What is the most complete electric guitar?
No matter what, by attempting to cover all bases you’re going to end up with a “master of none” kind of situation. So, to break this down to the simplest of all guitar tone demands (though, assuredly not the complete spectrum of sound guitarists might want), the basic foundation of what most guitar players are willing to build on: Fenders and Gibsons.The major differences between the two camps boils down to what pickups they use to create their respective sounds. Gibson’s bacon is found in the warmth of it’s humbuckers. Fender scrambles it’s eggs on the quack of it’s single coils.So, most Gibsons (The biggest ballers being SG’s and Les Pauls) have two humbuckers as their most common configuration.Fenders on the other hand have two very popular models with two different pickup varieties. The Telecaster and The Stratocaster.So, looking at both separately:Strat on top, Tele on the bottom. The Strat has the same basic set up as the Tele but, with the middle pickup. So, Strat version it is.Luckily, Fender makes a few Strats that mix the two (Les Pauls and Strats). They affectionately refer to them as “Super Strats”.If you’re looking to capture the basic foundation sound of most rock music recorded in the past 60 years, I think that this comes the closest to being “complete” or most versatile guitar you can get.It’s the Standard Stratocaster HSH (HSH meaning humbucker, single coil, humbucker)Besides having the basic three pickup set up of a standard Strat, it also has the double humbucker Les Paul configuration too. The argument might be made that the two humbuckers aren’t the same as two Fender single coils and that would be correct…but, this nifty piece of artwork has a secret. The push pull knob on the second tone knob splits the coils on both humbuckers making them effectively single coiled. So, you can kick out Strat, Tele and Les Paul sounds from the same instrument. The controls are a little spare for a Les Paul but, more robust than a Tele, so there are a few trade-offs.Still…That’s pretty versatile if you ask me.I hope this helps.
Tune-o-matic and floyd rose?
Interesting. I own both. Unless you have a neck-through (think Les Paul or custom Strat like Carvin makes), you won't see any advantages to sustain, regardless of bridge. You will see draw-backs, just like the mass of the headstock will affect sustain, but unless you cut the headstock off (Steinberger comes to mind) you won't hear much. (I doubt with studio sweetening, anybody can really tell the difference between a Tele and a Strat on a commercial jingle. Really, be honest.) Because the vibrations go through not just the strings, but the entire body and neck. And they go back AND forth, they don't have to make a circle from nut to bridge through the body, etc. That's not how resonance/"sustain" works. That said, most of today's Floyd's are NOT free-floating like they were in the 80's because those are pro setups that are very sensitive and tend to go out-of-tune if the player is inexperienced. If you look, today's Floyd-equipped guitars are not back-routed, but rest on the rear of the guitar, giving tuning stability and (!!!) added sustain. They can't be pulled up without additional work done by a luthier (or some adventurous dude with a rat-tail file). If the player wraps the string on the peg correctly without too much excess (which happens with lots of rookies with and without dive-bars) and gently stretches and retunes the guitar with the locking nut open, and then using the fine tuners, Floyd tuning stability is no problem, as long as the initial install was done correctly using a stroboscope. Ime, I've seen more people go out of tune just wanking with the bar than playing, which isn't the Floyd's fault: Abuse any guitar, it goes out of tune. Also, I know more players who own Floyd's that know how to properly stretch and tune their other guitars and can play those guitars for longer periods and remain in tune because of the discipline they have "breaking in" the string-set for their Floyd's, so I feel tune-up is a bit subjective, also, after you own a Floyd. So even a Bigsby might make you a better player and give you more options for expression, but no system is perfect. But yeah, there will be a tonal difference, just like between ash and koa bodies, rosewood and maple fretboards- I agree with nicky on that point. (Whether or not that difference is negative is totally subjective.)
What does "floating brigde" mean in guitar language?
A floating bridge is one that has a tremolo bar (a.k.a. "wammy bar"). The bridge on a standard Fender Strat is an example. A Floyd Rose is another example; it is used with a locking nut. A floating bridge is contrasted with a fixed bridge, such as you're likely to see on a Les Paul.
If I take off all the strings on my guitar to clean it, will the neck have to be adjusted afterwards?
Music store owners will probably say “yes” and the obsessive compulsive will tell you “carefully remove one string at a time. Wait a full day before replacing it.” None of this is necessary unless you own a totally crap guitar that you probably can't tune any way. I have owned a dozen guitars (at least) over 55 years of playing and I have always cut the old strings off all at once. It is the only way you can thoroughly clean your instrument, especially the fingerboard. I use distilled water on all guitars but my really old one. On old-fashioned varnish I use lemon oil. I also put lemon oil on rosewood fingerboards. Ebony contains its own oil.When you make changing strings an ordeal people don't do it. If you play a lot you need to change strings once a month AT LEAST. Never let strings stay on a guitar more than six months even if you never play it. If you never play it find it a good home. If you don't play a guitar you ruin it. Wood is made of fibers held together by a resinous material called lignin. You need to get the guitar top in motion to keep the lignin flexible. If you don't play the guitar the lignin hardens. If you catch it time you may be able to play it back into flexibilty, but at a certain point it hardens irrevocably. You can probably tell I have a low opinion of collectors.To show you I am dead serious I have become a dedicated classical guitarist. I had a great Martin 000–16. First good guitar I ever bought. When I realize I had not played it in a year I gave it to my cousin.CHANGE YOUR STRINGS! AND CLEAN YOUR GUITAR! AND PLAY IT!!!
Will heavier gauge strings damage a floating trem?
No the heavier gauge will not do anythin gto the trem system but it will pull it forward which means that it will lift off the body. You will need to remove the backplate, and screw the 2 screws holding the springs one full turn each. First, loosen the 3rd and 4th string, then tighten the back screws. Retune the 3rd & 4th. Keep doing this until the bridge is about 1/4" from the body. Now, by putting heavier gauge strings will also mean that a TRUSS rod adjustment WILL be necessary. Again, if you want to do it yourself, remove the top plate (depending on the model). Loosen the 3rd & 4th string, insert the allen key and turn 1/4 turn clockwise. Retune the guitar and look down the neck. Their should be a clearance of approx 1/16" between string and fingerboard. Hold teh first fret with one hand and the 15th fret with the other. Tht creates a straight line. Look at the 7th fret and see how much clearance you have. If theire is too much, turn the truss rod another 1/8th turn. Retune the string and verify. As for the so-called experienced guitarist that say that it will damage the trem needs to change job. It WILL not damage but bear in mind that their is a limit that the floyd rose will accept. The reason is because if you choose a much heavier gauge, the 6ths string might not fit in the floyd rose. Enjoy