Tremolo bar. Decisions, decisions...

[Musicman418]

Hey everybody!  I'm a first time poster, looking to build my first custom guitar, and was hoping to get an opinion on some of the various tremolo bridges out there.  My first choice is a Floyd Rose Tremolo.  Not one of the licensed ones, the real deal.  I also would like to install a tremsetter system on it, and would like some recommendations.  My other choice is the Stetsbar, which is supposed to have a similar range to a standard fender tremolo, but with much better tuning stability, as well as being able to fit on any style of guitars, although that doesn't make much of a difference with it being a custom.  But would have the chunk of wood removed change the sound?  Here's the link:  http://stetsbar.com/  Thanks guys!

 

[rockskate4x]

I say Floyd it! Alot of people worry that removing the wood decreases sustain. If you get a nice big block for your floyd rose, this shouldn't be a problem, so I hear. I'd also recommend getting the d-tuner

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

I remember reading, on here. that a Stetsbar is not all it's cracked up to be. 

If the apeal of the Floyd is the recess that allows dive bombing and pull backs, a Wilkinson with a recessed body and LSR nut (1 11/16" nut width requirement  :-\) might fit the bill and also doesn't require the locking nut.

 

[m4rk0]

in case of doubt, floyd it!

 

[Musicman418]

To Rockskate:  Yeah, I was thinking that!  If I go with something other than the Floyd Rose, I wanted to get something to take me to Drop-D tuning anyway.  I've heard of tuners that can go to E to D by hitting  a switch.  What do you guys know about those?

To Super Turbo Deluxe Custom:  Hmm, that sounds interesting.  What are the advantages/drawbacks of the Wilkinson compared to the Floyd Rose?  (By the way, I've never seen a guitar with the Super or Turbo in the name before...)

 

[pabloman]

Check out the Super-Vee.

 

[kboman]

Check out the Super-Vee.

The Super-Vee looks great and I'd love to read a user's review of it.

 

[Musicman418]

Hmm, I looked at this, searched on some reviews.  It seems pretty nice!  It does have a lot of sustain compared to standard tremolo bridges, and the Floyd Rose as well.  Are there any drawbacks that I am unaware of?  Also, it seems to have the same range of a Floyd, but I just wanna verify that.  Thanks for the input!

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

(By the way, I've never seen a guitar with the Super or Turbo in the name before...)

Neither have I.

 

[Musicman418]

Oh, um, I didn't mean to offend you if I did.  It was meant to be humorous.  javascript:void(0); 

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

What are the advantages/drawbacks of the Wilkinson compared to the Floyd Rose? 

Advantages of the Wilkinson is it's non-locking, so it's simplified approach.  No fine tuners on the bridge, no locking nut.  The LSR Roller nut isn't necessary but seems the perfect fit because many tuning stability problems begin and end at the nut.  The ball bearings keep the party going.

Disadvantages of that to the Floyd, the Floyd is double locking.  Those strings aren't going anywhere.  The FR probably has a greater range of motion too.  This is just a guess.  The FR also lends itself to certain genres better, but that's just an image thing.  Who cares?  Probably not many Jazz, Country, Blues, Reggae, or Southern Rock Bands rockin' Floyds.  That might be reason enough to get one.  The FR, to me, has usually meant Metal, Hair Metal, Prog/Math Rock, Fusion, etc.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Oh, um, I didn't mean to offend you if I did.  It was meant to be humorous.  javascript:void(0);  

No offense.  That's just my moniker, so I wouldn't expect it to be a name of a guitar.  I've never seen a guitar called Marko either.  That guitar would be a 10 foot tall mountain of a man that could palm a medicine ball.

 

[Musicman418]

Oh, okay, haha.  Didn't quite catch the medicine ball, but okay!  Hmm, I'm looking for something with lots of range, that won't go out of tune no matter how much or hard I use it.  I don't really like the look of the Floyd though.  The Super-Vee is looking really good right now, but I don't know enough about it to warrant it's purchase yet.  Also, I'm thinking about going with a Les Paul body style.  (Although whichever style I get, I'm going with the 24 3/4 bridge, I just can't bend the strings as far as I want with a 25 1/2.)

 

[kboman]

I think you're pretty much limited to FR or Kahler then, not sure if the SV will work on a LP even if it's made by Warmoth.

 

[Musicman418]

Hmm, I see.  Although, the tremolo bar is a deciding factor in which type of body I'll get.  My choices are a Strat, Les Paul, or a Soloist body.  My decision will pretty much be decided on what I'll be able to do with it, so if I'd be better off with such and such tremolo, but it won't work on an LP, I'll go with the Strat.  Would you guys say the Super-Vee is better, of the Floyd Rose?

 

[m4rk0]

Oh, um, I didn't mean to offend you if I did.  It was meant to be humorous.  javascript:void(0);  

No offense.  That's just my moniker, so I wouldn't expect it to be a name of a guitar.  I've never seen a guitar called Marko either.  That guitar would be a 10 foot tall mountain of a man that could palm a medicine ball.

There should be one!!! and yes, it also should be a 10 foot tall.. at least! and instead of a headstock, it will have four arses

 

[Soylent]

Oh, um, I didn't mean to offend you if I did.  It was meant to be humorous.  javascript:void(0);  

No offense.  That's just my moniker, so I wouldn't expect it to be a name of a guitar.  I've never seen a guitar called Marko either.  That guitar would be a 10 foot tall mountain of a man that could palm a medicine ball.

There should be one!!! and yes, it also should be a 10 foot tall.. at least! and instead of a headstock, it will have four arses

and it has a giant magnet on it's tail, so if you're made of metal, he could latch on to you.

 

[m4rk0]

It lights up at night, and it's yawn sounds like Liam Neeson chasing a load of hens around inside a barrel
it also has a fear of stamps..

 

[Soylent]

It lights up at night, and it's yawn sounds like Liam Neeson chasing a load of hens around inside a barrel
it also has a fear of stamps..

Well, he's in the place where the moors would be, if we had moors.

 

[m4rk0]

It has a retractable leg so it "can leap up at you better"