Does the locking keep it in tune better or something? I really don't have much knowledge of guitars and therefore have no idea what a tremolo of any sort does. If someone could help it would be much appreciated.

Yes a locking tremolo can keep it in tune better. However, the downside to a locking tremolo is that it can cause a weak spot on the strings causing them to brake while using the tremolo bar or simply while picking them. I rarely lock mine down and it stays in tune just fine. However, if you are the type of person who wales on the tremolo bar then it's a good idea to lock it and then fine tune it, but it will still go out of tune either way from excessive use. It stretches the strings no matter what.

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So is there really THAT much of a difference between them if I just play hard and use the whammy thing maybe once every solo max?

Not really man, like i said i never lock mine down.

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A'right thanks a lot mate.

if you are going to go fucking nuts on your trem...get a locking...if you're going to use it moderately...then don't get one...

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Slayer / Morbid Angel / Vader / Cannibal Corpse style tremolo work needs a locking trem.

Hank Marvin doesn't.


You get the picture

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I personally would always choose a locking trem over a regular one anyday. But thats just me...

if it isnt locking, make sure you have a graphite nut, otherwise it will get fuxxored

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I´ve got a problem with my strings going out of tune all the time. Is a locking tremolo a solution for this?

it could help

zomg- yes it depends if your guitar got a problem with Keys, or your strings are due to be changed....dont take .11 to .56 gauge if you dont tuning down like B or C.

but if your guitar has no problem, the floyd may help you.

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a good thing to tell us is WHAT KIND OF BRIDGE DO YOU HAVE. otherwise, we dont know shit about what to do.

Edit: Added
Heres for the noobs
NON LOCKING (VINTAGE) TREM:
http://www.fake58.co.uk/images/SB_5...eel%20block.jpg
Typically found on strats, both the bridge and nut allow for free motion of the strings, and therefore doing a deep dive and change the amount of string between bridge and nut, therefore fucking up your tuning.

LOCKING TREM:
http://www.fake58.co.uk/images/SB_0...ler%20Floyd.jpg
Notice those black bars leading back from the saddles? Those things are screws to clamp the string in to the saddle. Also, those three little silver squares to the right of the whammy are the nut, that clamp the strings at the nut. This system is clamped at both the bridge and nut so that the amount of string between the bridge and the nut stays constant, keeping tuning decently constant (depending on string stretching or unwinding, or breaking, etc)

So it looks like locking trem is the way to go to have perfect tuning right? WRONG! The only thing actually holding this bridge to your guitar are 3 springs, which hold it against 2 posts, allowing a huge range of motion, so everytime you tighten one string, the rest of them go flat.


My solution for better tuning: Get new strings. If that doesnt work, get new tuners. If that doesnt work, take out the tuners, ditch the guitar for firewood, get a new guitar with a better bridge.

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IF you have a standard nut and a non locking tremolo (or even a fixed bridge) it's always worth penciling some graphite into your nut slots (ooh er) to stop strings sticking when you're tuning up.

No need for this with a locking nut obviously.

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why would all the other strings go flat?

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Thats a matter of preference man. I use 13-56 for anything from standard to B tuning and dont find it uncomfortable since ive been playing with them for a long time, while others would find it very difficult.

since they are all attached to the same object, as one string tightens, it pulls the bridge towards itself, adding slack to all the other strings. Its a bitch.

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Word, 56-11 only serves me for C#, in fact I use 58-11's for C# and need something fatter like your strings for B or drop A. Those .70 or .60 GHS sets are fucking retarted because the treble strings are like .10, and that's only good for standard so imagine how it feels in B.

I need to try some Gibson flatwound 56-13's...

Just do something to block your vintage trem or invest in a guitar with a fixed bridge if you're not going to do any tremolo tricks. If all you do is a little vibrato just use your fretting fingers for that or do some light neck bending a la Chris Isaak...

The Zakk Wylde ones? He tunes to standard with those strings, and occasionly drops the 6th string to B while keeping the rest standard.

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Damn really? I thought they were made for Drop B and shit.

Damn so his guitar is basically tuned like a 7 string without losing the high E, thx for the info! Too bad you cant do low end powerchords with that low B

I like regular tremolos for easier tuning.

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i read somewhere here on this forum that he tunes AEAEAE

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hahah its a giant powerchord.

And dude, if you want serious drop tuned strings, go looking for baritone strings... theyre like 72-14 or something nuts like that.

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I like the locking BECAUSE I'm lazy.

haha crazy. All I know is I learned "13 years of grief" and it was B for the 6th string then rest in standard. He rips the riffs, beefy and low, then shreds the solos up high in standard. Makes sense, best of both worlds. Regarding the AEAEAE thats just odd, youd have to relearn the guitar to play a tuning like that haha.


Wouldn't lockin entail a lot more work, atleast when your taking the set up process into consideration.

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Hey, a quick question...

I saw on Warmoths site that they offer recessed Wilkinson tremolos, as i would probably be using my tremolo for Blackmore kind of stuff wouldn't that be ideal?

How are Wilkinson btw?

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Yeah but once it's done, it's done. The only gripe I have is when I want to go to a different tuning, so I usually stay in eflat no matter what, even if I'm playing a fuckin' Devourment song. Practice is practice.