Yes, I just did *THIS* to my Strat...

[@matumblackmetal]

Why are you using wire cutters to cut your trem springs? That's crazy

[@bcheng2237]

I know, right? They won't get the job done, gotta use at least some bolt cutters, if not a Strat bridge pickup with the treble cranked.

[@frmcf]

Why are you using wi... oh... never mind.

[@ArthurB]

lol I read this at the exact moment he said it on the video that's crazy

[@ssabp8313]

@BIrdman: Lmao

[@michaelgallagher3640]

Needle nose!!

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

Well, this has got to be one of the craziest trem mods I"ve ever done! Glad to say It sounds great (lots of sustain) and hold tune like a champ!

[@Supperconductor]

Can you please test what gauge strings will fit? 11-46, 13-52, etc. Just curious. Guitar sounds GREAT, BTW!

[@choctawcodger5418]

Sounds awesome! I’m new to your channel and really digging the content.

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

Thanks! Welcome aboard!

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

Hi! I think 11s would be pushing it, but I'd send them off an email to confirm :)

[@metalheadblues]

You should do a follow-up review in a few months time.

[@blkjakk]

They look like torpedoes. The should call them torpedo tuners.

[@everydaybrian]

I seriously bet they'd sell more with that name.

[@maxelsstellh7687]

@@everydaybrian i agree with you, it sounds cooler and more attractive.

[@ssabp8313]

@blkjakk: I said the same thing about the fine tuners I've seen this video before and I saw a video about the Sophia tremolos by McCabe but I was just in a really bad mood that I looked at it and said oh my God not another God darn tremolo another bulshit from what I came out but yeah it does have something of a rather interesting look if you remember back to the Wonder Bar I mean I would say that this is definitely much cooler looking it does have a rather futuristic look to it but the Wonder Bar was just a great unit but the way it was built it was raised up and it really really just looked very gory but it was an excellent unit l. tllhis unit is also very very good I've seen the other videos about it and haven't looked this one exactly yet but the guitar does resonate very well with these tremolos

[@ssabp8313]

The macro tuners look like the Russian rocket launchers that were used during World War II but still it does have something of an appealing look to it and the fact is that apparently this works very well

[@ssabp8313]

Honestly and really does look very good no bulshit

[@RoloTomasie]

Seems like a great design but it really ruins the aesthetic of one of the best looking strats I've seen. Please change it back and apologize to the strat!

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

The Select Strat is a real beauty!! You'd think I would have a better guitar to test parts on, yet here we are! 😂

[@SeattleScotty]

@lilnetty2 I agree, I think it looks pretty cool by itself. I wouldn't go for a locking trem system on my guitars, but this definitely looks like an upgrade from a Floyd.

[@brettshawver2983]

@@DarrellBraunGuitar well send me the Sophia & I'll put her on my ESP MII & try her out...........🤘😁🤘

[@wannaberabbi9302]

RoloTomasie i honestly think it looks awesome lol

[@Ogscottyp]

Tru dat and a great big WORD TO YA MUTHA!

[@ZaktanVR]

Now try to put an evertune bridge on your strat:)

[@blkjakk]

Lol

[@nana-ld4cr]

Don't. The upper frets lose so much sustain with it

[@warnercheng5564]

no point of doing this tho

[@Thirsty_Fox]

I make an exception to my 'Positively No Clickbait' policy for you.

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

😄 Hopefully it's worth it!

[@Thirsty_Fox]

@@DarrellBraunGuitar Can confirm, worth it every time. 😎

[@merkaba22]

All the macro-tuners are the same:) Difficultly in getting the tip of the string through and over the witness point can be eased by either adding slight end to the plain end or backing the tuner knob away [locking screw still visible] for a better angle:)

[@se7inhand]

The first Floyd Rose looked pretty damn gnarly too. It takes time for change to become accepted. Besides, guitars can be beautiful art, but they're ultimately tools. Like many guitarists.

[@HARwinsOUTagain]

Why are you using wire cutters to cut your trem springs? And then you are installing metal cigarette butts on your bridge? This guy is a madman!!

