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Re: Fender Strat tremolo bar

PostPosted: 24 Nov 2010, 21:27
by Geoff Alderton LH
Hi all.
Another simple solution to the loose trem arm is the Boots chemists product "Zinc Oxide" plaster tape. It's £2;09p per roll and you get five mtr's on a roll. you only need a piece one and a half cent mtr's long to sort out your loose arm. You have enough tape on the one roll to do over three hundred loose arms. Wrap it round the thread about two millimeters in from the end. This allows the arm to pickup the thred into the block. Screw the arm into the block until it's where you want it.
Regards Geoff.

Re: Fender Strat tremolo bar

PostPosted: 27 Nov 2010, 10:00
by Rosemary
Thanks very much for the tip, Geoff. Sounds a great idea. I'm not sure if I can buy that product here in Australia but there might be an equivalent Australian product.
All the best
Rosemary

Re: Fender Strat tremolo bar

PostPosted: 03 Dec 2010, 13:27
by Bill Bowley
I used to use plumbers tape until I replaced all the trems on my Strats with Callaham units, no need for tape now. That is a more expensive solution though, but the thread in the block is tight enough to hold the trem 'where I put it' every time. Tried those Fender trem springs and gave up on them very quickly after loosing them or finding that they stayed compressed and became useless too quickly.

Hang about, one of my Strats has a block fitted that I bought from the bloke in UK that makes them by order,that was from EBay, Kevin H. It wasn't too expensive (about $35AUD plus postage I think), as good as the Callaham unit IMHO too. Just check EBay and he is advertising his units at Item number: 150526303643 if you are interested.

Regards :)

Re: Fender Strat tremolo bar

PostPosted: 03 Dec 2010, 18:26
by alanbakewell
Bill Bowley wrote:I used to use plumbers tape until I replaced all the trems on my Strats with Callaham units, no need for tape now. That is a more expensive solution though, but the thread in the block is tight enough to hold the trem 'where I put it' every time. Tried those Fender trem springs and gave up on them very quickly after loosing them or finding that they stayed compressed and became useless too quickly.

Hang about, one of my Strats has a block fitted that I bought from the bloke in UK that makes them by order,that was from EBay, Kevin H. It wasn't too expensive (about $35AUD plus postage I think), as good as the Callaham unit IMHO too. Just check EBay and he is advertising his units at Item number: 150526303643 if you are interested.

Regards :)


100% in agreement Bill. My Custom Shop has a Callaham block and stainless steel tremolo arm. As you say it stays where you put it. ( Has done since fitting five years ago ).
My 50th anniversary has one of Kevin's blocks in. Very impressed.

Re: Fender Strat tremolo bar

PostPosted: 03 Dec 2010, 18:58
by roger bayliss
Just fitted a new Trem Block to my 57 Vintage reissue Strat today made by Kevin (Celtrocka) c/w delrin bush in the top of trem thread hole. Almost a third of the Callaham version price so pleased and the trem arm stops where you leave it. Have not played the guitar through the amp yet but accoustically it sounds OK. I needed to change mine due to the trem arm snapping off last winter and Ecca helped me out by drilling it out but the thread was never the same again so I had to replace and happy to recommend Kevin for his Trem blocks. :)

Re: Fender Strat tremolo bar

PostPosted: 03 Dec 2010, 19:35
by alanbakewell
roger bayliss wrote:Just fitted a new Trem Block to my 57 Vintage reissue Strat today made by Kevin (Celtrocka) c/w delrin bush in the top of trem thread hole. Almost a third of the Callaham version price so pleased and the trem arm stops where you leave it. Have not played the guitar through the amp yet but accoustically it sounds OK. I needed to change mine due to the trem arm snapping off last winter and Ecca helped me out by drilling it out but the thread was never the same again so I had to replace and happy to recommend Kevin for his Trem blocks. :)


And his blocks will certainly trem this weather :o :o :o

Re: Fender Strat tremolo bar

PostPosted: 11 Dec 2010, 17:17
by ecca
Here's what I did to stop the slop Rosemary......
It's a permanent job that can be fitted and adjusted without modifying the guitar


strat trem mod.jpg
(103.67 KiB) Downloaded 5195 times

Re: Fender Strat tremolo bar

PostPosted: 12 Dec 2010, 11:28
by Rosemary
Hi Ecca and Darryl

Ecca: That's a great invention!
Darryl: Thanks very much for the link and advice.

Solving this is one of my highest priorities for the new year because it's very hard to grab the trem bar when it falls right down. I'm not yet 100% sure I can't adjust my technique with it tightened so it stays in place so maybe I should still persevere with this first. I've also been trying to palm mute while holding the trem bar in my little finger so it doesn't drop but can't seem to get the right angle then to mute the strings.
If this all proves too impossible I'll try one or more of these suggestions.
Thanks again for all your help!
Best wishes
Rosemary