software

Right now, I have the trem on my OLP MM1 (please hold your laughter, it's a screamer) set down hard. I'd really like to get back into using the trem in my playing. It's a vintage 6-screw type. Can I do some Satriani-style stuff with a vintage trem or not? Also, if I do need to replace my trem, I'd really like to not use a locking trem. I would use locking tuners. What's the best nonlocking trem out there?

i really like wilkensens they have a good feel and stay in tune as well as any non-locking trem ive tried


Originally Posted by jeremyi really like wilkensens they have a good feel and stay in tune as well as any non-locking trem ive tried

I was thinking of that model. It has the modern 2-point mount. How would that work with my guitar?

My Peavey has a plain old six-screw Fender-style trem. I added the Hipshot Tremsetter and new tuners. The nut was already well cut. I don't have many tuning problems. The Tremsetter makes the bridge stiff, which you might not like for Satch-type playing, but it really helps bring it back to tune. The old six-screw trem probably isn't the best, unless you're looking to keep the vintage sound.

Vintage style tuners can work just fine. Keeping the guitar in tune when using it is very possible. Make sure the nut is cut perfectly, the strings are properly stretched, locking tuners can benefit but not totally necessary. There's a page out there on the net that goes over this exact thing but I can't find it. I set my homemade up with a vintage trem and kluson tuners. If I set the trem up right, it'll stay in tune doing Van Halen dive bombs.

Oddly i enjoy the Fender American Standard trem.... Not so much for the sound it has but more for the feel..... I've used the American Standard on my Warmoth even.... With some locking tuners that guitar plays pretty good. It will never work for a Van Halen type guitar... i know i tried... I tuned down to E Flat and played along to the first VH album and after a song or 2 i was out of tune and had to stop to tune. I could dive a few times and keep playing alright
For a few cheap a$$ guitars i even ordered a few cheap Squire Standard 2 post trems for like $30 Canadian... They are cheap trems but they do work close to the American Standard feel.. But as i said they are really cheap made trems! I'd never put a Squire trem on a good guitar!!!! But i did see a guy put a Squire 2 post trem on a late 70's American Strat! What an idiot! But i got the idea of adding that cheap Bridge to a few cheap guitars....

I have your guitar and can tell you just to stick with what u have on it. That guitar is killer but not worth spending so much more money on it for a new trem.

You're gonna need a floyd for the nazgul stuff. Non-locking bridges with good nuts and locking tuners can work well, but not THAT well.


Originally Posted by Hot _GritsYou're gonna need a floyd for the nazgul stuff. Non-locking bridges with good nuts and locking tuners can work well, but not THAT well.

That's true.

But, as for the answer to the question - my favourite bridges are the wilkinson (either the 6 or 2 post.. the 2 I played was more sensitive and probably had a bit more travel on it too, but they were set up slightly differently on different axes..) and the PRS trem. I'm not sure if you can get the PRS trem aftermarket though..


Originally Posted by Butch SnyderRight now, I have the trem on my OLP MM1 (please hold your laughter, it's a screamer) set down hard.

1

those guitars are graet! theyre a biiiiiiig steal for 200... i think they have lockin trems for 279... but either one is a great buy


Originally Posted by WhoFanOddly i enjoy the Fender American Standard trem.... Not so much for the sound it has but more for the feel..... I've used the American Standard on my Warmoth even.... With some locking tuners that guitar plays pretty good. It will never work for a Van Halen type guitar... i know i tried... I tuned down to E Flat and played along to the first VH album and after a song or 2 i was out of tune and had to stop to tune. I could dive a few times and keep playing alright

Don't forget how out of tune Eddie would get on those records and on bootlegs...he was tuning after every song and sometimes in the middle! Still cool as hell though and the out-of-tuneness never bothers me because his playing has so much vibe to it.

The PRS trem is probably my favorite of the non-locking types, the Am. Std. is a close second but I don't like how the saddles can shift left to right. Even with locking tuners amp; a graphite nut the non-locking systems can amp; will go out with 'abuse'...usually strings come back sharp so I'll grab 'em, yank up amp; release and that usually takes care of it. Still, for the dive bombs, if you want something you can abuse and not go out of tune you need a locking system. Is it worth it for a $200 axe? I don't think so...but a Graphite nut amp; saddles would be worth it. With a good setup and some patience it'll work great!


