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Post subject: Question on Fender Tremolo Arm Tension Springs
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 10:45 pm
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On my new Fender Limited edition 60th anniversary strat,while unpacking I found a seal over the tremolo hole & a black spring popped out of it.I read some where that these are Fender Tremolo Arm Tension Springs .I've never come across this in all my 30 years of playing ! Anyway ,I would like to know where & how it fits on the tremolo arm/tremolo. Any details on this would help.

Also while setting up the bridge,is it good to have the springs on the back tightened so the bridge is flat on the guitar.This bridge seems to be leaning forward on the guitar.

Thanks for the tips.


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Post subject: Re: Question on Fender Tremolo Arm Tension Springs
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 10:53 pm
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The trem arm spring merely drops into the access hole and provides some tension to prevent the arm from swinging haphazardly. However, the spring can easily be lost if the arm is unscrewed and removed. Personally, I never use the springs but Fender provides them as a convenience.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Question on Fender Tremolo Arm Tension Springs
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 7:16 am
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I've never been able to make use of these springs either, they seem easier to lose than to use.

What do you mean setting up the bridge, intonate or adjusting saddle heights? Fender setup guide says it should lean forward on purpose, so it can move up or down with trem arm. You should put the bridge where you want it to be then make the smaller adjustments with saddles.


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Post subject: Re: Question on Fender Tremolo Arm Tension Springs
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 10:11 am
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Thanks for the replies.So the spring just sits in the hollow & I put the term arm over it I guess.
By bridge adjustment ,I meant the overall position of the bridge leaning forward.Not intonation or height adjustment.


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Post subject: Re: Question on Fender Tremolo Arm Tension Springs
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 12:23 pm
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I think it's time you read the Strat Setup Guide
The recommended default trem setting is "floating", so the back end of the trem plate is raised 1/8"(3,2mm) from the body. (Before adjusting that, the front end (neck side = posts/screws side) is adjusted.)
But it's also common that the trem is set "decked" by tightening the springs more, so the back end of the trem plate is resting on the body. This gives a little leeway if you do big multiple string bends, but it takes away the ability to raise the pitch with the tremolo.


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Post subject: Re: Question on Fender Tremolo Arm Tension Springs
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 12:35 pm
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jmattis wrote:
But it's also common that the trem is set "decked" by tightening the springs more, so the back end of the trem plate is resting on the body. This gives a little leeway if you do big multiple string bends, but it takes away the ability to raise the pitch with the tremolo.


+1

That's the way I set up my trem-equipped Strats (I'm not an enthusiastic trem fan).

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Question on Fender Tremolo Arm Tension Springs
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 1:21 pm
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Thanks guys.I will check up the link too.
BTW the Fat50s custom shop sound very cool,but I was surprised while playing it through Amplitube & other guitar plugins as there was so much noise while using the plug in distortion. Might need a noise gate I guess.


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Post subject: Re: Question on Fender Tremolo Arm Tension Springs
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 4:42 pm
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The Fat 50's are traditional single-coils. Expect some noise.

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Post subject: Re: Question on Fender Tremolo Arm Tension Springs
Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 10:14 am
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Jesuscares wrote:
Thanks guys.I will check up the link too.
BTW the Fat50s custom shop sound very cool,but I was surprised while playing it through Amplitube & other guitar plugins as there was so much noise while using the plug in distortion. Might need a noise gate I guess.


Try turning off your computer monitor(s). LCD's aren't usually too bad, but older CRT's cause A LOT of noise with guitar pickups (even HB's). The noise can also come from nearby fluorescent lights, electrical motors (such as those found on refrigerators, freezers, etc), bad cables and with the case of computers, low end/built in sound cards as well. As others have already said, single coils are prone to noise, however if you're noticing considerably more when using it on your computer than you do thru the amp, chances are the problem is something else.



As far as the tension springs go, I don't use them either. Of the various Strats I've owned over the years, only 2 had the springs to begin with (the 2 I bought brand new) and I lost the springs LONG ago. Personally, I'd rather have the arm swing freely anyways. That said, for those who feel they just can't live without them, while I'm sure you can get replacements anywhere that sells Fender parts, an easy DIY fix is to just cut off a small piece of a pen spring (like from a "click" pen)...as others have already said, all the spring does is provide a bit of tension to keep the arm from swinging freely.


