The Trick to AMAZING Strat Vibrato (Carl Verheyen Whammy Bar/Floating Bridge Setup)

[@DanMmusic]

Who's going to try this?

[@klaymator25]

I am! Just got one of the 2021 player series Mexican strats, i’m working on the initial set up as I noticed some tuning instability. Going to install a Graph tech TUSQ XL nut and the fender American deluxe/ultra bridge with flat saddles as opposed to the bent steel ones that come with the guitar and seem kind of junky. ( this bridge also has a heavier block than the stock one). I’m glad that I found this video and realize that springs and the spring tension are crucial for tuning stability as well. Thanks for the educational video, I’m going to research more about this method.

[@DanMmusic]

@@klaymator25 Those sound like good upgrades, especially the TUSQ nut if you're going to use the whammy bar. I've noticed the spring tension actually plays a little part in the tone of the guitar too. That, and it plays a big part in the feel of the guitar.

[@louiscyfer6944]

@@DanMmusic i am sorry, you paid as little attention in school in physics as carl did. carl is a phenomenal guitar player, but a complete moron when it comes to physics. the wound strings don't have higher tension than the plain strings. the high e string actually has the highest tension. also, adjusting the angle of the claw makes no difference. the trem block and bridge plate are rigid with the mounting screws outside of the springs. therefore only the total spring tension matters. now, i want you to change the intervals, set the high e string to a half step and the g string also to a half step on pull up. I'll give you a 100 bucks if you do it.

[@timbennett6644]

I have used this method for years. It’s very good

[@BryanClark-gk6ie]

The concept behind the angled claw is to fine tune the bridge instead of going back and forth on both claw adjustment screws' simpler to adjust one side of the claw instead of both. Get the b string to pull a full step and the rest of the strings will follow in place' that's how it was designed to do and how we did it in 1955.

[@thecentralscrutinizerr]

Now when you bend the G string and while fretting the B string, the B string will go out of tune. When you bend the G string, it will pull the bridge forward and the B and E go out of tune. There's a device that fixes this. It's called a Super Vee. It allows you to float your trem, but also bend the strings without the other strings going out of tune. The only downside is that you can't "flutter" effect the trem.

[@DanMmusic]

I'll check it out!

[@philfrank5601]

Yet another video that talks about the Carl V tuning method, but doesn't demonstrate how to do it.

[@Aceroxx02]

The angled claw doesn't make a difference. Carl did not come up with the string vs spring tension. That's how the Strat was designed to work in 1954. I use 5 black Fender strings with the bridge floating 1/8" off the back with the claw evenly adjusted NOT angled and I have the same intervals and perfect tuning stability. FIVE springs is more stable than 2 3 or 4. Getting the right tension springs is key. The black Fender springs are lower tension than your average silver springs. Also, important feature that most ignore are the 6 screws at the front of the bridge. They need to be set correctly or your bridge will not return to zero on its own.

[@Tonetwisters]

Try some Raw VIntage springs. Makes a huge difference.

[@DanMmusic]

Really? What do you notice?

[@backlineguy]

not sure if this is still monitored, but I get the E, B, and G intervals, but the E still goes sharp when I am aggressive with the tremolo bar...it's frustrating to adjust, play, tune, and need to adjust due too the E going sharp... I just read here a comment by BrainClark saying to only adjust one of the claw screws...I'll give this a try... also the comment by gm6417 saying back in the '70's he's been using this method with success. I've watched the Carl Verheyen video too, and neither that one nor this one actually SHOWS how to do this...

[@DanMmusic]

@@backlineguy yeah it’s definitely a painful process to check and recheck the intervals when tuning this up. But well worth it in the end!

[@jokermaan1]

Italian luthier Galeazzo Frudua was demonstrating this method on KZbin 14 years ago and his videos are still available! I first learnt it from his videos and it works perfectly with no tuning issues.

[@denislaurence1959]

Hello Daniel ! Do you know what size strings are needed to adjust the vibrato in the way presented on Carl Verheyen Whammy Bar/Floating Bridge Setup? Actually i play on EXL 115 with .011 on the 1st string. Should I change string size ? THANKS !

