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Trem setter


Guitarzan

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Who here uses a tremsetter? since i have aquired my pacifica 812w i have thought of getting a tremsetter so my unison bends stay on pitch. by the way the wilkison vs100 is an awesome trem, but floating trems still have that habit of letting the other strings go flat when you bend any paticular string.
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I've both installed and used one on a Strat-stylee with a Kahler whammy (their Fenderish fulcrum model, NOT the top-mount one like Adrian Belew uses that everyone associates with the name Kahler). Works pretty much like they say.

 

There's a tiny little 'bump' or 'kink' where you return or pass through the "zero" point when using the whammy, though- if you simply must have a completely and utterly smooth transition from flat to sharp through neutral for beyond-Bigsby-like warbles and sci-fi flutters, this may bother you.

 

If the down-only warble of a Bigsby or flat-mount fulcrum-trem will do it for you when wiggling that stick, a Trem-Setter equipped floating whammy'll do it for you, and then some.

 

That's not to say that it hampers up-trem pulls, not at all; it's only noticeable at all when doing a flat-sharp-flat-sharp sorta warble. Many folks probably wouldn't ever even notice.

 

Other than that- and it is a very small "bump"- it's damn near perfect for stabilizing a floating fulcrum-whammy! The amount of stabilizing tension is adjustable over a wide range, too.

Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do?

 

~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~

_ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _

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Then I'd say that the TremSetter is right for you! You'll like the more solid feel and even tone it affords. And you can still do up-trem pulls if you like!

 

I had gotten used to the way other strings would go a little flat when doing oblique-bends, and had become accustomed to compensating for it with my fretting-fingers. After I installed the TremSetter, it threw me off a bit, it was almost like going to a fixed-bridge!

Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do?

 

~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~

_ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _

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Originally posted by Caevan O'Shite:

After I installed the TremSetter, it threw me off a bit, it was almost like going to a fixed-bridge!

That will certainly be enough of a description to convince me to try one :thu:

 

This is honestly the one true thing that drives me nuts with my strat and even though I don't use the tremolo much I'm tuning it far to frequently for a guitar with great machines installed.

I still think guitars are like shoes, but louder.

 

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Originally posted by Guitars are like shoes. But louder.:

Originally posted by Caevan O'Shite:

After I installed the TremSetter, it threw me off a bit, it was almost like going to a fixed-bridge!

That will certainly be enough of a description to convince me to try one :thu:

 

This is honestly the one true thing that drives me nuts with my strat and even though I don't use the tremolo much I'm tuning it far to frequently for a guitar with great machines installed.

Do you have a "floating" trem, or is it set flat against the body, 'shoes'?

 

Just what are the symptoms of your tuning troubles?

Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do?

 

~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~

_ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _

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I used to use trem setters back when I was feeling more whammyish.

 

I would sit there and rigorously test them for tuning stability, and I thought with high tension they worked pretty well - I just had to lean into it harder than usual when using that dang whammy.

 

I also noticed that they'd "wear out" after a while and start getting kinda sticky and unstable. Well something was wearing out - I don't remember for sure whether I conclusively determined that it was the term setters.

Just a pinch between the geek and chum

 

 

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I would guess it's a traditional flat model or stock setup of a '74.

 

I don't crank the neck at all but I bend the hell out of the strings on a continual basis. The machines are swapped for Shallers and they're quite good older ones with a fine ratio, no play and a smooth but tight action. I can't see them being the problem. A little wammy and I start heading down that lonesome road :freak:

 

I'll edit this and add that once you start to tune or retune you basically have to give it up and start from square one as everything goes all to hell as you complete the process.

I still think guitars are like shoes, but louder.

 

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'shoes'- what I meant was, does the bottom of the bridge-plate rest flat against the body, only allowing you to press down on the bar and lower the pitch of the strings; -or- does it "float" a little (or a lot), allowing you to pull up on the bar and raise the pitch of the strings?

 

More a matter of how it's set-up, than what version or model or year the bridge is.

 

Sounds like you mean that it's floating; this allows the bridge to go both flat or sharp, and the see-saw affect can happen when bending strings or if one goes out of tune or is broken or re-tuned, etc. etc. yada yada.

 

Yuhp, been there, too... the TremSetter will do a good job of greatly reducing all of that.

 

I'd also put a TINY dab of Radio Shack "Archer"-brand Teflon gel lube (Catalog/Item/Part No. 64-2301A) in the nut-slots and bridge-saddle-grooves and on any moving parts or points of friction. Works great! It's clear, and stays put quite well.

 

I mix my own "Super Lube-Goop" with that and some powdered graphite.

 

I can't remember what, where, when about the graphite, it was just something that was around the house, I think you can find the stuff in most hardware stores and the like; they sell it for putting into temperamental locks, etc.

 

I just mixed it up in a little plastic bottle. DO NOT get it on bare wood or scratches and cracks in a finish, especially maple. With the powdered graphite, it'll make a stubborn grey stain that wicks under clearcoats and around nut-slots on maple (and into the wood) like a sonuffabitch! Careful application will do you fine, however. A small gob of goop will do. "Slicker 'an snailsnot onna brass doorknob inna rain!"

 

I've heard great, glowing remarks on those Graph-Tech saddles, too; Teahead loves his. I've yet to try 'em myself, though.

Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do?

 

~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~

_ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _

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Well I'll hit the proverbial ant with the sledgehammer. I couldn't find a Trem-Setter today but a guy is ordering one for me.

I actually have an old cardboard can of graphite. Cool stuff but you're right gets deep into everything. This and some lithium grease should work good. (no?)

 

The PS-8000-F0 String Savers are only $39 and I expected these to cost much more than that.(hold it.... I'm in Canada! :evil: that's like a thousand bucks!)

I still think guitars are like shoes, but louder.

 

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I have a Tremsetter that I would sell cheap. I installed it on my FloydRose equipped Ibanez and removed it 30 minutes later. The 'bump' that Caevan described bothered me since I usually use the trem to go on either side of pitch. It did seem to help the intonation during string bends however. My 2cents. :wave:
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