Members turnip Posted April 13, 2011 Members Share Posted April 13, 2011 I mean, other than "It looks cooler"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Spudro Posted April 13, 2011 Members Share Posted April 13, 2011 It makes restringing easier. Very helpful if you break a string while performing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members turnip Posted April 13, 2011 Author Members Share Posted April 13, 2011 It makes restringing easier. Very helpful if you break a string while performing. Really? How so? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FoonkySteve Posted April 13, 2011 Members Share Posted April 13, 2011 Don't know about just strats in particular. But i used have the backplate off of a couple of guitars permenantly. This was due to me constantly fiddling with the action and trem angles. just easy access i suppose, coupled with the laziness, of screwing it back on, knowing it would be off again at the next string change. This was probably a good 10 years ago though. My Ibanez RG years m/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members etawful Posted April 13, 2011 Members Share Posted April 13, 2011 Really? How so? Ever tried taking a string out quickly through a little hole in a backplate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members chqtarzan Posted April 13, 2011 Members Share Posted April 13, 2011 EJ claims that with the back plate off, he feels a more pianoish tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members etawful Posted April 13, 2011 Members Share Posted April 13, 2011 EJ claims that with the back plate off, he feels a more pianoish tone. I hear EJ also claims that the screws used to hold his amp together affect the tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Spudro Posted April 13, 2011 Members Share Posted April 13, 2011 These were what the original Strat backplates that started getting pulled from Strats looked like: You have to align the hole in the backplate and the hole in the inertia block for ease in string changing. The trem tension balance and stop point set for the player's personal preference could very well not have the holes in the inertia block in perfect alignment with the holes in the backplate. Under the stress of a broken string during performance as well as possibly limited lighting conditions this alignment could be an infuriating and unnecessary obstacle. A lot of backplates got removed from the guitars. Later Fender wised up a bit and redesigned the backplate with a wider slot so that the backplate would be less of an obstacle: However, by that time the absence of a backplate had become a very accepted and perhaps even the usual appearance for a Stratocaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mike Riley Posted April 13, 2011 Members Share Posted April 13, 2011 I found that over time I was just to lazy to put it back on and on one I broke the corner off just didnt buy a new one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Baddass Posted April 13, 2011 Members Share Posted April 13, 2011 EJ claims that with the back plate off, he feels a more pianoish tone. He's full of {censored} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cobalt Blue Posted April 13, 2011 Members Share Posted April 13, 2011 These were what the original Strat backplates that started getting pulled from Strats looked like: You have to align the hole in the backplate and the hole in the inertia block for ease in string changing. The trem tension balance and stop point set for the player's personal preference could very well not have the holes in the inertia block in perfect alignment with the holes in the backplate. Under the stress of a broken string during performance as well as possibly limited lighting conditions this alignment could be an infuriating and unnecessary obstacle. A lot of backplates got removed from the guitars. Later Fender wised up a bit and redesigned the backplate with a wider slot so that the backplate would be less of an obstacle: However, by that time the absence of a backplate had become a very accepted and perhaps even the usual appearance for a Stratocaster. Best, most thorough response Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ashasha Posted April 13, 2011 Members Share Posted April 13, 2011 It's a lot easier to adjust your spring tension if you are fully floating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vibroluxman Posted April 13, 2011 Members Share Posted April 13, 2011 On mine the little holes didn't line up. I ended up routing the thing myself wIth a pen knife but taking it off would have made life easier too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members notjonahbutnoah Posted April 13, 2011 Members Share Posted April 13, 2011 I have mine off SOLELY because it looks cooler. Actually, not necessarily cooler, but less cheap and there's no protrusion back there anymore. Mine has 5 springs, and the claw is almost flush with the wood, so it's pretty sturdy in its nether-regions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Faber Posted April 13, 2011 Members Share Posted April 13, 2011 Even with the expanded cutout shown in the last of Spudro's pictures, the trem bloc won't quite match up with the cut if the trem is decked. That makes it really cumbersome to get the strings out, so I take the backplate off. I "think" Fender made the backplates with a lenghtwise longer holes in them at some point in the 90s - I'm pretty sure I've seen backplates with six rectangular holes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members soundcreation Posted April 13, 2011 Members Share Posted April 13, 2011 I think it looks welfare when they're off.....go figure. Different strokes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BIGD Posted April 13, 2011 Members Share Posted April 13, 2011 I think I took mine off to change the trem block and was just too lazy to put it back on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members photon9 Posted April 13, 2011 Members Share Posted April 13, 2011 I think it looks cooler. It only takes 30 seconds to screw it back into place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members arrowhen Posted April 13, 2011 Members Share Posted April 13, 2011 The backplate blocks the flow of tone air into the trem cavity. I thought everyone knew that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tweak'd Posted April 13, 2011 Members Share Posted April 13, 2011 It sounds better... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gdsmithtx Posted April 13, 2011 Members Share Posted April 13, 2011 I hear EJ also claims that the screws used to hold his amp together affect the tone. I'm sure that it does. I'm also sure than no person without freakish superhuman, barn-owl-like hearing could tell one whit of difference one from the other. Now whether Eric actually has that type of hearing or is full of it is a whole other question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members etawful Posted April 13, 2011 Members Share Posted April 13, 2011 I'm sure that it does. I'm also sure than no person without freakish superhuman, barn-owl-like hearing could tell one whit of difference one from the other. Now whether Eric actually has that type of hearing or is full of it is a whole other question. That was kind of my point . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members noisebloom Posted April 13, 2011 Members Share Posted April 13, 2011 It's a lot easier to adjust your spring tension if you are fully floating. I'm pretty toasted right now. I'll go try it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members CoqBelliqueux Posted April 13, 2011 Members Share Posted April 13, 2011 Or a Washburn Sonic? My thigh makes the plate go "clack", just a small annoying clacking noise, plate against wood. Can't stand it!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Belva Posted April 13, 2011 Members Share Posted April 13, 2011 I'm another one who thinks the backplate off makes it look too ghetto. I'm using a tremsetter and didn't even drill holes in my new body until I had it all set up though. So no string change hassles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.