So, what about those posh diamond-coated nut files you can get? Are they any good? Well…

Those nut and sddle sanders they sell on eBay for not a lot of money… Are they any good? Well…

Should you use a notched straight edge for guitar and bass setup? It’s a precision tool and is invaluable for some jobs. But maybe not setup. Read more…

Dealing with truss rods can often be a frustrating experience. There are no real standards. For the most part, you’ll encounter a smallish number of adjustment nuts and tools but sometimes makers throw curveballs. Looking at Maton today…

I’ll return to tremolo stabilisation (a particular implementation) at some point in the future but, for now, I’ve a few thoughts to round out the subject, including an important caveat for all these systems. Check it out…

After blocking, after dive-only setups, after tremolo-stops… It’s time to look at ways to keep the bridge fully floating but still add a little extra stability to the system. Let’s take a look at tremolo stabiliser devices…

We understand how to block a trem completely. We understand some of the problems inherent in a fully floating trem system. Now let’s look at some possible solutions to help bring a little stability.

All this tremolo/vibrato bridge system talk has prompted me to talk about the problems that are inherent in these systems. Let’s consider the delicate balance and how some chimps can upset things…

A vintage Strat-style tremolo is relatively easy to block. A fully floating trem bridge is more challenging to do properly. The bridge should be blocked so it’s fixed in its ‘neutral’ position. That needs a little more work…