Trem Lock.

[RichRS6]

I've been searching for a post I read on here a while ago about locking devices for Trems.

Like a tremsetter but using magnets.

I did the search thing (on here and on google) but couldn't find it.

Did I imagine it or can anyone point me in the right direction.

Cheers. Rich.

[murkat]

http://www.super-vee.com/products.html

mag lock

[RichRS6]

Murkat to the rescue!

Cheers.

Anyone tried one of these ?

The reason I'm interested is I hate using Trem guitars live, living in fear of string breakage and the resulting tuning nightmare, so was thinking about something like this to hold the guitar in tune if I bust a string.

[RobB]

tobereeno's post on installing/using the mag-lok

Tobe's a player and very particular about the way his guitars perform. I'd trust his findings.

[RichRS6]

Thanks Rob.

This forum is the bogs dolloks !

[RichRS6]

Spoke to Randy (!) at Super V and apparently it will not hold the guitar in tune if a string breaks.

I suggested that this might be a worthwhile mod for the V2.

Anyone know of anything that is capable of locking a trem if this happens but is easily "switchable" to allow the trem to be used ?

[Bennyboy-UK]

I had a Patrick Eggle Berlin Pro back in about 94ish, it had locking sperzels and a funky Wilkinson trem with the arm on a broad thread fitting. When let loose it fell clockwise , and the protruding base of the arm fitting locked into a collar in the trem cover plate which had an eccentric locating hole - locking the bridge solid, If youmoved the trem arm around into playing position it allowed full trem movement range. Neat idea, and it did work, but I found it a bitch to set up properly, and couldn't get it in tunewhen locked and free very easily. Mind you I was playing 8 to 32's on it which was pretty silly!

Technically great, but I though less than ultimate practicality.

Ben.

[RichRS6]

That sounds like a good idea Benny but as you say not ideal.

I'd be happy with a simple lever or claw of some sort in the trem cavity that I could click into place in the event of a string breaking.......

I don't like using guitars with trems live as I jut know it'll happen in the middle of a solo.

Maybe it its not out there I'll have to see if I can invent one.

[RichRS6]

I knew it had to out there somewhere.

Spotted on a Jackson PC1 in the for sale board.

http://www.tremol-no.com/default.asp

[zorrow]

Don't wanna play the smart-ass, but just tell you what actually solved the problem for me: a fixed bridge and a pitch shifter pedal --such as a Digitech Whammy. That, plus some extra imagination (bending the strings behind the nut and behind the bridge, some smart sliding and even some neck bending) have fred me from tremolos and all the extra hassles they cause.

[RichRS6]

I know what you mean Z. most of my guitars are hard tails anyway (and the main one i take out gigging is) I don't really use the trems much but I have a couple of guitars with them which I would like to take out rather than the other hard tails, I would worry about taking them to some of the dives we play in (they all get played but usually only at rehearsals or at home).

Never thought about a pedal as I'm a guitar, cable, amp sort of guy, cheers for the input though.

[burningyen]

Even if you were able to solve this string breakage issue, are you going to stop after that song and add a new string, or are you going to go for the rest of the gig with 5 strings? Neither option makes much sense to me. I just bring a backup guitar, it's the best solution.

[RichRS6]

I sometimes carry a spare, depends where we're playing.

At least with 5 strings and in tune I can make it through the rest of a song without too much hassle.

I want to start using my Black 92 Sunburst with a Floyd as the main Gig beater and my Strat Plus (which also has a trem) as a spare so I don't have to take the more valuable guitars out to shitty/dodgy pubs etc.

We had a load of (good natured) drunken dancers fall over a couple of gigs ago and they almost knocked one of the PA stacks over which were heading right for me, luckily the singer managed to stop them actually going over but it made me think again about using the 78 Burst as a daily driver.

[tobereeno]

I never dug the Tremol-no, it's an on/off solution, and doesn't let you bend strings and keep the others in tune.

Steinberger and Parkers have lockable bridges; never owned either so can't comment on their effectiveness. But in the end, I see two solutions. One is a blocked trem, that can only go down. The other is, and I see this as a requirement for any gig with an audience - backup guitar. For the fastest switching, have it ready to go with an A/B box - something I've done a few times in the past.

As I said, after switching to 11s, I haven't broken a string in over a decade. However, I've decided to use 10s on my TLEs, and I hope they won't break my record...

[RichRS6]

Hi Toby, we posted at the same time, see above.

I think from the ad blurb the Tremol-no can lock the bridge solidly so double stop bends remain in tune.

