Bass guitars can indeed have whammy bars. Many famous bassists throughout history have used a whammy bar on their bass at one point. Some have even built signature sounds from it. Some memorable names you might recognize are Victor Wooten and Les Claypool, among many others.
Do bass guitars have whammy bars?
Most bass guitars do not have such features, but brands such as Kahler produce tremolo bridges and whammy bars for many types of bass guitars, making it possible for anyone to use a whammy bar with a bass guitar.
Can a bass have a tremolo?
A few examples of where tremolo systems can actually work on a bass. When playing up on the higher frets using the 1 and 2 string, you can get very nice chord vibratos with a trem system. For those not aware, piccolo strings for bass means strings tuned to +1 octave above standard bass tuning, and are decidedly thinner
What instrument has a whammy bar?
Whammy bars, or more properly called vibrato systems, are one of the oldest methods of manipulating the sound from the electric guitar itself.
What guitars can have whammy bars?
9 Awesome Guitars with a Whammy Bar
- Traditional Tremolo Bridge.
- Locking Tremolo Bridge.
- The Fender Stratocaster.
- PRS SE Custom 24.
- PRS SE Custom 24 “Floyd”
- Schecter Hellraiser C-1 FR.
- Ibanez Prestige Series.
- EVH Wolfgang Standard or Special QM.
What genres use whammy bar?
The different types of whammy bars
Originally known as the “Vibrola”, it came almost standard on the Epiphone Archtop guitars used by jazz and blues guitarists at the time.
Is a whammy bar necessary?
It’s another tool in your arsenal. It’s also helpful if you struggle with vibrato while bending a note. So yes, it’s worth it. Get a good one, because a bad one will go out of tune a lot easier than a good one.
Are basses guitars?
Often, you’ll hear a bass called a “bass guitar.” So, is a bass a guitar? While the bass is part of the guitar family, there are some clear differences between the two instruments. The term “bass guitar” originated as a way to differentiate the smaller, horizontal style of electric bass from its original stand-up form.
Who makes Les Claypool’s bass?
Carl Thompson basses
Les Claypool owns seven Carl Thompson basses.
Who uses whammy bar?
This article has been viewed 173,136 times. A whammy bar (also called a tremolo arm) is a device attached to electric guitars that bends the strings. Classic guitarists like Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen used the whammy bar for their dramatic solos.
Does whammy bar damage guitar?
A whammy bar will not damage the guitar, nor the guitar strings. The only problem is they can go out of tune quite often (depending on your playing).
Can every guitar have a whammy bar?
Can you add a whammy bar to any guitar? You can probably find a whammy bar that will attach to whatever kind of guitar you have.
Why is it called a whammy bar?
Other widely used names for the device include “vibrato bar” and “whammy bar”, the latter attributed to guitarist Lonnie Mack’s aggressive, rapid manipulation of the pitch-bending device in his 1963 song “Wham!” It has also been called a “whang bar”.
What is the difference between a whammy bar and a tremolo bar?
No difference; just different names for the same thing. Leo Fender decided to call his unit a “tremolo” (as opposed to the Bigsby vibrato system), and that nomenclature is associated with Fender Stratocasters.
Why is whammy bar called tremolo?
The tremolo bar was originally only found on Fender guitars, but now they are on many types of electric guitar. Unfortunately, it has an inappropriate name, because “tremolo” means a fast succession of two different tones. A more accurate but less common name is the vibrato bar, and they are also known as whammy bars.
Do all guitars have a tremolo?
Bigsby, Floyd Rose & more.
While not every guitar on the market comes equipped with a tremolo arm, there are many guitar models where the inclusion of a tremolo system is a significant part of that instrument’s identity, such as the Fender Stratocaster.
Who made the whammy bar famous?
Former Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell is often said to have been one of the most influential users of the tremolo bar. His use of the tremolo bar contributed to the signature sounds and high pitched squeals that defined his playing.
Should a whammy bar be loose?
Generally speaking, most guitarists like to have their whammy bar tight enough so it doesn’t risk falling out of the bridge or tremolo system, but loose enough that you can grab it and maneuver it whenever you need to without resistance.
Why don t all guitars have whammy bars?
But most whammy bars on guitars have to deal with the HUGE amount of pressure of those strings. Bass strings are bigger and cause more pressure, it’s much more difficult to get a good working whammy bar on bass for this reason.
Can you dive bomb on a Strat?
Yes, you can dive bomb well on a Strat. But unless you have a locking nut or locking tuners, you’re very likely to knock the guitar out of tune. Dive bombing takes the tension off of the strings and they will actually unwrap themselves from the tuners.
Does whammy bar make out of tune?
The reason why a guitar often goes out of tune while using a whammy bar is because when the whammy bar is pressed or pulled, it changes the tightness of strings, making them move slightly along the grooves and saddles in the nut and the bridge.