Installing a GFS Xtrem Vibrato system onto a Les Paul style guitar for under $100. Amazing!

[@jr0706]

I just installed one on my Ibanez semi hollow this afternoon. I dig it.

[@StevenParente]

it's a pretty sweet system. Thanks for watching Jeffrey! You have a great channel and I subscribed!

[@edwardhenrick7710]

hey how's it holding up? i got an ibanez semi-hollow and was worried this thing is less stable on non solid bodies, been trying to find a good testimony on this exact style guitar

[@jr0706]

@@edwardhenrick7710 it held up well, and I never had a tuning issue. But the sheer amount of space it takes up makes it difficult to get to the volume and tone controls, so I took it off and went back to the stock tailpiece. It’s a cool idea, more affordable than a Les Trem, but impractical for those who use all 4 controls.

[@beauselavka8082]

This video sold me on the Stream and I purchased one for my Chibson. I'm seriously impressed with it. Still need to let the strings stretch out so when I pull up on the trem it makes all the strings (just about) go sharp. But when I press back down on the trem they're back in tune. Definitely going to give it a grace period but really awesome and innovative unit! Thanks for making this video review!

[@StevenParente]

Thanks Beau and thanks for watching! I really like this vibrato system and I hope you have fun playing it with your Chibson.

[@patrickcalfee106]

That's a great looking sunburst! Looks Great!

[@StevenParente]

Thank you Patrick! Thanks for watching.

[@slicksnewonenow]

Hiya Steve - If you still plan on putting an Xtrem setup on your Tele, save some headache and order yourself a Bigsby Aluminum Neck Shim... They're about $25 and kick the neck angle back EXACTLY where it needs to be. I put together a crazy Thinline style Tele thing... And put one of the GFS Xtrems on it. I love it! I also built what looks like a '52 Telecaster, but it's got a lot of actual antique Bigsby parts on it, including a B16 tailpiece and a Bigsby neck pickup. I guess I built that one about fifteen years ago... And didn't know about the aluminum neck shim. That B16 gave me fits because having no neck angle, that guitar had absolutely NO SOUND except for string buzz. A friend of mine who's a Telecaster expert told me about that aluminum shim and once I ordered one and installed it, I haven't had Problem One with that guitar yet. So when I installed the GFS XTREM on my Thinline kit, I put one in that, too. No problems with the whammy at all! And believe it or not, that guitar stays in tune for MONTHS. CHEERS!

[@StevenParente]

Aloha and thank you Slick, for your recommendations, from your real world experience! I looked up the Bigsby Aluminum Neck Shim and found a few sources. I would have tried making my own shims if I had not heard of this and it would have probably taken a few tries to get it right. If I recall, GFS has a note about needing a 15° shim for it to work. This will be a "huge" hep if I decide to add an Extrem to my Tele, and for only around $25. Thanks again for watching!

[@slicksnewonenow]

@@StevenParente hiya Steve - Yes... The Bigsby shim is perfect! The only real "work" you need to do on it is drilling-through were YOUR neck bolts will go... All Fender style guitars (except "real ones") have different hole patterns through the neck heel.... It's not a big deal to do, though. And it sets the neck at the correct pitch for a Vibrato tailpiece. Cheers!

[@StevenParente]

@@slicksnewonenow Cool!

[@flaggism]

Im getting one tonite!!!Thanks.

[@StevenParente]

Right on and thanks for watching!

[@rayseto2724]

Thanks for the video! I have heard some negative comments about the trem system you used, but after seeing your video I'm persuaded that it might be worth another look. The main complaint was that the back part of the trem floats high off the top of the guitar since there's no screw holding it down. But from your video, it looks very normal/acceptable. And it sounds good!

[@StevenParente]

Thanks for watching Rey. I like this vibrato system and play almost every day with the LP in the video. I don't think it stands up to high and it was so easy to install. GFS has another vibrato for flat top guitars, with this same roller system, and I'm going to install that one on my tele I built a couple of years ago kzbin.info/www/bejne/laXTo4dvnb98gdk, when they have it back in stock. They have a special bridge for tele style guitars that I might order with it, instead of using the vintage style bridge I have on it now. It has small rollers for each individual saddle and a cutout for the tele bridge pickup. I'll have to shim the neck slightly and drill two screw holes to attach the vibrato arm. That is just a little more work, but still not too bad for the price.

[@rayseto2724]

@@StevenParente cool! I looked at that teen for a tele too, but the fact that I needed to shim the neck kind of scared me off

[@StevenParente]

I remember the first time I installed a neck and I was a little scared too! It's not too bad now.

[@slicksnewonenow]

@@rayseto2724 hiya Ray- You can order a Bigsby aluminum neck shim for about $25... All Teles need one if someone is gonna put a vibrato tailpiece on. It's essentially an aluminum wedge that sits in the neck pocket... Once you get the neck unscrewed off the Tele, take a piece of double sided tape and tape that neck shim in... Put your neck back in the pocket, then drill through the existing holes in your neck enough to mark the aluminum.... Pull out the aluminum shim and put it on a bench and drill through it, make sure you use a bit that's slightly bigger than your neck screws (so they pass through when you remount the neck) ... Make yourself a "depth gauge" with some electrical tape on your drill bit... It'll help you go JUST THROUGH to the aluminum. Pull it all back apart and remove the double sided tape. Drop the Bigsby shim back in the pocket after you drill it through, put your neck heel on top of it and run your screws back in. You'll be surprised at how solid it is. Teles need the neck knocked back a degree or two, to make the angle right for the string "break" over the bridge, so the vibrato works properly. Anyhow... Always measure three times and then cut ONCE😁 Cheers

[@jamesprice6381]

Mmm still fit in CASE? Id IMAGINE u take the spring out of the Bar?

