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Another lazy Sunday afternoon, perusing Fender Strats, and I notice that in all of the different models and variations there only seem to be two Hard Tail Strats:

The American Hard Tail, and the Robert Cray:(There's an HH hard tail, but thats just a pickup change.)

So are non-trem users like me in that small of a minority? Just seems like they'ld have at least a couple more.

Artie

To me the Hard Tails always sound better.... But i do like strats with Trems... It seems to be more Fender to have a Trem on a strat....

WhoFan

PS Oddly i have had a bad craving for an American Standard in Black with a Maple board...

I kinda have my eye on that Robert Cray . . . in Sunburst.


Originally Posted by ArtieTooI kinda have my eye on that Robert Cray . . . in Sunburst.

that would be very kool.

I think the reason fender doesn't make more hardtail strats is because it's not quot;vintagequot; they've been doing it with a trem since the begining, so it's more like they're quot;staying truequot; by having the trems.

Rock On


Originally Posted by Kacthat would be very kool.

I think the reason fender doesn't make more hardtail strats is because it's not quot;vintagequot; they've been doing it with a trem since the begining, so it's more like they're quot;staying truequot; by having the trems.

Rock On If I'm not mistaken you could buy the original Strats with the trem or hardtail.

The hardtail Strats are suppossed to *sound different* than the trem Strats. Apparently the absence of wood and those springs add something to the Strattyness of the sound.


Originally Posted by gripweedThe hardtail Strats are suppossed to *sound different* than the trem Strats. Apparently the absence of wood and those springs add something to the Strattyness of the sound.

That does make sense. When I added the two extra springs, and tightened down the claw of mine, it definitely added a little richness to the tone. Not much, but a little.

BOO!!! Hardtail Strats are just sexy Tele's...I think that they are just goofey, the only reason I started playing Strats is so I could use the bar...that said I do relize that mosr people (at least on here) do not use the bar...


Originally Posted by the guy who invented fireBOO!!! Hardtail Strats are just sexy Tele's...I think that they are just goofey, the only reason I started playing Strats is so I could use the bar...that said I do relize that mosr people (at least on here) do not use the bar...Couldn't have said it better myself!

I thought I wanted a hardtail Strat at one time until I figured, I've got a Tele.....I use 5 springs amp; tighten it all the way down like Clapton does. I think the less wood amp; springs add to the overall Stratiness of it,

I think I have a trem arm around here somewhere...............


Originally Posted by PUCKBOY99Couldn't have said it better myself!

I thought I wanted a hardtail Strat at one time until I figured, I've got a Tele.....I use 5 springs amp; tighten it all the way down like Clapton does. I think the less wood amp; springs add to the overall Stratiness of it,

I think I have a trem arm around here somewhere............... Thats right!

A blocked trem Strat still sounds more like a Strat to my ears, with a hardtail you get nothing special that you couldn't get in a 3 pickup Tele...and Tele lead coils are kick ass!

If you use the trem I would say get a Strat, if you still want a Strat sound but never use the bar, get a typical Strat and block that *****!

If you gonna go the hardtail road, just get a Tele with a middle pickup...


Originally Posted by the guy who invented fireThats right!

A blocked trem Strat still sounds more like a Strat to my ears, with a hardtail you get nothing special that you couldn't get in a 3 pickup Tele...and Tele lead coils are kick ass!

If you use the trem I would say get a Strat, if you still want a Strat sound but never use the bar, get a typical Strat and block that *****!

If you gonna go the hardtail road, just get a Tele with a middle pickup...

Thats an interesting point. I already have a 3-pup Tele. I'll have to be sure to play one for awhile in the store before I make a final decision. Fortunately, we have 3 or 4 Fender dealers in town.


Originally Posted by ArtieTooThat does make sense. When I added the two extra springs, and tightened down the claw of mine, it definitely added a little richness to the tone. Not much, but a little.

That is the samething I did to my strat.

But Telecasters are ugly as sin.

Blashphemy! Teles are beautiful. (However, colors that look great on strats just don't do it for me on teles... I tele needs to be black, burst or blonde)

I never use the trems on my Strats, and I intend to convert the Number One to hard tail by replacing the body amp; bridge. I actually really love the way Teles resonate, so I have a feeling I will like it. I will keep my 3 single Strat tremoloized for the quot;authenticquot; sound.

I'm not very hung up on vintage spec myself, I just like what sounds good.


Originally Posted by the guy who invented fireBOO!!! Hardtail Strats are just sexy Tele's...I think that they are just goofey, the only reason I started playing Strats is so I could use the bar...that said I do relize that mosr people (at least on here) do not use the bar...i WISH i could use my bar... actualy i do.. but i prefer not to cuz after i do that i gotta spend like 15 min to retune it cuz it goes completly crap after i use it.. if i dont use it however it stays perfectly in tune or if i use it quot;slitghyquot; pushing down on it with my palm to do like a quot;vibrato thing... other than that ive been trying to figure out how to make this damn thing to work properly forever.. to me its either broke or i just suck, it kinda pisses me off cuz i kidna payed quot;too muchquot; for it (Custom shop player strat, dont ask how much :P) and id expect everything to work perfectly.. and everything does and sounds great exept for the damn bar... i wanna know the damn secret that makes this thing work! Ive seen it, heared it and played with ones that worked so i know its possible

i'm a big fan of the hardtail also. I have both a cray strat and a USA hardtail strat. I wish fender made a highway 1 hardtail strat


Originally Posted by ratherdashingI never use the trems on my Strats, and I intend to convert the Number One to hard tail by replacing the body amp; bridge. I actually really love the way Teles resonate, so I have a feeling I will like it. I will keep my 3 single Strat tremoloized for the quot;authenticquot; sound.

I'm not very hung up on vintage spec myself, I just like what sounds good.also has a drop in conversion to hardtail that you can use on trem routed strats.

I think its called the Drop Top.....


Originally Posted by WhoFanPS Oddly i have had a bad craving for an American Standard in Black with a Maple board...

Doesn't everyone man? That is the alltime classic guitar. Whether it's Clapton, Dave Murray, or the guy playing at the bar it's just a timeless looking guitar. I mainly use the trem for feedback which is why I like having it there. It offers more possibilities than a hard tailed instrument.


Originally Posted by Ez74i'm a big fan of the hardtail also. I have both a cray strat and a USA hardtail strat. I wish fender made a highway 1 hardtail strat

Cool. How would you compare the two?

Artie