Re: tuning instability on Stratocaster type guitars.
The effect of the following friction points is well recognised
- tuning machine posts
- sloppy windings
- locking machine heads (minimising windings around the post)
- string trees
- nut slots
Perhaps less well recognised are issues around the bridge. IMO there is perhaps an inordinate amount of focus on the ability (or otherwise) of the bridge to return the 'zero point'. From what I have observed, even a 6 screw tremolo returns to zero point beautifully...
What I have found is that issues of the strings 'hanging' at the saddles and baseplate are very relevant.
With a Wilkinson VS100 - here's a demonstration of the tuning instability on my previous strat.
The neck has locking tuners. no string trees and beautifully cut and lubricated nut slots.
https://soundcloud.com/jaymenon/my-strat-tuning-instability
So I went with a Non-Fine Tuner Floyd Rose body - I used the same Strat neck.
This pretty much eliminated the tuning instability, since the strings were locked at the bridge saddles and tuning machines, with the only point of friction being the slots on the bone nut. Unfortunately the body is a bit too heavy for me, and no one seems interested to buy it - but that's a different story...
I then recently tried out a Gotoh 510 with the FST block. On this, the string makes no contact with the baseplate but instead travels directly from the ball end to the saddle.
The block is machined away
The base plate has elongated slots rather than holes.
On a conventional strat tremolo, the string exits at the top of the baseplate and makes a 45° angle forwards on its way to the saddle. This bend usually remains as a 'memory point' on the string which retains that deformity even after being removed (we've all seen that). I believe that this is a major point of friction.
So with the FST mechanism there are only two points of potential friction (saddles and nut).
...and the tuning instability is very impressive indeed, rivalling that of the non-fine tuner floyd rose. Only problem is that Gotoh only makes it is Zinc (but can I really hear a difference?)
Finally I got a friend to make me an FST block in cold rolled steel - best of both worlds
)
The effect of the following friction points is well recognised
- tuning machine posts
- sloppy windings
- locking machine heads (minimising windings around the post)
- string trees
- nut slots
Perhaps less well recognised are issues around the bridge. IMO there is perhaps an inordinate amount of focus on the ability (or otherwise) of the bridge to return the 'zero point'. From what I have observed, even a 6 screw tremolo returns to zero point beautifully...
What I have found is that issues of the strings 'hanging' at the saddles and baseplate are very relevant.
With a Wilkinson VS100 - here's a demonstration of the tuning instability on my previous strat.
The neck has locking tuners. no string trees and beautifully cut and lubricated nut slots.
https://soundcloud.com/jaymenon/my-strat-tuning-instability
So I went with a Non-Fine Tuner Floyd Rose body - I used the same Strat neck.
This pretty much eliminated the tuning instability, since the strings were locked at the bridge saddles and tuning machines, with the only point of friction being the slots on the bone nut. Unfortunately the body is a bit too heavy for me, and no one seems interested to buy it - but that's a different story...
I then recently tried out a Gotoh 510 with the FST block. On this, the string makes no contact with the baseplate but instead travels directly from the ball end to the saddle.
The block is machined away
The base plate has elongated slots rather than holes.
On a conventional strat tremolo, the string exits at the top of the baseplate and makes a 45° angle forwards on its way to the saddle. This bend usually remains as a 'memory point' on the string which retains that deformity even after being removed (we've all seen that). I believe that this is a major point of friction.
So with the FST mechanism there are only two points of potential friction (saddles and nut).
...and the tuning instability is very impressive indeed, rivalling that of the non-fine tuner floyd rose. Only problem is that Gotoh only makes it is Zinc (but can I really hear a difference?)
Finally I got a friend to make me an FST block in cold rolled steel - best of both worlds
)
