What is meant by "Hard Tail"?

**gtds** · 10-04-2002, 08:56 AM

I've looked around and can't find an explanation or even a physical difference when looking at pictures.

gtds

**ShawnRT** · 10-04-2002, 09:15 AM

Hard tail strats have non tremolo bridges (ie no whammy bar). They will not have the plastic cavity cover on the back and will instead run the strings through the body.

**GeetarGoul** · 10-04-2002, 09:23 AM

no jiggle! :spin

vepaf

**ShawnRT** · 10-04-2002, 10:15 AM

**Don** · 10-04-2002, 01:39 PM

I prefer tail with a little jiggle.

**gtds** · 10-09-2002, 02:35 AM

Since posting this thread I actually found uot what "hard tail" means. Thanks for your replies anyway.

...I have another query though...!

How does not having the hollow section and plastic on the back affect the sound of the guitar? Is there a noticeable difference? Also, does it really fix the detuning problem some strats seems to have?

Thanks
gtds

**Don** · 10-09-2002, 09:30 AM

I think the sound is more affected by the tremolos springs and the lack of solid coupling between the bridge and body rather than the routed out wood and the plastic cover.
If you play a tremolo equipped Strat and listen to the back you can hear the springs reverberate like a little reverb unit.
That must affect the tone a little.
I've only played one hardtail Strat (a friend's '79) and it was such an awful guitar in other ways that I can't compare.

**Gazza** · 10-09-2002, 11:03 AM

Most people who say hardtails suck have never layed there hands on a good one.People play one crappy HT and automatically think they all suck.Of course the ones you folks have played sucked they are thrown together quicker then a quarter pounder at Mcdonalds,there is just no attention payed to detail at most factorys like Fender.

**GeetarGoul** · 10-09-2002, 12:06 PM

Originally posted by Gazza
Most people who say hardtails suck have never layed there hands on a good one.People play one crappy HT and automatically think they all suck.Of course the ones you folks have played sucked they are thrown together quicker then a quarter pounder at Mcdonalds,there is just no attention payed to detail at most factorys like Fender.

Apparantly they are really hard to build because the wood needs to be stupid light like yours! :nelson

**Gazza** · 10-09-2002, 12:39 PM

Thats another factor.

**Tonefiend** · 10-09-2002, 12:59 PM

The wood needs to be stupid light in order to tear the skin off your face.

:lolspin

**Gazza** · 10-09-2002, 01:21 PM

I never new that tearing the skin off your face felt so good!

**GeetarGoul** · 10-09-2002, 03:17 PM

So that's why you wear a welding mask as part of your stage act!

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