Hanks tailpiece.

[humdrum]

Why Is Hanks tailpiece on his Strat larger than on a standard Fender Stratocaster. I have tried looking it up on the web but end up going round in circles (none the wiser). Thanks.

[neil2726]

Probably because it has a non standard Fender trem system - check out "easymute"

[Established1958]

To keep it seasonal.
Oh no it isn't!
Seriously the Trem on all of Hanks Strats are Fender. The Easy Mute mod relates only to the sustain block which is also Fender and is modified by VML to provide a smoother and more stable anchor for the Trem bar.
Now the Burns Trem that's a whole other thing altogether.

[Fenderman]

The Burns tremelo looks a lot thicker than a Fender's. Does that make it slightly harder to hold/waggle?

[humdrum]

Hi, thanks for info. I have noticed the angle on the latest tremelo arm is designed to make string damping easier (east mute doh) but can you just buy the arm on its own or do you have to have a new block fitted? Thanks once again.

[TonyL]

Hi Roy

You do not need to buy the arm, it is easy enough to make your own. I've done this for a couple of guitars, all you need is a vice and a couple of pieces of wood to protect the arm. Clamp the arm in the vice between the pieces of wood and bend it to the shape you require. If you're not happy with trying this with the arm in your guitar you can always buy a spare, I got mine from Axesrus for about £6, and use that. For me this also had the advantage of shortening the arm a little so that I now hit the strings between the neck and middle pickups instead of over the neck pickup.

[humdrum]

Yeah i might give that a try. The shorter arm sounds attractive as well for the reason you give. David Gilmour likes a shorter arm on his strats so there must be something in it......Thanks for your help.

[Established1958]

If you want an easy mute why not just buy one. Without a proper bender you won't get a good result and a chromed bar will peel. Proper thread a metal tip with a grip and very high quality steel are what makes the real thing cost what it does. That and the fact each one is made by hand. You are supporting UK manufacture and Hank by getting the real thing.
David Gilmour (well his tech) has just had 2 from me at Oasis a 130mm and a 110mm

[TonyL]

Without a proper bender you won't get a good result and a chromed bar will peel.

Well Darryl and Howard I must have been lucky. As I said I only used 2 pieces of wood and a vice to achieve my bend and there is no flaking of the chrome. Also the thread aspect doesn't worry me as my arm is a push in one and stays where I put it. I know there are a number of others who have had similar success to me.

My bent trem arm.jpg

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I'm only a home player so I would rather pay around £6 and do it myself than pay around £40 for the real thing, the difference will pay for a few sets of strings.

(Does Hank get royalties from EasyMute?)

[noelford]

Personally, I've never understood the need for this. I have absolutely no problem palm muting with the normal Strat arm.

And, though I'm all for supporting the UK industry (I've recently spent a considerable sum on a hand-built guitar from a British luthier) I have to say cost of the EasyMute arm seems high for what must be a very simple production process.