Vibrola tremolo units. Are they that bad?
- aliendawg
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Vibrola tremolo units. Are they that bad?
What's up, guys. A friend of mine is GASing over an Epiphone SG 400 with a vibrola tremolo unit.
He told me people are always bashing on them. I said "let me do some research" because well... people were always complaining about floating tremolos and it turns out you just need the right setup for them to work properly. Maybe that's the case with the vibrola too
He's not pulling divebombs or anything... In fact he wants to do the Rex Shelverton (from Tamaryn) glide guitar thing, with his wirst resting above the trem bar
So here's my question. Are Vibrolas THAT bad and unstable?
He told me people are always bashing on them. I said "let me do some research" because well... people were always complaining about floating tremolos and it turns out you just need the right setup for them to work properly. Maybe that's the case with the vibrola too
He's not pulling divebombs or anything... In fact he wants to do the Rex Shelverton (from Tamaryn) glide guitar thing, with his wirst resting above the trem bar
So here's my question. Are Vibrolas THAT bad and unstable?
Last edited by aliendawg on Thu Jun 28, 2018 12:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"With the resurgence of offsets it seems like we're also seeing a resurgence of people who don't know what to do with them" - 601210
- Don_Karnage
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Re: Vibrola tremolo units. Are they that bad?
From my experience any vibrato unit coupled with a tune-o-matic isn’t very good for tuning stability, vibrolas not being worse than any other kind of vibrato really. Graph-tech or nylon saddles can help a bit, as well as a well filed and lubed nut of course.
- oid
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Re: Vibrola tremolo units. Are they that bad?
Nothing wrong with the vibrola, as long as the guitar and trem are setup properly. It has its own range and techniques and within those bounds it does a fine job of bending the strings. It is best to pick the trem that suits the style, so what ever Rex uses would be a wise choice, I do not know him so I can not help there.
If the saddles are properly filed they will not offer any more resistance then a properly filed nut, there seems to be an aversion to filing TOM saddles these days.Don_Karnage wrote: ↑Thu Jun 28, 2018 12:02 pmFrom my experience any vibrato unit coupled with a tune-o-matic isn’t very good for tuning stability, vibrolas not being worse than any other kind of vibrato really. Graph-tech or nylon saddles can help a bit, as well as a well filed and lubed nut of course.
Logic gates based on billiard-ball computer designs have also been made to operate using live soldier crabs of the species Mictyris guinotae in place of the billiard balls.
- aliendawg
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Re: Vibrola tremolo units. Are they that bad?
Thank you!!
Did you guys file the saddles and nuts yourselves or did you take them to a tech? Seems like something easy to mess up. I need to file my Jag's nut too
Did you guys file the saddles and nuts yourselves or did you take them to a tech? Seems like something easy to mess up. I need to file my Jag's nut too
"With the resurgence of offsets it seems like we're also seeing a resurgence of people who don't know what to do with them" - 601210
- oid
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Re: Vibrola tremolo units. Are they that bad?
It is no different then filing a nut, notch them to the string guages you desire to use and slope the notches back towards the tail piece, get them good and smooth. Kind of sucks on most modern TOMs since they are chromed steel and you expose bare steel which can rust.
Logic gates based on billiard-ball computer designs have also been made to operate using live soldier crabs of the species Mictyris guinotae in place of the billiard balls.
- Shadoweclipse13
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Re: Vibrola tremolo units. Are they that bad?
For tremolos, I've gotten to the point that I pretty much always use roller bridges personally.
Pickup Switching Mad Scientist
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384
- del
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Re: Vibrola tremolo units. Are they that bad?
I have an early-2000s Epiphone Firebird VII with a vibrola unit. I like it very much and favor it over all the other vibrato tailpieces I've ever played (and I've played almost all of them). It stays in tune well and has a well-balanced and situated arm that allows for both shimmery vibrato and occasional deeper bends.
And, imho, it looks very very cool, which definitely impacts my assessment in at least some small way.
