Best Vintage Mustang Vibrato?

[scottydanger]

So I need to replace the trem unit on my MIJ Mustang, one of the min adjustment screws stripped and the thing never returned to pitch properly in the first place. I'm told the best trem for a Mustang is a vintage one, but I'm not sure if there's a difference between pre- and post-CBS. What do I want to aim for to get the absolute best unit that will work perfectly?

Bonus question: is it easy to replace a missing vintage set screw for the arm? Many on eBay are missing the screw and I'm willing to pay a premium for a complete one if it's a pain to replace that thing.

Thanks in advance!

[Debaser]

I’ve been down this rabbit hole. I have a ‘66 Mustang unit and it’s not any better—still gives me issues, poor tuning stability. The plate fulcrum point seems to be better than the generic Squier version. I’m holding out for a Performer series vibrato unit...and a customized string bar I’d like to have machined someday.

[HNB]

The arm set screw in my vintage tremolo fit my Japanese one oddly enough. They might be the same size screw.

[Horsefeather]

I struggled with my Squier VM plate until I realized it was a hopeless cause. The Mustang vibrato is just a stupid design. The two cigar posts tend to chew up the holes in the plate that they rely upon as fulcrums and when that happens, it's all over.

If you're feeling industrious, do this:

http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/vie ... d&start=15

[RIORIO]

I’d have to disagree here. I had a 66 mustang with the most perfect vibrato unit I’ve encountered, regardless of guitar. I had SF guitarworks in San Francisco set it up and it held tune perfectly ALWAYS.

[scottydanger]

I’d have to disagree here. I had a 66 mustang with the most perfect vibrato unit I’ve encountered, regardless of guitar. I had SF guitarworks in San Francisco set it up and it held tune perfectly ALWAYS.

That's a relief! Glad to hear there's at least one person who had good luck with a vintage post-cbs unit.

I’ve been down this rabbit hole. I have a ‘66 Mustang unit and it’s not any better—still gives me issues, poor tuning stability. The plate fulcrum point seems to be better than the generic Squier version. I’m holding out for a Performer series vibrato unit...and a customized string bar I’d like to have machined someday.

So you put the 66 unit on a Squier? Did you also upgrade the bridge or nut or anything else? I'll be using a Staytrem bridge so that should give me a leg up in this process, hopefully.

[HNB]

I have no name ones and Fender Japanese ones and US Fender ones and they all held their tuning just fine. I just did the same sort of setup I do with all tremolo guitars. Tune it, intonate it, then abuse the trem and retune it, abuse, retune... once it holds its tuning after abuse then I know the strings are all set for normal use.

[MechaBulletBill]

I struggled with my Squier VM plate until I realized it was a hopeless cause. The Mustang vibrato is just a stupid design. The two cigar posts tend to chew up the holes in the plate that they rely upon as fulcrums and when that happens, it's all over.

If you're feeling industrious, do this:

http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/vie ... d&start=15

The vibrato plate on original US mustangs is much harder, it doesnt get chewed up and you get a proper knife edge pivot.

[Debaser]

I’d have to disagree here. I had a 66 mustang with the most perfect vibrato unit I’ve encountered, regardless of guitar. I had SF guitarworks in San Francisco set it up and it held tune perfectly ALWAYS.

That's a relief! Glad to hear there's at least one person who had good luck with a vintage post-cbs unit.

I’ve been down this rabbit hole. I have a ‘66 Mustang unit and it’s not any better—still gives me issues, poor tuning stability. The plate fulcrum point seems to be better than the generic Squier version. I’m holding out for a Performer series vibrato unit...and a customized string bar I’d like to have machined someday.

So you put the 66 unit on a Squier? Did you also upgrade the bridge or nut or anything else? I'll be using a Staytrem bridge so that should give me a leg up in this process, hopefully.

Yes, I took a VM and made it into a ‘64 tribute of sorts. It has a ‘66 tort on it as well, with Buddha repro Mustang pickups. I still haven’t installed a better nut. I have no problems with all kinds of Bigsby types and JM/Jags, as long as the nut is dressed it’s usually fine. I’m using a Staytrem on my Mustang at the moment.

I did sort out the tuning issues with the stock vibrato early on. Lubed every single contact point with tri-lube, dressed the nut slots, etc. I worked great for a couple of months. After a string brand change it was acting up so lubed it again. After 6 months of various playing, I realized it was bad as when I first got it. I coudn’t rely on it anymore to get me back in tune. I bought a MIJ plate and that wasn’t any better, then found a good condition ‘66 unit. My idea then was the Squier fulcrum point was wearing out. The fulcrum point on the vintage model is better hardened is my guess. I still had some frustrations so I pulled the bar. I don’t use the vibrato at all anymore, but I can still grab the ‘hot dog’ for subtle vibrato if I wanted to.

[scottydanger]

So you put the 66 unit on a Squier? Did you also upgrade the bridge or nut or anything else? I'll be using a Staytrem bridge so that should give me a leg up in this process, hopefully.

Yes, I took a VM and made it into a ‘64 tribute of sorts. It has a ‘66 tort on it as well, with Buddha repro Mustang pickups. I still haven’t installed a better nut. I have no problems with all kinds of Bigsby types and JM/Jags, as long as the nut is dressed it’s usually fine. I’m using a Staytrem on my Mustang at the moment.

I did sort out the tuning issues with the stock vibrato early on. Lubed every single contact point with tri-lube, dressed the nut slots, etc. I worked great for a couple of months. After a string brand change it was acting up so lubed it again. After 6 months of various playing, I realized it was bad as when I first got it. I coudn’t rely on it anymore to get me back in tune. I bought a MIJ plate and that wasn’t any better, then found a good condition ‘66 unit. My idea then was the Squier fulcrum point was wearing out. The fulcrum point on the vintage model is better hardened is my guess. I still had some frustrations so I pulled the bar. I don’t use the vibrato at all anymore, but I can still grab the ‘hot dog’ for subtle vibrato if I wanted to.

Nice! That looks a lot like the '65 I owned for a while, great work!

Fingers crossed that I can solve this issue, it seems really inconsistent from unit to unit. Thanks for your input!

[scottydanger]

Thanks for all of your help, everybody! I found this beauty at a price I couldn't say no to. Can't wait to get it installed!

https://reverb.com/item/18555334-vintag ... -1964-1966

[scottydanger]

Final update: this thing is amazing! Ultra smooth and returns perfectly to pitch. Also looks nearly brand new! Very happy with my upgrade!