Hard Tail Strats?
Another lazy Sunday afternoon, perusing Fender Strats, and I notice that in all of the different models and variations there only seem to be two Hard Tail Strats:
The American Hard Tail, and the Robert Cray:
(There's an HH hard tail, but thats just a pickup change.)
So are non-trem users like me in that small of a minority? Just seems like they'ld have at least a couple more.
Artie
Re: Hard Tail Strats?
To me the Hard Tails always sound better.... But i do like strats with Trems... It seems to be more Fender to have a Trem on a strat....
WhoFan
Re: Hard Tail Strats?
PS Oddly i have had a bad craving for an American Standard in Black with a Maple board...
Re: Hard Tail Strats?
I kinda have my eye on that Robert Cray . . . in Sunburst.
Re: Hard Tail Strats?
that would be very kool.Originally Posted by ArtieToo
I kinda have my eye on that Robert Cray . . . in Sunburst.
I think the reason fender doesn't make more hardtail strats is because it's not "vintage" they've been doing it with a trem since the begining, so it's more like they're "staying true" by having the trems.
Rock On
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Re: Hard Tail Strats?
that would be very kool.
I think the reason fender doesn't make more hardtail strats is because it's not "vintage" they've been doing it with a trem since the begining, so it's more like they're "staying true" by having the trems.
Rock On
If I'm not mistaken you could buy the original Strats with the trem or hardtail.
The hardtail Strats are suppossed to *sound different* than the trem Strats. Apparently the absence of wood and those springs add something to the Strattyness of the sound.
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Re: Hard Tail Strats?
That does make sense. When I added the two extra springs, and tightened down the claw of mine, it definitely added a little richness to the tone. Not much, but a little.The hardtail Strats are suppossed to *sound different* than the trem Strats. Apparently the absence of wood and those springs add something to the Strattyness of the sound.
Re: Hard Tail Strats?
BOO!!! Hardtail Strats are just sexy Tele's...I think that they are just goofey, the only reason I started playing Strats is so I could use the bar...that said I do relize that mosr people (at least on here) do not use the bar...
Re: Hard Tail Strats?
Couldn't have said it better myself!
I thought I wanted a hardtail Strat at one time until I figured, I've got a Tele.....I use 5 springs & tighten it all the way down like Clapton does. I think the less wood & springs add to the overall Stratiness of it,
I think I have a trem arm around here somewhere...............
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Re: Hard Tail Strats?
Couldn't have said it better myself!
I thought I wanted a hardtail Strat at one time until I figured, I've got a Tele.....I use 5 springs & tighten it all the way down like Clapton does. I think the less wood & springs add to the overall Stratiness of it,
I think I have a trem arm around here somewhere...............
Thats right!
A blocked trem Strat still sounds more like a Strat to my ears, with a hardtail you get nothing special that you couldn't get in a 3 pickup Tele...and Tele lead coils are kick ass!
If you use the trem I would say get a Strat, if you still want a Strat sound but never use the bar, get a typical Strat and block that *****!
If you gonna go the hardtail road, just get a Tele with a middle pickup...
Re: Hard Tail Strats?
Thats an interesting point. I already have a 3-pup Tele. I'll have to be sure to play one for awhile in the store before I make a final decision. Fortunately, we have 3 or 4 Fender dealers in town.
Re: Hard Tail Strats?
That is the samething I did to my strat.
Brian
Re: Hard Tail Strats?
But Telecasters are ugly as sin.
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Re: Hard Tail Strats?
Blashphemy! Teles are beautiful. (However, colors that look great on strats just don't do it for me on teles... I tele needs to be black, burst or blonde)
Re: Hard Tail Strats?
I never use the trems on my Strats, and I intend to convert the Number One to hard tail by replacing the body & bridge. I actually really love the way Teles resonate, so I have a feeling I will like it. I will keep my 3 single Strat tremoloized for the "authentic" sound.
I'm not very hung up on vintage spec myself, I just like what sounds good.
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Re: Hard Tail Strats?
i WISH i could use my bar... actualy i do.. but i prefer not to cuz after i do that i gotta spend like 15 min to retune it cuz it goes completly crap after i use it.. if i dont use it however it stays perfectly in tune or if i use it "slitghy" pushing down on it with my palm to do like a "vibrato thing... other than that ive been trying to figure out how to make this damn thing to work properly forever.. to me its either broke or i just suck, it kinda pisses me off cuz i kidna payed "too much" for it (Custom shop player strat, dont ask how much :P) and id expect everything to work perfectly.. and everything does and sounds great exept for the damn bar... i wanna know the damn secret that makes this thing work! Ive seen it, heared it and played with ones that worked so i know its possible
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Re: Hard Tail Strats?
i'm a big fan of the hardtail also. I have both a cray strat and a USA hardtail strat. I wish fender made a highway 1 hardtail strat
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Re: Hard Tail Strats?
www.customshopparts.com also has a drop in conversion to hardtail that you can use on trem routed strats.
I think its called the Drop Top.....
Re: Hard Tail Strats?
Doesn't everyone man? That is the alltime classic guitar. Whether it's Clapton, Dave Murray, or the guy playing at the bar it's just a timeless looking guitar. I mainly use the trem for feedback which is why I like having it there. It offers more possibilities than a hard tailed instrument.
Re: Hard Tail Strats?
Cool. How would you compare the two?
Artie
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