~del
And, imho, it looks very very cool, which definitely impacts my assessment in at least some small way.
~del
The Kinks - The Fall – The Bad Seeds - Spacemen 3 - The Gories - Royal Trux
"The idea is to put a pick in one hand and a guitar in the other and with a tiny movement rule the world." - David Fair
"The idea is to put a pick in one hand and a guitar in the other and with a tiny movement rule the world." - David Fair
- gringopig
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Re: Vibrola tremolo units. Are they that bad?
I have a Lyre Maestro on an SG and this:
Took off the stop tailpiece fitted this and a new set of string and there you go. It's great! It has the soft wobble of a Maestro but more range - doesn't go out of tune with the stock bridge and nut and it has actually improved the tone and sustain of the guitar too. Hard to believe but true.
A Duesenberg Les Trem 2!
recommended.
Took off the stop tailpiece fitted this and a new set of string and there you go. It's great! It has the soft wobble of a Maestro but more range - doesn't go out of tune with the stock bridge and nut and it has actually improved the tone and sustain of the guitar too. Hard to believe but true.
A Duesenberg Les Trem 2!
recommended.
- aliendawg
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Re: Vibrola tremolo units. Are they that bad?
Nice! It looks really good too.
But it wouldn't fit the purpose of what my friend wants The bar must move around so he can place it under his wrist
Like this:
But it wouldn't fit the purpose of what my friend wants The bar must move around so he can place it under his wrist
Like this:
"With the resurgence of offsets it seems like we're also seeing a resurgence of people who don't know what to do with them" - 601210
- gringopig
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Re: Vibrola tremolo units. Are they that bad?
You can adjust the bar in all sorts of ways actually. Loosen off the 2 allen keys and push the bar back or forward or rotate inside the fitting to bring the arm closer to the strings or move it further away. You also bring the arm up and down just like the pic. 3 independent planes of adjustment!
It also stays put unlike the Maestro and the wiggle is luscious.
It also stays put unlike the Maestro and the wiggle is luscious.
- aliendawg
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Re: Vibrola tremolo units. Are they that bad?
Oh my I'm so stupid. I didn't look close enough
Well... That could do the trick then! It's a great desing really
Well... That could do the trick then! It's a great desing really
"With the resurgence of offsets it seems like we're also seeing a resurgence of people who don't know what to do with them" - 601210
- gringopig
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Re: Vibrola tremolo units. Are they that bad?
Yes, the thing on top of the spring moves in a circle, moving the arm parallel to the body and the arm being round can rotate in the mounting as well as move back and forward. It's a cool thing for stop tailpieces!
- cmatthes
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- DavidG
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Re: Vibrola tremolo units. Are they that bad?
That looks great and I may try one at some point on my les paul. I had a duesenberg a few years ago which came with the full fat trem system, they are a work of genius. Almost faultless, the one I had anyway.gringopig wrote: ↑Sun Jul 15, 2018 11:01 amI have a Lyre Maestro on an SG and this:
Took off the stop tailpiece fitted this and a new set of string and there you go. It's great! It has the soft wobble of a Maestro but more range - doesn't go out of tune with the stock bridge and nut and it has actually improved the tone and sustain of the guitar too. Hard to believe but true.
A Duesenberg Les Trem 2!
recommended.
- raindog13
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Re: Vibrola tremolo units. Are they that bad?
About how much did that cost you? I've been looking around for a vibrato for my Blacktop Jaguar project. I always thought that the Bigsby on a Jag is a messy look, too busy, and it seems like this might just fit the bill!gringopig wrote: ↑Sun Jul 15, 2018 11:01 amI have a Lyre Maestro on an SG and this:
Took off the stop tailpiece fitted this and a new set of string and there you go. It's great! It has the soft wobble of a Maestro but more range - doesn't go out of tune with the stock bridge and nut and it has actually improved the tone and sustain of the guitar too. Hard to believe but true.
A Duesenberg Les Trem 2!
recommended.
Edit: BTW, beautiful TV Special!