[@vw9659]

Verheyen might be a great player but he obviously doesn't understand the simple physics of the strat trem. What he says is total physics nonsense. If string tension equalled spring tension, the bridge would be decked, hard. Look at the lever lengths of the strings and springs to the knife edge rotation axis. It's much longer for the springs. In order for the bridge to float, it's the TORQUE from the springs that must match the TORQUE from the strings. And to do that, spring tension must be much LOWER than string tension. His angled claw is also physics nonsense. You get exactly the same intervals whether the claw is angled or not. Because the trem has a single common axis shared by all the strings - the knife edge. Also, there is not typically less tension on the treble strings and more on the bass strings. He's wrong about that too. But it doesn't matter anyway. You get the intervals that the string stiffnesses and their individual lever arm lengths to the axis give you (affected by things like saddle heights). You can't change that by angling the claw. You would need a different trem design to do that. Just watch Frudua on youtube. Straightforward trem setup procedures without the nonsense physics.

[@davidrees1840]

I saw Carl's video about 6 months ago and did this to my Jeff Beck Strat (which already stayed in tune) and it took maybe 1/2 hour and works perfectly, except it's set to a major 3rd for the G. The low-E side spring and claw touch the side of the rout, but it has no negative effect, so go for it if you want -I love it!

[@darthmorbous]

This will be a loooong weekend with 6+ floating bridge guitars...

[@djizzah]

dont overcomplicate just pull a spring out for light strings put 3 springs for heavy strings undo the bridge screws 4 inside first then 2 outer so youll get half a mill between the bridge and the body put some pencil graphite in the nut channels tune up and you should have stable nice tremolo if you want huge dive bombs try a guitar with a floyd rose, they do this perfectly

[@g.m.6417]

My cousin showed me this back in 19772-73. I have been doing it ever since for 52 years.i started doing it around 15 or 16 years old. I’m now 67. I have built many strats & put Strat necks on other Strat bodies. I also use different nuts which are Graphtech & I use Sperzel tuners, so it work’s excellent for me. I was surprised to know someone like Carl Verheyen does it. I know Jeff Beck was doing it for years also. I could see his floating bridges on his strats. The tilt on the claw idea is that the low end is pulling on the neck so you adjust the springs accordingly for that. I have done both. The tilt & strait because it can work either way in my experience. I keep the block on tilt off of the body but level with the body in the back in the middle. I do it on both the six screw vintage bridges & American standard two point bridge which I find works best for me not on a tilt. I also use to use Floyd rose too but they are like a ball & chain to me & are like a pair of training wheels on a bike that you can’t ride it unless you have them. So a lot of people rely on a Floyd to make it work, and it’s not genuine to me. It’s kinda a weakness or a superficial handicap.😊

[@backlineguy]

Hey GM...reading your comment here...I've had Strats since I bought my first 'real' electric in '74 ( a '68 Sunburst Strat) and I've never been able to achieve stability with the tuning...possible you could make a short video actually showing your process? I watch Verheyen's video, and this one, but neither SHOWS how this is done...I can achieve the intervals on the E, B, and G strings, but my E seems to always go sharp...I use liquid teflon to lube the nut on all of my guitars, so I'm thinking that's not the issue...any help will be appreciated, thanks.

[@KoshNaranick]

I found this and saw Carls video, that is the part he does not show in his video I found... you you please go into more depth with this on the claw please and the tuning.. Yes Iam a noob..

[@duaneharlick]

Really cool strategy. I find that although I float my strat bridge, I don't float it nearly to the degree that y'all do. I use just a slight float, again to allow for vibrato, but my pull up doesn't provide the note differentials illustrated here. I don't know that I would ever desire more float, but if I ever do, I'll certainly give this a try

[@johnhetherington8830]

worst strat sound ever

[@VitorMachadoProf]

I’ ve. Nice! Cheers.

[@DanMmusic]

Thanks!

[@wojciechstecyszyn6040]

Hey. Thanks for video. You say that you have no tuning issues with you floating tremolo - what about conventional one string pitch bends on the fingerboard, if you do them will it throw this one string out of tune?

