QA

How To Install Whammy Bar

Can you install a whammy bar on any electric guitar?

All tremolo systems have their quirks, whether you use a Bigsby, Floyd Rose, two-point synchronized, floating or what have you. But a new system says it can deliver perfect tuning and accurate pitch bends on any electric…or acoustic, for that matter.

How do you position a whammy bar?

Some players prefer to position the whammy bar towards the bottom of the guitar. The flutter is best used on a Floyd Rose whammy bar. The flutter is a great effect when used sparingly. Try tapping your whammy bar while playing chords or performing a riff.

Can a whammy bar damage a guitar?

Conclusion. As you can see, whammy bars are perfectly fine. There is no any harm whatsoever a whammy bar can do to your guitar. Of course, you can notice some tuning stability issues when you use it, but it’s probably not because of a whammy bar itself.

Can you put a whammy bar on a guitar that doesn’t have one?

Yes you can do that. But depending on the bridge you have now you might need to remove some wood from the back of the guitar to make space for the springs of the whammy bar.

Why is my whammy bar not working?

If the springs attached to the bridge are screwed in tight, you might have to press down quite firmly. How hard are you pressing down? If the springs attached to the bridge are screwed in tight, you might have to press down quite firmly.

How tight should a whammy bar be?

I prefer just enough tension so that the handle stays where I put it. Others like it loose. On your guitar, set it the way you like it, if you can figure out how. On some guitars it is not obvious how this is done.

Why do some guitars not have a whammy bar?

There are many reasons: 1: It makes maintenance much more complicated for a beginner. 2: It is absolutely nonessential, even for a rock/metal player. 3: A fixed-bridge guitar will be more versatile for you right now (you’ll be able to change tunings quickly and try out different gauge strings without a full setup).

Can you break a whammy bar?

It doesnt break or even go out of tune, and the strings are so lose they’re like rubber bands.

Are whammy bars worth it?

It depends on what you want to play. Are you going to play a lot of metal with a whole lot of scooping in that case a locking tremolo is definitely good. A vibrato bar is good if you want a little bit here and there. It just all depends on the style of music you want to play.

Are whammy bars universal?

Both Whammy bars and Tremolo systems have standard sizes. So you just need to check that fits your guitar. Other than that, a standard size of the whammy bar will do just fine.

Can you put a whammy bar on a Les Paul?

Yes. You can put several makes/models of whammy bars on a LP.

How tight should the tremolo be?

If you have a vintage-style 6-screw tremolo unit on your Strat, tighten the screws down until they just barely touch the top of the bridge plate. If the screws are too tight, the plate and its knife edge may bind.

How do I get rid of tremolo arm?

While the bridge is removed, locate the retainer clip from the back of the bridge and, using a thin ruler or straight edge, carefully force the clip out of the slot. By pushing straight out against the rounded part of the clip, you’ll be able to force it loose and remove it easily.

How does a tremolo arm work?

In a nutshell, “tremolo” is a variation in volume while “vibrato” is a variation in pitch. Pressure on the tremolo arm loosens the tension on the strings and flattens the pitch, while pulling the tremolo arm away from the body does the opposite, sharpening the pitch.

Do you need a pedal for a whammy bar?

The tremolo pedal can work to get some whammy bar effect to an extent, but to really get some cool whammy bar effects I’d recommend you try out a whammy pedal. If you’d like to get a whammy bar effect and don’t have a whammy bar on your guitar, yes you can use effects pedals as a substitute.

Do you really need a tremolo?

It’s up to you. If you will play or want to play guitar with whammy bar effects, then get a guitar with a tremolo. If you’re playing metal or hard rock, you probably would want one. But not all hard rock and metal players use the whammy bar and a guitar with no whammy is more suitable.

What’s the difference between a tremolo and a whammy bar?

Here’s where it gets confusing: the formal name for a whammy bar is a “tremolo arm system,” and this term incorrectly uses the word “tremolo.” Remember that tremolo is a volume-based modulation. A “tremolo arm” (aka a whammy bar) is a vibrato effect. It does not change volume; it change pitch.