[@RobertHohan]

I'm a 0.5/10 in terms of guitar skill, so I watch your videos mainly for entertainment purposes, but I have to say I very much enjoy your "anything goes" approach to modding your gear! Don't let anyone convince you that you're in any way limited in terms of what should or shouldn't be done with guitar X or Y, etc. If you can't do what you want with your stuff, then what's the point of owning it anyway?

[@richardwilliams1310]

Maybe we need to see all these trems on one guitar, inspired by Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, lol. I’m probably a 0.01 out of 10 in guitar skills but as I listen mostly to bands that play their own instruments, mostly metal, I have become obsessed with watching videos about guitar & music gear, basically stuff I can’t afford, lol

[@antmax]

I liked the more conservative bridge you originally had on there. The new tuners look like someone stuck pan pipes on the back of the bridge. A bit fugly :)

[@acoffeewithsatan]

Back in the 50s, Mr. Leo Fender designed both the Telecaster and the Stratocaster to have a bridge cover. The bridge and saddle designs were too ugly, was his opinion - little did he know that, not only people took them right off for being so unpractical, many years later those designs (mainly when it comes to Teles, even outdated) are still beloved! My point is, beauty is quite a subjective thing, I can't imagine people first seeing a Floyd Rose bridge thought that big mess of components looked pretty either, but people get used to things as they become common and do their job well. ;)

[@rustyjames2202]

Sound is more important than looks. Unless you are a poser. Food for thought.

[@antmax]

@@rustyjames2202 Not really a poser, but if I don't like how the guitar looks it will go out of reach in a bag or case and not go up on the wall so I probably won't play it as much.

[@rustyjames2202]

@@antmax Ok that makes sense. I don't use the trem when I play but I don't think it looks that bad.

[@YeeThirty]

He clearly stated they are for floyd style bridge replacements.. only problem with floating bridges now is theres 10 different routes for them..

[@josephetherton]

Is that a new intro Darrell? Its killer for sure ✌👍🎸

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

Yeah new intro!! 😎

[@andrewdimartino7426]

LOL I had to pause the video @ 2:40! Do people really accuse you of that?! I feel you pain Darrell, id use the same needle nose pliers for that same job. Yeah they have a cutting portion at the throat, but you'd have to stab those pliers through an inch and a half of wood to get the cutting part of the pliers on the springs, which you obviously didn't do. I literally cant imagine why someone would give you grief about that lol, some people confuse the hell out of me.

[@artiefischel2579]

5:10 Remedial math for guitarists...

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

😂😂😂👍

[@JasonFiske]

Darrell great video, as always. What you did to that beautiful strat is almost criminal. Have you ever done a “Who am I video?” It would be interesting to know how you got so good at playing and wrenching on guitars. What music you really like to play an so forth. I’m a big fan. Best.

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

Cool idea! I'll add it to my list :)

[@BradColemanisHere]

Yeah, I love the functionality but it's a bit like putting mudding tires on a Mercedes. Independently they're great, but the pretty strat and the giant tube tuners look odd together. Thanks for the video! Either way, it was good to know that bridge exists!

[@rayross997]

OH the Humanity!!! Kent Brokmen said it best,"this is a 1000 times worse than anything I saw in Nam". You got guts Darrell.

[@Leo_ofRedKeep]

I like a modern looking Strat' :-)

[@teddybaker7231]

I love it, regarding the wheel on the back of the bridge, would it detune the whole guitar by a half tone if you wanted it to, ?

[@graysonadams2485]

Not surprised, bet your put a floyd on a les paul.

[@richardwilliams1310]

Darrell needs to demo & review including installation for the Floyd Rose FRX on a Les Paul/Les Paul clone and a SG/SG clone \m/

[@michaelcarey9359]

Yes, there is a way to make a Les Paul "worth it", after all!

[@RevvS1k]

Wow, it looks mean. May have looked better on a darker/ black guitar. We need a noob class for guitar trem systems. Lol.

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

👍 A black version on a blacked out guitar would look awesome!