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Post subject: Re: Question on Fender Tremolo Arm Tension Springs
Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 11:11 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
jmattis wrote:
But it's also common that the trem is set "decked" by tightening the springs more, so the back end of the trem plate is resting on the body. This gives a little leeway if you do big multiple string bends, but it takes away the ability to raise the pitch with the tremolo.


+1

That's the way I set up my trem-equipped Strats (I'm not an enthusiastic trem fan).

Arjay

+2
I also set mine up to be flush to the body... Of course, I went a step further and blocked the tremolo with a stack of quarters, since I've always been a hardtail guy at heart.

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Post subject: Re: Question on Fender Tremolo Arm Tension Springs
Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 7:52 pm
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My first Strat, an Squier Bullet, had the spring, and so did my Fender Standard Strat. Both springs were very slightly conical, and they both broke within a few months. I was able to get a replacement at the store where I bought them, but I had to explain to the sales staff what I was talking about. They had no clue, but the techs in the back room did.

Right now, my Standard Strat has a spring that I recovered from a broken hand-held shower head. It works at least as good as the originals. They have to be fairly stiff to work properly.
I think it was on Stew-Mac that I saw a replacement spring, and it came with a little ball bearing, that you drop into the hole first.
Ah. Here it is: http://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and_Par ... pring.html

"Tension spring" is a bad name for it, because it's a compression spring. It works by pushing up on the bottom end of the trem arm, such that there is more pressure (and therefore more friction) between the threads on the arm and the threads in the hole.
I believe the ball bearing serves to allow the bottom of the spring to spin freely inside as you screw in the arm, or operate it while playing. Mine probably broke because they had no ball bearing.

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Post subject: Re: Question on Fender Tremolo Arm Tension Springs
Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 7:57 pm
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I have never used the tremolo on a fender .Does the tuning stay intact when using it? I hope it does on this Limited edition 60th anniversary Strat.


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Post subject: Re: Question on Fender Tremolo Arm Tension Springs
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 3:00 am
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Jesuscares wrote:
I have never used the tremolo on a fender .Does the tuning stay intact when using it? I hope it does on this Limited edition 60th anniversary Strat.


That depends upon how reasonable you're willing to be. If you limit your "tremoloing" to ¼-tone dips only, your guitar stands a fair chance of remaining in tune. If you insist on Van Halenesque 2- or 3-tone drops, fuggedaboutit. Be sure to lube your nut and string tree to prevent the strings from chafing or binding as their tension varies.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Question on Fender Tremolo Arm Tension Springs
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 8:25 pm
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Stew Mac includes a small ball bearing to help the basic idea work better, I've not tried it myself but it makes sense that the simple addition of the ball bearing would improve the functionality of the spring idea. To avoid spring loss I usually don't remove the Trem arm, I just swing it around so the tip points to the Output jack and then the G&G case closes without interference, or I use a padded gig bag, but I guess that will depend upon the case design shipped with a particular guitar.

http://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and_Par ... pring.html


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Post subject: Re: Question on Fender Tremolo Arm Tension Springs
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 11:48 pm
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Wow, StewMac sure can price their products sometimes, $4,95 for one spring, one ball... "Original Fenders" are 7$ for a dozen. Ball bearings, maybe a buck for a dozen, if you don't happen to have any (cyclists, anyone..?).

Jesuscares wrote:
I have never used the tremolo on a fender .Does the tuning stay intact when using it? I hope it does on this Limited edition 60th anniversary Strat.

It's my experience that a new guitar needs a setup for the trem to work properly. If you don't know how, I humbly suggest letting a good pro do it - it's a lot easier to maintain a good setup than to create one.

Like RJ wrote, the Strat trem is designed for and works best on slight tremolo effects. That being said, guys like Hendrix, EVH, Vai (etc; etc; etc.) have done some amazing things with their Strat trems.


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