Hi

I bought an Eric Johnson Stratocaster (year 08 or 09), -love it- however the guitar did not include the Tremolo arm tension spring, making the tremolo bar not standing still. I bough the "Fender Tremolo Arm Tension Springs (12)" pack that was meant to be used for the American Series Tremolo, however I wanted to give it a try.

The results were not good using these springs, the tremolo bar keeps moving and does not stand still.

Do you know if this guitar comes with tremolo arm springs (The guitar is based on a '57 Stratocaster). Where can I get springs that will fit my guitar? What kind of springs are those?

One question that may sound silly: You just need to put 1 spring in that hole right?

Yep you just put that small spring in the tremolo arm hole and tighten the arm onto it. I just looked at the spring for my 57hotrod and compared it to the american standard spring. They are exactly the same.
I dont use mine, they do solve the loose trem problem but cause other problems. They help strip the thread in the tremblock which isnt good.

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No no and no

Welcome!

A 57 Strat never had a tremolo arm spring. As a matter of fact, no Strat did until they came out with the American Standard series in the 1980s. The spring you bought should work just fine though. I have the same type bridge on all my Strats and use that spring with excellent results. Yes, only one spring is necessary and appropriate.

Sight unseen, it's tough to pinpoint your malady. Notwithstanding, there's only a certain number of causes for a loose arm:

1. The arm isn't screwed down enough.
2. You have the wrong arm for that block where the arm's threads are too small.
3. The threads in the block itself for the arm are stripped and/or cross threaded and/or stretched out.
4. The spring is partially bending and the part that is bending is turning sideways under pressure from the tremolo arm.
5. There might already be a bent and compressed spring stuck in the block.
6. Some other obstruction in the block.

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You dig?

Hi- a British magazine recently published this idea for wobbly whammys: simply put a short length of electrical heatshrink tubing on the whammy bar, so that it covers the last couple of turns of the thread and extends just above the hole when the bar is screwed in. I tried this on my Classic Vibe strat and it's perfect- no more rattles and the bar stays where I leave it.

Wow thanks CountrySquier.

I have exactly the right sized heatshrink, and really don't like that spring.

Off to try it now.

Which magazine was it please? I'll be off down WH Smiths in a matter of minutes.

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No no and no

Hi nikininja-it was Guitarist (musicradar.com) January 2010, p.147. -they suggest 7mm, but i used 6.5mm. Happy whammying!