So I put a Les Trem ii on my Artist tonight...

[Jakeboy]

Here is a pic... ,it is astounding but just adding a vibrato in place of the stoptail has added significant brightness....but I might be full of it since I stupidly changed string brands upon the install....I went with some EB Slinkys and I don't remember them being any brighter than Daddarios....

That said, the trem was a breeze to install....took maybe 5 minutes....,string loading is very easy...,and I actually prefer the action of the bar to my Bigsby on the Newport....not as sloppy. Somewhere between a Strat vibrato and the Bigsby....we'll see when I can put her through the paces with some more amps....I just used my Blonde Bassman clean....

So far I like it and it looks fine too.

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/chr95xea70292i3/File May 10%2C 10 06 47 PM.jpeg?dl=0

[gorch]

That's a pretty nice Artist you have there.

[RobB]

Nice conversion there, Jake. I "Grestch-ified" a Newport (now in the capable hands of Lockbody) with TVJones Classictrons and it was a sweet thang. Really had that Beatles, "clank", but with tons of sustain.

You may want to try GHS "BriteFlats" .010s. This set has an unwound G and really worked well with the Bigsby. 

[Jakeboy]

Gorch, this Artist was my first Hamer and is the guitar that fits my hand like no other. I struggled for years to find the right set of pups for her.

 

RobB, It's funny, with the stoptail, it didn't have that clank....I thought maybe it was cause of the korina....but once the Duesenberg was put on, that is the first thing I thought of. 

I should have added that the fit and finish on the Duesey seems flawless. They supplied metric and US screws as well as 4 washers to get the height right so the trem doesn't touch the finish anywhere except for the spring which is covered in felt. Tuning seems as good as my Newport and I'll check the sustain effect as I crank it through more amps. 

Def more brightness and clank now.  So far, so good. I like whammys. 

[bubs_42]

That is awesome, I need one of those for a project I have going. 

[atomicwash]

I tried that vibrato on my Standard. I couldn't get used to the height/location of the spring and finally removed it. Super easy to convert as stated and reversible (!).

[JimHalinda]

I have a Les Trem II on my Starcaster Reissue - works and sounds great!

I do have to adjust my right hand technique as the spring section is so close to the bridge, but that hasn't been too big of a problem.

Enjoy!

 

Edited to add: I didn't notice any difference in tone after installing it... I'd guess your string change had more to do with it?

[Jakeboy]

Since the bar has a bend in it, the height of the bar is variable. This means I can get more throw from the bar.....it won't dive as deep as my Strat...no floppy slack strings, but it gets close. That is a bonus. And I don't have it at the highest position. No right hand technique change is needed for me except when reaching for the bridge pup vol knob.

i am really liking this vibrato!

[gorch]

It seems to be a very nice revertible solution. I have the Schaller LP trem on my MIK Standard for many years. It replaces the bridge and leaves the stop tail open. Ought to be revertible too. Although I think I will ever remove it. The headstock angle of the MIK Standards is lower then of the US made Standards. The wammy really works on it. Especially, since the nut had been changed to a nutrik. The strings just slip over the edge. It is still a floating trem that has its implications.