Guitar "Whammy bars"

Hardly ever use the tremolo/whammy bar whatever, much prefer simple bends with fingers or if in desperate need to physically pull the board up with my fingers for a little effect now and then, usually in the empty, empty spaces of a song where a little of that kind of thing sounds pretty cool.

I think there's nothing worse than hearing some dive-bombing goon blurring every single damn note.

The nicest tremolo technique I think I've ever heard is Gilmour's. Always tasteful, judicuosly used and never out of place. Check out the trademark double bends on Another Brick in the Wall Part 2 - sl*g the song all you want but it's an amazing solo. Top marks.

Actually I think the real reason I don't use a tremolo arm is that I've lost them all and can't be bothered to replace them!!

I like to use Hard Tail, Strat type and the Floyd Rose. I think it depends on what you are playing.

If you are playing the Steve Hackett or Steve Howe type style and you need that sustain, then I would recomend a Les Paul type guitar.

If you are more of a "widdler" and like that ease when bending then the Strat type is fine.

The Floyd Rose is great if you are playing stuff like Joe Satriani or Steve Vai etc.

When playing live, I tend to use an 80's Washburn MG fitted with a Floyd Rose, the good thing about it is that it stays in tune better than the others, a nightmare if you snap a string though!!!!!!

So have that Strat or Les Paul at hand to back you up lol!!!!!!!

I prefer hardtail. I don't have the patience to get things set up so your guitar doesn't go out of tune every time you use it. Floyd Roses are a pain to replace strings. The last jam I attended, there was a guy, great guitar player but he'd play a four or five minute song, go twangbar wild with the solo and have to spend the next two minutes tuning up.