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Post by nigel on Jan 1, 2010 20:19:45 GMT
Hi All. My first post as a new member although i have visited the site many times. I consider myself to be an intermediate player returning to the guitar (and all stlyes instrumental)after about ten years playing Irish trad on the banjo. Im just embarking on honing my gear to get a good convincing marvin tone but by no means obsessive (yet!). My first question is whats the crack with the shortened tremelo arms? Im picking between the middle and neck p/up and consequently my little finger is griping the arm about 2" from the end. What do you guys use and where might i get a different arm, that is , if you consider it worth while. Cheers Nigel
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Post by ianrigby on Jan 2, 2010 10:43:28 GMT
Hi nigel, You are picking in the right place. If you are comfortable with it, don't change anything. The reason for a shortened arm is to place the pick in the area of middle to neck. lots of people find that holding the arm to keep the fingers clear of the strings places the pick over the neck pickup. It's down to taste, and comfort really. If you feel the need, buy a spare arm and cut an inch off, then replace the tip. Or you could go the Easymute tremelo arm, this is the length Hank uses, and allowes easier muting of the strings. welcome to the no easy answers to anything world of lead guitar.
All the best. Ian
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Post by Roger... on Jan 2, 2010 14:07:24 GMT
Hi Nigel,
Back in the sixties when I used to play in a band, I had 3 or 4 different guitars over a period of time, all of which were ok??, but never ever measured up to the Strat (which I couldn't afford). I eventually managed to purchase my US Strat in 1979, but only played it very occasionally at home for pleasure and everything was fine (or I thought it was). In the last 12 months or so, and especially since I discoverd Charlie's Web Site, I'm playing for fun at home in almost all of my spare time. In playing a lot of hours, I started to find that I was forced to play over the neck pickup, which I was starting to find mentally uncomfortable and annoying. To this end, I cut about ¾ inch off the end of the tremolo arm and re-threaded it. This makes the arm about 140mm to the end of the plastic tip, which I think is approximately one of the standard sizes that you can buy. This now puts my playing position behind the neck pickup which suits me fine.
As Ian says, it has to be where you, yourself are comfortable with, different people with different thoughts, different hands, different action, etc. If you know anyone who has a longer or shorter tremolo arm, ask to borrow it, to give it a try. You never know, you may end up liking your original one the best.....
Best regards Roger
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Post by Bojan Drndic on Jan 2, 2010 15:15:37 GMT
The possible setback to having a shorter tremolo arm is that it gives you less leverage, which is not so important with 10 gauge strings, but is with heavier strings, such as 12 or 13 gauge, like I use. Even though I have shortened my original trem arm, I still end up playing in the short space between the neck pickup and the neck, which is made even shorter on my 22 fret Strat (I have big hands). But the tone in that particular place is really fantastic; mellower and slightly more nasal. When I play in that region, I hold the trem arm at the very end, which gives me good leverage. But I understand the point about having a mental problem playing over the neck pickup. I have that too. In any case, when I want to play between the neck and middle pickup, I just grip the trem arm slightly differently and that works too.
On the issue of leverage, I think that the easy mute trem arm should be good for heavier gauges because the longer overall length of the arm gives you better leverage. I might just get one.
Bojan
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Post by nigel on Jan 2, 2010 16:49:49 GMT
Thanks for that guys. I hadnt considered the leverage factor. Ive just put a set of 11/48's on which is the heaviest ive ever been. Are most people playing with even heavier strings then. the 11,s sound reasonable but the top string is still a bit lacking. If im to go heavier i guess a shorter arm might well be a bit of a hinderance if im wrestling with it while trying to be subtle at the same time. Cheers Nigel
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Post by spikestevens on Jan 2, 2010 17:13:11 GMT
Hya Nigel.
Personally I always use 10's (RotoSound or Ernie Ball's usually).
Another point to consider is how many springs you have in your trem system. I'm only using 3 and find them to be sufficient, but others might use more.
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Post by Roger... on Jan 2, 2010 20:10:21 GMT
Hi Nigel,
Apologies, as forgot to mention my string gauge in my earlier post.
I use 10 - 46's. Either Ernie Ball, Rotosound or D'Addario. All work well for me. Oh, and 3 springs.
Best regards Roger
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Post by Bojan Drndic on Jan 3, 2010 0:33:31 GMT
I use Gibson L-5 strings (Sonomatic) gauge 12-56 and I use three springs as well.
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Post by rjdupe on Jan 3, 2010 10:31:27 GMT
Hi all, For what its worth I use 10-46 strings on my strat but I have the maximum 5 springs because I do not like the arm to be very sensitive. I find that when I play (and I don't play that well!) that playing in tune with an oversensitive arm difficult as the slightest touch on the arm alters the pitch. However I am sure more experienced players would not have this problem.
Regards to all, Robert
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Post by Bojan Drndic on Jan 3, 2010 12:41:57 GMT
I would say that the tremolo arm, when used the way Hank did, to enhance almost every note with a slight vibrato, only makes sense when you are using heavy strings, which is what they had in the early days. When the lighter strings appeared, and especially the extra light gauges, such as 10's of even 9's, the tremolo effect is achieved with the fingers of the left hand, not the tremolo arm, which is used mostly for dips or certain special effects. Used with very light strings, the tremolo becomes very sensitive and difficult to control, often resulting in strings going out of tune with too much pull. Remember the way Hank yanked the trem arm in the early days? That was possible only with heavy strings, which is why Hank developed his trem arm-in-hand playing style in the first place. Try vibrating 12 or 13 gauge strings with your playing fingers and you'll see what I mean.
Bojan
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Post by Chas on Jan 3, 2010 13:16:51 GMT
I'm with Robert - Even when I used 10 - 46 (I use heavier these days) I had 5 springs fitted. I don't like the trem to be over-sensitive, but it's very personal thing. I also think a lot of players like to have their guitars set to suit all the styles they may play, which will bring about compromises. Chas.
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Post by martyn on Jan 3, 2010 14:51:57 GMT
I currently use 10-46s on both guitars and in each case use three springs. When I recently tried 11-49s (wound third) on the strat, I needed an extra spring to maintain a balance whereby I could still use the trem without resorting to violence. I actually prefer a sensitive trem, striking the strings usually between neck and middle pickups, lightly resting my 4th/5th fingers on the arm so that a very, very slight vibrato effect is randomly created almost by accident, which I think enhances the sustain of each note. It has the added bonus of creating subtle nuances in the tones that emulate the unintentioned variables or inefficiencies of the earlier tape echoes. I've never mastered the art of creating a trem effect using my left hand fingers on the neck - I can happily bend notes but just don't seem to effect an intentional vibrato action with my fingers without them getting tangled in the adjacent strings. I have small hands but the pinkies have thickened over the years and they do get in the way at times.
As Chas says, it's a personal thing and each adapts to his or her own style of playing. I doubt there's really a golden rule for any of this.
Martyn
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