Guitar Fetish Tremolo

[Matthias]

I tried to save a few dollars going with some cheap hardware on my strat. I heard guitar fetish had fair hardware that was hard to beat unless you wanted to pay a few hundred for a tremolo.

...looks like I might be spending a few hundred on a tremolo.  

[bluesbear]

That sucks! Their pickups are great.
Dave

[Shrapnel]

Or keep an eye out for one on a trashed guitar (one that will work of course) and take it from that IF the price is right.


Looks as if that bar wasn't made of anything near a good quality. Bummer.

[Ritchie200]

Order a left hand twist drill bit and get that outta there.  The metal is soft(er) on the inside.  Or, try to VERY carefully superglue a smaller screw onto it, being VERY careful not to get any glue into the threads.  It might hold long enough to spin out the slug to where you can grab it.  Then buy a decent arm from another supplier.  If you know a machine shop, have them bend you up a nice stainless wang bar.  I've replaced all mine with stainless that I made.  Don't throw out the baby (bridge) with the bathwater!  Good luck!

Jim

[Willabe]

Big box stores, Sears, etc. all sell left handed bolt/screw extractor sets, EZ out's, at a modest price, for the size you need.

Come in handy every now and then.


                              Brad        

[Matthias]

Thanks everyone for the help!

I lucked "out." I took the brass block off and just enough of a stub to clamp on with needle noise vice grips...also guitar fetish said they would be glad to ship me another tremolo for free - they replied to my email like an hour later - so points to them on that. However, I don't know what this whammy bar is made out of, it looks like painted clay.

I feel a bit hesitant using their other hardware, but i guess its not bad for the price. I did notice all the screws are really soft and want to strip out, even with a perfectly fitted screw driver.

[Willabe]

I did notice all the screws are really soft and want to strip out, even with a perfectly fitted screw driver.

That would worry me.     


                       Brad     

[Shrapnel]

Thanks everyone for the help!

I lucked "out." I took the brass block off and just enough of a stub to clamp on with needle noise vice grips...also guitar fetish said they would be glad to ship me another tremolo for free - they replied to my email like an hour later - so points to them on that. However, I don't know what this whammy bar is made out of, it looks like painted clay.

I feel a bit hesitant using their other hardware, but i guess its not bad for the price. I did notice all the screws are really soft and want to strip out, even with a perfectly fitted screw driver.

If I had the tools, I'd almost think about some smithing at this point if I knew enough... Heat the bar up really good and dunk it... ya know, temper it. MAYBE it would hold up better. (would ruin any finish on it though.)... If I had the tools and knew how hot to get it.

[Matthias]

haha smiting my own tremolo bar would be something!

I ended up buying a Gotoh tremolo from warmoth, was only $50 there! I payed $40 for the Guitarfetish tremolo. I also bought all my hardware from warmoth. Aside from the tuners, it turned out cheaper from warmoth - which one of the tuners I got from guitarfetish seems to be skipping...

Don't get me wrong, I wanted to like guitarfetish - I'm pretty sure their pickups still stand. But... dang.

[gmoon]

Thanks for the review. I was considering one of the Wilkinson vintage tremolos from GuitarFetish, 'cause it's about half the cash of elsewhere. But a little research and I think the GF ones are only licensed by Wilkinson, and don't have the same quality.

I did buy a "True Coil" low noise pickup from GFS. It sounds pretty good, but doesn't play well with the Fender Vintage noiseless in the middle position, so I'm gonna just stick with all Fenders. It'll go on another guitar with regular single coils, though.

[Ritchie200]

An old trick that I use on the screw-in Strat wang bars...  Wrap the threads with plumber's tape.  Just enough to take the slop out.  It will hold in position without screwing it all the way in and putting stress on the threads.  Taking the play out also keeps it from clanking when you use it.  Over time it will loosen up.  When it does, clean it off and put another wrap on it.

Jim

[cbass]

Bummer bout the tremolo.

I bought some wilkinson tuners from GF.They work fine.I don't see that higher end tuners I have on other guitars are any better.