[@MarcCoteMusic]

Wow... that seems really stable! It's ugly as sin, but there's no doubt it works as advertised. Now, please put the previous saddles back on. :-)

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

😂👍

[@BigEdWo]

and show us the pain when you set the Intonation.

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

Hi! Setting the intonation was extremely easy. No pain at all :)

[@BigEdWo]

that's great. maybe i misinterpreted the design.

[@Darm0k]

It looks like there are rockets on the bridge.

[@gillesgenete9598]

For sound demo I was waiting for some crazy Woodstock Star Spangled Banner with nuclear dive bomb. You were pretty close 👍

[@Adipsia1]

Great concept but it looks like you have a set of Peruvian pan-pipes stuck on to your bridge.

[@frankzappa951]

That’s one way to get a beautiful Strat to look terrible. :)

[@blindsagacity]

You should put on a locking but and chop the headstock off 👌

[@icenic_wolf]

If you want to move between e.g. Standard E tuning and drop-D, does the global tuning wheel help expedite that, or is it still a painful process to go back-and-forth?

[@johnchase8510]

Darrel, It seems as though the new saddles make the ratio of arm movement to tuning change lower than the original saddles. Am I imagining this due to the full float? Happy with the Super Vee for one system, though always on the hunt for trems :-)

[@ayusharipirala3121]

Are these the same tuners used in headless guitars?

[@ricardodealmeida4174]

Love the futuristic look of the Strat 🤘🤘 great sustain btw 😎

[@soundingraw9259]

Please use the sofia to your ibanez as well.. we want to see it :)

[@aliciafranco5704]

AMAZING! I'M TOTALLY SOLD ON SOPHIA PRODUCTS!!!!! Thx so MUCH ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

[@thomaspartin191]

Wow, theirs more hardware on just that bridge than the front of my truck!

[@sadboisonly1004]

Would one of these Sophia trems fit on a Squier Affinity Strat?

[@christiantarango2522]

Most Affinity Series Stratocasters I've seen use the vintage 6 point tremolo versus the modern 2 point (also called knife edge) tremolo. You'd have to modify it a little bit, but I've seen some people get away with simply drilling bigger holes for the bridge posts.

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

Hi! I think they may be designing one for 6-screw systems, but not at the moment :)

[@joelopez4237]

That is very unique, awesome sound, thanks for sharing! Your guitar friend Joe.

[@chemmii]

Amazing!!!! After reading some of the negative comments, I like it even more!! It's the old story of.... If this was the very first trem system ever made or offered everyone would be on board to get it or buy it!! And later would be calling the Floyd or others Frankenstein trems that were to complicated or didn't work as well as this one does!! I only have one trek guitar and it is not a fender or a any other of the big names.. It's a DBZ... And as soon as possible I'm getting this trem and I hope everybody comments negatively on it!!! I love contreversy!! Lol

[@JamesJohnson-hb1me]

I Like the intro! Why are you using... Great video, thanks!

[@BoyAditya]

Looks like it could be used on headless guitar. Anyone have tried on headless guitar??

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

👍 It would be perfect in that situation :)

[@jldev368]

That looks insane... Good job on showing all guitar player's of this upgrade... Keep it going...👍⚡🔥

[@EvelynRoods]

I’m really digging the new intro.

[@Strattus19]

Still can’t believe you did that to your strat and now even more extreme! Totally worth it!

[@chrstopherthomas6952]

Yea man I would like to try that on one of my Floyd rose guitars.

[@LabyrinthOfEyes]

Great video as always! You always find something cool and interesting. Keep up the good work my friend!

