Advantages of string trees?

[movingpictures]

More sustain? I built this Strat with a reverse headstock, Warmoth neck. It has been drilled for trees but im unsure if it would be better to install them. I have a Wilkinson trem & Schaller locking tuners, so i dont want to mess with the great stability this set up provides in terms of staying in tune. Any input would be appreciated!!
Dave

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[GuitslingerTim]

If you use string trees, get the roller variety, it helps the guitar stay in tune.

Increasing the breaking angle of the string over the nut will add more tension to the string and enhance the sustain.

[Glowing Tubes]

Not sure with the reverse headstock but have had better luck w/o string trees on my trem equipped guitars. Not sure if string trees will add sustain other than open chords?

If it works well, leave it.

Cool looking guitar BTW.

[seafoamer]

You can grow your own strings in your backyard.

[EADGBE]

If the headstock doesn't tilt back you should have them for better tone and sustain.

[Tone_Terrific]

I suspect it is drilled for a regular installation. Your trees would be on the bassier strings. If they sound OK now, and are stable in the slots, I wouldn't put on trees... but I am lazy.

[Pietro]

My US Masters has, like the EJ strat, no trees, because the cut is a little deeper to the tuners. I love this! I understand why Eric wanted it like this. If you can get by without them, I say leave 'em, especially with that reverse headstock. I always have trouble with the trees on a trem guitar.

[scottlr]

You can grow your own strings in your backyard.

Awwwww! Ya beat me to it! :)

[Dana Olsen]

My US Masters has, like the EJ strat, no trees, because the cut is a little deeper to the tuners. I love this! I understand why Eric wanted it like this. If you can get by without them, I say leave 'em, especially with that reverse headstock. I always have trouble with the trees on a trem guitar.I agree, exactly right. If the locking tuners are progressively shorter toward the higher pitched strings, you may not need string trees at all. You can experiment by playing open strings and pushing down behind the nut - if there's more sustain when pushing down, you may need 'em.

If you DO need 'em, the higher they can sit, the less the string will kink as it passes under the tree, so it will return to pitch better after using the trem arm. You can cut short pieces of hard plastic tubing to shim the trees up.

Also, lube lightly under the string tree - very lightly. It'll help the string not to bind there so it'll return to pitch better.

Dana O.

[movingpictures]

Cool!! Thanks Dana and all for the input. Im gonna leave them off for a while to experiment further. So far, it seems to play great and has enough sustain.
Dave

I agree, exactly right. If the locking tuners are progressively shorter toward the higher pitched strings, you may not need string trees at all. You can experiment by playing open strings and pushing down behind the nut - if there's more sustain when pushing down, you may need 'em.

If you DO need 'em, the higher they can sit, the less the string will kink as it passes under the tree, so it will return to pitch better after using the trem arm. You can cut short pieces of hard plastic tubing to shim the trees up.

Also, lube lightly under the string tree - very lightly. It'll help the string not to bind there so it'll return to pitch better.

Dana O.