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Post subject: Snap in tremolo arm extremely difficult to remove.
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 7:37 pm
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Hi!

I bought a Fender Strat American Deluxe (just like this one : http://www.themusiczoo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Picture-14.jpg) 2 or 3 years back and always had a lot of trouble removing the snap in tremolo arm.
I already did some research several times on the internet and asked for help to the shop where I bought it back then but everyone always say the same thing, to loosen the small allen screw just under the rear of the bridge. And I already did that, several times and with no effect.
Actually I loosened it so much and so many times back then that I actually lost it somewhere. So yeah, it really can't get more loose now... haha

I also noticed several times that the snap in tremolo arm gets even more difficult to remove when you don't remove it for a few months. This is not the first time that this is happening and I really don't want to damage it at all.

As a last resort, I decided to post here (since there's probably a lot of frequent and knowledgeable users here) and in english (not my native language). Hopefully you guys will be able to help me. Do you have any ideas?

Also something else, I always wondered since then.
There's 2 "small allen screws" (-> http://www.angela.com/images/products/detail/370366829644One.jpg) under the rear of the bridge and everyone always talk about the one at the top.
Nobody even acknowledge the second one right under it. Like it doesn't exist.
And I never been able to know what it does, never found any info about it.
Do you guys know? Maybe that's this one that makes this snap in tremolo arm so difficult to remove.

I never tried to loosen it to see what it does, I really wanted to ask first, just in case.
Except that, I really have no idea. The first small allen screw is not even in the guitar anymore, anyway, so that's really not it.
That must be that second one but I really need to be sure first, before loosening it.

(And just in case, sorry for my english. Hopefully it's not too terrible and still understandable.)


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Post subject: Re: Snap in tremolo arm extremely difficult to remove.
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 12:18 am
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Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:53 am
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I'm quoting from this viewtopic.php?t=45867 topic:
Xhefri wrote:
The pop-in type bridge has two Allen set screws. The top one adjusts the tension of the bar, so it will not hang too loose and swing around. The lower one sets how hard it is to push the arm into the catch spring.


You owned the guitar for some time - but has it ever been set up by a pro?
A good one should pay attention to the tight trem arm, too - although it seems a loose arm is a lot more common problem.


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Post subject: Re: Snap in tremolo arm extremely difficult to remove.
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 12:24 am
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Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:31 am
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Location: Province de Québec, Canada
Short research with Google show there is 2 allen screws.


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Post subject: Re: Snap in tremolo arm extremely difficult to remove.
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 1:43 am
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Yep definitely two allen type screws.
They tighten around a plastic collar within the bridge.
When fully seated the small circular indentation in the bottom of the arm just above the point clicks into a small metal spring clip.
Issues can be either screw is too loose or tight, the clip is bent or broken or a wrong type arm is being inserted.
It is easiest to set the screws up with the bridge out but dont dent the guitar finish or chip the pivots in the process.
New grub screws are available
http://www.fender.com/parts/mounting-ha ... 15049.html :D


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Post subject: Re: Snap in tremolo arm extremely difficult to remove.
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 3:12 am
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BTW, your English is very, very good--better than some of the native speakers on this forum!

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Post subject: Re: Snap in tremolo arm extremely difficult to remove.
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 6:06 pm
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Wow! Huge thanks to all of you for all this info, explanations and quick response!
I really wasn't expecting to find a solution this quickly, so suddenly. I guess I just needed to ask to the right people.

Seems like I've finally got every single piece of info I wanted.
I searched so many times on the internet (and extensively) and did again just before creating this thread actually but still couldn't find anything. (forums, manuals, everything. Couldn't find any solution to this particular problem or mentions of the "2nd screw".)
But thanks to you guys, I'll finally be able to put an end to this problem!

And yes, I noticed this problem just after I bought the guitar. (Even before actually, when I tried it at the shop the day it was delivered to them, to see if everything was perfectly fine.)
The sellers of this shop always told me the same thing, to loosen the screw just under the rear of the bridge. They never mentioned anything else even if the problem was still there. Almost looked at me like I was lying... lol
Also, I never actually brought it back to the shop because of all the bad experiences I had with all their "maintenance"/"luthier" side in the past 5 years or so. (Won't talk too expensively about that.)

I also brought it to a very experienced luthier that I always used to contact (doing all my stuff by myself now) when I needed to. (because of "reliable", good he is)
And he basically had no idea, he never truly told me so but except of "It should loosen with time and use" he never told anything else. I don't think he was familiar with the newer models of tremolos such as these. (I guess he's more on the "vintage" side)

So yeah…
I actually thought he was right at first (since he's very experienced) but it never loosened or got easier to remove.
I never felt that having to remove the tremolo arm like I'm gonna tear the guitar apart was normal... lol
It always made me really anxious about the guitar, to not damage it. I didn't remove it too much and the guitar is still perfectly fine so it's ok but I really wanted to put an end to all of this. (trouble)

Also thanks a lot for the link for the allen screws!
No wonder I couldn't find them, no one really seems to sell them outside of America.
I'll take a look at the shop where I bought my guitar to see if they still have some of these. Worst case scenario, I'll import them, so it's ok.

Thanks a lot, again, to all of you!


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Post subject: Re: Snap in tremolo arm extremely difficult to remove.
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2016 1:33 am
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Location: Province de Québec, Canada
We don't know from wich country you are .
Fender use 10-32 thread, 3/16 inches long set screw ( as the link show )

Fastenal stores in many country, choose your country at top right of the screen.

10-32 , 3 /16 set screw here.

https://www.fastenal.com/products/detai ... crews%22|~



Home Depot may have at $0.84 for two. For north America.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Crown-Bolt-1 ... /100337953


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Post subject: Re: Snap in tremolo arm extremely difficult to remove.
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2016 9:53 am
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Joined: Tue Oct 08, 2013 2:11 pm
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If the set-screw was lost inside the guitar (too loose and vibrated out of the hole), have you examined your pickup's to see if it is magnetically stuck to one of them?


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Post subject: Re: Snap in tremolo arm extremely difficult to remove.
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2016 9:56 am
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Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:31 am
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Body temolo hole don't connect to where is the pickups IMO


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