[@evilcowboy]

Not sure if anyone mentioned this but that is the same design of bridge for Strandberg Guitars. They make a guitar intentionally odd shaped to be comfortable and lightweight which leads to a weird body design. However, how Strandberg handled its ugliness is by placing to hang off the rear of the body that they cut out specially for that. So the fine tuners are not arched 3 feet off the body. Its a great system functionality wise but a cosmetically ugly one but it can be a fair trade off. Strandberg guitars are really a whole special guitar and most people who objectively reviews them say they are fantastic guitars but be warned they are about in the same price range as a PRS. I am actually glad to see Strandberg's name getting bigger and his design influencing after market parts. Ola Strandberg actually started working on his design I think around the age of 19 and tweaked the living crap out of it to get to a finished product that is a complete redesign of guitars. There is a lot of originality to his guitars, aside from them looking weird they are wonderfully made guitars that if you can afford it is worth buying to see for yourself. I do not think there is a single thing on those guitars that is borrowed from any other guitar except maybe the headless neck which I believe there was a travel guitar back in the 90's that sported a headless neck, but how he handled the bridge and nut and pickups and overall shape is completely different and even the clamping triangles of the nut are not actually the clamp its the screw that secures it and the clamp piece is more cosmetic than anything else. you should buy one to try out and make a video on.

[@calebhendrix4664]

Do you still have your strat with the Lincoln Brewster setup? Sub question: Are you also a huge Lincoln Brewster fan? I love his gold strat and he’s a killer player. 😊

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

Hi! Not anymore, but I do love that setup. Lincoln is an amazing player and even better person 👍

[@spiritzweispirit1st638]

That Was Most Awesome' And That Totally Sold One For Me! , Btw >You Can Get Custom Bridge Metals & Colors From 'Coherent Sound and Light' That Would Look Great With Optional Brass Fine Tuner Ends' more better looky' before cutty Trem Springs with pliers' lol🔧😶👍Peace✌

[@samwood3816]

My 89 peavey falcon has the same features stock and they don't look quite as bad lol

[@austinswain4863]

Looks like you could use it to make a headless guitar, if you use a locking nut

[@chadbouterse8617]

Yup, its basicaly a strandberg tuner...

[@WalrusDoom]

Huh. So is it comfortable to play on? I’d rather go for a Hannes or Evertune bridge, but I’m a fixed-bridge kinda guy.

[@David__]

Brave & Crazy mod! Thanks for sharing Darrell :)

[@YBNegative]

yeah, sure, WE make you do things to your guitars...haha! 'but anyway, since you asked'. I love it! I think about my 1st Floyd Rose locking trem and nut, and how far out of my league that was at the time, and what we have for options now, and I'm glad we have you to do the leg work for us! Thanks again for another informative video on some cool stuff!

[@pcbullets8726]

That bridge is quite a beast. Great video Darrell!

[@truckercowboyed2638]

Looks great and really radical from the normal system.

[@patriciaosborne2871]

Make romance sound better

[@arnavsingh4185]

it kinda looks like a floyd rose

[@johntsakanikas886]

Flood rose blows it away. The fluidos will dive bomb into nothing but spaghettis flapping. This thing doesn't even dive bomb? What good is it?

[@eXSPLY]

Would this work with an Ibanez AZ?

[@CarlyonProduction]

Is it me or did this keep tuning WAY better than any other trem you installed?

[@tinktinkputra2316]

No matter what it is, your strat is sound superb!

[@ORION2180]

Very nice, any additional sustain is good sustain! I see some comments welcoming a modern looking Strat. Well, Charvel has come out with some new beastly models, hint....hint....

[@glendoggett9670]

would you need a locking nut with that? Do you like the VegaTrem better?

[@Lemon_Productions_TV]

Every time you upload a video I have to stop what I’m doing so I can watch it. Great content Darrell!

[@chrisshaw6451]

You're nuts Darrell, do you always do what strangers tell you?🤔 LOL!🤣 I'm glad you do though, that's why we watch you, always fun, always entertaining, and always educational and interesting. Keep it up my friend, I'm always learning from you, I wouldn't have the nerve, or the knowledge, to do the things i''e done on my guitars without your clear and precise Instructional videos, thank you. 👍❤️

[@cuda426hemi]

