Do locking trems suck?

[Iommic Pope]

The thought of gigging without a backup guit freaks me out a bit, personally.

But even if you were so inclined, you'd definitely need one with a Floyd guitar.
Just in case.

[tuj]

Gonna hafta call you out on not having much experience. You don't need a tech. Spend not much $ on a few tools and spend 20 minutes watching youtube how to vids. Yay! Now you can do every thing you think you need a tech for.

Come on now. I do know how to setup a guitar how I like it, but let me tell you, I ruined my first guitar in the process (truss-rod f**k-up). There are as many good videos as bad on the U-tube. I don't adjust the action or re-pad my own saxophone either; I tried and learned its a hell of a lot better (for me) to pay for someone to setup the instrument correctly so I can concentrate on playing. In fact, a good friend of mine is probably a better guitar than you are I ever will be, and yet he cannot do much besides change strings. Not all of us are setup wizards.

Secondly, there are a lot of 6-string Strat players using 5-springs on the Trem. I'm not the only one, and I'm certainly not the first. Some people like 3, some 4, some all 5. You can setup the guitar floating or flush either way. You will have to use 9's or higher or course. I have setup my Strats for everything from floating 9's with 3-springs to 11's and 5-springs. I ain't a freak on this one; Google 'Strat Five Spring Trem'.

[Mudfuzz]

I have never been able to use less than 5 on any strat/floyd I've had… big strings and low tuning and such… I've have always ended up with jackson floyds they function until you break them… and parts are cheap on ebay what I like about them is for the most part they stay in tune when you pick the guitar up by the trem arm and whatnot.. personal choice though if I had to have a locking trem on a main instrument I'd want a kahler, I just like them better