Freelok

[gtrnstuff]

After looking at the Freelok and Tremol-no websites, I opted to buy a Freelok. Main reason; it takes me less time to locate and drill holes than it does to re-adjust spring tension/ bridge angle on a floating trem. I can see both sides of that--someone who's not confident of their handiness or just won't make *any* permanent mod to a guitar would go for the Tremol-no.

Installation was quite painless and the thing works great. All other locks I've tried require some calibration for tuning between locked and unlocked. With this, if you're in tune before you twist the thumbscrew, you're in tune after. Smooth operation, nicely machined.

There you go. My .02

 

[Kevan]

Curious: What guitar/trem combination did you install it in?

 

[gtrnstuff]

It's a Warmoth Jazzmaster body, StewMac maple neck, Wilkenson trem. The sustain block on the Wilky is thicker than on a Floyd Rose, so Bill at Freelok told me how to work around. He's got clamps in the pipline that will fit without modification, but I was all pumped about getting it installed. For me, some freehand Dremel cutting and drilling one hole in the clamp for string pass through was all it took. Maybe an extra 25 minutes, I didn't time it. It was worth it. And Bill was great to deal with; offered me return with full refund, offered to send me one of the larger clamps when they arrive, and offered me directions on how to make it work with what I had.

 

[Kevan]

Thank you.

 

[HarryJ]

"All other locks I've tried require some calibration for tuning between locked and unlocked."

The tremol-no requires no tweaking of the tuning between locked and unlocked... well I can only speak for mine anyway.

Install was pretty easy too, doesn't take that long to make certain the 2 claw screws are alligned

Harry Jacobson

 

[gtrnstuff]

Cool. I figured the operation of the Feelok and Tremol-no would be almost identical.
And setting up spring tension/bridge angle/tuning and going around again until it's right isn't the end of the world, it just takes time. At least I haven't found a shortcut. IME even a quarter turn of the spring screws can change things in a big way.

Good these things exist. Both are way better than anything we've had before, right?
PB

 

[rockon1]

As usual Im confused. Why would you want a product like this? Is it for when you no longer want to use your trem? Not trying to be a wise a#@ but if I want a guitar with out trem I just pick up another guitar.

 

[gtrnstuff]

Maybe you want to enable/disable the trem between songs, or even parts of the same song, without switching axes. Maybe you're doing fly dates and can carry only one guitar. Maybe you've got a tone happening with that particular guitar, and just wish it had the "other" kind of bridge for the type of part you're playing.

I know what you mean--every tool has its job, but sometimes you might want a multi-purpose tool. A compact channel switching amp or a three-amp Eric Johnson rig, kind of the same idea.

 

[Kevan]

Originally posted by rockon1
As usual Im confused. Why would you want a product like this?

Here's a link for ya with some ideas on why you would want one:
http://www.tremol-no.com/faq.asp
(6th question on the page)

If you have any other questions, feel free to email or IM me.

 

[gtrnstuff]

Hi Kevan,
One thing isn't totally clear to me from looking at the Tremol-no site and demo video. Are the T-No's mounting screws free to slide through their holes in the T-No's spring block, or are they locked or washered in some way? It would appear that pulling up on the whammy in hardtail mode would cause the whole unit to slide toward the front of the cavity, with the string tension being the only force against that. I'm sure you've got that covered in some way, just wondered.

 

[Kevan]

Originally posted by gtrnstuff
Hi Kevan,
One thing isn't totally clear to me from looking at the Tremol-no site and demo video. Are the T-No's mounting screws free to slide through their holes in the T-No's spring block, or are they locked or washered in some way? It would appear that pulling up on the whammy in hardtail mode would cause the whole unit to slide toward the front of the cavity, with the string tension being the only force against that. I'm sure you've got that covered in some way, just wondered.

I'm gonna guess here, and let me know if I'm wrong, but what you're calling a "spring block" is actually the "spring claw" or "claw"? Is that the part you're referring to?

If that is the case, then what you're looking for are the two set screws on either side of the Tremol-No logo on top of the claw. Those set screws are what keep the claw from being pushed/slid toward the headstock when the unit is locked and the pitch is raised.

In otherwords: Yes- I've got it covered.

This thread is about a different device, so out of respect for that (and the rules of the board) if you folks would like to start a "Questions About The Tremol-No" thread elsewhere on the forum, I'll join you there and answer all the questions people have.
Thanks.

 

[gtrnstuff]

Thanks Kevan, for clearing that up.