How many ounces does that bridge system weigh now?? 3/4 pound? Could sure use that counter-weight on my SGs to offset the neck-dive. The Bigsby doesn't weigh enough, but helps. That thing makes the Strat look like a base '58 Mercury with the added Highway Cruiser chrome splattered all over it. Where are the mini-leds on the tips of the nipple tuners? Cripes, that bridge weighs more than the first 3 guitars I learned on !!! (definitely more than my Roy Rodgers plastic acoustic with the wind-up music box inside) 🎸🎸

[@PJ-ee5mc]

I have looked at numerous videos relating to Sophia and most of the ones I see do not demonstrate it with any finesse. Although Darrell did do a great job as usual in his explanation. I see people pounding on the bar to demonstrate how it comes back in tune, which is certainly a valid exercise, but it would be great to see a player do something with great sensitivity that requires control & accuracy... like Jeff Beck's 'Where Were you' for example. In my mind this is what separates the great trems from the crappy ones. This looks like a brilliant design. I am just holding off until I can see it used in a way that I can personally relate to. Can anyone comment on "softer side" of using the Sophia 2:92, not just dive-bombs or heavy-handed use?

[@arielinzunza]

If the stabilizers works on the same direction that the strings, counteracting the springs, Why do you add more springs when removing the stabilizers? Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Thanks for the demo though, no controversy intended!

[@t-boog2173]

I feel like Wesley Snipes in Major League. When he sees Wild Thing wearing ugly glasses... The coach says, "Seeing is the important thing" and Snipes replies, "I don't think it's that important". Well, to anyone who says, "Tuning is the important thing", I say, "It's not that important!". I like the concept, but it needs to look less weird & bulky. The Super Vee w/ fine tuners looks better but it's still too bulky looking. I love Floyds but I wish they used a blade like the Vee trems. That way it could be a direct replacement for a 6 screw Strat trem. Plus, it would look even less bulky without the top and bottom knife edge plates. They could just put the whammy bar hole where it is on a vintage Strat trem. That's my dream... A Floyd with a blade mount for 6 screw Strat bodies.

[@heartsquaremusic2953]

I couldn’t imagine not being able to intonate a string/saddle in real time while keeping an eye on a tuner. You really have to loosen a string, “eyeball” the position, hope you moved it far enough, tighten the string again, repeat?! lol um...not for me. 🙂🤷🏻‍♂️ It’s unlikely my intonation would be precise.

[@PaulTheSkeptic]

But why are you using wire cutters to cut your springs? .... Okay couldn't resist.

[@amitsapir2]

Darrell, If you are going to replace the locking system on your Ibanez, YOu should consider the Gotoh Liscensed Floyd Rose. This is what Shur is using this days. It is about 30% Cheaper and you get the brass block for free!

[@gmichaelhall]

Form and function... Not sure. It's absolutely hideous to look at w/micro tuners but I'm sure it functions really well. The aesthetic form isn't even subjective, it's awful to look at. The Rail Tail is, in my opinion the perfect aesthetic, classy look and a very decent feel. The technology and pragmatism of this trem is remarkable, if they can develop the aesthetic this may become more than just a novelty purchase for folks who are drawn to the top tier price bracket for hardware. It's kinda wanky, functional but wanky as hell Stay safe and well ✌️

[@stephanegagnon5430]

interesting video, but awful look lol

[@Wargasm644]

If it works and sounds considerably better than a Floyd, I may give it more consideration. But man it’s fugly. Looks like a freaking Pan-flute stuck on the back of the sweet Strat. I like the global tuning block thingy. Kinda nifty. But how many times would you really use it? I’ll stick with my Floyd for now. Thanks for the vid. Always fun to check out new gear.

[@darkinertia2]

This really reminds me of my headless hohner on how it works...you should get a headless someday! Theyre fun and are tanks, i love i could play in bed, lay it down, and do anything without having to knock it out of tune

[@shirestudios]

That last riff wow! Someone's having a little too much fun...

[@tdtom1376]

was thinking the exact same thing... FUN!

