automobile missing its trunk hood.

 

[Blue Bill]

I always take them off. I have a bag of them, in case I sell a Strat, I can include it; adds $20-30 to the price.

The cover needs to be removed in order for the springs to breathe properly.

 

[Trenchant63]

I keep mine on. It can be painful on the odd occasion that you're playing naked.

Indeed! The low slung Strat after a dive bomb trem can bring unpleasant surprises!!

 

[Dismalhead]

I leave mine on. IMO no plate looks terrible. It's like driving a car without a hood.

 

[Trenchant63]

I always take them off. I have a bag of them, in case I sell a Strat, I can include it; adds $20-30 to the price.

The cover needs to be removed in order for the springs to breathe properly.

Let me guess - do you call it the “Spring Tone Chamber Attenuation Device Option - $30” in your listing?

 

[Wildcard_35]

I keep it on. I don't like to tempt spring thieves! Plus, my strat has plenty of access to the string holes in the trem the way the hole is cut.

 

[fsone]

I prefer to leave mine on, that's be cause I'm a fussy dude..

 

[teleplayr]

On

 

[Fenderbaum]

Easier to stash drugs there. On.

Otherwise off

 

[Monoprice99]

2 Strats, the Trem has the cover on & it's easy to feed strings for that one. The other a top loader HT Strat. Everything else I have is LP wrapover Lightning bar & a string thru body like the Teles), Tele (string thru body holes) & Bass guitar (top loader). The LP with the Lightning bar I converted that for a Chinese Bigsby B50/B500 style Vibrato with the pins using threaded inserts so that I could remove the Bigsby for that Chinese Vibrato.

Cover On because it's better than knowing the springs & claw are exposed too.

 

[Flyboy]

Not for a long time. The springs caught on my belt buckle once. That was the end of that.

 

[Zepfan]

The struggle is real!

 

[Skydog1010]

On. Decked/blocked arm removed.
I have to remove the cover to install new strings, even though blocked. If I change string gauge then the entire process gets gone through for new setup. I will never buy another traditional strat, hardtails from here on out. Maybe one with a bigsby, maybe, but very unlikely.

 

[24 track]

I keep mine on it doesnt bother me at all, kind of like the the ashtray if it came with on I leave it on.
The big question for me is ..... why cant we get hardtails any more ? its hard enough finding a decent guitar in south paw ( and I've been lucky there) but you cannot find a lefty hardtail fender ( I want one to convert into a 12 string ) the fender 12 string is just a hardtail strat with a hardtail bridge ( 6 hole through and 6 top load) and a 12 string neck that fits the pocket . easy peasy but illusive as chicken's teeth