Vega-Trem

Build a better mousetrap, they say, and the world will beat a path to your door. In the same vein, the fully floating Vega‑Trem system, available for both Strat and Tele type guitars, aims to be a better guitar tremolo. (What we call a trem is, of course, technically a vibrato unit, but thanks to Leo Fender, the misnomer tremolo is wedged firmly in the vernacular!) It can be fitted without making any permanent alterations to the instrument, which is particularly important if you’re dealing with something very valuable or vintage. There are different finishes available, including black, gold, glossy or plain.

A replacement trem system has to offer improvements over the original, and I can confirm that this one does.

A replacement trem system has to offer improvements over the original, and I can confirm that this one does. Trems were originally designed to add a few tasteful pitch wobbles and the existing designs do that well enough if properly set up and adjusted. However, players such as Jeff Beck took those vintage systems well beyond their original design intentions and, without the constant attention of a skilled guitar tech, tuning problems often occur.

Made from stainless steel, the Vega‑Trem devices reduce friction by employing a knife‑edge pivot. Traditional folded‑metal saddles can shift from side to side and there’s also no slot for the string to locate in, so the Vega‑Trem uses smoothly‑shaped blocks with integral string guides that can be locked in place individually using an Allen key, once the height and intonation adjustments have been made. A full‑size trem block often fouls the body cavity if you need a very wide pitch range, but here the block is surprisingly slim — yet that doesn’t appear to compromise the tone in any way. The strings pass through holes that start around half way up the block rather than through the bottom as is more usual.

Creaking springs are another bane of conventional trems but here the springs (only two are needed) are locked into the block using grub screws. Four sets of springs of different strengths are included so that you can find the ones best suited to your string gauge. The arm has a screw collet that can be adjusted by hand to vary its stiffness, so that’s another common problem overcome.

For review, I was sent the version designed to fit a Strat with a six‑screw bridge, and installation was very straightforward. The Vega‑Trem’s stationery block, which has a couple of shallow slots machined into it to locate the knife‑edge of the moving part, is screwed down solidly into four of the existing screw holes via slotted holes that allow for different bridge spacings, and which also provide some lateral adjustment so that you can get the strings centred on the neck. Another important point is that the top plate of the Vega‑Trem doesn’t hang over the edge of the body cavity like a conventional Strat trem does, so when you pull up the trem can actually rock backwards into the body, leaving more than enough range for even the most extreme Beckisms.

I’ve tried a few alternate trem systems over the years, including some that depart radically from the standard design. While they kept the guitar in tune, they had a very different response with which I didn’t feel entirely comfortable. The Vega‑Trem does have a slightly lighter feel than the regular design but not enough to be at all off‑putting, and it operates delightfully smoothly with no squeaks or groans — which is particularly important when recording, of course. Its ability to return to pitch is excellent, with the caveat that you do need a well‑sorted nut, ideally lubricated, and your strings need to be properly fitted to the tuning machine posts and stretched in.

In summary, then, the Vega‑Trem works extremely well, it looks classy, and if you come to sell your guitar you can remove it easily to refit the old unit.