a decade on: super strat study

[Pilipete_Townshend]

Lessons learned:

The Wolfie has no sustain. Literally it dies in under 5 seconds. But it sounds like an ELEPHANT like a big ol mean Les Paul. When I first plug it in at somebody's house they usually go "Whoa." You really don't expect that from such a small bodied fiddle.

I blame several factors. First and foremost, the Floyd Rose Special equipment. You really need denser steel. And if you saw my other thread today, the recessed routing prevents me from installing a real Floyd.

The crazy hot 22k A2 pickup probably also kills the sustain, without having the boost of an EMG to carry it.

The SureClaw doesn't seem to do much at all. I'd rather have a traditional claw and save all that weight. It's got a trem stop thing, but it's plastic and not even touching the sustain block...so not helping either.

I no longer like the kill switch up top and pickup switch on the bottom horn. I'd reverse those. I would also consider replacing the pickup switch with another arcade style button (but not a momentary, just tap it to switch pickups)...and then probably add a "blow through" switch for turning both pickups on together.

At the end of the day, it is a good guitar. I just think it deserves some updated hardware and pickups, which will require routing.

One of the brain twisting mystery is getting a good sustain on an existing super strat like your wolfie.
between the 2 guitars I have which is the red one has all rock maple neck and body vs the white one with northern ash body and rock maple neck. Both are V-Boat asymmetric neck, similar configuration with slight difference of one with pickguard and one without. both german Floyd, 5-springs loaded, both medium 11-52, same jb bridge pickup, same trevor rabin neck pickup, no middle. both perfect setup doesn't get out of tune on extra dive and pull.
The northern ash/maple wins on the tone but the red one is light years away on sustain.
I learned something from steve stevens which he said no matter what you do on setup with or without a Floyd, try to simplify everything. just like what your present setup is. But improve it. Make every part running at its best. The direct mounted pickup with german spring will help too.
the tremolo pivoting is one of the key factor. if your post is inserted, try to build a solid foundation like an oak wood around it or a casted steel bar hugging that foundation.
the red guitars pickup is directly bolted to the body. (no springs). it took me a while to get the right setup and sound out of it. But once the height is set, its like new year everyday.

PS. both are 10 lbs. but for sure weight is not really an object.

[Rollin Hand]

I have always found that a quick trip to the fastener store is your friend. Most of what you need, all for pennies. It's all abbout lessening the loss ob vibration.

Most cheap bridges use wire grade steel screws. Replace them with hardened or stainelss steel,and the improvement is noticeable. Check the screws holding the lock nut on--chances are they need replacement as well. The screws holding the claw? Go stainless. Neck screws? Go stainless. Make sure the neck is well seated while you are at it. Locking tuners add mass to the headstock, which helps sustain (made a big difference on my Highway 1).

This all matters for Strats too. Les Paul styles, A Gotoh bridge works wonders, as do locking tuners.

[PsychoCid]

I have always found that a quick trip to the fastener store is your friend. Most of what you need, all for pennies. It's all abbout lessening the loss ob vibration.

Most cheap bridges use wire grade steel screws. Replace them with hardened or stainelss steel,and the improvement is noticeable. Check the screws holding the lock nut on--chances are they need replacement as well. The screws holding the claw? Go stainless. Neck screws? Go stainless. Make sure the neck is well seated while you are at it. Locking tuners add mass to the headstock, which helps sustain (made a big difference on my Highway 1).

This all matters for Strats too. Les Paul styles, A Gotoh bridge works wonders, as do locking tuners.

Nailed it. All of the equipment on my #1 is super heavy. It's got a GIANT locking nut, way bigger than a normal Floyd nut. It's got a GIANT steel sustian block, on a full thickness 80s Floyd backplate. It's got a massive brass claw holding the springs. And it's got stainless steel bolts holding the neck in with a brass cover plate. And it's got giant 6000 frets. Tone. Machine.

The pickup is right into the body on both, but Wolfie just can't compete with that kind of heavy artillery. That's why it has a sustainer though

[PsychoCid]

Lessons learned:

The Wolfie has no sustain. Literally it dies in under 5 seconds. But it sounds like an ELEPHANT like a big ol mean Les Paul. When I first plug it in at somebody's house they usually go "Whoa." You really don't expect that from such a small bodied fiddle.

I blame several factors. First and foremost, the Floyd Rose Special equipment. You really need denser steel. And if you saw my other thread today, the recessed routing prevents me from installing a real Floyd.

The crazy hot 22k A2 pickup probably also kills the sustain, without having the boost of an EMG to carry it.

The SureClaw doesn't seem to do much at all. I'd rather have a traditional claw and save all that weight. It's got a trem stop thing, but it's plastic and not even touching the sustain block...so not helping either.

I no longer like the kill switch up top and pickup switch on the bottom horn. I'd reverse those. I would also consider replacing the pickup switch with another arcade style button (but not a momentary, just tap it to switch pickups)...and then probably add a "blow through" switch for turning both pickups on together.

At the end of the day, it is a good guitar. I just think it deserves some updated hardware and pickups, which will require routing.