If I have a trem equipped guitar I'd want it to go up and down so blocking isn't ideal.

I don't break strings that often but it has happened and I'm paranoid about it.

[lincsman]

Don't wanna play the smart-ass, but just tell you what actually solved the problem for me: a fixed bridge and a pitch shifter pedal --such as a Digitech Whammy. That, plus some extra imagination (bending the strings behind the nut and behind the bridge, some smart sliding and even some neck bending) have fred me from tremolos and all the extra hassles they cause.

+1 I do the very same and it has never let me down

[holLoWskull]

I never dug the Tremol-no, it's an on/off solution, and doesn't let you bend strings and keep the others in tune.

actually my experiences with the Tremol-no units have been stellar. If you lock down all 3 thumbscrews it essentially makes the guitar a fixed bridge, you can bend strings and the others don't go flat (like a floating trem would). Set up seems to be the key issue, the metal rod needs to be just right or you loose some of the responsiveness of the trem (flutters, warbles, etc). Some good ideas on the Tremol-no forum too on how to keep the pesky thumbscrews from backing out (and falling out onto a dark stage...BOO!)

[RichRS6]

I'll be ordering one shortly so will post my thoughts once it's on there..

Look like it will do what I need.

[Thundernotes]

Am I the only person who almost NEVER breaks a string? The damned things go dead and need changing long before they ever snap. I do typically play 10's or 11's, and I use graph-tech saddles whenever possible, so maybe that helps.

[RichRS6]

I'm on 10's but I have a heavy right hand, lots of digging in with the pick and do lots of overbending (oh err!)

I don't break many, just have a paranoia about it happening live.

[zorrow]

I'm on 10's but I have a heavy right hand, lots of digging in with the pick and do lots of overbending (oh err!)

I don't break many, just have a paranoia about it happening live.

I finally settled on 10-59 D'Addario 7-string packages: http://www.juststrings.com/dad-exl110-7.html. I just get rid of the fourth, which is a 26, so I get 10-13-17-36-46-59 on my guitars.

I used to break a lot of strings, mostly the top three, as I bend often up to perfect 4ths and to minor and major 3rds as well. In addition, I use metal picks and hit really hard with my right hand. The situation has however improved enormously after I started using lube on the nut + roller saddles on the bridge.

Nowadays Floyds have negative value for me --that is, you have to pay me to use them, and not the contrary.

PS: I still love Steve Vai, George Lynch and Brad Gillis though.

[RichRS6]

Cheers for all the replies.

As I said I don't really use lots of trem but was looking to use my 92 Sunburst which has a Floyd for my gigs as I wanted to retire the 78.

So why did I buy a guitar with a trem if I don't use a trem ?

It was a USA Hamer at a good price in the U.K.

Something that you don't see very often and I couldn't resist it.

[tobereeno]

I never dug the Tremol-no, it's an on/off solution, and doesn't let you bend strings and keep the others in tune.

actually my experiences with the Tremol-no units have been stellar. If you lock down all 3 thumbscrews it essentially makes the guitar a fixed bridge, you can bend strings and the others don't go flat (like a floating trem would). Set up seems to be the key issue, the metal rod needs to be just right or you loose some of the responsiveness of the trem (flutters, warbles, etc). Some good ideas on the Tremol-no forum too on how to keep the pesky thumbscrews from backing out (and falling out onto a dark stage...BOO!)

what I mean by on/off is that when you lock the Tremol-No, it's locked. No trem, you're bridge is fixed. When unlocked, you have all the problems of a full floating bridge (but you can flutter). There's the Deep C thing, but basically to use it properly, the trem cavity has to be open.

I like the Mag-lok because it's a simpler, better Tremsetter. Granted, once I had set up my Tremsetter, I literally did not touch the settings for over ELEVEN YEARS, and it never failed and never drifted the zero point (I used a fairly consistent gauge set of 11s). The Mag-lok is just easier to setup, and you can flutter with it - something the very stiff Tremsetter doesn't really permit. Mag-loks and Tremsetters are my choice because I can bend strings and the rest of them stay in tune, and I don't lose the ability to pull up.

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

I don't ever remember breaking a string with a Floyd! Maybe I don't play hard enough lol. For tuning issues, lock off your block (many ways to do this ie: glue a piece of wood to your block) so it's in divebomb mode only. Then. over-tighten the big screws on the claw (that holds the springs). If you do break a string, the other 5 will still be in tune...

[Armitage]

I can't remember breaking a string that wasn't really old...