Originally Posted by J MooseDon't forget how out of tune Eddie would get on those records and on bootlegs...he was tuning after every song and sometimes in the middle! Still cool as hell though and the out-of-tuneness never bothers me because his playing has so much vibe to it.

The PRS trem is probably my favorite of the non-locking types, the Am. Std. is a close second but I don't like how the saddles can shift left to right. Even with locking tuners amp; a graphite nut the non-locking systems can amp; will go out with 'abuse'...usually strings come back sharp so I'll grab 'em, yank up amp; release and that usually takes care of it. Still, for the dive bombs, if you want something you can abuse and not go out of tune you need a locking system. Is it worth it for a $200 axe? I don't think so...but a Graphite nut amp; saddles would be worth it. With a good setup and some patience it'll work great!

Ya i have bunch of early VH live cdrs someone downloaded off the net.... Kind of cool stuff.. Yes Eddie is tuning a fair bit..... He does manage to stay in tune pretty well concidering the abuse he was giving his guitar.... I like an early version of Mean Street recorded at Paris 1978 that is kind of killer!

Ya modding a $200 axe... maybe better to sell it and upgrade to a better guitar. I have modded my fair share of cheap guitars and like them but nothing replaces a better guitar over a modded cheapie...

You could graphtech and float the bridge. Graphtech nut and you're whammyin'!

graphtech saddles nut, maybe even add locking tuners (all guitars should have them)...but in answer to the ?, the Wilkinson 2 point is the best non-locking. The 6 saddle is good too, and may be a direct replacement, although you don't, in reality, need 6 pivot points.

Wilkinson VS100 1
You might even want to consider placing it floating. The VS100-system features a lock to keep it in place when you need it so, or float freely when you want it to. You'd need to rout out a hole to accomodate this, though. You may be able to get the tremolo off eBay fairly cheap, but the routing may cost you some.


Originally Posted by J MooseDon't forget how out of tune Eddie would get on those records and on bootlegs...he was tuning after every song and sometimes in the middle! Still cool as hell though and the out-of-tuneness never bothers me because his playing has so much vibe to it.

Listen to Eruption. Right after he comes up after the dive bomb, right before going in to the tapping at the end, he's out of tune there. The guitar goes up in pitch about 1/4 step. I noticed that when I first tried to play along with it and failed miserably...lol.

PRS is the best and smoothest IMO

Hey Butch,

The Wilkinson VSVG is a 6 screw Vintage style tremolo that holds tune very well. The saddles are kind of a hybrid between Fender's stamped saddle design and the VS1000 Wilkinson bridge saddles. Very good replacement, although I can't promise that the 6 screws will perfectly line up with the EB's 6 holes... they were slightly off the original holes on my Aria Strat copy.

But, as stable of a vintage system as it is, even with a well cut nut and good tuners dive bombs will still pull you out of tune. That, and you'll only have one way operation since it's a V-trem.

The VS1000 is nice, but converting to it would be more difficult. The body rout is not the same, and may have to be slightly clearanced to accept the VS1000 body. You'd also have to plug the six screw holes and drill two larger holes for the posts. The plusses are that the VS1000 is even more stable than the VSVG and it has a greater range.

Do yourself a big favor. Get either an ORIGINAL Floyd Rose or a Ibanez Edge Pro. I think you will find that it will save yourself a lot of hassel in the long run, as far as dive bombing trems go. Maybe get another guitar an put it on there to save your current setup. That's what I would do anyways. That is, if you like your current type of playing, and if you are just looking into exploring some.


Originally Posted by WhoFanYa modding a $200 axe... maybe better to sell it and upgrade to a better guitar. I have modded my fair share of cheap guitars and like them but nothing replaces a better guitar over a modded cheapie...

Been there, done that with an imported Kramer back in the day when I was like 15.

Starts with pickups, then tuners, then the bridge...and then you realize that the body is about as resonant as a wet dog so you replace that and maybe you want the neck to feel a little different and be as solid as the rest of the guitar...

quot;The volume knob? That's original.quot;

Actually...IIRC the Kramer had a real Floyd so I kept that and I used a piece of the Kramer pickguard to cover the spot I butchered while enlarging the hole for the volume pot. Boy do I miss that guitar!