VML ‘Easy Mute’ tremolo system

[philbarker]

I’ve just installed the VML ‘Easy Mute’ tremolo system after having had the trem block modified by VML. The tremolo arm is now so much better – no more PTFE tape or stuffing bits of rubber into the hole to stop the arm from taking on a life of its own! I’ve also started using the smaller 110mm trem arm and find that I have more control than I did with the 130mm. I am also on my second pack of Dean Markley Vintage strings (10-46) which I can now see me using for the foreseeable future.

[richie]

Nov 12, 2010 11:20:09 GMT philbarker said:

I’ve just installed the VML ‘Easy Mute’ tremolo system after having had the trem block modified by VML. The tremolo arm is now so much better – no more PTFE tape or stuffing bits of rubber into the hole to stop the arm from taking on a life of its own! I’ve also started using the smaller 110mm trem arm and find that I have more control than I did with the 130mm. I am also on my second pack of Dean Markley Vintage strings (10-46) which I can now see me using for the foreseeable future.

nice 1 mate any chance of some pictures??

[Tone]

Hi Phil

I had the VML trem block mod done to one of my Strats and they got me a short but standard trem arm to fit because I'm not keen on the look of the normal Easy Mute arm.

I agree with all you say and I don't even think about the trem now, except when I'm using it!

Cheers.

Tony

[jakeyboy007]

Is there any benefit over standard tremolo arm ? What does it do that a standard trem arm can't ? It's very expensive if there is nothing to gain from it .

[Steve Reynolds]

There are 2 parts of the Easy Mute system. One is the amended arm that means there is a more space to palm mute without moving the arm out of the way (although personally i never had a problem with the standard arm) but the other part is the block that has a sleeve fitted to fit the trem arm exactly to stop the trem arm flopping around in the socket.

I have a trem arm very similar from a company called "Stay Trem" and it was about £15 i think but they no longer do them and that was very similar to the easy mute arm although didn't have the metal tip

[TonyL]

Nov 21, 2020 22:18:43 GMT jakeyboy007 said:

Is there any benefit over standard tremolo arm ? What does it do that a standard trem arm can't ? It's very expensive if there is nothing to gain from it .

Before splashing out a lot of money buy yourself a cheap replacement arm for your guitar (I got mine from AXESRUS for £6.50 includung postage) and try bending it yourself between 2 pieces of wood held in a vice.

You can see mine here www.4shared.com/photo/Hx2th_kDba/My_bent_trem_arm_-_2.html

This also has the advantage of shortening the arm a bit so now instead of hitting the strings over the neck pickup, I hit them between the neck and middle pickups.

[garystrat]

IMO the potential gains come more from the quality of the block, systems like the VML are high quality steel and generally improve the overall wear and operational characteristics, depending on the block you have at the moment it may also improve sustain.

This information from Callahan is quite informative:

www.callahamguitars.com/tech_blockdetails.htm

I fitted a Callahan with a 130 mm matching arm (standard design) to a Mexican Strat and it transformed it, it felt noticeably heavier, the arm stayed in place when not being held and somehow right!

They may not be a budget buy and you can get cheaper third party steel blocks, but I tend to take the view of “do it once and do right”, for me this was a total solution that was durable and trouble free over the many years I had the guitar!