It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:06 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 6 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Trem spring noise.
Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2019 8:44 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 4:49 am
Posts: 660
Location: Cambridge UK
Hi all,

On my Partscaster, I thought I'd fitted genuine Fender trem springs/claw from my stock of bits and pieces, but now realise I must've used pattern parts, as the springs allow the trem (ie: tuning) to sit either sharp or flat depending where you leave the arm!

So I bought Fender part no 0992084000; US-made (amazingly) Pure Vintage Parts. Fitted three of them, depressed the arm, and a noise came out like the neck had broken off! It's like the coils are rusted together and 'split' open when the spring is either stretched or bent. You can reproduce the same effect when bending or twisting the two unused springs with your fingers, straight out of the box. But they aren't rusty; they look brand new - as of course they should.

I've liberally doused them in 3-in-1, and they're currently silent (and tuning is good), but has anyone else had this? Is one supposed to leave them in an oil bath or similar before use?

Although I've had trem spring noise on older setups, when wear and tear comes into it, but on a new set? It's a new one on me...!

Cheers - Peter.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Trem spring noise.
Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2019 8:48 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26415
Location: Tombstone Territory
News to me as well. I've been playing Strats since 1968 and have never heard a peep from a set of trem springs.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Trem spring noise.
Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2019 10:53 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:53 am
Posts: 4240
I've met a cousin of that problem once. Turned out that the culprit spring wasn't sitting properly in the claw hook and the squeak was amplified by the spring's vibration. BTW, not audible when plugged in.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Trem spring noise.
Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2019 11:26 am
Online
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2011 2:50 pm
Posts: 469
Location: TURKEY
To quieten noisy springs, get some foam , cut it into strips and push into the spring centres , then wedge another piece underneath the springs, this will kill all vibration noise from them

_________________
Ted

"All right, guys, uh, listen. This is a blues riff in "B", watch me for the changes, and try and keep up, okay?"


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Trem spring noise.
Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2019 8:34 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 4:49 am
Posts: 660
Location: Cambridge UK
Arjay, I can't beat your Strat experience; 1979 was my first (mainly due to the cost of US guitars over here)! But I have had the occasional graunch noise on old springs, in the past, and it's been easily cured by a drop of oil.

Thanks Ted - bit of a palaver, though (even though I don't doubt your cure will work)! And I've never had to do anything like that before, let alone on new springs.

JM - you presumably didn't notice I said you can reproduce the noise by manually handling the springs. IE: Not fitted to the guitar; just bending or twisting with fingers. So definitely no problem with the actual fitment.

Still, a soaking with oil seems to be working so far. Otherwise I may have to get the foam out!

Just surprised, really, and wondered if anyone else has had this happen!

Cheers - Peter.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Trem spring noise.
Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2019 8:49 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26415
Location: Tombstone Territory
If the 3-In-1 Oil is getting the job done then I think you've got the problem handled. And I'll keep your fix in mind should I ever encounter a noisy trem spring. Thanks.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 6 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: