Crayon Sky Music

What can I do to lock the strings on my guitar?

I have a Fender Showmaster. Like all Fenders (unless it’s custom built or a very old discontinued model) they do not have locking tremolos on them. Not only do I play guitar all day every day, but I also enjoy using the whammy bar on it. But it’s always throwing the strings out of tune. And I’m in a band and we play shows so I can’t have that.

Hi, Ethan! There is a product called the Tremsetter (see http://store.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=115 for details), which reportedly will stabiliize your bridge. It is kind of pricey (even at Musician’s Friend price of $37 + shipping), and you may find it more trouble than it is worth. I never was able to get mine adjusted properly, and finally gave up on it; however, if you are presistent it can be made to perform as advertised. Then there is the Backstop, the ESP Arming Adjuster, and the Goeldo BackBox (see http://joe.emenaker.com/TremStabilizers/index.html for honest reviews of these and other devices). Of course, if you only making trem dives (not pulling the notes sharp), you could always just tighten down the springs so the bridge rests against the body; this no-cost option will always ensure that the bridge will return to the same position (even if you break a string). Just a thought. Best regards, Dana

Fender showmaster Custom Shop USA Super Strat Guitar