Vega trem screws a bit long

[David.Bernstein]

I built a strat recently with traditional six hole trem route. Initially I had a Floyd Rose Rail Tail in it, then tried a Vega trem. I know one is decked and one floating but it's my first strat in a long time and I wasn't sure about floating v.s. decked. In any case, one thing I found out is that the Vega trem screws are longer, long enough to poke through the trem cavity in the back. Not a big deal but just thought I'd post about it.

Otherwise both bridges fit the route and were pretty easy to install/set up.

 

[NutBehindTheGuitar]

Now that you've had both in the guitar, what do you think of Vega Trem vs. Rail tail ? I's one better than the other? Was there a reason you removed the Rail Tail?

I have the rail tail in my one and only trem bar Stratocaster, mainly because it offers the wide string spacing (also called vintage string spacing) and Vega did not.

Bye for now

 

[Spud]

Wilkenson/Gotoh VSVG for the win. (though the rail tail is good and has lovely machining)

 

[David.Bernstein]

Now that you've had both in the guitar, what do you think of Vega Trem vs. Rail tail ? I's one better than the other? Was there a reason you removed the Rail Tail?

I have the rail tail in my one and only trem bar Stratocaster, mainly because it offers the wide string spacing (also called vintage string spacing) and Vega did not.

Bye for now

I just wanted to try both. Very used to playing fixed bridges so I thought the rail tail would feel more familiar, which it definitely did. On this particular guitar though the Vega had a different tone and one that I really preferred. I didn't like the feel of it on bends though. Everything was off. Weird. Unsurprising of course after years of playing teles and LPs. So I thought this is too different and put the rail tail back on. And I just missed the Vega, it sounded different and to me better. I've had this experience with LP bridges in the past so I wasn't that surprised. I don't want to open the can of tone worms here so take it all with a grain of salt. Just my experience.

So I put the Vega back on and am going to learn how to live with it and use it. Nothing against the Floyd, beautiful bridge, very well designed and built like a rock.

Also definitely not saying one bridge has a better tone than the other one, merely that on this guitar to and to my ears they were different and I liked one over the other.

 

[stratamania]

A significant difference between the FR rail tail and the Vegatrem. The Vegatrem is a floating bridge, the Rail Tail is dive only. Two different beasts…both very good depending on what you want to get out of a trem.

 

[David.Bernstein]

Here's what the trem cavity looks like. The screw tips just poke through the wood. Roasted alder btw. The outside two screw tips also show but they are hidden by the springs.

 

[David.Bernstein]

btw, I am 93% sure this body is the same one as on this Warmoth instagram post. Second from bottom. If so, this would easily qualify as my proudest moment as a guitarist.