What Tremolo for my Strat?

[blue_lu]

Hi,

I have a really cool MIM Strat from J.W. Black Series Back in 2002, I believe. I just can't get used to trem.
What I don't like:
1.) Screw in Trem arm - this sucks, its either too tight and gets in my way while not useing it if don't push it down, or it is too loose and wobbles and wears out the thread part of the trem.
2.) It's not "easy" to operate - you really have to work the bar - I want something that moves more easily and fluently, without havein to use brute force. I already tried to swap springs but it's no use...
3.) Up-Bends aren't really (very limited) possible with that trem - but I guess that the nature of the beast: its a sixpoint trem...

any ideas? am I doing something wrong/any tips, tricks?
I remember a guitar with a wilkinson trem, that was really nice - but it was two point, my guitar has a six point trem.

So if you have any ideas - let me know please!

[sidehatch]

If you want vintage look you have 2 options:

rework your existing bridge for a few hours like I did:
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=496774&page=2

or buy callahams newest trem with the drop in arm.

Also you could buy a mannmade trem which is what was on the early PRS trems which is a work of art IMHO. They are around $140.

I just did a friends MIM strat like I described in the thread( a secret from dan erlywine) and he can do dive bonmbs,slack the strings, crazy Vai stuff associated with a floyd and it comes back to pitch every time.

I was so amazed I started doing them for friends and am thinking about advertizing locally. Maybe Dan will need a kickback.

I ordered the KTS/detemple titanium saddles for my strat today and Im curious what that will do to a well set up strat.

[lawrencedesigns]

I have found the best tremolo for my Strat is the Carl Martin Surf Tremolo. Great old vintage surf sounds.
Oh, wait....
Did you mean Vibrato? As in mechanical vibrato arm?

[TooManyHobbies]

Wilkinson VG300 here and I can divebomb to lose strings like a floyd, and pull up also. Moves very smoothly. With this and a tremol-no, I have the best of both world and can do doublestop bends on partial lock and lock down fully for a hardtail type design. Also the vg300 trem arms are screwin with a tension adjuster collar so its never too tight or too loose. Always just right.

[KozMcCharlie]

Get this one... It's way less expensive and as good or better than Callaham or the more expensive Wilkinsons...

http://store.guitarfetish.com/wivitrpoarst.html

[fr8_trane]

I posted this in the other forum as well:

Callaham is $$$$. If you don't want to spend 1/3 of what you paid for the guitar to upgrade the trem get this

http://store.guitarfetish.com/minmeimstupt.html

and these

http://store.guitarfetish.com/upststsafitr.html

and these
http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...-12?sku=420519 (http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Tremolo-Arm-Tension-Springs-12?sku=420519)

For $50 you now have an all steel drop in replacement trem for your MIM. It has solid steel saddles and a full size solid steel trem block. You drop one of the springs into the trem arm hole. When you screw in the arm the spring will provide up pressure that will keep it from wobbling.

I have this trem on my MIM and its works great and was a definite upgrade in tone and sustain as well.

[fr8_trane]

Get this one... It's way less expensive and as good or better than Callaham or the more expensive Wilkinsons...

http://store.guitarfetish.com/wivitrpoarst.html

That won't fit on most MIM strats. The screw spacing is different.

[Mooncusser]

Made by Mann isn't a bad make at all... I love mine.