GuitarWolf Posted May 29, 2004 Share Posted May 29, 2004 Hi , long time no see peoplez anyways I finally did it! I built a guitar from scratch, its basically a close replica to the Ibanez Joe Satriani model. Ive been using it at gigs for a while and it plays great! However, I was sittin in my dorm last night, tryin to learn Satch Boogie and I realized that I missed one really, really important thing! I didnt install a whammy! I put in a fixed system! (bieng a gibson player I guesss i have an excuse ) So what do I need to buy to install a functional whammy system? Is it possible to do once you have a fixed system installed? YtseJam your Majesty! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Thorne Posted May 29, 2004 Share Posted May 29, 2004 D-prime, I've never done it (haven't felt the need of a whammy myself since "Hanky Panky" by Tommy James and the Shondells) but it would involve some serious routing work on your nice new guitar body. I'm sure the info is out there, but maybe you'd like to think about just getting another, whammy-equipped, guitar instead? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriel E. Posted May 29, 2004 Share Posted May 29, 2004 Stetsbar systems attach to Tune-o-Matic (Gibson style) bridges without any permanent modifications. They are for more subtle vibrato effects - definitely not for dive bombing. On any other guitar you're going to have to rout the body for the block and springs. Pretty major surgery. This is the case whether you're installing a vintage-style Strat trem or a Floyd. This will alter how the guitar sounds pretty drastically. Not necessarily for the worse but it will change the tone. "You never can vouch for your own consciousness." - Norman Mailer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarWolf Posted May 29, 2004 Author Share Posted May 29, 2004 thanks guys! i checked out that setsbar thing, it sounds cool but it looks like hell and im not sure if im willing to mutilate my guitar to install a real whammy. I guess the main question is- are whammys worth it? being that ive never touched one, i dont really know what they add to ones musicality. I have the understanding that they modulate pitch by changing string tension, but does anybody here find that useful to their playing? Does anybody know of any professional whammy addicts out there or hardcore whammy solos that i could check out? YtseJam your Majesty! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Thorne Posted May 30, 2004 Share Posted May 30, 2004 Originally posted by D-Prime: Does anybody know of any professional whammy addicts out there or hardcore whammy solos that i could check out?Try Hendrix, Jeff beck, Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Adrian Belew. It ain't my thing but I like to hear what these guys do with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriel E. Posted May 30, 2004 Share Posted May 30, 2004 Listen to "Flexable" by Steve Vai or "Eat 'Em and Smile" and "Skyscraper" by David Lee Roth (with Vai on guitar) to hear whammy abuse at it's most extreme. Some fun stuff there. I would go down to your local music store an try a few guitars with bars before doing anything to your guitars. I own guitars with whammy bars and guitars without. They can ad an interesting dimension to your playing but I don't find them necessary. Fun to have. Back in the 80s, it was hard to find a guitar WITHOUT a whammy, "You never can vouch for your own consciousness." - Norman Mailer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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