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Post subject: Tremolo throwing guitar out of tune
Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 7:46 pm
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Hey Guys,

I am new to this forum :cry: and have a few questions, I tried searching for the answers and couldn't find anything that helped.

I am currently playing a Special Edition Lite Ash, which is a great guitar. It came loaded with 2 springs in the back for the tremolo. I didn't like the feel of the tremolo because it was too weak so i added another spring. It feels right now, however everytime i use the trem, my G and B strings go out of tune.

I've read that when people add the extra spring, they also upgrade strings from 9-42 to 10-46. I still have my 9-42 strings on, is that something that affects the tuning?

I need some advice on the best method of keeping the guitar in tune!


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Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 7:54 pm
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You can try increasing the guage of your strings. Don't forget to intonate your guitar after this modification. There may be some other issues going on. Read some of the other threads, there is a lot of good information on tremelos and how to keep them in tune.

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Post subject: Re: Tremolo throwing guitar out of tune
Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 8:42 pm
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rphong wrote:
Hey Guys,

I am new to this forum :cry: and have a few questions, I tried searching for the answers and couldn't find anything that helped.

I am currently playing a Special Edition Lite Ash, which is a great guitar. It came loaded with 2 springs in the back for the tremolo. I didn't like the feel of the tremolo because it was too weak so i added another spring. It feels right now, however everytime i use the trem, my G and B strings go out of tune.

I've read that when people add the extra spring, they also upgrade strings from 9-42 to 10-46. I still have my 9-42 strings on, is that something that affects the tuning?

I need some advice on the best method of keeping the guitar in tune!


There shouldnt be any problem with the gauge of strings you're actually using right now, I use the same gauge and I have absolutely no problems with my american stantard tremolo bridge, and I also have a mexican 60's guitar with its vintage tremolo with the same gauge of strings and I have no problems at all....
When I first got both guitars I had the exact same problem... BUT after reading posts, watching videos on youtube and reading the manual.. basically after doing a lot of research I set it up perfectly and now I have no problems at all... :P

Ofcourse when you use the tremolo there wil always be a slight change in tune in that case you should always end your solo or vibrato with a push-in end :P

Among the problems I had with my mexican.. was the nut.. some of the nut slots were too tight for certain strings so I made then a little, wider.. and put some tiny amounts of oil in them.. other problems I had were in the bridge It also came with two springs and it wasnt making any sense so I put one more of the extra ones that came with it... and ofcourse when you set up the height of the tremolo plate it has to be at a certain angle .. the problem is .. my two guitars are at different angles I kind of figured every guitar has a G spot where it will stay in tune .. when in my mexican strat the bridge plate was at a very low angle it wouldnt stay in tune at all... when it was at a very high angle it wouldnt stay in tune either so there is a G spot that only you have to find ... same procedure with my two guitars .. now they work fine and stay in tune fine... on my american strat I upgraded the tuners to locking tuners so that helped a WHOLE LOT too :P anyway ... its all about setting it up.. sometimes it becomes a pain but believe me when you fix it ...all the work really pays off and makes you happy !!! anyway good luck with it :P


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Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:24 pm
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I noticed that when I switched to 3 springs, I noobishly forgot to change the angle according to the new tension (the trem claw screws). Maybe this would've had an effect on tuning?

and also, thanks for the replies guys :P


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Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:44 pm
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DP


Last edited by 01GT eibach on Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:46 pm
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1) Lubricate everything that touches the strings with graphite (or similar): saddles, nut, string trees. Also, make sure your strings are stretched, if new.
2) Adjust the float of your bridge as you desire adjusting the claw screws. Now there are a couple of ways to go here:
a) The Fender manual suggests that the bridge should have a 1/8 inch float (ie, the very back of the bridge is 1/8 inch above the guitar body)
b) There are countless Strat players (myself included) that go with no float (bridge completely flush with body). This can be accomplished by adding another spring or adjusting the claw screws. Since you sound like a major trem user, I'd suggest for you to adjust the claw screws.
3) String gauge won't help you. If anything, going to a bigger string may even cause more binding, especially in the nut.

Good luck with whatever you go with. But if you go with 1 & 2b, you'll notice dramatic improvement.

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Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:53 pm
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Thanks 01GT eibach. I will probably be adjusting the claw screws tomorrow when I have time.

Quote:
1) Lubricate everything that touches the strings with graphite (or similar): saddles, nut, string trees. Also, make sure your strings are stretched, if new.


If I use pencil and just make little marks would that be a good way of doing this?


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Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 2:20 pm
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Try lubricating the saddles and nut. That is a HUGE factor. Or you can totally block of the bridge if you don't get too much enjoyment out of trems like me. It sure does add a lot of extra sustain though. :shock:


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Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 7:26 am
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The string gauge will affect intonation not going in and out of tune.

How many times do the detuning strings wrap around the peg in the tuning key? If there are a lot of winds you WILL get string movement and tuning change with vibrato use.

If you are "dive bombing" with your trem, like you're in a 80's hair metal band . . . stop it! The stock trem in not a Floyd Rose, so don't expect it to act like one. :)

Lube the nut
Check the string wrap
Buy some locking tuners

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Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 11:11 am
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rphong wrote:
I noticed that when I switched to 3 springs, I noobishly forgot to change the angle according to the new tension (the trem claw screws). Maybe this would've had an effect on tuning?

and also, thanks for the replies guys :P


This will change it quite a bit, even more so if the bridge is now pulled so it touches the inside of the body and is "blocked" from moving upward.

I have mine purposely blocked since I rarely use the trem on my strat - I have other guitars for trem and ridiculous antics of that sort. This setup on my strat keeps the tuning stable and lets me do different tunings easier and faster without playing retuning games. But, the downside of this is that when I do use the trem, it will usually go out of tune easier since there is no extra room for it to set itself back in place, if that makes sense.

If you want to use the trem, make sure the bridge is level with the body. Another source is the nut and string tree. They both contribute to string friction and the string not going "exactly" back in place after you use the trem, causing the tuning debacle. Rub some pencil lead (graphite) in the nut slot and under the string tree. This might help somewhat.


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Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 11:28 am
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Alright sounds good, so I will lube the string tree and nut slots, change the angle of the trem with 3 springs in and possibly look into locking tuners.

I usually like to use the trem to play Hendrix songs.

Anyways thanks "Fender gurus".


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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 7:20 am
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if the guitar can't stay in tune due to tremolo playing
use bullets end strings
the bullet ends will solve all tremolo related tuning problem


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