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I've been looking at some Warmoth trems, and I just have a quick question. The vintage Fender trem has six screws, the standard (or modern) one has 2. Having only 2 screws is said to improve performance, so why would people still want the old 6-screw version? Is it for the vintage appeal/aesthetic? Are there any functional superiorities that I've missed? Does it sound any better?

The vintage style trems have a slightly different tone to them.. there is more of the bridge touching the body and the 6 screws i would think is said to help tone. I prefer modern 2 post trems myself... 1 mostly for the fact they are tighter string spaced, and 2 they feel better to me for some reason.... I also find the 2 post modern bridge has better/easier adjustment in some cases. It's easier to adjust the whole bridge higher when needed

The modern Fender bridges have different saddles too. I prefer vintage, I don't completely know why but it just feels better to me.

Those two point Fenders are soft...well the old ones where, the new ones on the more expensive guitars seems like that they have been upgraded to harder steel.
But those old 90's trems where made of buttersteel. Terrible stuff!
I like the old style best.
I am getting a Wilkinson six screw for my Strat.

Thanks, guys. I'm in the process of choosing parts for a Warmoth/USACG guitar project deal. I was just wondering: If I get a neck from Warmoth or USACG, I notice they only mention nut slot work. So, they don't install the nut? I'd have to do this on my own?

Is this hard, as I'd like to learn.

Warmoth will install a pre-slotted nut for you.

you'll still need to work on the nut or take it to a guitar tech and get the guitar set up, as the warmoth nuts aren't very well cut


Originally Posted by OciferThanks, guys. I'm in the process of choosing parts for a Warmoth/USACG guitar project deal. I was just wondering: If I get a neck from Warmoth or USACG, I notice they only mention nut slot work. So, they don't install the nut? I'd have to do this on my own?

Is this hard, as I'd like to learn.

Making a new nut isn't bad if you are (1) reasonably good with your hands, and (2) very patient. Oh, and you need to be prepared to start at least 2 nuts for every one that turns out OK, at least for a while But, as they told the Waterboy quot;You can do it!quot;

Frank Ford's site Frets.com has a great tutorial. You also should get Dan Erlewine's Guitar Player's Repair Guide. Last, Fender's Mr. Gearhead site has lots of useful setup information.

On second thought, unless you expect to make a practice of making nuts, go find a good luthier...

Just my humble opinion. I think I'm batting about 500 - 3 good nuts out of 6 attempts.

Chip


Originally Posted by RidI am getting a Wilkinson six screw for my Strat.

That's my favourite trem. They put them on JJ guitars with locking machineheads.. they work very well.

the stainless sintered saddles on the US strat bridge have plenty of mass so they offer better sustained resonance than the vintage rolled saddles. They have been linked to excessive string breakage though.

The US bridge has a lighter touch and more range than the vintage bridge. It's heavier, so the shock absorbant effect of the trem springs is lessened; again, more sustain.

The range and stability of the vintage bridge can be improved by replacing the six round head screws with countersunk head screws. This reduces the tendency of the bridge plate to float on the shanks of the screws while allowing room for the bridge plate to rock. You can get away with just replacing the two outer ones, but it looks less obtrusive to replace all six.

The threaded body bushes of the US trem have a tendency to work loose with time, affecting the bridge's stability and action.

Well dunno...it is a pretty deadsounding bridge to me, does not have anything of that twang and snap a good vintage style steelbridge has.
All that mass talk sounds like something out of the 70's..hehe you know brass everywhere and terrible sounds