[@heres2ya]

another great video, and a new intro. i was also wondering how they would look installed. hmmm i have mixed emotions about them. but seriously why would you try to cut the springs with them wire cutters ☻

[@williamsmothers8830]

Uh, no. I nearly gave it a thumbs down because that just looks wrong on that guitar. However, your usual delivery, humor, production values and willingness to respond to audience feedback = thumbs up. The system is cool and the bridge itself, with the original saddles, looked ok and certainly was an improvement over the original. The bridge tuners are certainly effective from a performance point of view, but the aesthetics are all wrong.

[@RabihSaadguitars]

Love the look of the Sophia saddles..Does those fit on a Floyd rose original system?

[@Axman66]

Sorry Darrell .... looks like Strato- afterburner Exhaust- caster. might be a good mechanic stuff but the estatic ???

[@trulsolsen683]

That's great and all, but sadly I can't buy one because I'm left handed. Seriously, how hard would it be for these people to drill the tremolo arm hole on the other side of the bridge? Am I missing something here? Because I know these people, and that something is roughly 10% of their potential customers.

[@Releasethebats123]

I can't believe that I once thought the Mastery bridge and the old clunky vibrato mess on 60s SGs were ugly. This monstrosity just reinstated my opinion.

[@Teorge]

I am thinking for a while about upgrading floyd rose to sofia version. My hands are not healthy and this will solve my problem with restringing FR. But the price make me think about selling some guitar/s to compansate this hobby.

[@jamesallen1164]

before you guys put Darrell on the chopping block keep in mind this is just an informative option for those who want better results without caring about what it looks like , I mean look at Willie's martin , it's not pretty but sounds great although he does have it reinforced and maintinenced annually. just sayin. plus I really dont think Darrell will keep this strat looking like that lol , God knows I wouldn't.

[@IPushHard]

Im not sure that I like this system. Here's why... In the 1st place, top loading strings that are anchored to a trem is gonna result in a loss of sustain. I'm not saying that top loading strings is a bad thing. I'm saying that anchoring to a system that moves is asking for trouble. In the 2nd place, WTH is the use/need for the tuner system on the bridge? You already have tuners at the head stock. I have never liked Floyds and look how popular they are now. For many of the same reasons... I dont like this system. Better than a Floyd tough.

[@martinlahaie6012]

Hi man! Just new to your channel.. Great job...great editing and visually interesting! Still in love with your Epi Les Paul? Bonjour du Québec!

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

Welcome aboard! Definitely love my Epiphones 👍

[@subrotogabrialsoren8119]

hey brother, can you plz show me how to install piezo pickup on Floyedrose bridge??? I will be Very greatfull....

[@guitarguts666]

Not a very fair comparison when you're using a buncha echo and reverb

[@carlosalves6844]

Nasa mission control we are ready for take off. The stratocaster looks like its going to the moon. Never the less its fun to watch but personally it just doesn't look right on that particular guitar. I do wonder what would Leo would say LOL. Different strokes for different folks I suppose.

[@mikeaddison-saipe5820]

Ok as far as performance - but (in my opinion) UGLY! Don't think I could live with the looks.

[@Furtheronmusic]

I think I only would put them on a locking nut guitar more for looks than anything else

[@0303_W]

I thing its not special and still sound of strat ,, not can be scream whammy bar

[@rodrigobarrios5402]

Ok, I never leave comments in yt videos but this is just awesome, I have always wanted a tremolo system but I like using different tunings, this comes handy, thanks

[@tomstern9498]

Verry interesting thing - so I like(d) the video - but still prefer the good old "Pieceofwoodandblocktheshi*"- solution *lol*

[@TheForce_Productions]

Looks like a church's keyboard! 😂

[@jaket3259]

Nice video man! Enjoyed it!

[@tball5677]

Like the look of the trem before. I think the macrotuners look hideous although it is a simple, straightforward design. I would get this system without the macrotuners for my MIM strat.

[@jecky82]

Can you install this on the fender Jazzmaster performer? I'm thinking of getting one and upgrading it with a better tremolo and some locking tuners.

[@hakonfeuerherm314]

Does it work on a VS100(by gotoh)? VS100 looks really similar to your sophia trem. TNX.

[@ncomeau]

I just love this!!!! Thanks!