strat setup question (preference?)

[Endtime]

I like the sound of floating trems better.

I dislike strat trems both ways though.

I couldn’t stand them either. But after working on 100s, I started to come around to it. In fact I think bent steel saddles really do increase “harmonic content” more than any other saddle. But these trems have that ridiculous flaw of the saddle height screws usually sit up above the saddle and are a cheese grater. If I really want to dial it in for someone , for a small charge I grind down every screw so they fit flush. That makes a big difference straight away for most.
Anyway, I learned to appreciate a Strat trem after thinking they were the biggest POS out there.

Fwiw, the cheesiness of fender hardware is why it sounds so good. It’s why a $20 ashtray tele bridge sounds better than fancy milled solid brass/steel $100-$200 tele bridge.

So, I don’t hate the general shittiness of the strat trem, i hate the stiff action and how the bar feels.

I’m really falling in love with the jazzmaster trem lately, quirks and all.

Yeah that’s a good word for Fender stuff. In fact, I believe that’s how i initially said I’m coming around to the “quirks” of the fender stuff… To the point I bought all solid block HIGH end saddles for it initially and it really changed the tone… I then floyded it. Hahah. But I actually really came around to liking the bent steel and took the block saddles off and returned to bent steel before I just wanted to use this guitar live which required a lot of whammy bar use. So I had to if I was gonna use it live for my band. But if I could have one stock. Bent steel saddles with the screws ground down would be the way I go

[Kanigget]

Decked. I like to drop-D, and tuning stability can be atrocious on Strats, in general, I find. Some are better than others, but I just don't dig them floating.

Question is, are you going to use it? One subtle dive-bomb throws it out of whack if it's not got a perfect nut, locking tuners, and good string trees. I find Strats in general high maintenance, and tedious to set up. If I want a trem, give me a Floyd or Gotoh 1996.

[linthat22]

Funny side story, a buddy of mine in high school had a strat and ended up cracking the headstock off of it by trying to do Jake E Lee stunts with bending the next.

[bleedingwhiskey]

I've never had issues with the 2 point Strat tremolo and I usually float mine. Just enough to bend up a full step. I don't do any kind of crazy dives, though. I typically use the tremolo for rockabilly/psychobilly dives and for vibrato. The most extreme I get with a tremolo is Toadies type dives which can get crazy at time, but I've barely had any issues with the guitar keeping in tune.