Trem for Steve Morse (but not a Floyd Rose)

[Greg Rolling]

Hello all,

I recently picked up a beautiful Steve Morse original signature in Envy Green. It's simply an amazing guitar and it's become my #1, which I love playing for all styles of music.

The only thing I'm missing is the Trem. I've owned and played guitars with Floyd Rose trems, and while I think FR is the best for keeping the guitar in tune through any abuse you could give it I don't care much for the tone. It always sounds a little brittle to my ears, and I prefer a softer bone nut. I'm considering having the guitar routed for a more vintage, 6-screw trem (or something like it).

Has anyone on this forum done a mod like this? My main concern about it is the string path over the nut to the tuning machines and whether or not that's perfectly straight through or not. It looks pretty good to me, but I thought I'd put it out here and see if anyone has been down this path before and has some advice.

Thanks in advance.
--Greg

 

[Samoht]

I would think the string path is perfectly fine. Same as Petrucci models. Schaller makes a drop in trem for tune-o-matic guitars: Tremolo Les Paul right | Schaller-Electronic

If you go that route or any other, please post info and maybe a demo here! Thanks

EDIT: I just saw a demo of this Schaller that I didn't see before when I was searching. Not very good, IMO.

 

[Greg Rolling]

Thanks for the response, Samoht.

I must have watched the demo you're talking about. The only one I could find for sale was $250, also. Yikes. I like not having to carve up my guitar with that, and I was pretty hopeful that bridge would do the trick but I'm with you. That would leave me wanting.

I very much like the old vintage Strat type trem, so now I'm back to that idea.

Thanks again for the response.
--Greg

 

[banjoplayer]

i can´t remember seeing anbody here on the forum doing this mod, but two things come to mind:

1) In SLO exists a proto Y2D with MM Vintage trem

2) Ian Thornley has a Y2D with a Bisby (which is not exactly what you want)

 

[dave1812]

One thing to keep in mind is, with a Standard Size Trem, you won't be able to cover up the Mounting Holes of the Stoptailpiece because the Trem is going to be closer to the Pickups than the TOM. It's basically going to end where the Baseplate of the Floyd Model ends.

 

[Samoht]

This reminds me that you might be able to find a sub1 with vintage trem...and you can mod it all the way up to being a Morse in features if you want. Same body shape.

 

[beej]

That's a great idea. Poplar body, similar size, less money. Get one and change the pickup config to what you like. Presto.

 

[Slater]

Just another option...You might want to have a look at a stetsbar. Stetsbar

 

[banjoplayer]

That's a great idea. Poplar body, similar size, less money. Get one and change the pickup config to what you like. Presto.

Yeah great idea. It´s basically why I own a sub1, because I wanted a Morse-type guitar modded into SSS pickup configuration But in the end it´s rather different, although I like it a lot