Electric Guitar Tremolos - What Are They?

by Daniel Wright

Occasionally, one may find a used electric guitar equipped with an odd bar dangling from its bridge. This bar is called a tremolo or "whammy" bar. There are also other names for this device, such as vibrato arm or wang bar.

In fact, stop in at any local Guitar Center store and you'll find many electric guitars featuring the tremelo bar. Newer models are popular, but the most valuable are vintage used electric guitars with the original device intact and functional.

The device was developed and introduced in the late 1940's and 1950's and gave guitar players an interesting playing option. The bar or arm is still produced on certain models of electric guitars today. The original concept of the tremelo bar on a guitar was to create a vibrato effect.

Vibrato is the correct term for the pitch variation used by guitar players, but tremolo (actually a variance in volume), was introduced in amplification technology first and thus guitar players continue to use the misnomer tremolo for pitch variation.

Two styles of this device are the most popular and both devices work very simply. The strings are fastened to the guitar via the tailpiece. The strings are run across the top of the bridge. Within this bridge and tailpiece combination are springs that allow the bridge to move or "float". One style uses a rotating tube in conjunction with the springs. The other style operates the springs and bridge synchronously.

The pitch of any note played with the guitar can be changed by moving the articulated arm in either direction. The springs are used to move the bridge either up or down to tighten or loosen the string's tension. In this way, the vibrato sound can be effected if the action is replicated either in a slow or rapid fashion.

Some of those who pioneered the use of the tremelo bar include Lonnie Mack (whose song "Wham!" may have led to the moniker "whammy" bar) and Leo Fender. Innovators of the use of the device in later years include Jimi Hendrix and Jeff Beck. More recently guitar wizards Eddie Van Halen and Steve Vai have taken the use of the device to new levels.

You should try a used electric guitar at a guitar center near you, because used guitars are fun to play and produce an amazing variety of sounds. Used electric guitars with tremelo bars produce a sound that is distinctive and impossible to match on any other instrument.

The Guitar Center showcases hundreds of used electric guitars and amps! Whether you're just looking for one to learn on or you're a veteran wanting to upgrade, you'll want check out the unique & beautiful electric guitars added every day from names like Fender, Martin, Ibanez, Gretch, Gibson, and many more! [This article may be freely reprinted provided all links are kept in place.]

Published January 4th, 2008

Filed in Teen

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