Strat set up basics

[LoveBandit]

OK....I have always been a devoted Tele man but now TFF has got me wanting a Strat at last so I have been reading up on them.

I have noticed from my reading that many people think that blocking or tightening down the bridge improves tone, sustain and tuning and many people feel just the opposite......hmm.

I read the "Blocking the Tremelo" thread below and it was very helpful but I have a few more questions if y'all don't mind (BTW, I favor 10 gauge strings):

If I buy a used 2004 MIM Strat it will probably come with 3 tremelo springs installed and no other springs included - right?

Since I rarely will use the tremelo but might use it ONCE in a blue moon, would installing 2 more springs (making it 5) but NOT clamping down the claw be a good compromise solution for me or should I just leave it at 3 springs and unscrew the tremelo arm when not using it?

Can you still use the tremelo properly with the claw NOT screwed down, 5 springs and 10 gauge strings or will it be too stiff? (My thinking here is that the 5 springs will give me better tuning stability but I realize that this may not be so...)

Lastly, at this site:
http://members.tripod.com/~AFH/Tips.html

...I came upon this statement about 2/5ths down the page: "One last thing, which has always worked for me, although I don't really know why, is the set-up of the springs in the tremolo cavity. Take a look at the diagram to see what I mean. Using 'my set-up' where you attach the springs to the inside 3 notches on the tremolo claw seems to improve the tuning."

Does this really work?

Thanks all, LB.

[Gravity Jim]

...I came upon this statement about 2/5ths down the page: "One last thing, which has always worked for me, although I don't really know why, is the set-up of the springs in the tremolo cavity. Take a look at the diagram to see what I mean. Using 'my set-up' where you attach the springs to the inside 3 notches on the tremolo claw seems to improve the tuning."

Does this really work?

Thanks all, LB.

Well, as to this last question, I don't see how it can have any effect on the tuning stability of the guitar. But I'm sure someone would be happy to argue the point all day long.

The qualities that are attributed to a Strat with the trem blocked - sustain, tone, resonance, and tuning stability - are also achieved with a floating trem that has been properly set-up (and that includes a well-crafted nut).

That is, you can have a good-sounding Stratocaster with the trem blocked or the trem floating. If the nut is improperly cut, then you can get good tuning stability faster by simply blocking the trem, but that doesn't mean it's the "right" or even better solution.

Because of the way I use my trem, I would never consider blocking the trem on my Strat-style guitar. But it would be hard to beat for sustain or tuning stability, because it has a nut that is a work of art, and I now know how to set the guitar up.

Five springs screwed down tight is a common way to clamp the trem, and it will give you a very stiff but workable trem.