AL Owners: Tremolo or Non-Tremolo

[jholcomb]

My next question is heading towards my purchase of an AL is to Trem or not to Trem. I've always blocked off my Strat's trem and played primarily a Tele. I do have one guitar with trem, a '57 Les Paul Historic with factory Bigsby. Here are the issues as I see them:

1) The trem adds weight to the guitar
2) I might like the sound better with the trem and trem cavity
3) It appears that the MM Vintage trem design is the best out there in terms of staying in tune, etc.

So basically...I feel strongly both ways, but I can only afford one AL. Any discussion of pros and cons might help me.

Thanks in advance...I love this forum.

 

[GWDavis28]

Well I personally prefer the MM hard tails, but that's my preference. I think they sound fuller.

If you already have a guitar with a trem, get the AL hard tail man.

I love showing that.

Just my thoughts, Glenn |B)

 

[jholcomb]

Beautiful guitar!!!

 

[travs]

^ Yes Glenn that is a wonderful hardtail!

I chose hardtail and I love it. Wait for the replys from the experts-- the top Brass of the ALOC. Awesome guitar either way.

 

[beej]

I've had both. While they do sound a bit different, I think it really comes down to whether or not you use a trem. Only you can figure that out.

At one point in time, all of my guitars had trems. Now they're pretty much all hardtails. I like the way they resonate better and my style has changed over the years so that I don't use a trem.

If you eliminate the sonic differences as a factor (there is a difference, but it's hardly earth shattering), then there's nothing wrong with having a trem and not using it. Always gives you the option of using it.

 

[GWDavis28]

Beautiful guitar!!!

Thanx man the new White Pearl is just about the same, not exactly though.

Glenn |B)

 

[GHWelles]

They do sound a little different. Less so if you block the trem or make it sit flush with the body.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Both my AL's have a trem.

People say that having a trem is detrimental to the sound - yet someone like Clapton plays trem guitars which are blocked, and I cannot see why he would play a guitar that has a feature that he doesn't use and is detrimental to the sound.

In my days a heavy guitar with mass was sought after yet today's preference is for featherweight guitars.

Yes I guess that a trem would add weight. You are after all removing (In the case of an Al) - Ash wood and replacing it with a Metal (Brass) Trem Block, steel springs, trem arm, slightly larger bridge and a steel trem claw. So if you want a trem - be prepared for a slight weight gain.

If your style of play involves bending certain strings while playing a double/treble stop then certain strings in that double/treble stop may go out of tune, especially if the trem is set up floating.
HOWEVER, if this was a huge problem then Albert Lee himself would not use a trem - and he currently use a trem live.

If you have a piezo and a trem then if tension is taken off the strings when "Bombing" you may lose contact on the Piezo crystal and therefore lose Piezo sound.

If you have a trem and a Piezo then the trem arm becomes microphonic and will emit a "thud" through the amp if you are too rough when handling the trem.

I guess it also depends what kind of trem user you are - I personally like the subtle approach, given your playing a "Jeff Beck" nuance rather than a Satrianni full blood curdling Bomb.

I love the stability (tuning) of the MM trem, which also has a lot to do with the locking tuners - you dont have string windings as such which on a Strat relax when you bomb, and rarely re wind in the same position. Result - tuning instability.

Watch Hendrix's face when he plays Sunshine of your love live on the UK TV prog "Lulu". Strat type Trem problems to a tee!

I love the AL trem !

 

[GoKart_MoZart]

...it really comes down to whether or not you use a trem...

Yeah man, if you're gonna play the guitar then Beej is right on.

 

[Sweat]

Cannot go wrong either way, I mostly prefer a hardtail due to not using a trem that much, but I dont hear any difference in tone if it has one or not and the way MM are built with the vintage MM trem, just dont insert the trem arm if you do not need it.

 

[Big Al]

AL trem or non trem

I mostly favour the trem on my guitars but each has it's merits. I started out by being heavily influenced by Cliff Gallup with Gene Vincent, his use of the Bigsby was quite subtle. I do the occasional dive bomb but the guitar always astounds me by coming back to pitch with no problems. I've never broken a string on stage in well over 20 years. A dangerous claim to make, I know. The ALs that I play are stock, the only thing that I do to them is relax the trem springs a little so that it floats and I put the bar in a vice to bend it to more of a right angle, this makes it easier to control.

 

[threeminutesboy]

Yeah mine is without and it sound fantastic !

 

[Big Poppa]

All of you need to know that we will bend the trem arms for Albert...He like to tinker and work on stuff!

The Big Al bass was a hit at the show!

 

[jholcomb]

Thanks, again, Al and BP.

 

[Smellybum]

my 2 cents worth... as I'm lucky enough to have one of each...


Hard tail is a sustain machine


Tem version more dynamic


Just my opinion mind you - they even feel a little different to me - go try one of each - then buy both

 

[Spudmurphy]

Another technique I have been using lately, is when I play my AL that is set up floating. - I use my ernieball volume pedal and play clean through my acoustic amp. By using my palm on the floating trem and the swell the guitar sounds like a pedal steel.

It's a technique that I have only been using for a couple of sessions but I am VERY pleased with this new aspect of my guitar playing.

 

[Kevan]

WHOA!
Did I just catch Mr. Albert Lee posting here?
How awesome is that?!!?
Thanks Mr. Lee!

I'd post my preference, but....

 

[phatduckk]

all this AL talk and now that Big Al himself is here is really making me itch to get my hands on my BFR Albert (RW neck BFR). I figure ive still got about 4 months to wait tho.

im itchin!!!!

 

[leftyguitarblue]

I mostly favour the trem on my guitars but each has it's merits. I started out by being heavily influenced by Cliff Gallup with Gene Vincent, his use of the Bigsby was quite subtle. I do the occasional dive bomb but the guitar always astounds me by coming back to pitch with no problems. I've never broken a string on stage in well over 20 years. A dangerous claim to make, I know. The ALs that I play are stock, the only thing that I do to them is relax the trem springs a little so that it floats and I put the bar in a vice to bend it to more of a right angle, this makes it easier to control.

How great is it that someone has a question about the Albert Lee guitar and Mr. Albert Lee himself answers!?!?

 

[jholcomb]

Yep, I was the one who started both threads that he responded to...pretty exciting stuff for a newbie MM guy like me.

Now, the question is, how many guitars do I liquidate to buy some ALs....?