Installing a wammy bar on my bass guitar, why I want to and any input?

[BrandenSteele]

Hello comrades! I would like to put a wammy bar on my bass for doing solo work. I would like to know what you guys think. It would be for doing effects and interesting (and very odd) sounds using pedals. Here is an example of the kind of thing I would do: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...j71QBRU#t=247s

He then proceeds to play the rest of the concert without tuning his bass so the whole, "it will put it way bass out of tune" argument doesn't seem to apply here? Can someone explain this to me? It wouldn't be normal bass playing, it would be very unusual something you would never really see kind of thing and sound.

[FrednBass]

Do it.

But i think you will need a bridge with roller saddles for it to work properly.

EDIT:
Or maybe not:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7021/6...fbb29063_b.jpg

[fryBASS]

Hi. The Kahler bass trem does a pretty darn good job of staying in tune. I believe that is the trem that Les has on his basses. It also depends on the nut on your bass and the strings that you use.

If you have the money and time to install it properly (or have the money to have someone install it for you) then go for it.
When I put it on my Peavey Grind, it did seem to slightly alter the tone of the bass and even with routing, made the bass heavier.

[HolmeBass]

OT, but just saw Primus for the first time on NYE and it was a great show. Les uses the heck out of that whammy bar!

[walterw]

just don't do it on your "main" bass!

[Figjam]

I have a P bass with a kahler trem. Its a cool thing to have but I have the trem removed for the time being. I dont see myself really using it. It was installed on the bass when I bought it. I like the way the bass feels with that bridge though, FWIW. Im not much for bass wankery or effects these days.

[Johnny Crab]

Kahler's work fine for bass. I can bottom it out until the strings are slack and it comes up in tune(99% of the time). Finding the right strings, graphite on the nut and/or a teflon-impregnated nut, and being sure the rollers are working are helpful.

These folks know a LOT and Eric is one of a few bass trem pioneers:
http://basstremfanatics.forumotion.net/

[bootsox]

basstremfanatics is really the place to go for any help or input you may need. you're pretty much guaranteed a response there from a dozen people who all know everything there is to know about bass trem use

[Pauly 4001]

Originally Posted by fryBASS

Hi. The Kahler bass trem does a pretty darn good job of staying in tune. I believe that is the trem that Les has on his basses. It also depends on the nut on your bass and the strings that you use.

If you have the money and time to install it properly (or have the money to have someone install it for you) then go for it.
When I put it on my Peavey Grind, it did seem to slightly alter the tone of the bass and even with routing, made the bass heavier.

I've got an Aria SB Elite II that came with a Kalher whammy set up and it does return to pitch pretty accurately and has held up pretty good with only one trip to the repairman in the last 10 years or so. Sounds good when wearing funk fingers. It is certainly not for your main bass and effects might help the whole concept along.

[Profania_bass]

Do Floyd Rose trems come in bass sizes?

[JimmyM]

No Floyd bass whammies.

I have a bass with a Kahler. Got no desire to have another one, but it's very cool.

[jbrooks]

I put a Hipshot tremolo on a project bass. It's OK, probably wouldn't do it again or do it on my only or main bass.

I don't gig, just a hobbiest. The gee whiz factor is pretty cool. The bass it is on is a bass that is built to look like a Stratocaster. This bass was stolen but recovered. It got banged up so I going to put a new body on it and will more than likely reuse the bridge.

OK, enough of hijacking your thread, the take home point I would add is that I find I had to raise the action of the strings to keep them from hitting the fretboard when using the whammy. Also the strings go dead quicker from the stretching. The Hipshot bridge requires extensive routing through the body which would be hard to reverse. If it is done wrong then the body is ruined. I see the Kahlar is cheaper on Ebay. I think it was the opposite when I was looking.

Here's a link to my build which shows the body routes.

[jbrooks]

Originally Posted by BrandenSteele

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...j71QBRU#t=247s

He then proceeds to play the rest of the concert without tuning his bass so the whole, "it will put it way bass out of tune" argument doesn't seem to apply here? Can someone explain this to me? It wouldn't be normal bass playing, it would be very unusual something you would never really see kind of thing and sound.

Not sure about the tuning aspect since he is playing fretless. He could adjust for minor changes. From what I heard Claypool isn't known for playing in tune. Not a big Primus fan so I could speak from my own observances.

Her's a link to a video of routing for the Kahler tremolo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfv0g_4xtEs

[bassbenj]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

No Floyd bass whammies.

I have a bass with a Kahler. Got no desire to have another one, but it's very cool.

It's really a shame that some Chinese garage doesn't crank out a few Bass Floyds. I LOVE a Floyd. Sure they are a MAJOR pain in the butt for tuning and changing strings etc. because of the locked nut, but they make up for that with a whammy that doesn't end up out of tune afterwards, has a major range and (although not so important for bass) keeps relationships between strings. But most important of all, is the low force action. Cripes all other styles just take huge force to get a range out of them.

If someone had bass Floyds for sale, I'd be buying instantly. And PLEASE remember to make them for 5 and 6 strings too!

[BrandenSteele]

Originally Posted by jbrooks

Not sure about the tuning aspect since he is playing fretless.

That bass he is playing is fretted.

[LanEvo]

I've always wanted a Steinberger XL or XM bass with the TransTrem just for the sheer coolness of it.



I don't think it would be very useful in real life, however.

[spade2you]

Originally Posted by bassbenj

It's really a shame that some Chinese garage doesn't crank out a few Bass Floyds. I LOVE a Floyd. Sure they are a MAJOR pain in the butt for tuning and changing strings etc. because of the locked nut, but they make up for that with a whammy that doesn't end up out of tune afterwards, has a major range and (although not so important for bass) keeps relationships between strings. But most important of all, is the low force action. Cripes all other styles just take huge force to get a range out of them.

If someone had bass Floyds for sale, I'd be buying instantly. And PLEASE remember to make them for 5 and 6 strings too!

Hipshot custom built this 7 string trem for a Stambaugh.

[rtav]

I would freakin LOVE a tremolo arm on my ESP... but I don't think it's ever gonna happen.

[jbrooks]

Originally Posted by BrandenSteele

That bass he is playing is fretted.

Really? Are you sure it's not just a lined fretless. I thought he was pretty much a fretless player. The slides to me sounded like a fretless to me but I could be wrong.

[bootsox]

If I heard right, Les only has 2 fretless basses, the famous Rainbow Bass, and a 4 string that he uses as a backup. Neither one has a trem.