[@bluwng]

For any floating configuration and I mean any the string tension will always be equal to spring tension. The intervals were defined by Leo Fender since the 50s, Leo was an engineer not a musician so he didn’t speak in terms of intervals instead used bridge height.

[@rjprivate]

Great video. What interval should the low E have when pulled up?

[@DanMmusic]

Thanks! It should be a half step or a minor 2nd

[@rjprivate]

@@DanMmusic thanks! So both low E and high E a half step

[@DanMmusic]

@@rjprivate oh apologies, I read too fast. High E is a half step, Low E is hard to control when you are attempting to tune the G and B strings, so err towards getting those in tune rather than the low E as the G and B strings are more usable intervals to have in tune

[@corkystclair7475]

A good nut lubricant is a combination of powdered graphite (used for lubricating locks) in a base of Vaseline. The mixture is perfect and cheap.

[@Aceroxx02]

Yup! I use regular vaseline mixed with powder from a drafting pencil. Works as it should when used on all the offending contact points and keeps my guitars in tune perfectly.

[@JunkBondTrader]

Gotta float the bridge. I think it comes as their standard setup now, on MiMs anyway.

[@MultiVg13]

Always get a little bit sharper F so more than a semitone for the high E and and on the spot or a little less than 3 semitones for the G string. Is there a way to prefect? (With tuner)

[@DanMmusic]

I think unfortunately its always going to be a bit off... in the smallest of ways though. Normally I feel like when I pull my whammy up, I can hit the note relatively easily but I could go sharp if I pulled harder--so I still need to be on top of my intonation there if I'm going to play in tune.

[@uthinkimfunnysonny]

“Change your guitar strings frequently.” I feel personally attacked 😂

[@DanMmusic]

ahahaha do you not??

[@uthinkimfunnysonny]

@@DanMmusic It's been about 6 months since I changed my Tele strings!

[@DanMmusic]

@@uthinkimfunnysonny Ehh 6 months isn't like THAT long hahah

[@waitin4winter]

Unless I’m missing something, the physics of the angled claw method doesn’t hold water. The bridge only moves up and down about 1 axis established by the 2 posts (or 6 screws for vintage). It does not rotate CW/CCW like a steering wheel. Therefore the bridge doesn’t care if one spring is higher tension than the other spring or vice versa, it only cares about the sum total of spring tension against the sum total string tension.

[@aperezdeal]

That’s why you can angle it the other way and it still works. The important bits are the lubricant, good nut and tuning to the mentioned intervals. The angle of the claw or if the springs angle to make a triangle doesn’t really matter. The end result is the same.

[@allancrow134]

The spring tension of the strings increases with gauge. Angling the claw or using greater spring tension on the Bass side equalizes the forces. Ideally, you have equal and opposite forces pulling the bridge back into position.

[@jerbear1601]

Yeah, I use Carl's method but keep the bridge claw straight and it works just fine. It is the secret to a properly set up floating bridge by using tuning intervals.

[@iagobroxado]

​@@allancrow134the OP explained why this "angle" method is snake oil and you here repeating the same old like those tonewood people.

[@allancrow134]

I like my bridge decked. It's not super complicated, equal and opposite forces.@@iagobroxado

[@bluwng]

True floating also floats at the front end. Try it , raise screws so when you do a deep dive the front end of the plate doesnt touch the body. It will petform as good as any 2 point trem.

[@darenanderson1960]

Would it work for other guitars, like PRS?

[@DanMmusic]

I don't see why not! Anything with a Fender strat style tremolo

[@roadtorockstar7848]

My Bridge sits at the Wood of the Guitar....facing the bottom end of the Guitar and does not move up? I loosened the spring bars? What can I do?

[@johnbenevoli2066]

Thanks, am tweaking towards that point with each string change. Next one will just about get me there.

