Planning for a new ball - To trem or Not to trem?

[Ripper]

If you don't get a trem then how are you going to "flatten" notes???

If you ONLY bend "up" (with your fingers/trem), aren't you missing the whole other half of guitar notes???

And, since you can't bend to flatten notes with your fingers, the only way you can flatten a note (i.e., bend down) is by using a trem.

A trem is not just for dive bombs, it's to bend down every single possible note, the same amount that you bend up with your fingers!!

Damn right saying, TNT! Another reason to acquire a trem...

 

[Ripper]

Jeez, it really depends on your style ...

I used to have trems on everything. Floyds even.

Now I'm pretty much all hardtails. One luke with a trem. Sonically, I like hardtails much better. Double-stops, open notes are much better with the hardtail. Also, it forces you to be more creative in your playing and vibrato. I'm much happier using my left hand to apply vibrato to chords (or hitting strings behind the headstock a la Heartbreaker) rather than reaching for the bar. If I want to bend notes down I bend up before picking a note, then let it down again. It's actually helped my technique.

Anyway ... there's a place for both. Figure out what you need and go from there. If you want one, get one.

Thanks Beej, for providing another perspective for me to stick to hardtails. (Yup, I like hardtails - Y2D, AL and a Ibanez JS6000 fixed bridge)

 

[robelinda2]

If you don't get a trem then how are you going to "flatten" notes???

If you ONLY bend "up" (with your fingers/trem), aren't you missing the whole other half of guitar notes???

And, since you can't bend to flatten notes with your fingers, the only way you can flatten a note (i.e., bend down) is by using a trem.

A trem is not just for dive bombs, it's to bend down every single possible note, the same amount that you bend up with your fingers!!

when i'm using a hardtail and i need to flatten a note i pre bend the note from a step below, and flatten it by bending down...its cool.....

 

[Petersonic]

Thanks Beej, for providing another perspective for me to stick to hardtails. (Yup, I like hardtails - Y2D, AL and a Ibanez JS6000 fixed bridge)

If you have two hardtails already, maybe a trem wouldn't be such a bad idea...

 

[Jimmyb]

I'd go for the trem myself.

Well, in fact I have done, all of MM's have trem's.

I'm not a massive user of them, but it gives me the option if I need it, plus, I think that BP has said in the past that the models with trems actually have better sustain, due to the larger mass of the trem block.

 

[Ripper]

Thanks Jimmy, I am very likely going for the trem, the only other uncertainty here is the inclusion of a pee-yeh-zoh!

 

[greenwizard]

Thanks Jimmy, I am very likely going for the trem, the only other uncertainty here is the inclusion of a pee-yeh-zoh!

DO IT!!!!!!!

 

[paranoid70]

My suggestion is if you're on the bubble, get the trem, and even if you decide to never use it, you can pop five springs in there and have a hardtail. Good luck!

So that's what those extra springs are for! Damn, I am such an idiot.

 

[Jimmyb]

Big +1 for the piezo from me

 

[TNT]

Yeah Rob,

I know what you mean. As far as a practical matter you can pre-bend, usually up to a full step and then drop it down to give the appearance of a flattened note.

You can also go behind the nut (non locking with your left hand) and press down on a string, then pick hit the string and let it rise. This will also give the flattened note.

You can also pick a note (non MM guitar, old beat up guitar) and then force the neck in with your left hand.

But what I mean is the full spectrum of "flattened" notes can only be realized with a trem, on the same scale as bending up on a hardtail (which I love too!).

e.g., hammerin off and on fast while you trem down, or for that matter while you trem up (floating trem). Which leads to a whole other dimension of available notes.

I guess that why guitarists choose the guitar they want - what notes do they want available!!

 

[robelinda2]

sure, when you gotta dive, only a trem will do! Best thing is have both, my fingers get sore from pre bending all day if i have a hardtail to play with!

 

[ba2m]

i think vintage trem with 5 springs(or with a tremsetter) would be more versatile than a hardtail , plus, ernieball musicman tremolos are the best tremolos in the world (that's what people said, not only me )