eddiewagner
Poster Extraordinaire
I am looking for one. Nowhere to be found. I was such an idiot to sell mine years ago.
Hardtails are so rare
- Thread starter eddiewagner
- Start date
teletail
Friend of Leo's
You didn't look very hard.
old soul
Tele-Holic
I'd like to build a hardtail
trevorus
Tele-Meister
Block a trem. I know it’s not exactly the same, but it’ll have a similar effect.
I have two.
They’re less common, but not rare.
Hardtail partscasters rule!
They’re less common, but not rare.
Hardtail partscasters rule!
eddiewagner
Poster Extraordinaire
Well, that’s over the ocean in the USA.
Engine Swap
Friend of Leo's
Build one
Had a great Fender hardtail American standard, in the early 2000s.
Being a guitarist, naturally later on I sold it haha!
Being a guitarist, naturally later on I sold it haha!
Chicago Matt
Friend of Leo's
You could get a Robert Cray hardtail model - nice guitars. I've always just decked the trem with tension and 5 springs. Maybe a myth, but I still think the trem block adds something to the Strat's tone that I like. Of course, nobody can hear it but me.
You could get a Robert Cray hardtail model - nice guitars. I've always just decked the trem with tension and 5 springs. Maybe a myth, but I still think the trem block adds something to the Strat's tone that I like. Of course, nobody can hear it but me.
Yes!! Those guitars are really nice.
Orpheum
Tele-Meister
G&L builds a fine hardtail version of the S500 (available in Europe).
Here's mine:
Here's mine:
Engine Swap
Friend of Leo's
Blocking Trem ≠ Hardtail
I find the lack of hardtail Strats annoying too.
Played lots of blocked trems or decked trems with five springs which was fine until weight became an issue, don't need that hunk of steel and a Strat trem sucks tone if you use those light die cast import trem/ block assemblies.
Plus I found I prefer the three big chunky Tele saddles with one height screw per string!
But I moved to the partscaster model in 1980 so I really never expect to find complete guitars that suit me in shops.
One of my Strats has a maple block I made that fills the trem cavity and the bridge plate scres to, plus has the string ferrules on the back. Works well enough but I'm moving that whole guitar to a new hardtail body I still need to rout more and paint.
I also don't really like most Strat hardtail bridges, while I do like the Tele bridge.
So I had my next hardtail body drilled for a four screw Tele bridge plate.
Shopping for finished bodies there's the Robert Cray and the cheap Squier Affinity that might be pretty good and is solid wood.
Since Fender makes so few models these days, if you have special needs yougotta turn to the aftermarket.
One day I predict Fender will offer 100 different Strat models and we will all find one that's just right!
Played lots of blocked trems or decked trems with five springs which was fine until weight became an issue, don't need that hunk of steel and a Strat trem sucks tone if you use those light die cast import trem/ block assemblies.
Plus I found I prefer the three big chunky Tele saddles with one height screw per string!
But I moved to the partscaster model in 1980 so I really never expect to find complete guitars that suit me in shops.
One of my Strats has a maple block I made that fills the trem cavity and the bridge plate scres to, plus has the string ferrules on the back. Works well enough but I'm moving that whole guitar to a new hardtail body I still need to rout more and paint.
I also don't really like most Strat hardtail bridges, while I do like the Tele bridge.
So I had my next hardtail body drilled for a four screw Tele bridge plate.
Shopping for finished bodies there's the Robert Cray and the cheap Squier Affinity that might be pretty good and is solid wood.
Since Fender makes so few models these days, if you have special needs yougotta turn to the aftermarket.
One day I predict Fender will offer 100 different Strat models and we will all find one that's just right!
Yeah I think I hear something different with the trem assembly, especially unplugged where the springs add some reverb to couch playing.You could get a Robert Cray hardtail model - nice guitars. I've always just decked the trem with tension and 5 springs. Maybe a myth, but I still think the trem block adds something to the Strat's tone that I like. Of course, nobody can hear it but me.
But I concluded that I don't really need or want whatever that added bit is, kind of like beans in chili except less obvious.
You’re not the only one who can hear it. I hear a definite difference between a hardtail and a decked trem. I prefer the latter. So does Eric Clapton, for whatever that’s worth.You could get a Robert Cray hardtail model - nice guitars. I've always just decked the trem with tension and 5 springs. Maybe a myth, but I still think the trem block adds something to the Strat's tone that I like. Of course, nobody can hear it but me.
Blues Twanger
Tele-Afflicted
The Legacy (with alnico pickups instead of the S500's MFDs) can also be ordered with Leo's fantatsic Saddle Lock bridge.
teletail
Friend of Leo's
68 of them ship to Germany.
Fender Mod Shop.
When you get to the bridge option choose hard tail instead of 2 point or modern trem. If you pick that option it will be a hard tail. About $150 more than an MiA in any color you want. Solved.
When you get to the bridge option choose hard tail instead of 2 point or modern trem. If you pick that option it will be a hard tail. About $150 more than an MiA in any color you want. Solved.
I agree. My opinion is a trem, resonates better than a hardtail. Just based on my experience. Maybe it the mass of the trem block and the fact that is it suspended..? Possibly even when blocked though.
I'm thinking: How well does a bell resonate sitting on the floor vs hung?