[@Ottophil]

I tried for years to find a hardtail strat and ended up buying a bunch of teles. I’m a hardtail fan. I just can’t get along with floating. Mine is decked. 5 springs. No movement

[@rattleshakti]

Excellent tips there Daniel, don't forget to stretch your strings too folks as we saw Daniel doing. Greetings from Kent UK.

[@eddywhitemusic]

How long did it take for you to get this right? I've just got an American Professional II strat and I've tried setting it up the way Carl Verheyen advises. I've still got tuning issues though, so I'm still adjusting - aaahh!

[@DanMmusic]

It takes a bit, and a lot of adjusting and a lot of re-tuning. I'd consider just leaving the back plate off for a week or so and just dialing it in when you notice it could use an adjustment

[@ijahtom]

Just use the FruduaTV Methode here on KZbin. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZ3Yhq2dedyqmdU

[@guitardude1981]

Once you get the tremolo where you want it. Tune the low and high E using the claw screws instead of tuners.

[@tonynew3047]

Was following a video which said to tune the G though I missed that and tuned low E and high E ( like you did ) with the claw screws and got the Carl Verhyen set up. Cool.@@guitardude1981

[@iagobroxado]

Search "Frudua Vibrato set up".

[@LCGiovanini]

Hi Daniel, have you tried to do that with "floyd rose like" tremolos ? If so, how can i do that ? Tahnks !

[@jayl4565]

Is there a way you can set it up so that on the “up pull” you can go beyond the specified intervals? Or should those intervals be at the extreme position of the bar? Thanks.

[@DanMmusic]

I think you should be able to extend the intervals further, but the question would be how much.

[@jayl4565]

@@DanMmusic My plan is to tune to the specified intervals, then adjust the claw evenly on both screws (angled, of course), then re-tune the strings. This way, you can get a higher pitch on up bends, but the tuning stability is still there (in theory).

[@mobius1yellow13]

Awesome. Thanks for the information. I’m checking out your channel to see if you have a certain way to setup your tremolo. The 6 screws. I’m familiar with it but I’m interested in what you are doing

[@badbob]

Set mine up this way. Very easy. You must lub nut, bridge and string tree. I have no tuning issues what so ever.

[@rickyrocket12]

if it works for Carl Verheyen it works for me!!!

[@jameslester3800]

Thanks for the tips! I tried it, and it seems to be working perfectly

[@TheRedRaven_]

Big Bens what sauce?

[@DanMmusic]

big bends nut sauce lol

[@ElliottKleinguitar]

The golden spring ratio!

[@DanMmusic]

You don't have your Strats set up like this, right?

[@ElliottKleinguitar]

@@DanMmusic Not as of this date, no

[@DanMmusic]

You should try it

[@DanMmusic]

I converted Ryan

[@wallyg3]

I prefer floating and 4 strings. Stiffer feel, and holds a little better on bends. Great advice all around here.

[@DanMmusic]

Sometimes I think floating sounds a little better. Maybe that's just me!

[@bluwng]

It doesn’t improve tuning stability and 4 springs puts way to much tension on the bridge. I never use more than 2 for 9-42 strings.

[@wildizer]

I prefer my guitar with 6 strings. Which 2 strings do you remove? It's like Keith Richards Plus one more

[@mediumshreddercheese]

This makes sense!

[@DanMmusic]

Its a great little trick! Definitely check it out!

[@louiscyfer6944]

only if you don't understand physics. if you understand physics, you'd laugh at it because it is nonsense.

[@alejandrogalorio504]

i've been a fan of carl verheyen theory of setting up floating trimolo/vibrato bar.its a brilliant idea. i have 5 strats collection. 2 are vintage fender.the rest 3 is different makers. But it sounds great, i never encountered any problem of tuning. it sounds more great. what i did to add more optimum great sounds is, after setting-up. i wait 24 hours Before i start loosen the 4 screw ay the back of the neck about 3 or 4 turn counter c.w. & you can hear a little click, thats the sign of releasing undesired tension.the tighten it again the 4 screw. You will notice the quality of sounds that vibrated from the string & body is so great, clean & powerful.

[@DonIsadick-mf3gv]

Happy h shit. That don't work.

[@curtrod]

it does if you're not a horse