Staggered string holes

[Veenture]

Interesting to see what other constructors and designers have come up with in the tremolo department. I'm still at it; designing something along the lines similar to how a camshaft operates in a car's engine, causing the valve shafts to move up and down. It's working name; a VCT trem ( = 'Variable Camshaft Tremolo'). The cams will push the strings downward in such a way that a whole transposed chord stays in tune when the trem arm is activated. Cam height and -size of each individual cam shall have to be determined by the tonal and physical properties of each string if you get the idea. An adjustment feature in my design for each individual cam shall allow for the use of any particular string type or -gauge.

OK, I've now revealed a little of what's going on in my mind right now...

(sigh)...so there goes my million dollar idea because I haven't bothered to put a patent on it... (Bob, you may use it for a new Hallmark trem by SHADE...if you wish ...unless of course the Steinberger Trans-Trem system already works that way too? )

[woodchuck30]

Hay guies I know that this is an old topic but did you take intocosideration that cast aluminum is not that strong. It's pourious because of the impurities in it and the gasses given off during the pour. THere fore by stagring the holes, instead of drilling straight across you increase the strength of the tremolo tail piece. I think there's like 150 pounds of force on that tail piece. The metal shaft, or piviot point takes a lot of the pressure, but the strings still pull all at the same time and the same place. Just a thought.

[oipunkguy]

interesting. what about the brass versions?

[jfine]

Now this is some fascinating information! I've always figured that the staggered holes were to help keep the strings in somewhat relative tune when the bar was depressed, and it seems to be better in that respect than, say, a Strat or a Bigsby, but the only vibrato I've seen that actually does that is the Steinberger. That being said, the "out-of-tune-ness" on the pitch drop doesn't bother me, as long as it returns to pitch in tune. I use the bar mainly for moderate dips and wobbles--no more than a half-step, and I don't spend a lot of time with the bar depressed anyway. I'm looking forward to the arrival of my Hallmark 60 Custom so I can hear for myself if vibrato-bar use on it is more consonant than on my Strat (the only other guitar I have with a vibrato). The screw-spacing reason for the pickup-slant never occurred to me--I always assumed it was for a particular tone, and it does affect the tone, most noticeably on the two-pickup mix, where it gives a little more midrange cancellation to the bass strings. That's one of my favorite sounds on a Mosrite-style guitar, and I've never heard any other type of guitar get that particular sound--at least, that's what I'm telling my wife to rationalize the 60 Custom purchase!

[Veenture]

The screw-spacing reason for the pickup-slant never occurred to me--I always assumed it was for a particular tone, and it does affect the tone, most noticeably on the two-pickup mix, where it gives a little more midrange cancellation to the bass strings. That's one of my favorite sounds on a Mosrite-style guitar

Exactly, you've said it in a nutshell Jon and + 1 about the tone!

[woodchuck30]

HI OIpunkguy, For give me, I'm lost, Ithought mosrite made only cast aluminum tremolo's. Bras would be twice as strong as aluminum.

[Dennisthe Menace]

Bras would be twice as strong as aluminum.

......only in the Women's Dept. at Sears .........

[woodchuck30]

Never said I was an english prof. Is it brass? You guys kill me

[oipunkguy]

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2163

check out the you tube video with semie about 1:30 into the video.

[mark1]

Oipunkguy,thanks for putting this up. I was just about to and you beat me to it