Review of 6 different tremolo stabilizers

[jemenake]

Not sure if I should post this here or in the "Gear/Equipment" section, but...

I've finished the first draft of a review of the various floating-trem stabilizer solutions out there: Tremsetter, WD Tremolo Stabilizer, Ibanez BackStop, ESP Arming Adjuster, Goeldo BackBox, and the Tremol-No. I give them all ratings on price, ease of intallation, adjustment, etc.

Have a peek and let me know if I missed any devices out there:
http://joe.emenaker.com/TremStabilizers/

[CosmicDebris]

Very complete m8.

[stratoskier]

there's also the Freelok, but I believe that is more of a Tremol-No type device than merely a stabilizer.

[JeffWiredBeck24]

"Lastly, just imagine playing some gig and having to reach behind your guitar to fiddle with some thumbscrews and stuff. You'll look like a frickin' panzie."

??? That makes absolutely no sense. Thumbscrews make you a pansy? I wouldn't really give a device a star rating if you haven't used it yet either. Not exactly the best source.

However, your other reviews were pretty good, and in-depth; thanks for the reviews!

[newbieguitarmaker]

hmm the Göldo BackBox looks pretty sweet, I might have to get 1, along with a tremol-no (since I like alternate tunings but hate having to resetup the trem)

[Rich]

You fail to mention the ESPAA is the only one with a ball bearing tip making it the clear choice for non perpendicular installations, which is many Ibanez guitars that have the angled trem cavity without backstop rout.

And of course that I have them cheaper

[torgeot]

I just got an ESPAA from Rich, they work great, I tried it out real tight then unwound my high e string, and it stayed in tune.....

[TMatt142]

Ok...so looking at this review of all these...seems to me that the two ESP type backstops are the way to go, for me at least. So why all the fuss and fancy over the Tremolo-no then? I mean, that looks like a good unit as well but sheesh, reading some of these posts from people, when the Trem-no came out, you'da thought it was the second coming of Jimi Hendrix or something!!

[Scali]

I'd like to know how it compares to the zero-point system that's on the new ZR and Edge-Zero trems from Ibanez.
I really like the ZR7 that I have, and I wonder if the zero-point system can be fitted onto a regular Edge or LoPro.

[321.George]

Nice to see a collection of reviews in one place, someone should make this a sticky then maybe we wont see a "backstop vs *whatever*" every week.

[Dee]

Pretty cool, thanks. I'd never heard of the Göldo BackBox.

[ME.]

Originally Posted by newbieguitarmaker

hmm the Göldo BackBox looks pretty sweet, I might have to get 1, along with a tremol-no (since I like alternate tunings but hate having to resetup the trem)

You should. I use the Göldo BackBox, it's great.

Colin

[CrossingStar]

I agree about the Tremol-No. It's just a fancy blocking-unblocking device. I found a product for $20 that does the same thing: Schaller "Trem-Stop". Downside is it must be mounted on the face of your guitar, behind the fine tuners. I can understand that some people wouldn't want something mounted on the front of their guitar.

I have a couple of WD TS1 Tremolo Stabiliser. I find it returns to zero very well though, even after pulling up.

[Crazy_Guitar]

I used the Hipshot TremSetter.
It is a real pain to set it up. I got mine set up quite easily and quickly. I did string gauge changes and tuning changes and I have always set it up correctly.
However, a friend of mine NEVER got to set it up correctly, so, he removed it.

I have removed it too, when I changed my Lo-TRS2 to a OFR Pro bridge.

(No more tremolo issues from that day on...)

[kotornut]

I blocked my trem now i can't do any sound effects. But I don't have any trem problems either.