One of the brain twisting mystery is getting a good sustain on an existing super strat like your wolfie.
between the 2 guitars I have which is the red one has all rock maple neck and body vs the white one with northern ash body and rock maple neck. Both are V-Boat asymmetric neck, similar configuration with slight difference of one with pickguard and one without. both german Floyd, 5-springs loaded, both medium 11-52, same jb bridge pickup, same trevor rabin neck pickup, no middle. both perfect setup doesn't get out of tune on extra dive and pull.
The northern ash/maple wins on the tone but the red one is light years away on sustain.
I learned something from steve stevens which he said no matter what you do on setup with or without a Floyd, try to simplify everything. just like what your present setup is. But improve it. Make every part running at its best. The direct mounted pickup with german spring will help too.
the tremolo pivoting is one of the key factor. if your post is inserted, try to build a solid foundation like an oak wood around it or a casted steel bar hugging that foundation.
the red guitars pickup is directly bolted to the body. (no springs). it took me a while to get the right setup and sound out of it. But once the height is set, its like new year everyday.

PS. both are 10 lbs. but for sure weight is not really an object.

I also have a theory about heavy equipment, but minimal contact area

If you look at 80s Kramer's, those necks were just ESP fender copies that had to be modified to fit a Floyd nut. As such, look closely...the Floyd nut actually hangs past the wood like 1/3 of its entire contact area. And I consider that a huge improvement over full contact.

My Floyd is set up against the body as well, no float, but even though it's got the screws shaved down it still doesn't sit perfectly flat. It's really just the bottom edge on the wood. And I consider that a huge improvement over full contact such as done by recessing (for a non floater anyway)

On a full float Floyd, I haven't seen any sustain issues as long as the rest of the set up is tight.

[Rollin Hand]

Lessons learned:

The Wolfie has no sustain. Literally it dies in under 5 seconds. But it sounds like an ELEPHANT like a big ol mean Les Paul. When I first plug it in at somebody's house they usually go "Whoa." You really don't expect that from such a small bodied fiddle.

I blame several factors. First and foremost, the Floyd Rose Special equipment. You really need denser steel. And if you saw my other thread today, the recessed routing prevents me from installing a real Floyd.

The crazy hot 22k A2 pickup probably also kills the sustain, without having the boost of an EMG to carry it.

The SureClaw doesn't seem to do much at all. I'd rather have a traditional claw and save all that weight. It's got a trem stop thing, but it's plastic and not even touching the sustain block...so not helping either.

I no longer like the kill switch up top and pickup switch on the bottom horn. I'd reverse those. I would also consider replacing the pickup switch with another arcade style button (but not a momentary, just tap it to switch pickups)...and then probably add a "blow through" switch for turning both pickups on together.

At the end of the day, it is a good guitar. I just think it deserves some updated hardware and pickups, which will require routing.

One of the brain twisting mystery is getting a good sustain on an existing super strat like your wolfie.
between the 2 guitars I have which is the red one has all rock maple neck and body vs the white one with northern ash body and rock maple neck. Both are V-Boat asymmetric neck, similar configuration with slight difference of one with pickguard and one without. both german Floyd, 5-springs loaded, both medium 11-52, same jb bridge pickup, same trevor rabin neck pickup, no middle. both perfect setup doesn't get out of tune on extra dive and pull.
The northern ash/maple wins on the tone but the red one is light years away on sustain.
I learned something from steve stevens which he said no matter what you do on setup with or without a Floyd, try to simplify everything. just like what your present setup is. But improve it. Make every part running at its best. The direct mounted pickup with german spring will help too.
the tremolo pivoting is one of the key factor. if your post is inserted, try to build a solid foundation like an oak wood around it or a casted steel bar hugging that foundation.
the red guitars pickup is directly bolted to the body. (no springs). it took me a while to get the right setup and sound out of it. But once the height is set, its like new year everyday.

PS. both are 10 lbs. but for sure weight is not really an object.

I also have a theory about heavy equipment, but minimal contact area

If you look at 80s Kramer's, those necks were just ESP fender copies that had to be modified to fit a Floyd nut. As such, look closely...the Floyd nut actually hangs past the wood like 1/3 of its entire contact area. And I consider that a huge improvement over full contact.

My Floyd is set up against the body as well, no float, but even though it's got the screws shaved down it still doesn't sit perfectly flat. It's really just the bottom edge on the wood. And I consider that a huge improvement over full contact such as done by recessing (for a non floater anyway)

On a full float Floyd, I haven't seen any sustain issues as long as the rest of the set up is tight.

It is all alchemy. For example, that area of a Les Paul where they break so easily at the headstock? I have an unproven theory that that weak spot is actually what gives a Les Paul some of its sweetness. The vibration that happens there just does something. Now way that I can think of to prove it, but there you go.

A full float Floyd does benefit a lot from a big block. The imapct is also real on a decked Floyd.

Conversely, I find decking a Strat style trem takes the block out of it.