[@StevenParente]

Good question. I don't use a hard case, just a gig bag for this guitar. But based on the tight fit in my airline proof case for my tele, you'd probably need to remove the spring. Thanks for watching!

[@lazloaluisa1906]

By listening, I would guess that you went with the looser spring. It seems to have a nice amount of play to it. Is that the case?

[@StevenParente]

Yes, I did use the lighter spring for the reason you said and it's still playing well. Thanks for watching and you have a good KZbin channel. Your band sounds great and I sub'd !

[@lazloaluisa1906]

@@StevenParente Yes, that band does sound great on that song. I'd like to say I had something to do with it. But I am not playing with them until the other songs on the set that I posted. Feel free to check them out as well. Thanks for the insight on the trem system. I can't wait to check it out.

[@StevenParente]

​@@lazloaluisa1906 I will!

[@johngonzales8224]

Why did you mount the neck pickup backwards?

[@StevenParente]

It's known as the "Peter Green mod", although Peter Green's guitar had P90's and that makes a big difference. It creates an out-of-phase tone in the middle position, which is the result of a reversed neck pickup and I like the sound, even with humbuckers that came with this Stewmac kit. I also reversed the wiring instead of pulling out the magnet and reversing it. See: www.sweetwater.com/insync/peter-green-mod-humbucker/. Thanks for watching! Check out this link for more in depth info. en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Greeny_(guitar)&oldid=1159279953

[@red58impala]

Thanks for the video. What are your thoughts on this tremolo 9 months later? How's it holding up and do you notice any issues where the term mounts to the body?

[@StevenParente]

No problems at all and still sounds great. Thanks for watching.

[@red58impala]

@@StevenParente Great! Thanks for the reply.

[@TheWarduke1972]

Anyone know if these fit the PRs se McCarty 594s?

[@StevenParente]

Not sure. Here's the link to Guitar Fetish vibrato systems. Email their customer service. Thanks for watching! www.guitarfetish.com/Xtrem-Sand-Cast-Stud-Mount-Vibrato-Replaces-Stop-Tailpiece-Nickel_p_47305.html

[@ernestoortiz8672]

Is it possible to have the arm loose? Kinda like on a fender tremolo

[@StevenParente]

Aloha Ernesto, you won't be able to to loosen as much as a Fender tremolo arm where it is loose enough to hang. But it's not too tight either. I like it because I can place where I want it, just an inch or two from where I'm playing and it stays put. And it's smooth and easy to adjust if necessary. Thanks for watching!

[@ernestoortiz8672]

@@StevenParente aloha Steven! And ah okay no worries, I’m thinking of buying one to be honest just don’t know if I’ll build a les Paul or SG but I know for a fact it will be getting on of these installed on it haha

[@StevenParente]

@@ernestoortiz8672 I really like this vibrato. I'm going to install another one on my Stewmac Tele build, but it's out of stock right now. Check it out arm and special bridge. www.guitarfetish.com/Xtrem-Top-Mounte-Vibrato-Roller-Bridge-Combo-Chrome-Finish-_p_4417.html. Best wishes on your build!

[@prescotian1500]

So how much did it change the overall tone of the guitar from its original sound?

[@StevenParente]

Good question. I don't hear a difference. And when I listen to recordings I made a few months ago compared to now after installing this vibrator system, I can't hear a difference either. Sustain also seems to be about the same as well. Thanks for watching!

[@jameslanclos568]

When they say Xtrem, I'm thinking extreme like a Floyd Rose, but this is more like a Bigsby.

[@StevenParente]

Interesting. Yes, the GFS Xtrem looks much more like a Bigsby, although I've never tried a Bigsby. Thanks for watching!

[@jameslanclos568]

I was really talking about the action like dive-bombing and such, not so much the looks. But now that you mention it, it does look similar to the Bigsby. @@StevenParente

[@socarrones]

Do you recommend the product or do you give some problems?

[@StevenParente]

I recommend it. I've been playing with for a month and no problems and I really like how it sounds. And if there ever is a problem, it's easy to remove. Thanks for watching Marcos!

[@socarrones]

@@StevenParente Thanks to you.

[@morbidmanmusic]

Sounds like tuning issues.

[@StevenParente]

Interesting. I did put on a set of new strings before doing the video, but stretched them out for a couple of days. I use a Korg tuner and it showed it was in tune and intonation was good. This guitar stays in tune as good or better than my Fender Strat. Thanks for watching and happy new year!

[@PrettyRecords]

Looks awful, the thing sits way too far down the guitar (takes up too much space) and this is yet another so called "Whammy Bar" that only goes in one direction and that's down 😂This and The Les Trem (and The Guyker copy) should be called "String Slackeners" because they have no travel upwards.Generally tremolos that only have one spring, will only pitch down, so for GFS to call this a "Vibrato" is misleading when it only pitches down. It's cheap for a reason!

[@StevenParente]

Thanks for your input. My take, is that it sounds good, works well and is easy to install (and uninstall) and is cheap. Thanks for watching!

[@PrettyRecords]

@@StevenParente And only goes downwards 😬

[@imobates125]

It sure would be a lot more useful when people demo a tremolo system if they would learn more than one technique instead of doing the thing over and over.

[@StevenParente]

Thanks for watching!