I just got my MIM Standard a couple of weeks ago. My trem bar has quite of "wiggle" in it. I was looking over the parts list from the fender site and noticed that there was something about a spring that goes in the trem bar hole.

Did I read this right? It also says that when storing the guitar to do so whithout the bar installed, but to remove the spring as it may come loose and fall out.

Anyhow, I am going over to GC tonight and want to tell them about it if this is the case and get my spring.

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http://www.facebook.com/UCtheband
2012 American Standard Strat Charcoal Froast
2009 Standard Strat Sunburst Brown
Blues Junior Tweed NOS
2007 Line6 Spider Jam

Yeah there should be a tiny spring, that the whammy bar tightens against. this lets it sit snuggly without flopping without having to really tighten the bar, and stress the threads. Most people lose theirs at least once. Some people suggest putting a piece of tape over the hole, if you take the bar out.

I only take the bar out of mine if it is going in the case. I hang my guitars that I am currently playing. Always my Strat, and cycle through the others as my mood changes. if you have a safe place to put it on a stand or hang it as long as you keep it clean it doesn't need to go into the case all the time.

i lost the spring for mine a long time ago, I use a bit of teflon plumber's tape on the threads of my bar, works fine. Though Nikininja did add a caution about being extra careful when threading it in. I never thought about that, i am always careful, and I have never had a problem.

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

Thanks for the info. I will get my spring tonight and all should be right once again

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http://www.facebook.com/UCtheband
2012 American Standard Strat Charcoal Froast
2009 Standard Strat Sunburst Brown
Blues Junior Tweed NOS
2007 Line6 Spider Jam

Oh and you should be able to pick up a little bag of em for only a few bucks, can't remember if they come in 5's or 10's.

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

So, off I went to GC tonight. I asked them for the trem arm tension springs and the girl in accesories asked me if they were the "little springy looking things". I said yep and she presented me with a box of them.

I was then wondering if they actually fit in my Standard Strat. The guy who "sold" it to me was in and I told him that my 2 week old guitar came without the spring. He kept thinking I was talking about the bridge plate springs in the back. I told him no, and showed him the little box. He looked shocked. I asked him if the guitar "should" have one. He said he didn't think so. I asked him if there was one on the guitars when they came out of the box. No, he said, all there was is a circular piece of green tape over the hole.

So apparently, ALL the strats at this GC hanging on the wall have had the springs fall out and get lost. My sales guy says he used to work (don't know in what capacity) for Fender and he had never heard of the trem arm tension spring, or for that matter what purpose it served.

I asked to try the spring on an exact duplicate of my guitar and it went right in and kept tension on the whammy so it had no play and stayed in place without screwing the darn thing to the bottom. The look on the guys face was priceless, as if he just discovered oil or something.

So I took my springs, a single EB 9 to replace one I broke in a new set, and a Hercules wall hanger to properly display my second Mexican love (my wife is my first and she is also a MIM, hmm I guess that makes her a MIM MILF ). Put the spring in and wow what a difference it makes, all the old play is gone and it stays where I put it and action on the bridge is immediate when I decide to use it.

Thanks for the help Twelvebar!

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http://www.facebook.com/UCtheband
2012 American Standard Strat Charcoal Froast
2009 Standard Strat Sunburst Brown
Blues Junior Tweed NOS
2007 Line6 Spider Jam

No probs.

Man what did the guy think the sticker over the hole was for? damn you should have an at least basic knowledge of the products you sell.

Glad it worked out for you.

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

Funny you should say that. In my day job I am the Director of Sales for a technology company. I am constantly looking at the sales people I run into in my daily life. I find a few gems, but mostly hacks. Product knowledge is the absolute key to sales success. If you don't know what you are selling, you can fool novices once. They won't become clients though.

The funniest part was that he, and his manager, said he worked for Fender.

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http://www.facebook.com/UCtheband
2012 American Standard Strat Charcoal Froast
2009 Standard Strat Sunburst Brown
Blues Junior Tweed NOS
2007 Line6 Spider Jam

MIM do not have the spring in the hole. Its screwed in. The wiggle room you're talking about is from using the wrong size tremolo arm. You have to go back and ask for the correct tremolo arm.

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"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


facebook.com/313DBC

hey twelvebar..love the kitten mittons!

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peace

1993 Am Std Strat LH
1999 Am Std Tele LH
2010 MIM Strat LH (on order)
Princeton 112 Plus
Princeton 212 Chorus