The tremelo on my Strat is way too tight for my taste. I'm running 3 springs, with the outside two angeled in. Taking the center spring out made it way too loose for me. Are there any after market springs that will give a tension somewhere between 3 & 2 standard springs ?

Did you do a setup after you took out the spring? Or did you just remove it and try it?

Just removed, retuned and played. Didn't seem to stay in tune well - changed everything, feel, playability, every thing.

I didn't know that you need to do a set-up after...

Motorcycle, I would also check the screws holding in the claw to which the springs are attached. If those screws aren't into the body deep enough, the tension on the springs will never be correct. I am sure one of the professionals will have the exact measurement, but I think the screws should be out of the body about 1/2 inch or so. Also, if the trem is too light, try adding another spring. I play with heavy gauge strings and I use four springs and don't have any tuning problems. Good luck. M.

What gauge strings are you using?


I think you will find that no matter what you do 2 springs is going to be too loose. My advice is go back to 3 and have a professional setup done.

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

Hi Motorcycle: something else to try - Fender springs are available in both silver and black, and curiously the black ones pull harder than the silver.

So if you've been using three silver ones try two black instead for a slight step down in tension, but not as much as using two silver springs.

On the other hand, if you've been using three black springs just replace them with three silver ones. Again, slightly less pull but not as little as two.

Either way, the only setup adjustment you should have to make is to adjust the two spring claw screws (probably screwing them in a little) till the back of the bridge returns to the same height above the face of the guitar that it was before you started the whole process.

Though a "full" setup will always be a better bet.

Good luck - C

I always thought the silver ones were higher tension???

The reason being I can put black ones on with my fingers. I need the screwdriver trick to put silver ones on.

Having 2 springs angling in, and one in the center straight will provide more tension than having 3 straight springs. The reason being that the 2 outer angled springs are stretched further.

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No no and no

I'll try the black springs. I didn't keep it at 2 springs I put the 3rd back pretty much imediately - so it plays fine. The trem requires a bit more pressure than I was used to in my 70's strat. Can't trem with my fingertips - need to use the palm of my hand - which is not how I like to use it.

I started with 3 springs straight - not much dif from the angeled.

I'm not a long time Fender guy although I've had them before and I don't remember them being this stiff. I'm coming from a Gibson - Gretsch background and I'm used to the tension on a bigsby so this may be just my perception that it's too tight.

Ha! Now you throw me into self-doubt. Very ready to stand corrected on it - though I kinda did think the black'ns where the stronger.

There's a website devoted to dispelling guitar myths where a guy hangs weights on the springs to show which has the higher tension - and every time I need it I can't find it. Last time round Mr Bill dug it up for me, I book-marked it - and then that computer went kaput! D'oh!

In any case there's something we need to remember. Regardless how many springs we use they have to exactly equal the opposite tension the strings exert on the bridge - and that tension doesn't change (unless you change the gauge of strings). If you take a spring off you simply have to screw the claw in further till the remaining springs are stretched enough to equal that tension again.

The only difference in the number of springs is how much force your wammy hand has to apply to push the system out of balance and dip the tuning.

Cheers - C

Ceri Niki is right, the silver springs have way higher tension. I also do the black modern trem ones with my fingers.

The silver are meant for vintage style trems, and the black are meant for the modern 2 point trem.
the silver ones, i use a little metal hook to pull em. niki is crazy to use a screw driver. You can get a little hook with a handle for cheap at almost any hardware store.

I got one like the hook Stew-Mac sells, but it was only a couple bucks for a pack of 4, rather than the 6 beans for one hook from stew mac:

http://www.stewmac.com/shopby/product/0 ... 1&xsr=1513

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Nah its the easiest way. Put the hook end in the block. Take a small flatheaded screwdriver, put it through the loop and onto the face of the tremclaw. The screwdriver will be tilting so the handle is over the tremblock. Lift the tip handle so the head stays on the claw behind the hook, over towards the neck in a arc. easypeasy mate. I read it in a guitar mag once.

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No no and no

Ha! Well I stand corrected.

Though I do silver and black with my fingers - how manly am I?

I once did a nasty scratch inside the spring cavity with the screwdriver method - and I'm too mean to spend a few pennies on one of those hook thingies.

Blowed if I can find that website where the guy hangs weights on springs: I've typed everything I can think of into Google. Not that I don't believe what I'm told - but I need to see it with my own eyes. Going to bed now, but I have a tiresome feeling tomorrow might find me extracting springs from guitars and dangling weights on them.

Hey, anything for a weird life... [Shakes head at self in disbelief...]

'Night all - C

PS Nick, I so much did not want to be the one to try to emulate you're fine example in the SlapChop/Straycat bust up. But someone had to say something...

I just use the silver ones.

I always hook the ring on the claw the use a pair of needle nose pliers to put the other end in the block.

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.