[PsychoCid]

One of the brain twisting mystery is getting a good sustain on an existing super strat like your wolfie.
between the 2 guitars I have which is the red one has all rock maple neck and body vs the white one with northern ash body and rock maple neck. Both are V-Boat asymmetric neck, similar configuration with slight difference of one with pickguard and one without. both german Floyd, 5-springs loaded, both medium 11-52, same jb bridge pickup, same trevor rabin neck pickup, no middle. both perfect setup doesn't get out of tune on extra dive and pull.
The northern ash/maple wins on the tone but the red one is light years away on sustain.
I learned something from steve stevens which he said no matter what you do on setup with or without a Floyd, try to simplify everything. just like what your present setup is. But improve it. Make every part running at its best. The direct mounted pickup with german spring will help too.
the tremolo pivoting is one of the key factor. if your post is inserted, try to build a solid foundation like an oak wood around it or a casted steel bar hugging that foundation.
the red guitars pickup is directly bolted to the body. (no springs). it took me a while to get the right setup and sound out of it. But once the height is set, its like new year everyday.

PS. both are 10 lbs. but for sure weight is not really an object.

I also have a theory about heavy equipment, but minimal contact area

If you look at 80s Kramer's, those necks were just ESP fender copies that had to be modified to fit a Floyd nut. As such, look closely...the Floyd nut actually hangs past the wood like 1/3 of its entire contact area. And I consider that a huge improvement over full contact.

My Floyd is set up against the body as well, no float, but even though it's got the screws shaved down it still doesn't sit perfectly flat. It's really just the bottom edge on the wood. And I consider that a huge improvement over full contact such as done by recessing (for a non floater anyway)

On a full float Floyd, I haven't seen any sustain issues as long as the rest of the set up is tight.

It is all alchemy. For example, that area of a Les Paul where they break so easily at the headstock? I have an unproven theory that that weak spot is actually what gives a Les Paul some of its sweetness. The vibration that happens there just does something. Now way that I can think of to prove it, but there you go.

A full float Floyd does benefit a lot from a big block. The imapct is also real on a decked Floyd.

Conversely, I find decking a Strat style trem takes the block out of it.

Same. I have hand shaved volutes to get that sweeter tone. It works.

[Pilipete_Townshend]

Lessons learned:

The Wolfie has no sustain. Literally it dies in under 5 seconds. But it sounds like an ELEPHANT like a big ol mean Les Paul. When I first plug it in at somebody's house they usually go "Whoa." You really don't expect that from such a small bodied fiddle.

I blame several factors. First and foremost, the Floyd Rose Special equipment. You really need denser steel. And if you saw my other thread today, the recessed routing prevents me from installing a real Floyd.

The crazy hot 22k A2 pickup probably also kills the sustain, without having the boost of an EMG to carry it.

The SureClaw doesn't seem to do much at all. I'd rather have a traditional claw and save all that weight. It's got a trem stop thing, but it's plastic and not even touching the sustain block...so not helping either.

I no longer like the kill switch up top and pickup switch on the bottom horn. I'd reverse those. I would also consider replacing the pickup switch with another arcade style button (but not a momentary, just tap it to switch pickups)...and then probably add a "blow through" switch for turning both pickups on together.

At the end of the day, it is a good guitar. I just think it deserves some updated hardware and pickups, which will require routing.

One of the brain twisting mystery is getting a good sustain on an existing super strat like your wolfie.
between the 2 guitars I have which is the red one has all rock maple neck and body vs the white one with northern ash body and rock maple neck. Both are V-Boat asymmetric neck, similar configuration with slight difference of one with pickguard and one without. both german Floyd, 5-springs loaded, both medium 11-52, same jb bridge pickup, same trevor rabin neck pickup, no middle. both perfect setup doesn't get out of tune on extra dive and pull.
The northern ash/maple wins on the tone but the red one is light years away on sustain.
I learned something from steve stevens which he said no matter what you do on setup with or without a Floyd, try to simplify everything. just like what your present setup is. But improve it. Make every part running at its best. The direct mounted pickup with german spring will help too.
the tremolo pivoting is one of the key factor. if your post is inserted, try to build a solid foundation like an oak wood around it or a casted steel bar hugging that foundation.
the red guitars pickup is directly bolted to the body. (no springs). it took me a while to get the right setup and sound out of it. But once the height is set, its like new year everyday.

PS. both are 10 lbs. but for sure weight is not really an object.

I also have a theory about heavy equipment, but minimal contact area

If you look at 80s Kramer's, those necks were just ESP fender copies that had to be modified to fit a Floyd nut. As such, look closely...the Floyd nut actually hangs past the wood like 1/3 of its entire contact area. And I consider that a huge improvement over full contact.

My Floyd is set up against the body as well, no float, but even though it's got the screws shaved down it still doesn't sit perfectly flat. It's really just the bottom edge on the wood. And I consider that a huge improvement over full contact such as done by recessing (for a non floater anyway)

On a full float Floyd, I haven't seen any sustain issues as long as the rest of the set up is tight.

Good call on the nut rest. that should make a lot of difference and in tone wise too!