What are the different basic types of trem??

axisus

So, now I'm into building guitars, there doesn't seem much point in cranking out things I've done before/have. I do as a general rule like some kind of trem, and at the moment I have:

Bigsby B5
Floyd Rose
2 point Strat type


What other kinds of trem are available, and which are any good? Got any preference?

Asomodai

Washburn Wonderbar. 
Kahler

not_the_dj

Gibson Vibrola (never tried one), also a sideways Vibrola (as seen on a Billy Gibbons sig SG)

JerkMoans

Jazzmaster/Jaguar type.  My personal favourite, especially in the precision engineered aftermarket version made by Mastery.

guitars4you

you mention Strat type but there are many versions with in that - with or without locking nut and/or tuners - 6 vintage style screw or 2 post modern fulcrum - PRS is based a bit on both with 6 screws but each screw is a 'modern fulcrum post 

Kahler and Washburn Wonderbar are 2 fom the past

Stetsbar trem, whilst they do a Tele format, they are found more on a Gibson

IMO without going into serious dive bombing, the PRS is the best trem available regarding feel, tuning stability - Yet for me and many there is nothing wrong with a vintage Strat trem - You can't actually buy a new PRS trem system, so pick up a used version if you can - I've seen various trems in USA mags that are similar to the PRS trem but not sure if anyone in the UK imports them, so it might be a case of buy direct from the USA - le - I've just found on a Google search that you can buy a PRS trem https://us.prsaccessories.com/products/prs-tremolo-bridge

Interesting on a Strat trem, that both Jeff Beck and Hank Marvin use the trem on most notes and JB prefers the modern 2 point format and HM prefers the vintgae style

axisus

@guitars4you mine's a 2 point strat (edited first post now). I probably wouldn't do anything else too 'stratty'.

meltedbuzzbox

Vibrato?

ICBM

There are two kinds...

Bigsby

Ones @Phil_aka_Pip likes

FX_Munkee

There's the Super-Vee, no personal recommendation from me (don't have one) but it's an interesting idea.
https://super-vee.com/super-vee-and-bladerunner-101/

guitars4you

don't forget Brian Poole - he's an expert on The Tremeloes

Whitecat

Duesenberg makes a proprietary trem that can be acquired aftermarket. Dennis Fano is a big fan of it - he uses it on Novo and Rivolta builds. 

guitars4you

Whitecat said:

Duesenberg makes a proprietary trem that can be acquired aftermarket. Dennis Fano is a big fan of it - he uses it on Novo and Rivolta builds. 

great shout - forget about such new kids on the block

WezV

The duesenberg bigsby style is a thing of wonder.


generally trems are split into 2 types.  Pivot and Cam.

MartinB

The Duesenberg Les Trem II is quite effective too, and a bit different from the bigsby-esque Duesenberg.  It's handy if you're not totally committed to having a trem, as it mounts on stop-tail studs.  

maltingsaudio

Levinson Falcon tremolo was a good one https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=levinson+blade+tremolo&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari#imgrc=RWmEOgQ31wUTYM:

thermionic

Bias tremolo, opto tremolo, and harmonic tremolo.

Phil_aka_Pip

ICBM said:

There are two kinds...

Bigsby

Ones @Phil_aka_Pip likes

lol @ICBM

The Truth:

1. I don't like them being called "tremelo" 'cos that ain't what they do and I don't care what Leo first called them, they do VIBRATO.
2. ICBM is right, I don't like Bigsbys
3. Strat-type vibrato I can tolerate if it's set up right
4. Don't like locking types 'cos they're a PITA re-stringing
5. No experience of anything else, except that only my Strat carries a vibrato, none of my other guitars do and neither do any of the instruments on my GAS list.

ICBM

Phil_aka_Pip said:

I don't like them being called "tremelo" 'cos that ain't what they do and I don't care what Leo first called them, they do VIBRATO.

Interesting, Bigsby have always called theirs a vibrato .

Just to be clear .

Phil_aka_Pip

@ICBM so they got one thing right, then

Clarky

all of my guitars have Floyd's or derivatives [Ibanez LoPro Edge for example]
been using double locking bridges for years and love them...

I never thought I'd be interested in another style of bridge until I tried the one on the Vigier
which looked to me to be outstanding

mbe

There's also finger vibrato and the simple shake the guitar neck.

Admittedly these are more techniques rather than specific devices, but it just goes to show there's more than one way to skin a cat.